The Prince of Wales has met youngsters from Essex and Suffolk schools during a visit to the University of Essex.
Prince Charles arrived by helicopter and met university students and dignitaries before touring the Big Bang Fair.
He met some of the 1,000 secondary school pupils taking part in the event, aimed at encouraging more youngsters to take up science, technology, engineering and maths.
His visit comes the day after the university announced plans for a £10million state-of-the-art “Science Square” building.
Professor Anthony Forster, vice chancellor at the university, said: “It’s an enormous privilege for the university to have the Prince of Wales to show his support for STEM research and teaching.
“It is something we are immensely proud of.”
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