The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall made their first official joint visit to our beautiful county since receiving their new titles, and paid a visit to some wonderful organisations in Falmouth.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Princess Catherine, visited Cornwall together for the first time since receiving their new royal titles upon the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
The Duke and Duchess arrived in Falmouth on Thursday, 9th February for a series of royal engagements in the town, starting with a visit to the National Maritime Museum, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Crowds flocked to Discovery Quay, where the royal couple greeted happy members of the public, before moving into the museum to meet local people working on the refurbishment of the 14-foot sailing dinghy ‘Kiwi’, which was first presented to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding present from the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Their royal highnesses also heard from local schoolchildren who are taking part in the ‘Young and Talented Cornwall’ scheme.
A spokesperson from the National Maritime Museum said: “We were delighted and privileged to welcome Their Royal Highnesses to NMMC on their first joint visit to the county as the new Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. During their visit they were introduced to the National Small Boat Collection, they visited the Museum’s workshop where they were introduced to some of the key boats from the collection as well as trying their hand at riveting. They also joined King Charles School in the Museum’s Boat Pool and raced the remote-control boats against each other.”
Their Royal Highnesses then moved onto the Dracaena Centre, where they were able to find out about their projects and were introduced to the centre staff, who deliver the Toy Library and Little Steps parenting group, as part of its vital early years’ support to local families. Following the early years’ session, the couple proceeded to the sports hall where the centre’s table tennis Bat & Chat session was running.
Organiser Jane Leigh said: “I had a couple of bats ready in case the royals wanted to stop, but he said they were on as trict schedule and wouldn’t have time. When they walked in, however, they made straight for a table and asked if they could join in for a game of doubles.”
Centre manager Richard May was delighted to receive the royal visitors. He said: “To host a visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall was a huge honour, and it was a great accolade for the Centre to be chosen, reflecting how our aims in helping the community mirror the interests of the royal couple.”
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