Baking bread, joining a chapter of the WI, Prince Charles dancing and The Duchess of Cornwall hosting tea party for sick children are just part of what the royal couple have participated in during this very busy ‘Wales Week.’
Thursday proved to be yet another full schedule, and it began visiting something close to both Charles and Camilla ‘s heart: an organic farm.
Embed from Getty ImagesPrince Charles and his wife toured ‘Humble by Nature’, a functioning organic farm run by broadcaster Kate Humble and her husband, Ludo Graham.
Humble and Graham saved the working farm from closure in 2010.
The farm has now expanded to become the centre for a broad array of activities. It includes a rural skills centre that employs local experts to teach courses such as livestock management, hedge-laying, dry stone walling, willow weaving, charcuterie, sheep shearing and sustainable bee-keeping.
The farm also has a farm shop and café, an adventure playground and houses a variety of rare breed farm animals. It continues to be a working farm and is home to tenant farmers Tim and Sarah Stephens, breeders of Welsh Mountain sheep and Hereford cattle.
During their visit, the royal couple viewed the animal sheds, the farm shop and the café.
Following the farm visit the heir to the throne, and his wife went their separate ways, attending individual engagements before meeting later to tour textile business Charles and Patricia Lester.
Prince Charles went on to visit High Glanau Manor and tour its listed Art & Crafts garden.
High Glanau is a country house and Grade II* listed building within the community of Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire, Wales.
Set in 12 acres of gardens designed by H. Avray Tipping in 1922, High Glanau Manor is an important Arts & Crafts house. Charles, well known for his love of architecture certainly was in his element during his visit on Thursday.
H. Avray Tipping was the Architectural Editor of Country Life Magazine from 1907 until his death in 1933.
One might recall, Charles was the guest editor of the magazine in 2014 as part of his 65th birthday celebrations. The editorship of Country Life magazine was the royal’s first time editing a print magazine.
Currently, the gardens are being returned to their former glory, preserving many of their original features including formal terraces, an octogonal pool, the glasshouse and pergola.
Helena Gerrish owns the manor and gardens. She has written a book on Edwardian Country Life and Avray Tipping and frequently lectures horticultural societies on the Manor’s famous previous owner.
As Charles was touring High Glanau Manor, his wife paid a visit to Ancre Hill Vineyard.
Ancre Hill Estates’ family run 4-hectare vineyard located in the heart of the Wye Valley. Biodynamically and organically certified, the Estate grows Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Albarino.
A new state of the art Winery was completed this year.
Since 2011, Camilla has been President of the United Kingdom Vineyards Association, met with staff and officially opened the new winery during her visit.
The UKVA is the only organisation recognised by the Government and the wider community as representing the English and Welsh wine industry.
During her visit, The Duchess of Cornwall met with staff and supporters, before officially opening the new winery.
After their solo visits Charles and his wife we on to visit the studio of fashion designers Charles and Patricia Lester.
The firm is celebrating its 50th year in business. They specialise in creating unique luxury women’s wear and interior textile art and their clientele include the likes of Adele, Barbara Streisand and Princess Michael of Kent.
During their visit, the royal couple visited the studio where the met with staff and supporter. They learned about businesses the unique process that takes the textiles from their original form through to the printed result. Before departing, The Prince and his wife unveiled a plaque to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
As the day began to come to a close, Prince Charles had one more visit to squeeze into a very busy Thursday. Charles mad a stop at General Dynamics UK Limited, a defence and aerospace manufacturer.
General Dynamics UK delivers the British Army’s primary land capabilities. The facility produces the Bowman – the British Armed Forces tactical communications programme, and the SCOUT Specialist Vehicle (SV) – the replacement for the British Army’s reconnaissance vehicle fleet.
During his visit, Charles met with staff watched various demonstrations and viewed some of the equipment that the firm produces, including some of the armoured vehicles mentioned above.
Friday will see ‘Wales Week’ come to close as Charles has a handful of engagements focussing on Pub is the Hub, PRIME Cymru, Cambrian Mountains Initiative and The Duchy Future Farming Programme.
Next week will see The Duchess of Cornwall inaugurate the new Wichelstowe Landing Stage in Swindon. Also on the books is Charles and his wife attending the 157th Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate and Camilla visiting St. Peter’s Eaton Square Church of England Primary School.
Featured photo credit: Michel Temer [cropped from orginal] via Flickr
Photo credit: Elleen Boal via Flickr
