What Kate Middleton’s other teachers had to say about the royal

The Princess of Wales was reunited with her former history teacher for the first time in 25 years yesterday.

A delighted Jim Embury, 79, met an equally thrilled Kate, 41, during a visit to the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall, where the pensioner now volunteers part time. 

The pair hugged and chatted in heartwarming scenes in front of crowds in the harbour town of Falmouth, with the mother-of-three telling her old teacher: ‘The things you taught me, I now teach to my children.’

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Mr Embury was full of praise for the royal – who was on her first official joint visit to the county with Prince William since inheriting the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall title.

But Canadian Mr Embury, who has a British wife, isn’t the only former teacher of Kate’s to reunite with the royal following her school days; in February 2020, the princess met two of her St Andrew’s prep school teachers while on a visit to South Wales.

Kevin Allford and Denise Evans-Allford, who taught Kate, Pippa and James Middleton at the school in Pangbourne, Berkshire, travelled from their home in Carmathenshire in the hope of seeing their former pupil on her visit to Mumbles.

The princess exclaimed ‘it’s such a small world’ after seeing her old teachers outside an ice cream parlour, where Kate and William met local families.

Mr Allford, who remembers the Duchess of Cambridge as part of a ‘wonderful class of girls’, said: ‘It was wonderful she gave us so much time. She said it’s such a small world, and she hadn’t expected to see her ex-teachers in Swansea.

‘We saw her last when she and Pippa came back to school to visit James, she was 14. We haven’t seen her since then. Obviously we’ve been following her career. She was in a wonderful class of girls and they got on so well together.’

Mr Alford said he enjoyed teaching Kate and the other pupils in her class so much that he asked to do so for an extra year. Both teachers said how much Kate had liked her time at the prep school.

‘She loved it so much,’ said Mrs Evans-Alford, who taught PE. ‘We had such a fantastic time there. She was in my netball team and rounders team. She was wonderful. She hasn’t changed a bit at all, you can tell. Pippa and James were wonderful too.’

The princess, who went on to study at Downe House and Marlborough College. appeared equally thrilled by the reunion and smiled broadly as she spoke to the teachers.

She told the couple: ‘I want to instil in my children the life I had at St Andrew’s.’

But Mr Embury isn’t the only former teacher of Kate’s to reunite with the royal following her school days; in February 2020, the princess met two of her St Andrew’s prep school teachers, Kevin Allford and Denise Evans-Allford, while on a visit to South Wales (pictured)

Kate Middleton (centre) pictured with her hockey team during her time at the school from 1986 to 1995

Meanwhile, Kate’s former piano teacher, Daniel Nicholls, also praised the royal as ‘absolutely lovely, a really delightful person to teach’ in an interview with the BBC ahead of her wedding to William in 2011. Pictured, Kate accompanies singer Tom Walker on the piano during a performance of his song For Those Who Can’t Be Here during Royal Carols – Together At Christmas in 2021

Mr Alford later added, via 9Honey: ‘[Kate] was a hard worker and very conscientious. Obviously she was the same in sport. She was a tremendous athlete and swimmer. I used to be in charge of swimming and she was very, very good, as her sister was.’

Meanwhile, Kate’s former piano teacher, Daniel Nicholls, also praised the royal as ‘absolutely lovely, a really delightful person to teach’ in an interview with the BBC ahead of her wedding to William in 2011.

However, Mr Nicholls – who taught the royal from 1993 to 1995 – added: ‘I don’t think anyone would say she was going to be a concert pianist, but she was good at it. She always did everything she was told.’

Yesterday, Mr Embury told how he had ‘excitedly’ come into work on his day off to reunite with his former pupil for the first time in 25 years – and said: ‘She’s exuberant and is just like she was!’ 

He said: ‘It was an incredible meeting and the first time I had seen Kate in 25 years. She hasn’t changed, not one bit, and is just like she was – conscientious, considerate and exuberant.’

Mr Embury, who previously unknown to Kate lives and works in the town, added: ‘She is a wonderful woman.’

Softly spoken Mr Embury made sure he was in the forefront to see his ex pupil from St Andrews prep school who had ‘no idea’ he would be there

Mr Embury reiterated to MailOnline: ‘She is a lovely, considerate, wonderful woman’ and said the photos of them together were ‘joyful’ to later see for him and his wife

He explained: ‘I didn’t know she was coming to the museum until 6am this morning. It was my day off and I only work Fridays. We were asked if we would be available to be on standby for the royal visit, and of course I wanted to.

‘The prospect of meeting Kate after all these years was very exciting so I went in on my day off.’

Softly spoken Mr Embury made sure he was in the forefront to see his ex pupil from St Andrews prep school who had ‘no idea’ he would be there.

During the ‘meet and greet’ before Kate headed into the museum, he approached her.

She recognised him instantly, threw her arms around him and said: ‘Oh my goodness! My gosh, that’s taken me right back!’

Mr Embury, originally from Ontario and known as ‘Canadian Jim’ in his neighbourhood, said it was like a ‘whirlwind’ meeting her and he could ‘barely remember our first words spoken.’

Speaking from his home hours after the memorable occasion, he said: ‘Kate was very kind and was talking about her children and what they were learning from her which she said she had learned partly from me.’

When the popular royal found out that he had relocated to Cornwall, Kate enthusiastically exclaimed: ‘No way!’

Reminiscing about her school days, she went on to say how she could visualise exactly what her teacher’s classroom used to look like.

When the popular royal found out that he had relocated to Cornwall, Kate enthusiastically exclaimed: ‘No way!’

As the pair happily chatted Prince William continued to speak to spectators.

Mr Embury reiterated to MailOnline: ‘She is a lovely, considerate, wonderful woman’ and said the photos of them together were ‘joyful’ to later see for him and his wife.

He said: ‘She was a fantastic student and it was so nice to see her again.’

He revealed that whilst he didn’t follow the royal family, he often saw what they were up to on news websites.

He declined to speculate on what type of future Queen Kate would make.

During their visit to the museum’s workshop, the Prince and Princess of Wales helped those working on the refurbishment of the Kiwi, a 14-foot sailing dinghy which was presented to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip as a wedding present from the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Mr Embury refused to discuss if he had been among staff and volunteers showing the royals around, saying: ‘I’m a volunteer on Fridays!’