The Prince of Wales was joined by The Duchess of Cornwall as he introduced The Duchess of Cambridge to the work of his charity The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts at Dulwich Picture Gallery in the UK last week.
Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by hundreds of cheering schoolchildren waving Union flags when they arrived in the bright sunshine in Dulwich. It was the first time The Duchess of Cambridge had joined her father-in-law The Prince of Wales on a visit to one of his charities.
A spokesperson for Clarence House said they chose to see the work of The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts at Dulwich because of their mutual interest.
The Duchess of Cambridge, who, like The Prince of Wales has a strong interest in art and its benefits to young people, is Patron of The Art Room and the National Portrait Gallery. Pupils from Goodrich Community Primary School in East Dulwich, Globe Academy in Southwark, Langbourne Primary School and Luke’s C of E Primary School, in Dulwich, were among those attending the event.
Their Royal Highnesses met children taking part in the Great Art Quest – a programme that introduces young people to local galleries, professional artists and storytellers. His Royal Highness launched Children and the Arts in 2001 as a pilot scheme before it became an independent charity in 2006. It is an educational charity which provides access for young people who would otherwise grow up having had no, or very limited opportunity, to engage with the arts.
During the visit, Their Royal Highnesses took part in a class with children at the gallery’s art education centre, laughing and joking with each other as they got stuck in making collage self-portraits. The Duchess of Cambridge cut out a heart shape from lace before putting it on her picture of a face in side profile. She also chose a leaf for her design.
Sitting next to The Prince, they compared designs and she asked: “What else do you think we should do?” She joked to the children: “This is going to look rather interesting!”
The Prince roared with laughter at his own attempt, featuring pine needles, and that of his wife. Their Royal Highnesses then went to transfer their designs onto silk, using an iron to complete the masterpieces.
Each gamely wielded an iron to carry out the task, with The Prince saying:
“I don’t think I put on eyebrows. Do I keep ironing that? I’m going to be here all afternoon!”
He commented to his daughter-in-law: “Catherine, I don’t think yours is going to work. I’m leaving mine!”
The Duchess of Cambridge told one of the children: “Yours is so much better. Look at that. That’s amazing.”
Asked later if it was the first time The Prince had done the ironing, The Duchess of Cornwall said with a smile: “I’ve got him well-trained with an iron.”
Source: PrinceOfWales.gov.uk
