Meeting Prince Edward 'really cool,' say P.E.I. students

Eight students got the thrill of a lifetime today as Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, handed them their Duke of Edinburgh gold awards at Government House in Charlottetown.

"It was definitely really cool, it's incredible," said Lucas Donovan of Summerside, grinning from ear to ear after shaking the prince's hand and accepting his award."No words can describe it."

It was definitely really cool, it's incredible. Lucas Donovan, Student

The prince's two-dayvisit to P.E.I. includes aspecial 140th anniversary event of the Prince Edward Island Regiment at the Queen Charlotte Armouriestonight.

Tomorrow,Special Olympics officials and athletes on P.E.I. willhost the prince.

Prince Edwardwill bepart ofa Special Olympics fun day Tuesdayat the University of Prince Edward Island, in which students interested in getting involved in a Special Olympics sport and student leaders from 20 Island schoolsget to trysome of the sports offered and learn more about how to participate.

"We are just ecstatic about the opportunity to have the prince attend our event," said theexecutive director of Special Olympics P.E.I.Charity Sheehan.

"It kind of lends a bit more highlight to what we have been trying to do in terms of getting new athletes, younger athletes involved in our program," said Sheehan.

Sheehan says the fun day is exciting in itself, but having the prince there for part of the morningwill make it extra special for everyone.

Sheehan noted this will be the first of three upcoming Special Olympicsfun days.

"It is an opportunity where we invite schools to come out and participate in an inclusive manner with Special Olympicsto kind of see what it is that we do and how we may be able to partner with each of those schools to be able to offer a new generation of programing to their students in their school that have an intellectual disability."

This is Prince Edward's fifth visit to P.E.I. and he now has the distinction of being the royal who has visited P.E.I. most frequently.