THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
MAKE ACQUAINTANCES AULD AND NEW — AND CAMILLA CHAMPIONS WOMEN ROUND THE WORLD
THE DUKE and DUCHESS OF ROTHESAY enjoy acquaintances auld and new in Scotland
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall brought some colour to Dumfries House in Scotland last week as they unfurled a giant patchwork blanket.
The knitted installation, which weighs a staggering 20.5 stone, was displayed at the Ayrshire estate to promote the traditional craft.
More than 9,000 knitted squares sent from around the globe were sewn together by staff from The Prince’s Foundation – students on the charity’s textiles course and prisoners on a rehabilitation programme.
The royal couple, known north of the border as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, also sampled haggis and a dram of whisky at the birthplace of the poet Robert Burns in Alloway, South Ayrshire,
‘ Let’s do all we can to support the female journalists of Afghanistan’ Camilla
to mark the 90th anniversary of the National Trust in Scotland; they also met local food and craft producers and schoolchildren in the village hall.
Camilla, dressed in Lord of the Isles tartan, then visited South Ayrshire Women’s Aid centre.
She met women living there in newly refurbished self-contained flats, telling one mother who had fled appalling domestic violence: “I can understand the importance to you of having somewhere safe to go, but also somewhere that offers you privacy as well as support and advice.”
The Duchess, who last week also became patron of Nigeria’s first sexual assault referral centre, the Mirabel Centre in Lagos, has long campaigned on behalf of survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
CALL TO ACTION
And back at Dumfries House, she spoke up for “brave” female journalists in Afghanistan during a Women in Journalism mentoring session and panel discussion.
She said: “All journalists who fight for truth and justice in the face of retribution deserve our thanks and admiration.
“Let’s do all we can to support, promote and, crucially, listen to the brave female journalists of Afghanistan, whose work puts them in danger every single day.”
Camilla also visited the Nairn Book and Arts Festival and the environment charity Green Hive, before opening the town’s new Team Hamish Splashpad. The attraction was built in memory of Hamish Hey, who died of cancer aged eight in 2017. She ended her busy trip at the Maggie’s cancer support centre in Inverness.
Earlier in the week, the Prince and the Duchess visited the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow to mark its 120th anniversary and the Prince visited Govan Home and Education Link Project, which supports young children and families in the area.