Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was conferred an honorary fellowship by Hughes Hall yesterday, in recognition of his work encouraging business and entrepreneurship through various programmes.

The Duke of York also attended the official unveiling of a plaque marking the opening of the graduate college’s newest accommodation block, Gresham Court.

The new building, in use since September 2016, currently houses 85 students. According to the college’s president, Dr Anthony Freeling, the proportion of students now able to reside in college as a result of the increase in capacity has risen from one half to two-thirds.

The Duke of York, who himself never attended university, was congratulated by the president on his fellowship and involvement in programmes such as Pitch@Palace and The Bridge, which aim to provide guidance to fellows and students alike on having a positive impact on the world of commerce and public policy.

Dr Freeling commented on the importance of such programmes and facilities to the college in improving its international reputation, and said he hoped they would help them continue to attract “the brightest and best from around the world”.

Amid a smattering of students and fellows enjoying the sunny weather, the prince thanked the college for the partnership as well as a lady in attendance who lives opposite Gresham Court for enduring the recent building works.

In his speech the president also added the new building extends the college’s landlocked footprint as well as commenting that “it provides an opportunity to build the relationship with the cricket club and the tennis club” which surround it, as well as expressing gratitude to its donors, including Trinity.

He ended by saying that the court was not the end of the college’s expanding building work, and addressing the local house owners, joking, “if anyone has any land in the near vicinity, we’d like to buy it!”