SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

British RoyalsThe Edinburghs

The Countess of Wessex’s Day in Cumbria

You know what it’s like for a royal going about their business. One minute you’re learning to be a barista, the next you’re starting at a wall of silage. That’s just what happened to the Countess of Wessex as she headed to Cumbria for a day of engagements.

(Photo: Royal Family Twitter)

Sophie spent Wednesday in the county and, as many of us do mid week, started off with quite a lot of coffee. Her first port of call was John Farrer and Co, an independent coffee and tea merchants based in Kendal. It’s marking its 200th anniversary this year and Sophie helped get the celebrations started by officially beginning production of a special blend of coffee being made for the milestone.

That was the easy part. The Countess was then given a tour of the brand new Wessex Training Suite where she heard about the techniques needed to produce a perfect cup of coffee. She donned an apron and got to work, crafting her own coffee under the watchful gaze of experts.

(Photo: Royal Family Twitter)

The next engagement for the Countess of Wessex was at the Bendrigg Trust near Kendal which provides outdoor activities and opportunities for people with disabilities. She met children from Percy Hedley School who were enjoying some of the adventures on offer at the centre and heard about the Trust’s work in the area.

The final engagement for Sophie in Cumbria took her to Lords Plain Farm near Kendal and that, unsurprisingly, is where the silage came in. As the official Royal Family Twitter account helpfully reminded us, silage is ‘grass or green fodder’ which is stored over the winter for use as animal feed. The Countess of Wessex donned a fetching pair of blue gloves and got down to the business of attending the judging of the Westmorland Agricultural Society’s Annual Silage Competition. She’s been the society’s patron since 2018 so Sophie and silage might yet become a regular sight.

There was also a chance for the countess to meet some of the animals at the farm on this last stop of the day and she spent time, too, with some schoolchildren who were taking part in a workshop on nutrients in food production.

The Countess of Wessex’s next scheduled engagements are in Cornwall on February 7th 2019.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.