It’s been her home for most of her life and the county where the littlest princess is spending her first summer has really taken her to its heart. Norfolk has Cambridge mania and it’s all thanks to baby Charlotte.
The peaceful landscape of Norfolk has been home to Princess Charlotte for most of her early life
Since her birth on May 2nd and arrival at Anmer Hall soon afterwards, a whole host of things inspired by Charlotte have sprung up in this part of East Anglia. From trains to trails, pizzas to pitching a tent just about everything in Norfolk can find a link to the new fourth in line to the throne. Here’s how Princess Charlotte of Cambridge conquered Norfolk.
Food for thought
Charlotte or more to the point her mum won’t even be thinking about solid food yet – the newest member of the House of Windsor is some time away from the age when experts recommend starting weaning. But once she’s ready, there are plenty of royally inspired dishes on offer in the county she currently calls home.
A pub in Wells, aptly named The Crown, might be first on the list with The Royal Princess Puree Menu which offers such baby staples as pureed carrot and pureed potato and the slightly more unusual pureed venison. In Brancaster, The White Horse is taking this 21st century princess back to the 1960s with a retro Charlotte Royale albeit with a modern edge – perfect mushed up with custard for a growing royal. But it might be a while yet before the new princess can enjoy the dish at another pub in the town – the Jolly Sailors is offering a Pizza Royale with several toppings including Charlotte potatoes.
Creative Charlotte
Kate revealed that she had introduced Prince George to messy play when he was a baby and several places in Norfolk have decided to mark the birth of Charlotte with some creative ideas of their own. The Banningham Crown has a new princess colouring page for young visitors and has been giving out royal sceptres to all the little girls eating there recently.
Meanwhile, a luxury bell tent hire company in the county has got really creative following the arrival of a little girl in the Cambridge household. The firm, 2Posh2Pitch, has come up with the Princess Charlotte tent which is all ready for visitors and features pink bunting, cushions and flowers.
Following traditions
We all know how much Charlotte’s family love a spot of horse riding and horse racing and to mark the birth of the royal baby, Fakenham Racecourse held a special run called the ‘Welcome to Norfolk, Princess Charlotte’ race on their Ladies’ Day at the end of May.
And while we’re talking tradition, the Royal Train could have a rival after the Wells Walsingham Light Railway did up one of its carriages to mark the arrival of Kate and William’s daughter. The Princess Charlotte carriage is described as being fit for royalty.
The Charlotte Effect
As we’ve only really seen her in one outfit – the cream jumper and all in one ensemble she wore for the official photos with Prince George – it’s probably too early to talk about the Charlotte Effect, her version of the Kate or George Effect which sees any item of clothing worn by her mother or brother fly off the shelves in epic quantities. But a Norfolk based clothing company, Gone Crabbing, has a t-shirt with the slogan ‘One’s Gone Crabbing’ on its books now inspired by the princess.
Charlotte can expect a lifetime of sparkle ahead of her as she will have access to a pretty impressive set of jewels to use as she grows up. But the glitter is already rubbing off in the county she calls home – at Wroxham Barns, Hoveton one of the new lambs was named after the princess and was given a pink, sparkly collar to match.
Put it all together and you get…
In fact, so many places in Norfolk have been inspired by Princess Charlotte that a tourist organisation is bringing it altogether in a trail that will allow visitors to the county to explore all the activities and organisations that have taken the new royal to their hearts. Visit North Norfolk, a not for profit company, will put together a route which can be accessed at their website.
Lucy Downing of Visit North Norfolk said that having Charlotte and George growing up in the county was very exciting and added ‘many businesses wanted to mark and celebrate Princess Charlotte’s arrival and we are delighted to showcase these tributes in a trail for visitors to explore during their stay. It’s not every day you can welcome a Princess to your home county’.
And with the world watching Norfolk on Sunday as its new royal resident and her family celebrate her christening in the county, the interest will only increase. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is really conquering Norfolk.
Photo credit: Ian-S via Flickr
