The Duke of Cornwall and The Duchess of Edinburgh conducted a rare joint engagement by attending the Royal Cornwall Show 2025.
The last time aunt and nephew conducted a visit together was in 2023, when they attended the premiere of the documentary, Rhino Man, hosted United for Wildlife.
Prince William, in his role as Patron of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, and the Duchess, Patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations, joined over 120,000 visitors at one of the country’s largest agricultural events.
Established in 1793, the Royal Cornwall Show continues to promote the advancement of agriculture and related industries while showcasing Cornwall’s rich cultural identity. William is Duke of Cornwall as heir to the throne.
William and Sophie began their visit in the Royal Cornwall Food and Farming Pavilion, where they sampled a variety of artisan products, including local chutneys, Cornish cheeses, gins, and ciders.
The Duke, clearly in high spirits, joked about moving ‘from chutneys straight into booze’ as he and the Duchess sampled an assortment of flavoured gins. When Sophie went for a second taste, William playfully teased: ‘You’re not allowed to finish it. You’ve got to watch her’.
Laughing, she replied: ‘He’s learnt from the best’.
William admitted to being ‘caught out with whisky a few too many times. I think I can do that and then oh no I couldn’t’.
Both Royals then proceeded to conduct separate engagements at the event, championing causes they are passionate about. The Duke visited the Duchy of Cornwall hub, which this year highlighted rural mental health initiatives and local charities. He also toured the Local Nature Partnership’s Regenerative Agricultural Education Hub, hosted by Cornwall Council, where he learned about projects aimed at preserving traditional farming skills while promoting future-focused regenerative practices.
Meanwhile, the Duchess visited two organisations close to her heart. At Linking Environment and Farming, she discussed sustainable food and farming systems. She also stopped by the Girl Guides, who have long supported the show by running messages between competition rings and show offices. Sophie thanked them for their vital work and asked about their experiences at the event.
Later, William presented the Duchy of Cornwall Award to a farm business excelling in sustainable farming, forestry, or food production across Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly, meanwhile Sophie visited the livestock areas where she awarded the prize for Best Team of Five Beef Animals of a Breed.
In a charming moment, she tickled a pig’s foot, calling out ‘wakey wakey’ to a sleeping pig, and quipped to a nearby dog: ‘You’re not a pig. I don’t care what they say, you’re not a pig.’
