Former Kilkenny Primary School Principal reflects on touring King Charles III at the school in 2012

The former principal of a western suburbs primary school which was paid a visit by the now King has reflected on the day as a “highlight of his career”.

Mike Tate’s career highlight was being principal of an Adelaide primary school specially selected for a visit by the now King Charles III.

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and Charles being declared King, the former principal of Kilkenny Primary School Mike Tate has remembered His Majesty and wife Camilla’s visit in November 2012.

Mr Tate said the Department of Education contacted him alerting him of the possible Royal Tour months before the visit.

”The prince at the time wanted to have a look at a school that was showing a lot of interest in sustainability,” Mr Tate told The Advertiser.

“We were part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, so we had planted orchards, lots of vegetable gardens, we had chooks, and we followed the program which was basically from the garden to the table.”

Now King Charles III, and his wife Camilla, visited Adelaide, South Australia on royal visit in 2012.

His Majesty toured the school grounds and the children cooked a meal using produce from their garden.

It was the program that sparked King Charles’ interest, prompting he and the Duchess of Cornwall to spend a few hours at the school touring the grounds and interacting with students from all year levels.

“The children then cooked a meal for them, they sat down at the table with the children and ate,” Mr Tate said.

“We had an outdoor pizza oven so we did pizza and a whole lot of other in season vegetables.

“It was the highlight of my career to be honest, it was really exciting, there was a lot of work in the background to make it happen by lots of different people around security and that side of things but it was a very exciting day.”

Now a principal at Largs Bay Primary School, Mr Tate said His Majesty showed sincere interest in the school and the children.

“The conversations were very much centred around sustainability, and the environment, and just really inquisitive questions from both the prince and Camilla around what the school did, and what the children were involved with,” he said.

Mike Tate with King Charles III and his wife Camilla greeting children at Kilkenny Primary School in 2012.

“It was like talking to everyone else, but still with that knowledge … that he was someone special, but you wouldn’t have known it if you didn’t know the title.”

Mr Tate was “very sad” to hear of The Queen’s passing.

“My mum passed away at 92, she was English, a royalist, I managed to get her to the school to meet Charles on that day, something that she cherished,” he said.

“It is really sad, it was obviously to be expected at some point in time but she was just always there right through my life so it was a really sad day.”