All aboard! Duchess of Cornwall visits Victoria Station

The Duchess of Cornwall expressed her shock that an prosperous city wanted a meals financial institution service whereas visiting a church in Lewes, East Sussex, simply miles away from her £2.3million childhood dwelling.

Camilla, 73, who’s again within the UK after a whirlwind journey to Greece final week, visited Lewes Open Door charity and Fitzjohn’s Food Bank at Christ’s Church in Lewes, East Sussex on Tuesday.

While greeting volunteers, Camilla admitted that she was ‘stunned’ that the city wanted a meals financial institution service after spending her personal childhood residing simply six miles away within the village of Plumpton.

Earlier within the day, she additionally visited Kamsons Pharmacy head workplace and met former station supervisor Darren O’Brien at London Victoria station for his ‘sensible initiative’ serving to folks escape abusive relationships by rail.

Camilla, 73, who’s again within the UK after a visit to Greece final week, visited Lewes Open Door charity and Fitzjohn’s Food Bank at Christ’s Church in Lewes, East Sussex on Tuesday

Camilla (pictured) admitted that she was ‘stunned’ that the city wanted a meals financial institution service after spending her personal childhood residing within the village of Plumpton, simply six miles away

While visiting the meals financial institution, Camilla expressed her shock on the city needing a meals financial institution, after rising up in a close-by seven-bedroom Georgian-style property referred to as The Laines, which is estimated to price £2.3million.

‘Goodness, I’m very stunned, having lived right here all my younger life,’ she stated.

‘I believed Lewes sounded an uncommon place for a meals financial institution, nevertheless it simply goes to indicate.’ 

The Duchess additionally thanked the 2 charities based mostly within the church for the ‘sensible job’ they have been doing throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and stated it was a ‘deal with’ for her to return to Sussex.

Neil Fisher, the church secretary, gave the Duchess a church leaflet as a memento and advised her that the work undertaken by the volunteers was ‘so obligatory, particularly in these occasions and even in an apparently affluent city similar to Lewes’.

The Duchess thanked the meals financial institution volunteers for offering very important assist to the group whereas assembly Tracy Cheeseman, who volunteers for the meals financial institution however has additionally used the service herself on and off for a number of years.

Ms Cheeseman, one of the Lewes Mayor’s Covid Heroes, advised Camilla which elements go into the baggage every week, including that for Easter, some further vouchers have been being added, which the Duchess stated was ‘fantastic, a beautiful concept’.

Camilla grew up simply six miles away in a close-by seven-bedroom Georgian-style property referred to as The Laines, which is presently estimated to price £2.3million, in Plumpton (pictured)

The Duchess thanked the meals financial institution volunteers for offering very important assist to the group whereas assembly Tracy Cheeseman (pictured), who volunteers for the meals financial institution

Camilla once more expressed her shock she was advised that the Open Door charity was arrange 4 years in the past when residents observed a rising quantity of homeless folks on the streets

‘Thank goodness folks like you might be round,’ Camilla advised her.

The Duchess additionally met Belinda Crawford, a trustee and volunteer from the Lewes Open Door charity, that runs a weekly lunchtime drop-in from the church for native homeless and weak folks.

Camilla once more expressed her shock after Belinda defined that the Open Door charity was established round 4 years in the past when native residents observed a rising quantity of homeless folks on the streets. 

Camilla was proven by the church and across the stockroom by Fitzjohn’s foodbank’s chairman Roz Bassford, who stated that they had ‘not had to purchase a tin of beans for a 12 months’ because of the generosity of the local people and the common motion meals drives.

The Duchess was additionally advised that Fitzjohn’s, based mostly at Christ Church, simply exterior the city centre, caters for round 49 households per week.

Between 15 and 25 per cent extra folks have been utilizing the service throughout the pandemic, many of whom have misplaced their jobs. 

Roz additionally confirmed her a three-metre-long stick that they had been utilizing to make sure secure social distancing as a result of they have been ‘terrified’ when the pandemic began they usually ‘wanted to maintain everybody secure’.

Jane Perry, who’s endeavor collaborative work within the space of native meals poverty, advised the Duchess that poverty was ‘fairly a giant downside’ within the area. 

Camilla was proven by the church and across the stockroom by Fitzjohn’s foodbank’s chairman Roz Bassford (pictured)

Camilla sported a vibrant golden face protecting embellished with vibrant dragonflies to maintain herself protected whereas visiting the church

The Duchess thanked the charities for the ‘sensible job’ they have been doing amid the Covid-19 pandemic and stated it was a deal with to return to Sussex

‘It’s a lot tougher for folks to get assist in locations like this than in huge cities, similar to Sheffield,’ she stated. ‘We present that assist for them.’ 

