A University College Birmingham student aspiring to make her mark in the TV and film industry had the incredible opportunity to share her story – and play darts – with the Prince and Princess of Wales at a special event to celebrate creative talent in the city.

Lucy Froggatt was among a select group of designers, artists and playwrights invited to the event at The Rectory bar in the Jewellery Quarter to showcase the growth of creative industry in Birmingham.

During yesterday’s reception at the St Paul’s Square venue, two minutes’ walk from the University, Lucy got to share with the royal couple her experiences of working in the creative sector during her specialist hair and media make-up degree.

These included being part of the wigs, hair and make-up team for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony and a hair and make-up stylist for glittering stage shows including FAME at the Alexandra Theatre.

But it was the 20-year-old’s experience of creating casualty simulation wounds and injuries to help medical degree students gain greater understanding of what they might encounter in A&E that grabbed the future monarch’s attention.

“He was really interested in what I was studying,” she said. “When I told him about the casualty simulation, he asked me if I really have to look at real injuries and blood and stuff. Which I do!

“We played interactive darts together in the club downstairs too and Kate was good, got bullseye after bullseye.” 

Lucy, who also works for the University guiding young college students on the Hair and Media Make-up Level 2 and Theatrical Media Make-up Level 3 courses during their industry placements, said the experience was “surreal”.

“Until the day before, I didn’t have much detail,” she said. “I only knew I was going to an important reception about the creative industry. When I found out, I told my parents and grandparents and they couldn’t believe it.

“I was very nervous and a bit starstruck, but they were both lovely, so down to Earth. It was surreal, but really amazing, brilliant.”

Lucy, who will be going onto the University’s Prosthetics for Film and Television MA course when she graduates in September and hopes to launch a career in films overseas one day, said she had met some “wonderful” other creatives at the event. 

“There was such a mix,” she said. “Filmmakers, a video game creator, a graffiti artist, playwrights. Alison Hammond was there too and was lovely.”