VIDEO: Prince Charles and Camilla visit Wolverhampton
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall made a historic visit to Wolverhampton yesterday.
Prince Charles and Camilla's visit - their first to the city as a couple - took in Wightwick Manor, a branch of the Samaritans and The Royal School.
It is the second Royal engagement in Wolverhampton in a matter of week after Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh opened the new Jaguar Land Rover engine factory at the i54 business park.
Charles and Camilla's whistle-stop tour yesterday also included engagements in Birmingham, where the pair explored the second city's Jewellery Quarter.
Prince Charles started off solo at one of the jewels in Wolverhampton's crown, Grade I-listed Wightwick Manor. While there, he took a tour of the house and attended a reception for staff and volunteers.
He was then whisked to the Whitmore Reans branch of the Samaritans, where he met volunteers and the national charity's youngest branch director.
The Prince was reunited with Camilla, who had remained in Birmingham, at The Royal School in Penn where the pair marked the 40th anniversary of Interfaith Wolverhampton by meeting schoolchildren and being royally entertained by music and dance performances.
While at Wightwick, Charles, who is president of the National Trust, chatted with staff as he was shown around the 19th century home.
Wrapped up against the freezing morning, he showed a keen interest in the impressive art collections, taking his time in each room to study pieces of artwork, furniture and historic features.
After a quick tour of the gardens, the Prince met with trust volunteers and supporters at the tearoom, warming up with a cup of tea and sharing a few laughs with the small group of invited guests.
Those who had a chance to speak to him said he was charming and easy to talk to, showing an interest in them and their work as volunteers.
At the Whitmore Reans branch of the Samaritans the relaxed and jovial Prince was given a tour of the Newhampton Road East base and met volunteers young and old.
The Prince is a patron of the charity and praised volunteers for their tireless work.
Publicity officer Vernon Dodd, said: "It was an honour to welcome Prince Charles to the branch.
"I was delighted to meet him and he was very good with everyone he met.
"The visit has done a lot for the Samaritans and the city and will go some way to raising our profile."
Charles was then joined by Camilla at The Royal School in Penn where they marked Interfaith Wolverhampton's 40th anniversary, showcasing the modern face of the city with music and dance.
The school, which has 580 pupils from 24 countries, hosted the event with performances incorporating English folk music, Bollywood dances and Arabic songs.
School headmaster Mark Heywood said: "The pupils were so excited to see the Royal couple.
"The Royal School is centred within the city and this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase that and host an event that brings communities together.
"When we spoke to them both they showed a real appreciation for what the pupils have done and how talented they were.
"I'm very proud of my pupils and staff about how they have turned out today and the efforts they have put in to make this a success. It was the city at its best."
Interfaith Wolverhampton initially originated in a response to Enoch Powell's Rivers of Blood speech in 1968, registering as a charity in 1974.
