With the coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla as King and Queen Consort taking place today (Saturday, May 6), we've taken a look back at the royal couple’s visits to East Devon in past years.
Camilla was in the area in July 2019, when she toured the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth on her 72nd birthday.
The Duchess of Cornwall was welcomed to the site by children from Sidmouth Primary School, and unveiled a plaque commemorating the Donkey Sanctuary’s 50th anniversary. She also officially named a young foal, Sweet Pea, and was presented with a Donkey Sanctuary themed Monopoly game and a framed picture of the foal as birthday presents.
It was part of a three-day visit to Devon and Cornwall by the royal couple. Charles had another engagement in the area and did not accompany his wife to Sidmouth.
However, the royal couple were together for a visit to River Cottage's headquarters in Axminster in July 2014 (above). The owner of the organic smallholding, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, said he had long admired Prince Charles's support for sustainable agriculture, and it was an 'absolute honour' to welcome him and the Duchess of Cornwall to the site.
In 2013 Camilla officially opened the Devon County Show at Westpoint, and spent a few hours strolling around the showground and meeting representatives of the local agriculture industry.
Charles’s last visit to East Devon was in October 2002 when he officially unveiled the GeoNeedle at Orcombe Point, at the start of the Jurassic Coast. The 96-mile stretch of coastline had been designated a World Heritage Site the previous year.
Charles also visited Exmouth back in May 1977, when he met a group of local schoolchildren.
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