STUDENTS from Elmley Castle First School have joined the Queen at Westminster Abbey.

Four Year 5 pupils from the school, near Pershore, were among almost 1,000 young people from across the UK to attend the Commonwealth Day Observance in London.

Also at the annual inter-faith gathering was the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

This year, the theme was Team Commonwealth and speakers were Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot by the Taliban for going to school, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of Great Britain’s most successful Paralympians and Olympic gold medallist Lord Sebastian Coe.

Pupils Molly Harrison and Lily Rollett said: “It was amazing to have the privilege to go to London and see the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

"We even saw David Cameron as we were leaving Westminster Abbey and said 'Hi' to him.”

MOBO award winner Laura Mvula performed and a specially commissioned poem was read by South African writer and performance artist Phillippa Yaa de Villiers.

Headteacher, Megan Thomas, said “We enter the Commonwealth tickets competition each year and enjoy our day out in London.

"It gives the children the chance to take part in a worldwide event and experience the wonders of other countries."

The event took place on Monday, March 10.