The Duke of Cornwall and the Duchess of Edinburgh raised their glasses—and enjoyed their banter—as they imbibed at the Royal Cornwall Show on Friday afternoon.
The pair arrived for a visit to the Royal Cornwall Show, William as Patron of The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and Sophie as Patron of The Association of Agricultural Association, and headed straight to the Royal Cornwall Food and Farming Pavilion where they admired artisanal foods and drinks before stopping in front of a gin stall for some samples and some fun.
The royal duo was given sampling glasses of Saint Sithney Cornish gin. William joked, “You’ve got to watch her.” Sophie replied, “Just learning from the best.”
“I’ve been caught out with whisky a few too many times,” the future king confessed. “I’m like, ‘I can do that,’ and then I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’”
The pair then topped up their gin with rattlers from the Healeys Cyder stall and pasties from Ann’s Pasties, which William said he would save for lunch because “Trying to talk and eat is a nightmare.”
After their sampling, the pair split up to visit different areas of the Royal Cornwall Show. William paid visits to the Duchy of Cornwall hub, where mental health of the rural farming community is being spotlighted, and the Local Nature Partnership – Regenerative/Agricultural hub, which is hosted by the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership and Cornwall Council.
The latter hub is teaching ways to blend traditional farming techniques that they feel ought to be preserved while also looking at ways to support modern, regenerative practices, according to the Royal Family website.
To end his visit, William presented the Duchy of Cornwall’s Award, which is given annually to a farm business that has delivered a sustainable approach to either farming, food production or forestry.
Sophie paid a visit to the Girl Guides hub and the LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) hub, which focuses on ways to promote sustainable food and faming and circular approaches to both. At the end of her visit, she visited the Cattle, Pig, Sheep and Countryside hub to present the award for Best Team of Five Beef Animals of a Breed.
Afterwards, William shared on social media: “Delighted to attend the Royal Cornwall Show today with The Duchess of Edinburgh. The show is a proud celebration of Cornish heritage, innovation and farming.”
The Royal Cornwall Show was founded in 1793 and today attracts over 120,000 visitors per year. The Show shared on its Instagram account that they were proud to welcome William and Sophie and that “We are proud to showcase the best in Cornish heritage and traditions, and what makes the Royal Cornwall Show so special.”
