Devon and Cornwall Week

Day 3:

Today, The Duke of Cornwall met emergency service personnel at Middlemoor Fire Station.

Throughout the pandemic, emergency services have had to cooperate and join forces to ensure the South West was kept safe. The Fire Department have been able to relieve some of the pressures of NHS staff by training as ambulance drivers.

Meanwhile, both the Police and Fire Community Safety Officers and Community Responders have been providing uniformed foot patrols within their communities encouraging people to maintain social distancing and offering advice.

Day 2:

On Their Royal Highnesses second day in Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall met volunteers at Treverbyn Hall, which has been used as a base during lockdown to help support the community.

The Hall has received grant support from the Cornwall Community Foundation, which supports organisations making a difference in Cornwall. The Duchess is Patron of the Foundation.

Before departing, Their Royal Highnesses also had the chance to thank the local teachers from Treverbyn Academy for all their hard work during this challenging time.

Next, The Duke and Duchess visited St Austell Healthcare, who have created an app to communicate relevant information about mental health services, online services and food delivery, and to identify vulnerable people who may need extra support.

Addressing staff at the centre, His Royal Highness said:

I have nothing but immense praise for doctors and nurses, but what strikes me most is how this vital work is part of a vast team effort and I am so grateful for this opportunity to meet with those other members of the team.

Read HRH's speech in full here.

Day 1:

Their Royal Highnesses today began their annual visit to Devon and Cornwall.

Starting the day, The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall visited Tintagel Castle, one of more than 270 ancient monuments scheduled by English Heritage across the Duchy.

Their Royal Highnesses opened a new footbridge, which crosses over a 190ft gorge, allowing visitors to observe coastal views not seen since the Middle Ages.

Legends say that the King of Britain, Uther Pendragon – transformed by the wizard Merlin into the likeness of The Duke of Cornwall – stole across this passageway into the castle where he spent the night with The Duke’s wife, Ygerna, who later gave birth to the future King Arthur.

In crossing the bridge today, His Royal Highness became the first Duke of Cornwall in at least 500 years to enter the Cornish fortress, in the way its original medieval builders intended.

This afternoon, The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Cornwall Air Ambulance base in Newquay. Her Royal Highness launched their new helicopter, 'Duchess of Cornwall' and met the crew who will be flying it. It is The Duchess's 10th year as Patron of the Trust.