Duchess confesses to memorabilia collecting after snapping up mug

The Duchess of Cornwall confessed to collecting royal memorabilia as she treated herself to a Silver Jubilee mug during a trip to a charity shop.

Camilla bought the bargain, which celebrated the Queen’s 1977 milestone, for £1.50.

She spotted the commemorative mug while in Mossley, Ashtonunder-lyne, as she visited Emmaus UK, a social enterprise community which supports homeless people through education, training and personal development, yesterday.

She remarked: “I see you’ve got a nice jubilee mug. I am going to buy that. I have a whole collection, believe it or not.”

Touring the shop, the duchess said: “Oh there’s a really nice teapot here for anyone who collects them. I wish I had a bit more time here.

“It’s a great place to get presents if you have time.”

Camilla said there were “plenty of bargains”, adding: “You’ve even got a wedding dress.”

The duchess was attending a pre-platinum Jubilee Big Lunch with supporters of the annual community get-together, which this year forms part of the official celebrations in June for the monarch’s seven decades on the throne.

Camilla, who is patron of both Emmaus UK and the Big Lunch, was joined by Platinum Champion nominees at Emmaus Mossley.

Performers from Global Grooves, which is taking part in a jubilee pageant in London on June 5, greeted the duchess, who gave a broad smile as she shook hands with Padmini – a giant, 14ft-high puppet.

She said: “What a lovely place this is and what a fantastic view.”

Inside, she toured the Emmaus workshop and met volunteers who were upcycling and reupholstering donated chairs in preparation for the charity’s jubilee events.

She chatted to George Hall, from Mossley, who told her he would be 75 in May, about her own up and coming 75th birthday in July.

Cutting a cake to mark the occasion and celebrate 15 years of Emmaus Mossley, the duchess told guests: “I am thrilled to get everybody here today.”

The jubilee mug.