A SCHOOLGIRL rubbed shoulders with roytalty as she joined an international commemoration marking 100 years since the Battle of the Somme.

Beth Bardgett, 10, met several senior figures when she was chosen to attend the official opening of Thiepval Memorial's new visitor centre in France.

She chatted with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and the French president Francois Hollande.

Beth, whose grandfather Colin has researched the history of local servicemen, said: "Prince William and Kate spoke to me together and Prince Harry and the French leader spoke to me separately afterwards.

"Prince Harry asked my name, how old I was and if I enjoyed history and what was my favourite part of France. I told him it was our visit to the Lonsdale cemetery this week. I've got a relative who is buried there, John Bardgett.

"I was really nervous about meeting them at first but when they started talking you realised they are really nice."

Bridget was one of 27 pupils from North Lakes School in Penrith who were among 600 UK and French children who endured pouring rain yet stood proudly behind distinctive rows of war graves near the battleground.

Their role at the Thiepval - a memorial to more than 72,000 British soldiers who died on the Somme a century ago and have no known grave - was the climax to an emotional service attended by heads of state from across the world and 10,000 spectators.

All 600 children, who have lived together this week in a boarding school in nearby Amiens, laid patriotic floral wreaths and posies.

Year six pupil Aimee-Jo Strong, aged 10, said: "I was really nervous because I didn't want to mess it up. It was also hard to concentrate when all the soldiers were around you."

Kofi Robson-Peart, 11, added: "When the guns went off at the end of the ceremony I felt nervous. I had butterflies in my stomach."

Several pupils rubbed shoulders with many of the VIPs, who went on a walkabout to chat to the children after the formalities had ended.

The party also chatted briefly to Prime Minister David Cameron shortly after arriving for the service.

Headteacher Mr Pincombe, one of five adults accompanying the Penrith children on their five-day trip, said: "This is a very proud moment in the school's history and I'm thrilled for the children to be part of this joint history today."

The Penrith party was travelling back to the UK overnight and due back home in the early hours today (SAT).