After wrapping up a very successful week in Wales a few weeks ago, The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall began their annual visit to the South West.
A bit of rain did not dampen the spirit of The Duchess of Cornwall during her visit to Padstow on Monday.
The theme for their time spent in Cornwall is year’s visit are tourism and supporting local communities. According to their schedule, for the next few days, it certainly will cover this year’s theme. The royal couple are scheduled to visit some key tourist destinations, learn more about services supporting tourism, as well as show their support for local communities in Cornwall, visiting local businesses.
Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall first stop of the day was in Padstow, a working fishing port and well-known destination for food and drink.
During the first engagement of the day, the royal couple met
residents, local fishermen, members of the Harbour Commission, representatives from Shelterbox and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), and residents of the local Almshouse.
Camilla is President of ShelterBox the international disaster relief charity that distributes emergency shelter and necessary aid to people stricken by disaster worldwide. During her visit, The Duchess was briefed on the charity’s recent work providing assistance to Nepal.
Charles is Patron of the Almshouse Association. The Almshouse Association represents over 1,650 independent almshouse charities throughout the United Kingdom, providing homes for over 35,000 people.
The Duke of Cornwall as Prince Charles in known when visiting was all smiles on Monday.
Both keen on locally sourced food, Prince Charles and his wife went on separate engagements to see how Padstow and it’s celebrity chefs provide fresh, locally produced food.
Charles made a stop at chef Rick Stein’s café where he met with apprentices, local suppliers and long serving members of staff. Camilla went on to tour Number Six, chef Paul Ainsworth’s restaurant, where she met local suppliers, including Rock Shellfish and Flying Fish Seafoods.
The royal couple met back together to tour the Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Buried deep in the Cornish countryside, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, were rediscovered 25 years ago.
Recognised not only for its beauty and mystery, but Heligan also is known for the groundbreaking restoration project, the largest in Europe, which initially brought Heligan to the public’s attention.
The more than 200 acres of The Lost Gardens are a utopia for explorers, as well as wildlife and plant lovers.
Charles and Camilla toured the gardens including the Jungle and the ‘Living Memorial’ to the gardeners of Heligan House, who gave their lives in World War One. During the tour of the Jungle garden, the ever so adventurous prince crossed the rope bridge.
Following their garden tour, The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall attended a reception with staff and supporters to mark the 25th anniversary of the restoration of the gardens.
Following their visit to The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Duke of Cornwall ventured out on his own and visited The Falmouth Arms, which is supported by The Prince of Wales’s Pub is The Hub initiative.
Situated in Ladock at the heart of Cornwall, The Falmouth Arms is a 17th-century pub offering a Portakabin shop and post office on its car park. Recently with the help of the Pub is The Hub initiative, a micro library was opened at the pub.
Pub is The Hub functions as a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation committed to offering advice and assistance to licensees, rural pubs and community services.
The scheme began in England in 2001 but was only introduced to Wales in 2012 by North Wales-based rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd, who piloted it in Denbighshire.
Estimates have shown that five pubs close daily across the UK. A staggering 2,000 pubs closed alone last year, which in turn hurts the local economy as well as threatens the shops and even schools in the local areas.
It is estimated that five pubs are closing every day across the UK – almost 2,000 closed last year – and many of these are in rural areas where shops and schools are also under threat.
During the visit to The Falmouth Arms, Charles met with residents and community group members that gather at the pub. He also took some time to view the pub’s micro-library.
During their recent trip to Wales, Charles and Camilla stopped at the Raven Inn as part of the Pub is the Hub initiative. As ‘Wales Week’ concluded, the heir to throne mad a visit to The Glan yr Afon Arms, which is also supported by The Prince’s Pub is the Hub initiative.
On Tuesday, Charles and his wife attend an Island Fair in Hugh Town on St Mary’s. Camilla then will visit HolyVale Vineyard, later meeting back with her husband to tour St Agnes. Together they will stop at a local pub, post office, two farms and St Agnes Church, before visiting the new Island Hall and hosting a reception for Duchy tenants.
Photo Credits: Special thanks to Morton Bros @MortonBros
So cool…!