
Keeping up with the Royals: BLOG
"Friday, July 03, 2009, 09:00
FRIDAY: 4:30pm:
There was an ecstatic welcome from 1,800 pupils, staff and parents as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall arrived at Penair in a silver Audi saloon.
The couple immediately started to chat to the youngster as they made their way to the school reception.
Those on the other side of the driveway felt left out and, hearing their calls, Prince Charles crossed over and made his way along speaking to as many as possible.It was a far cry from when the Duchess was in Cornwall a year ago, when only three ladies turned out in the rain to see her at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. One of those three was at Penair, still waving her flag. Sandra May confessed: "I’m a Camilla groupie."
The Duchess also said she admired the light blue Penair shirts as she spoke to a group of 13-year-olds.
She asked Ashley Rhodes if she enjoyed being at Penair, and when Ashley replied yes the Duchess said: "You have to say that don’t you, or you could be in trouble."
The informal theme of the whole visit was continued when the Duke and Duchess said down on bean bags when they went into the school’s new integrated health centre.
Six pupils were there to tell them all about it, and the Royal couple just sat down on the nearest seats available – brightly coloured bean bags.
After that bean bag moment there was a tour of the school’s kitchen garden where after being shown the range of vegetables, from courgettes and potatoes to luscious strawberries, the Duke spoke to our reporter.
He looked at me, and thinking that I was as expert on gardening as he was, said: "I can’t get over how nice that vegetable looks."
Beat that!
The purpose of the visit was to launch the integrated health centre which is one of three being paid for by the Duchy Health Centre and other charities.
The centre is one of three in Cornwall which will give youngsters the chance to talk freely as part of their health and sexual education.


Prince Charles greeting well-wishers. Picture by James Ram
2:00pm:
Not a lot of people know this, but Prince Charles' visit to Penair could be headlined Local landowner goes to see his nearest school.
The reason for this is that the Princes' Duchy Estate owns the two farms on the opposite side of the road to Penair School!
He has visited them in the past on a tour of his farms, but this is the first time he has been to see the work at the Council-run school.
1.30pm:
The Duchess of Cornwall arrived at the Berryfields estate in Bodmin at 12.20pm to officially open the new community centre.
After shaking hands with dozens of greeters she received posies of flowers from local school children and was given a tour of the new facility.
Inside the new children's centre she played with children and spoke to child minders about the new building.
The Duchess then visited the new look Strawberry's Daycare Nursery where she again played and spoke to the youngsters and staff.
She then met trustees and funders of the Berryfields and District Community Centre Ltd who spoke about how the new building had benefited the community. The Duchess finished her tour by signing the visitors book and unveiling a plaque.
The centre is currently applying for funding to build a divisible community hall for youth activities alongside the new building.
After unveiling the plaque The Duchess said: "I congratulate everyone – you have done a fantastic job. I cant believe what has happened in a year and I will keep my fingers tightly crossed for the next bit so if and when it does happen I can come back and open that."
She departed Berryfields at about 1pm and is now heading to Penair School.
12:00pm:


Prince Charles and Camilla visit Lostwithiel. Prince Charles stops to chat to 102 year old Mary Fox. Picture by Mike Rushworth
Hundreds of well-wishers packed into Lostwithiel's narrow streets to witness the visit of The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall this morning.
Every age, from one-year-olds to more than 100-year-olds, joined in the cheers and rapturous applause for the couple who visited a number of shops in the town, as well as various local landmarks.
Upon shaking hands with some school children, many said they would never wash their hands again and said it was something to tell the grandkids – when they have them.
Arriving at 10am, the royals made their way around nearly every shop, sampling varieties of produce – from Cornish pasties to Cornish apple juice.


Camilla receives a posey from Poppy Bailey (21 months old). Picture by Mike Rushworth
The pair departed separately at noon, with Prince Charles heading to Truro, whilst Camilla left for Bodmin to open the new Berryfields Community Centre.
THURSDAY: 4:30pm:
The royal couple – Camilla clutching a souvenir sea urchin – left Porthmellon for Trenoweth Horticulture Centre where, for over 40 years, valuable experimental work has benefitted island flower growers.
They were welcomed by the centre’s chairman Keith Hale and were shown around by long-time horticultural adviser Andrew Tompsett.
It is believed the centre’s buildings could shortly be tenanted by the islands’ wildlife trust who are currently short of storage and office space and who manage all the Duchy’s untenanted land in Scilly
"We talked about agriculture and flower growing" said wildlife trust trustee, Penny Rogers of Lunnon Farm, "and the link between the trust and farming" .
Mr Tompsett said Prince Charles showed an interest in apple trees, in particular the indigenous Scilly Pearl ."Have you got a Scilly Pearl?" I asked. "No, I haven’t" he replied. "Well you must have one of these trees" I said – we are going to send him one.
The station’s manager, Martin Goodey said Camilla showed interest in sweet potatoes which were becoming a popular vegetable , "She said it was a very digestible, high in proteins, and had started to be recommended for very young babies".
The couple signed the centre’s distinguished visitor’s book before leaving for St. Mary’s quay and a boat to Tresco (that's Tresco, not Tesco) for a private part of the day.The island, closed to the public for while, will host a royal tea for specially invited guests near the famous Abbey Gardens.
We assume our invites were lost in the post.
'Till tomorrow…
2:00pm:
Prince Charles and Camilla – the latter in a lime green suit – were last together in Scilly four years ago and today they returned to the islands for a short visit.
They were met at St.Mary’s airport by the new chair of the islands’ council Julia Day Appropriately, and in view of the sweltering weather, their first port of call was Porthmellon beach – where three of the old island pilot gigs Bonnett, Golden Eagle and Slippen were drawn up together with their crews.
Hand resting on the gunwhale of the 139- year -old "Eagle" Prince Charles inquired about the weekly racing programmes. A recent restoration of the "Eagle" was part funded by the Duchy Benovolent Fund .
The royal couple met chairman of the islands’ gig association Joel Williams and gig builder Peter Martin who explained how it was difficult to access the elm needed in gig building .
"I told him we were struggling to get elm and that I’ve had to go to Sweden for it".
They met the women‘s crew of the "Eagle" and also talked to island juniors who crew the gig Tearway which beginners use.
What's what:
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will be visiting Cornwall today – the start of a two-day tour.
The royal itinerary takes in the Isles of Scilly, Lostwithiel, Bodmin and Truro.
Today, Prince Charles and Camilla will be on St Mary’s to meet members of the gig crew and view the Golden Eagle gig which has recently been refurbished, before going on to the Trenoweth Centre.
Later the Duke and Duchess will be at Town Square where they will be greeted by children and locals.
On Friday morning the royal couple will be at Lostwithiel to view the ancient Duchy Palace and visit the town’s museum and parish church.
The Duchess later moves on to Bodmin to open the new Berryfields community centre as patron of the Community Foundation.
Camilla is keeping a promise she made last year when she visited the estate and vowed to open the new facility when it was completed.
The couple will later be at Penair School in Truro to meet pupils and visit the new integrated health centre at St Clement Street.
Well, here at TiC we just can't resist a good royal visit, and we thought you might like to beat the rain cloud blues by Keeping up with the Royals.


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