Special day when
Charles and Camilla call in for a cuppa as Mackintosh Willow rooms are opened
THE Duke and Duchess of Rothesay chatted to wellwishers gathered outside Mackintosh at the Willow as the pair stopped off to visit the newly restored tearooms.
The royal couple were there to add a final piece of wood carving to four-year project.
Charles and Camilla were invited to officially open the restored tearooms, which date back to 1903 and were designed entirely by Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
During the visit, Charles said: “It’s a remarkable achievement. I’m full of admiration.”
“What you’ve managed to do is truly splendid and will make such a difference to Glasgow.”
The Willow Tea Rooms Trust has overseen a £10 million, four-year restoration of the A-listed property, which is of international significance as it was the only building where Mackintosh had complete control over the architecture and interior decorations, including the design of furniture, cutlery and waitress uniforms.
The royal couple met staff trained through the Prince’s Trust and those behind the restoration.
Prince Charles added: “I’m very proud of the small part Dumfries House and my Prince’s Trust had to help with the training of the staff here. I wish you nothing but the greatest success from now on and I’m very proud to have played a small part in opening the tea rooms.”
Both Charles and Camilla were piped out of the venue before they stopped to meet excited locals and those from further afield who had happened across the opening whilst visiting Glasgow.
One excited American, who was visiting from New York told the Evening Times: “We just walked past and there were crowds of people so we stopped.
“Then we realised there were members of the royal family in front of us. It was very exciting.”
The Duchess of Rothesay later visited the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, the charity Maggie’s and Target Ovarian Cancer.
The Duchess, who has been