Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall head to Devon for visits
Prince Charles and Camilla are in the South West today, as they begin a three-day trip to our region.
Last updated 19th Jul 2021
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will also visit North Devon and Cornwall.
The heir to the throne and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit Exeter Cathedral to hear about restoration work and meet with community groups, including Devon Wildlife Trust, Exeter City Community Trust and the Met Office, which works with the Cathedral and Exeter University on Climate Change research.
The Prince of Wales is the patron of the Exeter Cathedral Development Appeal.
The visit will also celebrate the city’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature and launch The Royal College of Nursing’s Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme in England.
Just last week Princess Anne visited Plymouth twice for various events.
The Royal visit was the first since lockdown restrictions eased and the Prince and Duchess were shown around the Cathedral by the Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Robert Atwell, and the Dean, the Very Reverend Jonathan Greener.
Bishop Robert said: “It was a fantastic visit and special in all sorts of ways, which was reflected by the hundreds of people who came.
The Duchess of Cornwall was given a posy by the cathedral’s youngest chorister
“He engaged really well with all sorts of people. He is hugely interested in our cathedral and its significance in terms of architecture and heritage and conservation.
“But he was also interested in the local community groups – it was wonderful seeing him and Camilla talking to people like the cathedral stonemasons and Prince of Wales nursing cadets.
“He was also concerned to hear how we had fared in Devon during the pandemic and how young people are experiencing things because it has been so challenging.”
The Cathedral bells were also rung as a full peal of 12 bells for the first time since March 2020.
Hundreds of people turned out to see the Prince and Duchess meet members of Devon organisations
“This is really marking a special day in the life of the Cathedral, the city and the diocese, it’s wonderful,” Bishop Robert said.
During the visit, Prince Charles, who is Patron of the Exeter Cathedral Development Appeal, was shown the Exeter Book, thought to be the world’s oldest surviving work of English literature.
The appeal is designed to raise funds to conserve the cathedral’s important architecture and improve the visitor experience for future generations.
The royal couple also met some of Exeter Cathedral’s clergy, staff, volunteers, donors and supporters, as well as representatives from the Met Office, which is based in Exeter, the University of Exeter and Devon Nursing Cadets.
As they left, members of the nursing cadets and choristers from Exeter Cathedral School lined-up to form a guard of honour outside the Cathedral’s West entrance.
The Very Reverend Jonathan Greener, said: “As a Cathedral, a city and a county, we have endured an incredibly challenging 16 months. So, to receive the first Royal visit since the easing of coronavirus restrictions is a wonderful way to lift the spirits of the whole community, and move forward in hope.”