Kate’s old history teacher is showered with praise after the couple meet for the first time in decades.
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The former Princess of Wales history teacher recounted tonight how he had gone to work ‘excited’ on his day off to meet his former student for the first time in 25 years, saying: ‘She’s exuberant and just the way she was! ‘
a delighted Jim Embury met an equally emotional Kate during a visit to the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall today.where the retiree now works as a part-time volunteer.
The couple hugged and chatted in moving scenes in front of crowds in the port city with the 41-year-old mother of three telling her former teacher: “The things you taught me, I now teach my children.”
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Mr Embury, 79, quipped: “I hate to think what those kids are learning!”
He was full of praise for the royals, who with Prince William were visiting the museum to learn about the area’s maritime heritage.
Jim Embury, 79, volunteers at the National Maritime Museum and went to work on his day off just to see his former student.
The Princess of Wales was clearly excited to see her former history teacher when they got together for the first time in 25 years.
He said: ‘It was an amazing meeting and the first time I’ve seen Kate for 25 years. She hasn’t changed, not one bit, and she is just as she was: conscientious, considerate, and exuberant.
Mr Embury, who previously unknown to Kate lives and works in the city, added: “She is a wonderful woman.”
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 on Fridays.
“They asked us if we would be available to stand by 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 on my day off.”
Soft-spoken Canadian Embury, who has a British wife, made sure to be up front to see his former student from St Andrews Preparatory School in Berkshire, who “had no idea” would be there.
During the ‘meet and greet’ before Kate headed to the museum, he approached her.
She recognized him instantly, hugged him and said, ‘Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh, that has set me back!
Mr Embury reiterated to MailOnline: “She is a lovely, thoughtful and wonderful woman” and said photos of them together were “happy” for him and his wife to see later.
When the popular royal found out she had moved to Cornwall, Kate exclaimed enthusiastically, “No way!”
Children’s princess! Kate meets a young royal fan outside the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth
The Princess of Wales seemed excited to meet her young royal fan this afternoon.
The Prince and Princess of Wales laugh as they try to refurbish a ship during their tour of the Cornish National Maritime Museum.
Mr Embury, originally from Ontario and known as ‘Canadian Jim’ in his neighbourhood, said it was like a ‘whirlwind’ meeting her and that he ‘could barely remember our first words spoken’.
Speaking from her home hours after the memorable occasion, she said: “Kate was very kind and talked about her children and what they were learning from her, which she said she had learned part of from me.”
When the popular royal found out she had moved to Cornwall, Kate exclaimed enthusiastically, “No way!”
Reminiscing about her school days, she went on to say how she could visualize exactly what her teacher’s classroom looked like.
As the couple happily chatted, Prince William continued to speak to viewers.
Mr Embury reiterated to MailOnline: “She is a lovely, thoughtful and wonderful woman” and said photos of them together were “happy” for him and his wife to see later.
He said: “She was a fantastic student and it was really nice to see her again.”
He revealed that although he did not follow the royal family, he often watched what they were up to on news websites.
He declined to speculate on what kind of future Queen Kate would make.
During their visit to the museum workshop, the Prince and Princess of Wales assisted those working on the renovation of the Kiwi, a 14-foot sailing dinghy that was presented to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip as a wedding gift from the Royal New Zealand Navy. .
Mr Embury refused to discuss whether he had been among the staff and volunteers showing off the royals, saying: “I volunteer on Fridays!”