The Prince Of Wales & Duchess Of Cornwall Visit The Island

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The Island played host to some very special visitors on Friday 17 July when The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall made the trip across the Solent to undertake a series of engagements here.

Their morning began at Ventnor Botanic Gardens where they opened the Friends Community Spaces Project in the Arid Garden and presented The Queen?s Award for Voluntary Service. On arrival at the popular visitor attraction they met with Curator Simon Goodenough as well as Alan Titchmarsh and were given a tour of the Australian Garden, where they were serenaded by a didgeridoo and shown a palm tree originally planted by Queen Victoria.

The Royal couple arrived to cheers from waiting crowds in Newport where they visited the Farmers? Market in St. Thomas Square. Their Royal Highnesses were given a tour the stalls which included Farmer Jacks, Calbourne Classics, Sharon Orchard, Harbors Lake Nursery and the Isle of Wight Cheese company.

As it was the Duchess?s 62nd birthday, she was presented with a cake outside Sts Thomas?s Minster, by Anne Longford, chairman of the Isle of Wight WI federation. The ten-inch sponge cake, decorated with lemon trellis and yellow roses displayed the WI logo in the centre. Also celebrating her birthday on this day, seven year-old Ella Smith a pupil at Carisbrooke Primary School, helped her Royal Highness to cut the cake and also gave her a hand-made birthday cake and posy. The Isle of Wight Music Centre Youth Stage Band led by Martyn Stroud, played "Happy Birthday" with scores of people joining in.

As the rain came down and the brollies went up, the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall took time to speak with delighted members of the public before entering the church where they were greeted by The Reverand Canon Dr. Stephen Palmer, Vicar of Newport and Chaplin to Her Majesty The Queen. Inside they were shown some of the renovation work that has been undertaken and viewed statue of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Charles I, who died at Carisbrooke Castle and is buried in Sts. Thomas?s.

The couple?s afternoon began with a visit to the former home of Queen Victoria, Osborne House. Here their Royal Highnesses were given a tour of some of the ground floor rooms of Osborne House including Queen Victoria?s Billiard Room and Dining Room and were able to take in the stunning view of the sea from the magnificent gardens.

Next to receive a visit from royalty was Ryde Inshore Rescue - an independent rescue service covering the Solent. Here the Prince of Wales presented service members with the Queen?s Award for Voluntary Service and met lifeboat members and supporters on the sea wall outside the Inshore Rescue building.

Finally the Royal Couple motored up to Nicholson Road in Ryde where the Prince visited Ryde Community Fire Service and learnt about the youth engagement scheme that the fire station is heavily involved in. He also met a two-man team undertaking a charity expedition, driving from London to Mongolia and watched a time-line display from the 1800?s through until 2014 which illustrated how the service has changed over time and outlined its vision for the future.

Whilst he was there, the Duchess was across the road at the headquarters of Liz Earle Beauty Company, The Green House. Here she was introduced to Liz Earle and her co-founder of the natural beauty business, Kim Buckland and learnt how the company has quickly developed from its launch in 1995 to become one of the biggest independent UK beauty product retailers in the UK. Whilst she was there Her Royal Highness was able to see products being packaged ready for dispatch and meet with staff.

Photos by Sarah Moss - ICT Web Team

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Ryde Fire Station Welcomes Royal Guests (press release)