Charles and Camilla get warm welcome at market
THE Prince of Wales thanked the people of Leicester for their warm welcome on a freezing day.
Charles and Camilla arrived at the city’s market at lunchtime, as snow and sleet blew in.
Bad weather, however, did not deter hundreds of people from lining the streets to greet the royal couple.
No sooner had Charles and Camilla stepped out of the royal limousine than they were offered an espresso by Geoff Rossa, of Cafe Bocca.
Geoff, whose grandfather Raphael set up stall in Leicester in 1986, said: “They’d ordered ahead so we were ready with the refreshments. I think they liked it.”
“That’s serious coffee,” declared Charles after a sip, before he and Camilla ventured into the market to meet traders.
Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby guided the couple through the stalls, explaining that the family of one of
Leicester’s favourite sons, Gary Lineker, once had a fruit and veg business there.
Camilla took time to stop and speak with members of Shama Women’s Centre, in Highfields – helps women develop skills and works to prevent domestic violence – and to view artwork created by the group.
Trader Tim Pole chatted briefly with the prince as he passed through the indoor food hall.
He said: “He was really interested in our British cheeses. I might send him some. It was great to meet him for me personally and great for the city. It lifted the place.”
The centrepiece of the market visit was for Charles to unveil a plaque to mark the renaming of the new market square behind the
Corn Exchange as
Green Dragon Square – a nod to the 15th century Green Dragon Tavern, which once stood there.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall were welcomed by 90 children from Folville Junior, Avenue Primary and St Thomas More Catholic primary schools.
Lord Mayor Annette Byrne presented Camilla with a small bronze version of the statue of Alice Hawkins – a former Leicester factory worker who became a prominent suffragette – which stands in the square.
Prince Charles said: “May I just say what an enormous pleasure it is for my wife and myself to be here today.
“We apologise for keeping you all waiting in the middle of hailstorms and also for preventing so many of you from shopping in the splendid market which we so enjoyed seeing.”
He said he hoped the new square would make an enormous difference to the city and said: “Thank you for your incredibly kind welcome that really has made a whole difference to us.” The Duchess than travelled to Leicester General Hospital while the Prince of Wales visited The City Rooms for the launch of the East Midlands chapter of the British Asian Trust charity – of which he is royal patron.
Among the people he met was City Rooms owner Naresh Parmar.
Mr Parmar said: “We had a good chat. I was telling him about some of the buildings I’ve restored and the eight that have been taken of the ‘at risk’ heritage register.
“He joked he hadn’t managed to get any off the list and asked me how I’d managed it. It’s one of his real interests.”
It was also a special day for Mr Parmar’s parents, Ganpatbhai and Kesumben, who met the prince as they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.”
As Prince Charles departed he stopped to chat to more people, including Katherine van Kroonenburg, 26, from Wigston, who had taken along her daughter Diane, just turned one, along in the hope of a meeting.
Katherine said: “It’s not every day you get the chance to meet a prince. “I wanted to say God bless to him. “He stopped and he was very kind. He said ‘I hope this little one isn’t too cold.’
“I had her well wrapped up. It’ll be a nice thing to tell her about when she’s a little older.”