Scone wrong! Prince Charles & Camilla shown Devon-style scones on day in Cornwall

Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge yesterday. The Duke of Cornwall – as Charles is known when in the region – is Patron of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, while The Duchess is its Vice President.

The royal couple’s visit to Cornwall is part of the extended 70th birthday celebrations for Prince Charles, who reaches the milestone age in November.

The Royal Cornwall Show has been running since 1793 and showcases the very best of the region’s agriculture, livestock, crafts and food. This year, the three-day show is expected to attract around 120,000 visitors.

As the royal guests toured the displays and food stands, Charles opened up the age-old ‘scone debate’. The rivalry between Cornwall and its neighbour, Devon, is no better played out than in the way jam and cream should be spread onto a scone. The matter reared its head when The Prince of Wales was shown a plate of scones that had the jam on top of the cream – in the manner of the traditional Devon cream tea, not the Cornish way, which places the cream on top of the jam!

The Duke joked to the young boy holding the plate: “Have you got that the right way round?”

Other tents the couple toured had everything from local cheeses and ciders to a stall representing the Cornwall Air Ambulance, which Camilla supports as Patron. The couple, as always, could not resist trying some of the delicacies on offer, with The Duchess tasting some cheese while The Duke tried a number of ciders.

The Prince of Wales also stopped by the Forestry Tent to hear about some of the conversation efforts currently underway in the region. Charles also spoke to representatives from the Red Squirrel Project, of which he is Patron; the organisation is attempting to reintroduce Britain’s native red squirrel to Cornwall.

Prince Charles visited the Forestry Tent to learn about some of the Cornish conservation efforts (Clarence House)

The centre piece of The Duke and Duchess’s visit was The Prince’s Countryside Parade, comprising floats featuring 58 rural and agricultural organisations and charities associated with Prince Charles, held in honour of his 70th year. The heir-to-the-throne is a staunch supporter of countryside and rural affairs; his most prominent rural body is The Prince’s Countryside Fund, established in 2010 to enhance the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of country life. Charles and Camilla apppeared to be thoroughly enjoying the parade!

One of the participants in the parade held in honour of Prince Charles 70th birthday (Clarence House)

The couple have returned to London for separate engagements today, ahead of The Queen’s Birthday Parade on Saturday, where we will see them join other members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.