HUNDREDS of students, teachers and business leaders welcomed the Prince of Wales to Essex University.

The Royal’s morning-long visit yesterday aimed to raise the profile of Stem subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths – and coincided with the university’s 50th anniversary.

Shortly after 11am, Prince Charles arrived at the Wivenhoe campus by helicopter and was driven to meet the crowds outside the Ivor Crew Lecture Theatre.

Students, many from overseas, excitedly gathered alongside the footpath leading to the building in the hope of getting a photograph of, or sharing a few words with, the heir to the throne.

After pausing to greet wellwishers, Prince Charles was introduced to dignitaries including Essex Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh, the Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester, John and Janet Elliott, Essex University’s vice-chancellor Professor Anthony Forster and Harwich and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin.

The Prince was then led indoors to the Big Bang event, which included 30 interactive stands and showcased careers available to students by studying science subjects.

Stopping to chat to pupils and careers experts, he was keen to try out some of the activities at the interactive stands.

The Prince’s next stop was an engineering workshop with headteachers and business leaders from all over Essex.

Addressing the workshop, he spoke of the need for more young people to be qualified in engineering jobs, describing it as a “black hole”.

He said: “We need to remind ourselves that in this country there are an awful lot of people who have technical and vocational skills.

“Teachers are the key to the whole issue around technical and vocational education and are able to remind people through these workshops that there is another angle to life.”

Prof Forster said the visit was an enormous privilege for the university.

He said: “It is testament to how important this area is for the UK, our science base and our economic prosperity. To have the Prince of Wales here for our 50th anniversary is fantastic and very much appreciated.”

See today's Gazette for more on Charles' visit and pictures