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Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visit the Historic Dockyard in Chatham

Prince Charles meets RNLI volunteers
Prince Charles meets RNLI volunteers

The Prince of Wales was given a tour of Chatham Historic Dockyard’s newest attractions on his visit to Kent today.

Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall spent time at the Dockyard after visiting The Oyster Festival in Whitstable this morning.

Their first port of call was to meet young people aged 13 to 25 who have been supported by The Prince’s Trust Fairbridge programme, which is based at the Dockyard.

The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Historic Dockyard Trust, spoke to youngsters taking part in summer sessions which offer advice and inspiration on the next steps after taking exams.

While The Duchess of Cornwall met unemployed young people taking part in a money management session.

Their Royal Highnesses then joined young people as they participated in an improvised music session and put on a short performance.

The Prince of Wales was then shown the Hearts of Oak exhibition which opened earlier this year and the archaeological remains of HMS Namur.

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Prince Charles views the remains of HMS Namur
Prince Charles views the remains of HMS Namur

The ship’s timbers were discovered beneath the floor of the Wheelwrights’ Shop in 1995 and are being turned into a permanent exhibition.

While Prince Charles was being given a short tour and met with volunteers and staff, The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Railway Workshop to meet young children taking part in a school holiday workshop.

Lilly Mayor, seven, from Rainham, was selected to present the Duchess with flowers on her arrival at the pirate playtimes session.

She said: “I was really excited and really happy. I have never met a Royal before and I really wanted to give her the roses.”

The royal couple then both visited the No.1 Smithery gallery which opened in 2010.

There was just enough time for Camilla to view the photographic exhibition Exploring Antarctica: The Final Expeditions of Scott and Shackleton.

At the end of the visit, they both unveiled a plaque to commemorate the day and Prince Charles was presented with a children's swing for the newborn Prince George. It was made at the Dockyard using timbers from the Victorian sloop HMS Gannet and rope from the ropery.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall sign the visitors' book at Chatham Historic Dockyard
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall sign the visitors' book at Chatham Historic Dockyard

Admiral Sir Ian Garnett, chairman of the Historic Dockyard Trust, said: "It has been a great day. We all felt extremely proud and grateful when he accepted to be Patron to the Trust for the next five years.

"We were keen to bring him down to see how the Dockyard has changed since his last visit in 2004.

"We always like to give a gift and someone came up with the idea of a swing, which was made in the Dockyard and could be used by his grandchild, the future king."

Video: Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in Chatham

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