The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar paid a virtual visit to their Scottish county on Wednesday, conducting online chats with frontline workers who have been serving Forfar during the coronavirus pandemic.
During their virtual visit, Edward and Sophie met with NHS Tayside (where, earlier this week, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge provided lunch in honour of Burns Night), Police Scotland, the Angus Council, the Voluntary Action Angus, and Guide Dogs.
In their first series of video calls, Edward and Sophie heard about the frontline experiences at NHS Tayside, with Police Scotland, and within the Angus Council. They thanked the staff at each location for their work throughout the pandemic, and how they have risen to address the new challenges posed by the latest wave of infections and restrictions.
Next, Edward and Sophie met with the interim CEO of Voluntary Action Angus and its staff and volunteers. Since the pandemic began, Voluntary Action Angus has engaged over 1,000 volunteers to support food bank operations and prescription pick-up for vulnerable people.
Voluntary Action Angus shared on their Facebook page that “This was a great opportunity for us to promote the work of the Third Sector and highlight the amazing partnership working which has taken place due to the pandemic. It was lovely for us to be able to share our journey and we hope to meet you in person soon. Well done everyone involved!”
Edward and Sophie then caught up with the Saddler Family, the owners of Saddler’s Bakery, to hear how they have adapted with the COVID-19 restrictions in place. Finally, they spoke with the trainers at the Guide Dogs Forfar Training Centre.
The Queen bestowed the new title of Earl and Countess of Forfar upon Edward and Sophie in 2019, on her son’s 55th birthday. The Royal Family noted at the time that Forfar, the county town of Angus, Scotland, “is the principal county town nearest to Glamis Castle, the seat of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. It was this family of which the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was part.”
Edward and Sophie paid their first visit to Forfar in July 2019.
