Patrick and fellow captain, Emily Black, attended the royal reception in Sydney last month to represent schools in the Riverina.

“I got to talk to Will and he was asking about Corowa and where it was and what the school was like,” Patrick said.

“He also talked about baby George.”

He said he was surprised he was pointed out to the royal.

“I was hoping to talk to him but so was everybody else,” he said.

Among the crowd were NRL and AFL players and Kyle and Jackie O.

Emily was standing at a table with winter Olympian Torah Bright and author Matthew Reilly.

Despite Emily not being introduced to the Duke and Duchess, she wasn’t complaining about her experience.

“Kate smiled and waved and I made eye contact and that was enough,” she said.

She joked she would be remembered by the Duchess forever.

The students were impressed by how genuine the royal couple was.

“They were just so interested in what people had to say,” Emily said.

“It was incredible and there was just a lively atmosphere.”

Patrick said it was rewarding to be in the same room as others who had exceeded in their chosen fields.

“I was on a table with Army officials, doctors and social workers,” he said.

Patrick said it was hard to remember what he spoke about to Prince William.

“It was just unreal,” he said.