Duchess of Cornwall visits Chalke Valley History Festival
Camilla in attendance today for opening
Last updated 20th Jun 2022
The Duchess of Cornwall was in attendance for the country's biggest dedicated history event today as she visited the opening day of the Chalke Valley History Festival.
Her Royal Highness was there for an edition of her popular Reading Room events, which had its first collaboration with the festival this year.
The Reading Room is an initiative backed by Camilla to celebrate literature, inspired by the book lists she curated during the pandemic as recommended reads.
The event at the event in Broadhchalke saw the Duchess introduce a discussion between historical author Philippa Gregory and historian Alison Weir, entitled 'Rediscovering Women in History'.
Festival Director, Jane Pleydell-Bouverie, said:
“We are very honoured that HRH The Duchess of Cornwall has given up her precious time to attend the history festival and delighted that we made a little bit of history ourselves as it was the first time that the Reading Room has chosen to partner with a festival of any kind.
"It was a marvellous occasion to open the festival and we very much looked forward to Her Royal Highness’s visit."
The Chalke Valley History Festival returned to Broad Chalke this year in its normal, week-long format after a couple of years of disruption.
Highlights on the programme this time around included a stunning Iron Age round house and settlement, built specifically for this year’s festival using the very tools and materials that would have been employed by those in Britain before the Roman invasion.
TV presenter and historian Dan Snow talked about his epic journey to Antarctica to find Sir Ernest Shakleton's shipwreck Endurance.
The popular World War Two trench also made a return along with the extensive programme for schools.
The Daily Mail Chalke Valley History Festival runs from 20th to 26th June 2022. Tickets can be bought via the Chalke Valley History Festival's website.