Harbour Lights in Falmouth welcomed a special visitor last week when the Countess of Wessex popped in for fish and chips and the chance to meet the team which have made the restaurant and take-away award-winning.

The Countess met staff, partners and friends who helped the chippie be crowned the best fish and chip restaurant in the UK back in January.

"We are lucky to work with such an amazing group of people who are experts in their field and who have all in their way really helped the Harbour Lights be the best we can," said owners Pete and Sue Fraser. "Being able to invite them along today to meet the Countess and have a little celebration felt really good."

Pete added: "It’s certainly been a fun day, it will long live in my memory. It's not every day you get the chance to sit down with a member of the royal family for a lunch of fish and chips."

Amongst the guests were Rose Robinson, the graphic designer who has been instrumental in bringing the quirky brand to life, and Natasha Ratcliffe, who designed and sculpted the fish in the pavement outside. Julian Waring from the Fisherman’s Mission was also there to meet the Countess.

Harbour Lights also got behind the Cornwall Hugs Grenfell initiative and Esme Page, who came up with the idea, was also able to talk to the Countess about the feedback from the first visit of over 60 survivors from Grenfell to Cornwall.

During her hour-long visit, the Countess also spent time with some class four pupils from St Mary’s School who were taking part in one of the sustainability workshops the restaurant has been running with a number of schools in Falmouth. They are run by Dr Jo Henley from SciArt Solutions and Pete Cruise from the Harbour Lights team.

Teacher Chris Scarborough, said: "The children were really excited to be meeting the Countess, and I know they enjoyed how involved she got. These fun and engaging practical workshops continued their learning that their decisions have consequences and small changes can have a global impact. There was lots of excitement on the walk down and I know the experience will be something they bring back to the class room."