She later met Rev Jules Middleton, one of the founders of Open Door, and Claire Duc, who offered particular help throughout lockdowns to an older girl who’s an entrenched tough sleeper.

‘Thank you all for the sensible job you might be doing right here,’ the Duchess advised them.

‘I can see the work right here has been completely invaluable.

‘I’m so glad I might come and see you all. It’s at all times a deal with to come back again to Sussex.’  

Camilla stored her make-up minimal and wore her golden tresses swept again from her face for the go to, whereas she wore a surprising emerald costume with a white collar.

She additionally sported a vibrant golden face protecting embellished with vibrant dragonflies to maintain herself protected whereas visiting the church.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Duchess of Cornwall carried out Prince Charles’ signature namaste bow as she met with frontline staff throughout a go to to a pharmacy.

Camilla donned an emerald inexperienced costume as she thanked members of workers on the Kamsons Pharmacy head workplace and warehouse in Uckfield this afternoon.  

The royal carried out the namaste greeting, which her husband Prince Charles common makes use of to keep away from touching arms upon her arrival. 

The Duchess of Cornwall carried out a namaste bow as she met with frontline staff throughout a go to to a pharmacy in East Sussex earlier right this moment

The royal carried out the greeting, which her husband Prince Charles common makes use of to keep away from attending arms, upon her arrival (pictured, the Prince of Wales providing the greeting throughout a go to in Soho in December) 

She additionally met with former station supervisor Darren O’Brien at London Victoria station for his ‘sensible initiative’ serving to folks escape abusive relationships by rail.

The Duchess of Cornwall, who wore her blonde hair coiffured away from her face, stored her make-up minimal and opted for a high-quality layering of mascara. 

The royal spoke with workers on the Kamsons Pharmacy earlier than she was whisked round a tour of the warehouse.

The Duchess donned a medical face masks for the event, which she was fast to take away as soon as exterior within the sunny open air.  

As she drove away from the workplaces, the royal might be seen waving a hand out of the window and beaming. 

During a day of royal engagements she travelled by practice from London Victoria – regarded as the primary rail journey a senior member of the monarchy has made this 12 months. 

She met with workers from a home abuse initiative on the platform at Victoria, earlier than hopping on a practice out of the station.

The royal bowed into the greeting upon her arrival on the pharmacy and warehouse earlier right this moment 

Camilla was proven across the warehouse as she thanked the unsung frontline staff throughout a go to to Kamsons Pharmacy

The Duchess donned a medical grade face masks as she attended the engagement on the pharmacy 

The programme by practice firms and Women’s Aid goals to assist extra folks escape violence and attain a secure refuge amid rising ranges of home abuse throughout lockdown. 

Camilla stated ‘we want extra Darrens’ when she met Mr O’Brien, who got here up with the scheme, at London’s Victoria station to focus on his Rail to Refuge scheme.  

When Camilla met Mr O’Brien, a retail programs and contract supervisor with practice operator Southeastern, she advised him: ‘This is a superb initiative and you need to really feel very proud of your self.

‘It’s superb throughout this lockdown what number of fantastic concepts have been thought up… we want extra Darrens!’

Rail to Refuge was launched throughout the first lockdown and has been prolonged for the foreseeable future after stories confirmed that abuse had worsened throughout coronavirus restrictions.

It is a joint initiative between rail firms and Women’s Aid, with practice operators within the mainland UK protecting the prices of these travelling to refuge lodging.

During the previous 12 months nearly 1,350 folks – together with 362 kids over 5 – have acquired free tickets, equal to 4 abuse survivors travelling to security every day on common.

Almost two-thirds of individuals who used Rail to Refuge stated they might not have travelled if the journey had not been free. 

Mr O’Brien got here up with the concept of free journey for survivors after watching the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary Safe at Last, about Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid.

He stated after the go to: ‘When I first got here up with the concept, I had no concept how many individuals it could help, however I used to be motivated by the chance that it might be life altering, even when simply to 1 individual.

She appeared animated as she gestured towards containers and crates inside the warehouse in East Sussex 

Once exterior, the Duchess was fast to take away her face masks and benefit from the heat spring-time sunshine 

She appeared in excessive spirits as she gestured from the window of her automotive earlier than departing the engagement 

‘I’m extremely proud to have performed an element, and hopeful that right this moment’s exercise will assist to lift much more consciousness of the scheme in order that it continues to assist others.’

