Essay Competition, Flower Farm Anniversary and Private Tour - The Duchess of Cornwall had a Busy Week

 

 

The Royal Commonwealth Society

 

This week, The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, was busy doing what she has always done - Work quietly. The Duchess of Cornwall, the Vice-Patron of The Royal Commonwealth Society, launched  The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021. 

The Royal Commonwealth Society

The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world's oldest international writing competition for schools, established in 1883. With thousands of young people taking part each year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing. Launching the competition, The Duchess said,

"Please put on your thinking caps, pick up your pens, and join our wonderful community of Commonwealth Writers" - The Duchess of Cornwall

For 2021 the Competition theme is Community in the Commonwealth. With the global spread of COVID-19, we've seen the lives of many Commonwealth citizens affected. However, through adversity, societies came together and stories of growth, community and hope continue to emerge. You can view the topics for 2021 here.

As the President of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, The Duchess of Cornwall is offering a private tour of her official London residence, Clarence House, to six people. Part of the Society’s Mother’s Day Auction and Raffle, the tour is being offered to the winner of an online auction. 

Clarence House

Clarence House was first built between 1825 and 1827 for The Duke of Clarence (later King William IV) and his wife Adelaide. It was designed by architect John Nash. From 1949 to 1952 it was the home of Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, and later The Queen Mother, who lived at Clarence House for 50 years. The Prince of Wales moved into the house in 2003.  The auction that starts at the minimum bid of £200 will go live on March 01. Announcing the auction, The Royal Osteoporosis Society says,

“Clarence House, one of the last remaining aristocratic townhouses in London, is the official residence of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. Built between 1825 and 1827 to the designs of John Nash, Clarence House takes its name from its first occupant, William Henry, Duke of Clarence, later William IV.

The arrangement of the rooms and the groupings of their contents remain much as they were in Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s time, with important works from Her Majesty’s collection of art in their original positions. A tour of the House includes five rooms on the ground floor where official engagements are undertaken by Their Royal Highnesses.

The tour of Clarence House begins in the garden, where you can see the formal area added by The Prince of Wales in 2004–5 in memory of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The planting was laid out to His Royal Highness’s own design by members of The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts.”

The auction includes various other notable prizes that include Charleston dancing lessons with Craig Revel Horwood. It also has a tour of the House of Lords and tea with Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen.

Camilla became the patron of the National Osteoporosis Society in 1997, before her marriage to Prince Charles. She became the President in 2001 and the society was renamed to Royal Osteoporosis Society in 2019.

Google Art and Culture

 

You can also enjoy a small digital tour of Clarence House as part of Google’s Art and Culture project here.

Clarence House

In another video message this week, The Duchess of Cornwall marked the 10th anniversary of Flowers from the Farm - a membership organisation that supports gardeners and cut-flower growers. The video message from The Duchess of Cornwall was being broadcasted as part of the 10th Anniversary Conference of Flowers from the Farm, for which hundreds of flower farmers across the UK were joining online for a day of ‘Celebration and Inspiration’ to launch the 2021 growing season.

 

 

An avid gardener and flower arranger herself, The Duchess of Cornwall praised the work of Flowers from the Farm in bringing the joy of British garden flowers to people unable to meet over the past year. At her side was a vase brimming with fresh spring flowers supplied by third generation Cornish flower farmer and Flowers from the Farm member, James Cock of Flowers by Clowance. The arrangement by Shane Connolly Flowers included fragrant narcissi, pittosporum and eucalyptus parvifolia from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and tulips and hyacinths from Lincolnshire. In the Video The Duchess said,

“Over the past, challenging year, there have been few things that have had the power to cheer us up as much as our native flowers. Even when we were unable to meet, we could send one another bouquets – and, in so doing, celebrate those we love. Although we were unable to enjoy many of the Arts, we could all be inspired by this country’s glorious flowers and try our hands at creating our own arrangements - happily, one of my favourite hobbies.”

“I do hope you will take this opportunity to reflect on the joy you have brought to so many people, and to look forward to the next ten years of bringing the wealth and variety of British flowers to us. Happy birthday!”

 

Clarence House

 

Earlier this week, The Duchess of Cambridge also undertook an in-person engagement when she visited the vaccination centre at the Wembley Park.