Royalty in Bexhill - United Arab Emirates

After a welcoming ceremony, which included a traditional dance display by UAE Technical Training Project Students and the 1066 Pipes and Drums band His Royal Highness reviewed an exhibition of student projects.

Clearly impressed with what he saw, the Duke took time to talk and listen as students described their work.

One student, Mr Ahmed Halali, has spent the past three years learning Museum studies and archaeology at the David Game College in London.

Mr Halali said he will be very sad to leave as he has greatly enjoyed his time studying in the UK, adding: "I have been looking forward to this day, not just to graduate but to meet the Duke - this has been a very special day, the best day of my life".

HRH presented prizes and certificates of commendation at the award ceremony and afterwards he was presented with a gift of golden eagle by Colonel Hareb Al Dhaheri.

After giving thanks for the gift The Duke said: "I have appreciated coming here today to see the training the students receive and acknowledge the warm friendship between the UAE and the UK."

At the celebratory lunch the Duke enjoyed a starter of homus, baba ganouge, taboula, arabic salad, kaba and pitta bread, for the main course he chose chicken escallope and cream coconut served with mange

The gift was presented at a graduation award ceremony at the Bexhill based UAE Technical Training Project / UK last week in the presence of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent.

In his opening speech, in which he welcomed The Duke along with many prestigious dignitaries to the event, Student Master of Ceremonies Ahmed Al Nuaimi said that the donation was given as a, "sign of appreciation to the people of East Sussex for allowing students from the UAE to study in the area."

The gift has been an annual event and the charities sharing this years donation are: The Bexhill Festival of Music, Bexhill Carnival, Bexhill Museum, Homecall Bexhill, 1066 Swimmers, Saxon Mount Community School, Sidley Community Centre, Sidley Young Peoples Centre, 1st Little Common Scout Group, 9th Bexhill Scout Group, Sussex Association for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus.

The training project began in 1992 with 200 students attending Hastings college.

Today more than 1,500 of the project's students attend colleges and universities throughout the UK with many receiving high achiever awards in aerospace, electrical and marine engineering and telecommunication

Dignitaries at the ceremony included, The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Mrs Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, OBE, His Excellency Staff Major General Mohamed Hilal Al Kaabi Deputy Chief of Staff, UAE Armed Forces, His Excellency Mr Edward Oakden HM Ambassador to The United Emirates, Mrs Caroline Mayhew High Sheriff of East Sussex, Greg BarKer MP, Chief Constable Joe Edwards QPM .

The project contributes large donations to worthy causes and charities in the local area and is also one of the areas largest employers, with approximately 50 local people in a variety of roles on their staff.