On Wednesday, The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay – Prince Charles and Camilla’s Scottish titles – carried out three new engagements in Dumfries and Galloway.
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Starting the day, the couple visited the village of Garlieston, where its port played an important role in D-Day preparations in 1944. Mulberry Harbours, which are temporary portable structures, were secretly planned and tested in the village in the lead-up to the events of 1944.
There, the Prince and Duchess were greeted by school children who lined the streets and visited a local pub, where Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla tried their hand at lawn boules.
Later on, The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay officially opened a new visitor centre at the Bladnoch Distillery. Founded in 1817, the distillery was closed at the beginning of the Second World War and reopened in 1957.
During the visit, they toured the production area and tasted some whisky – they were in Scotland after all!
Bladnoch Distillery is the southernmost distillery in Scotland and dates back to 1817.
The Duke tours the production area, where whisky is made. pic.twitter.com/EVfJuE4IBH
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) September 11, 2019
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Lastly, The Duchess of Rothesay visited Moat Brae House and Gardens, the Georgian townhouse and gardens which served as author J.M. Barrie’s inspiration for his story ‘Peter Pan’.
Upon her arrival, Camilla was welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries Fiona Armstrong and three children dressed as Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook, who performed a Highland dance.
Dame Barbara Kelly, the organisation chairman, said: “We were honoured and delighted to welcome HRH to Moat Brae to tell her the story of the development of this exciting and inspirational project. We are aware of HRH’s deep commitment to the importance of children’s literature and much enjoyed celebrating with her the royal visit to the house. A very happy day for Dumfries, for the region and for Scotland.”
Camilla visits JM Barrie’s house. Clarence House
During the visit, The Clown Magazine, an 1875 manuscript early writing by JM Barrie, was shown to the Duchess. Children from The JMB Creatives youth group read to Camilla in the amphitheatre and parents and young children demonstrated a creative writing and story-themed yoga class. At the end of the visit, Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit.
About the visit, The Duchess of Rothesay said: “I’ve been a great reader of JM Barrie, Peter Pan is a book I adored as a child. I’d heard about Moat Brae and they say that seeing is believing… and they are right. The work that has been done here is absolutely phenomenal.”
