Another Royal performance by Ferguson’s

The napkins were presented in a medieval-style bouquet of freshly cut roses by MLA Samuel Gardiner at the Diamond Jubilee garden party at Stormont last week.

The 12 unique straw-coloured celtic design napkins were presented to the school by Nigel Spiers of Ferguson’s Linen after pupils enjoyed a recent tour of the factory with English teacher, Mrs Linda Parkinson-Kelly.

Founded in 1854, Ferguson’s Irish Linen of Banbridge are the last manufacturers of Damask Linen in Ireland and the firm was commissioned to make the bed linen for their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on the occasion of their wedding last year.

Mr Gardiner said he was “delighted” to have delivered the unique bouquet which he described as a “remarkable and beautiful gift” from the school.

“The bouquet is a recreation of a medieval-style bouquet presented by King Henry VIII to his second wife Anne Boleyn on the occasion of the birth of their daughter, the first Queen Elizabeth in 1533,” said Mr Gardiner. “It is, therefore, a very apt present to give to the second Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.”