A unique celebration of music, leadership, tradition and transatlantic friendship spotlights the next generation of American leaders
/PRNewswire/ — Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), Virginia’s premier college preparatory boarding and day school for grades 8-12, presented a stunning parade at Thursday’s Royal Block Party honoring Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the Virginia leg of their state visit to the United States this week.
Randolph-Macon Academy Royal Parade
R-MA Color Guard
Hosted by the Town of Front Royal, against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this celebration welcomed the royal couple in an unprecedented event attended by citizens, community leaders and distinguished guests, for an unforgettable scene of pageantry, patriotism and performance in the heart of Front Royal.
The Royal Block Party featured a ceremony and musical presentation led by the renowned Randolph-Macon Academy Marching Band, joined by the Academy’s Color Guard and Regimental Staff. Student musicians from Skyline and Warren County high schools also performed on stage, creating an authentic display of talent, discipline and community pride.
“Randolph-Macon Academy sits at the intersection of history, leadership and opportunity. Welcoming Their Majesties to a setting that celebrates service, scholarship and young people working to face the future is both a privilege and a moment of enormous importance for our Academy, our city and our region. This event showed the world what the Yellow Vests mean by the power to rise up,” says Lucy Hooper, Chair of the R-MA Board of Directors.
The R-MA cadets who performed in front of the royal couple spoke powerfully about this unique experience. The academy’s regimental commander, Cadet Colonel Rania Husted ’26, says, “I feel incredibly honored that R-MA was invited to such a historic event. More than anything, I am proud of my comrades. Their hard work and dedication was evident during our performance, and I hope we also brought honor to our Front Royal community.”
Regimental Sergeant Major Bijou Kebbay ’27 notes, “Everyone was nervous, it was the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, of course they were nervous! But it was so beautiful to see how everyone came together to support each other and make sure everyone shined.”
Founded in 1892, Randolph-Macon Academy has been training young people of character, determination and ambition for more than 130 years. Located on a 135-acre campus in the Shenandoah Valley, R-MA offers a distinctive educational experience where structure meets opportunity, and tradition fuels transformation.
For families seeking more than a typical high school experience, Randolph-Macon Academy offers something increasingly rare: a clear path to a life of meaning and purpose.
R-MA combines the personal attention of a small, independent school with the ambition of a world-class preparatory institution. Students benefit from small class sizes, a highly engaged faculty, competitive athletics, an extensive rotary and fixed-wing aviation curriculum, STEM and robotics programs, leadership development, and one of the most respected college and service academy preparation environments in the nation.
The Academy results speak for themselves:
- 100% college acceptance for each of the last 19 years
- More than $15 million in scholarships for the Class of 2025
- 15 to 20 U.S. Service Academy nominations in each of the last five years
- A nationally recognized Falcon Scholar program with exceptional placement at the United States Air Force Academy, with the highest USAFA Falcon Scholar graduation rate in the nation.
- Boarding and day school options for grades 8-12 and postgraduate students
At a time when families are looking for schools that do more than educate – that build resilience, cultivate leadership and prepare students for lives of consequence – Randolph-Macon Academy offers a compelling answer. As Front Royal hosted the royal couple, Randolph-Macon Academy continued to do what it has done for thirteen decades: hold its head high, lead with pride, and inspire the drive within.
For more information, visit the Randolph-Macon Academy website at www.rma.edu.
About Randolph-Macon Academy
Randolph-Macon Academy is a college-preparatory boarding and day school serving students in grades 8-12 and PG in Front Royal, Virginia. Founded in 1892, the Academy is recognized for its unique balance of academic rigor, leadership development, character building and exceptional academic and service academie achievement.
Media Relations:
Director of Enrollment Management
Randolph-Macon Academy
200 Academy Drive
Front Royal, Virginia 22630
(540) 636-5484
[emailprotected]
www.rma.edu
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