The Queen's granddaughter opened Trinity Academy in HuddersfieldVisited Forget Me Not Children's Hospice and Huddersfield UniversityThe engagements formed a three-stop tour of West YorkshirePrincess Beatrice was at Royal Ascot with sister Eugenie earlier this weekRecently announced she will be focusing on a career in financeBy Martha De Lacey
PUBLISHED: 14:51 GMT, 21 June 2013 | UPDATED: 17:33 GMT, 21 June 2013
Princess Beatrice and her little sister Eugenie are often the subject of heated debate when it comes to understanding what it is some members of the Royal family actually do... and how they make themselves useful.
But having spent two days enjoying herself at Royal Ascot with other members of her family - including her grandmother the Queen and her father Prince Andrew - today the young princess, 24, who graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London, in 2011 with a 2:1, decided to prove she can earn her keep.
So the fifth in line to the throne put away her elaborate hats, folded up her elegantly bejeweled dresses, donned her smartest, most serious attire, and travelled to Halifax, West Yorkshire, to officially open the new Trinity Academy school and then visit the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice and attend a luncheon and fashion show at The University of Huddersfield.
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Princess Beatrice gives the thumbs-up to some children after they gave a musical performance, and then told pupils and staff: 'I wish I came to a school like this'
Princess Beatrice stands behind PE students as they watch a video during a lesson, before she officially opened Trinity Academy school in Halifax todayTouring the newly built academy, the princess, who battled dyslexia when she attended Upton House School in Windsor, Coworth Park School in Surrey and St. George's School in Ascot, said: 'I wish I came to a school like this'.
During her 50 minute tour of the academy, Beatrice was given a demonstration by the Trinity Tigers cheerleading team, she sat in on a science class and seemed particularly interested in the dressmaking sessions in the open-plan art-and-design studios.
Later, her reactions were fast enough to catch the mini-curtain she pulled back to reveal the plaque to mark her visit, when it collapsed at the crucial moment.
The young royal looked genuinely impressed by the Academy's state-of-the-art facilities, and as hundreds of students gathered in the main atrium, she told the whole school: 'I have never spoken to this many people before. It is quite amazing.'
One student said of the princess: 'It was strange seeing her after only seeing her in photographs. It was exciting. I don't know how she walked in those heels down those stairs'
Princess Beatrice reacts quickly, catching the curtain after accidentally pulling off the rail while revealing the plaque at Trinity Academy school in HalifaxSpeaking without notes, she said: 'I'm so honoured to be here today. I'm so honoured to see this amazing place.
'You're so lucky to be in an academy like this, to be in a school like this, where everything can be brought together, where young people can be taught these amazing life skills in this incredible space.
'And I thank everyone who has made this possible, to bring this community together and to make this building as spectacular as it is and to give you all the most amazing opportunities that young people deserve in the UK.'
She continued: 'I'm just so excited to be here. I've seen so many of the classes - the science, the performance, the cheerleaders - I mean, I wish came to a school like this.'
Her joke was greeted with laughter and applause.
Princess Beatrice reacts with good humour to the rail and curtain falling off the plaqueReminiscing, the princess told the children: 'Enjoy every moment of school. It is the best time.'
She confessed she was not very good at science and, as she complimented some of the students on their 'amazing' art work, admitted: 'I ended up doing a sculpture. I took it home and it disintegrated.'
The princess wore a navy blue jacket over a white blouse and a royal blue skirt with navy blue shoes.
Academy principal Michael Gosling said: 'All the way round the princess was talking about how school wasn't like this when she went to school.'
Reminiscing, the princess told the children: 'Enjoy every moment of school. It is the best time.'
Princess Beatrice watching the children do experiments in the science lab, before admitting she hadn't been very good at the subject at schoolHe said: 'In the build up to the visit the student have been very giddy. This morning, excitement was at fever pitch. They were really looking forward to the visit.'
Mr Gosling said: 'Her down-to-earth approach came through. And she caught the curtain as well.'
Student Amy Moran, 17, said: 'It was strange seeing her after only seeing her in photographs. It was exciting. I don't know how she walked in those heels down those stairs.'
The visit to the school was the first part of a three-stop tour of West Yorkshire for the princess today.
She also visited Huddersfield University and open the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, also in Huddersfield.
Today will be quite a change of scene for the Queen's granddaughter, who for the past two days has been at Royal Ascot in Berkshire with her family
The princess announced recently that she will be focusing on her career in finance rather than royal engagementsThe day will be quite a change of scene for the Queen's granddaughter, who for the past two days has been at Royal Ascot in Berkshire with her family.
Yesterday Princess Beatrice was pictured celebrating jubilantly in the Royal box when the Queen's horse Estimate shot round the course to win the Gold Cup for the monarch.
Last weekend she attended the Trooping of the Colour in London on Saturday, riding in the carriage with her sister Eugenie, and on Sunday she went to the Cartier Queen's Cup polo tournament final at Guards Polo in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, with her boyfriend of seven years Dave Clark.
It was recently announced that the princess will be focusing more on a career in finance than royal engagements and duties, so today's visits will be some of the small handful she will perform this year.
Beatrice, left, and her younger sister Eugenie celebrate at Royal Ascot yesterday when their grandmother's horse Estimate took home the Gold Cup
Princess Beatrice riding into Royal Ascot, Berkshire, on Thursday with her aunt Princess Anne
Princess Beatrice, right, and sister Eugenie stand during the minute silence for race horse trainer Henry Cecil who died recently, on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse race meeting on Tuesday
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend the Trooping of the Colour in London on 15 June
Princess Beatrice arrives with her boyfriend Dave Clark at the Cartier Queen's Cup polo tournament final at Guards Polo in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, on Sunday 16 June
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