Last week, Camilla spoke in regards to the significance of the scheme in a pre-recorded message. 

Camilla, who’s a longtime advocate for victims of home abuse, stated she was ‘delighted’ practice firms have prolonged the scheme. 

The Duchess, talking from her Gloucestershire base, Highgrove, stated: ‘Lockdown has been arduous for everybody. But for the survivors of home abuse, it has been life-threatening.’ 

‘I’m delighted to listen to that Britain’s practice firms are extending the Rail to Refuge scheme for longer to supply free journey to a secure refuge for these fleeing home abuse.

‘If you need assistance, contact Women’s Aid for help and entry to the Rail to Refuge scheme.’ 

Camilla beforehand expressed concern that the coronavirus pandemic would have a ‘horrific’ affect on the degrees of abuse. 

Earlier right this moment, Camilla  lower a chic determine as she met with the pioneers behind a life saving help scheme for these escaping home abuse in London

Camilla opted to put on a chic emerald costume for the event which she paired with a vibrant yellow face masks 

The royal spoke with workers on the platform earlier than climbing aboard a practice and travelling out of the station 

Rail to Refuge is a joint initiative between rail firms and Women’s Aid wherein practice operators cowl the fee of practice tickets for girls, males and kids travelling to refuge lodging. 

All practice operators in Great Britain took up the initiative on April 9 2020, initially for the size of the primary lockdown, earlier than extending it till the tip of March 2021.

Train firms have now determined to proceed Rail to Refuge because of stories displaying that abuse has worsened throughout coronavirus restrictions.    

Since April 2020, practice operators have offered free tickets to 1,348 folks, together with 362 kids over 5, equal to 4 survivors travelling to security every day on common. 

The Duchess of Cornwall, who wore her blonde hair coiffured away from her face, stored her make-up minimal and opted for a high-quality layering of mascara

The royal was joined by workers aboard the practice as she realized extra in regards to the scheme, which was because of finish this week however has now been prolonged 

Almost two-thirds of individuals who used Rail to Refuge stated they might not have travelled if the journey had not been paid for. 

Women’s Aid estimates that in 2019-20, refuge providers in England supported 10,592 girls and 12,710 kids, however demand is even larger.  

Farah Nazeer, chief government at Women’s Aid, stated: ‘Many girls and kids need to journey lengthy distances to flee their abuser. There stays a critical scarcity of refuge areas, so it’s vital that ladies will not be prevented entry to security in a refuge by the fee of journey. 

‘In addition, many survivors have skilled years of financial abuse and won’t have entry to a financial institution, bank card and even money. Women inform us that they can’t afford to depart as a result of the perpetrator has managed their cash they usually have none of their very own.’   

The Duchess opted for a daring yellow facemask adorned with two dragon flies for the practice journey 

The royal, who has lengthy been captivated with serving to girls escape home violence, appeared animated as she chatted with workers on board the practice

‘We are delighted that practice firms have labored with us to take away a major barrier to folks escaping abuse. The Rail to Refuge scheme will proceed to be lifesaving for a whole bunch of girls and kids, and it’s extremely welcome information that it has been prolonged.’ 

Camilla has continued with enterprise as normal within the wake of the autumn out of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Oprah Winfrey interview earlier this month. 

The explosive interview noticed Harry claimed he was ‘trapped’ inside the monarchy as he revealed his father Charles ‘stopped taking my calls’ throughout the build-up to the announcement that he and Meghan have been leaving the royal household.

During their sit-down Meghan and Harry additionally claimed racism drove them out of Britain and that their son Archie was denied the title of prince as a result of he’s mixed-race. 

In a pre-recorded video message for the Rail to Refuge scheme final week, Camilla stated she was ‘delighted’ that UK practice firms are extending a scheme offering free rail journey to home abuse victims

Earlier this month, Prince William defended the Royal Family whereas on a visit to a faculty in London, saying it was ‘very a lot not a racist household’. 

Days later, Camilla appeared relaxed as she and Charles shared a candy picture from their backyard at Highgrove to have a good time the primary day of spring. 

The royal couple wrapped up heat as they posed on the grounds of their Gloucestershire property, surrounded by an array on rising flowers to mark the early indicators of spring. 

The carefree picture got here amid a turbulent few weeks for the royal household, which additionally noticed Charles’ 99-year-old father Prince Philip go away a month lengthy keep in hospital following a coronary heart operation.  

It comes after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shook the Firm to its core following their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey (pictured)

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall shared a candy picture from their backyard at Highgrove to have a good time the primary day of spring final week