The Duchess of Cornwall is used to receiving flowers from fans, what doesn’t usually happen is the giver battling to take back their gift. So it was with young Elizabeth Colquhuon who following a storytime session in the Western Australian State Library this morning engaged in a tug of war tussle with the Duchess over a posy of pink flowers.
Elizabeth just didn’t want to give up the flowers and kept on grabbing them back from the laughing royal who playfully hit the tot on the head with the bouquet, much to Elizabeth’s delight.
Her mother Chantelle, 39, was quite overcome by the encounter and admitted that her daughter, who will be two years old, on New Year’s Eve is “strong-willed” at home.
“We’re Cornish, so especially wanted to meet the Duchess [of Cornwall],” said Chantelle afterwards, still laughing at her daughter’s playful battle with Camilla who as a grandmother of five is well schooled in playing with toddlers.
Elizabeth was one of a group of 30 or so children and their parents, who were lucky enough to meet and talk to the Duchess on this final day of the royal tour at a story reading session. Linda Thorne, part of the facility’s Better Beginnings program read Baby Ways, while colleague Michelle Compton read Bush Bash, a counting book featuring Australian animals.
The Duchess was entranced by the children’s reactions during the reading and then crouched down among the cross-legged throng to meet her audience. Among them was six-year-old Olivia Coles who was wearing a tiara and offered the Duchess another posy of flowers.
The Duchess of Cornwall is an avid reader and ferociously passionate about promoting literacy in children and adults so today’s visit to the Western Australian State Library in Perth to learn about the Learning English Through Storytime program was particularly pertinent for the royal. In the UK Her Royal Highness is the patron of a clutch of literacy charities and also presents the Man Booker Prize each year.
A small crowd had gathered outside in the 35 degree heat to greet Camilla with more inside the library hoping to say hello. Her Royal Highness was met by the Chairman of the State Library of Western Australia, Dr Margaret Nowak and State Librarian and CEO Margaret Allen who together guided The Duchess through the visit. Novak said that the visit was organised at the request of Clarence House and she was really thrilled that the Library was chosen.
Inside, first stop was an exhibition of New Zealand Hairy Maclary children’s author Dame Lynley Dodd. The Duchess is a particular fan of the author having bought the books for her grandchildren and was excited to see the exhibition which included original illustrations from the books.
When asked which of the book’s characters she like best, The Duchess replied “I still like Harry Maclary. He’s the star of it.”
Of particular interest to the Duchess was the Storylines program which was introduced in
2013, in consultation with Indigenous communities. The idea is to collect, restore and strengthen community memory.
The culturally grounded program also provides literacy and learning opportunities for Aboriginal people. There the Duchess spoke to Grace Jeffries, 26, her Aunty Lorice Douglas, 48, and Lorice’s father Tim Douglas, 73, who is Senior Loreman in Roebourne, in the Pilbara region.
Lorice said: “I didn’t know about royalty until I came onto the stations and went to school. It was very exciting to meet her today.” Lorice is in the program learning her traditional language so she can pass it on to future generations.
Earlier Charles and Camilla attended a service at St George’s Cathedral in Perth as their tour Down Under drew to a close. The Duchess wore a pretty pale blue chiffon dress by Anna Valentine featuring a spot design.
The royal couple at church.
Outside four-year-old Mary Dungey was another flower girl hoping to bestow her posy on the Duchess. Her mother Julieen told The Weekly she had taken Mary to see The Queen when she was just nine days old, and Her Majesty was in Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Standing in the front as Camilla walked in to the Cathedral, Mary was irresistible and of course the Duchess bent over for a chat and happily received the flowers.
The family then followed the royals inside for Sunday worship. In his address the Dean of Perth, the Very Reverend Richard Pengelley, joked with the Prince and Duchess telling them: “You survived the spectacular storm in Cottlesloe last night and I wish there were this many people here for my sermon every week.”
After the service Prince Charles was taken on a tour of the city’s State Buildings opposite the Cathedral. The Prince is a known admirer of heritage architecture and was clearly impressed by the 140-year-old structures.
Previously known as the Old Treasury Buildings the three interconnected heritage buildings have been restored to their heritage standard and include a vibrant retail, dining and hotel complex. Charles unveiled a plaque in the Postal Hall and met with architect Kerry Hill who explained the challenges of repurposing a heritage building.
The Prince of Wales was delighted to meet Italian chef Antonio Carluccio during the visit. For the past two decades the TV chef has given one of his famous truffles to Charles as a birthday gift and this year was no exception.
In his address Prince Charles told guests: “For quite a large part of my life, I’ve tried to help find new uses for historic buildings,” he said. “So many of them convert brilliantly for other uses, so I’m thrilled to see this building being put to such wonderful use.”
Next the royal headed to the WA Seed Technology Centre where he seemed like, well, Charlie in the chocolate factory. The avid gardener and environmentalist spent his visit learning about the latest research coming from WA, asking several questions of each student undertaking post-graduate studies. His tour included a look at laboratories, the Tissue Culture Facility where he viewed specimens and conservation programs, and the plant nursery.
His Royal Highness has long spoken about the irreversible effects of climate change and appeared to be genuinely fascinated to learn about conservation efforts being done in WA. Seeds from more than 3500 different plant species are stored in the seed bank.
The final event of the tour was a public walkabout in the stunning King’s Park. The Duchess had changed into another Anna Valentine print dress – this UK designer has definitely proved a favourite with Camilla on this tour.
Thousands lined the route all delighted that the royal couple had picked Perth as their final destination, and many received personal greetings from the couple who spent their final hour shaking as many hands as possible. When they climbed into their car to head for the airport, cheers and winsome cries of goodbye filled the air. But so many of his Princes Charities’ ventures to check on, there is no doubt Charles will be back soon.
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