FALMOUTH residents were treated to a suprise visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall this morning as the Royal couple visited the Duchy for the first time since inheriting the titles.
Prince William and Kate Middleton made the journey to Cornwall to visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.
During their visit they learnt about the rich maritime heritage of Cornwall and how the Museum is working to highlight the relevance of maritime issues to the present day before moving on to the Draceana Centre.
After their visit to the museum, William and Kate spoke to members of the public who eagerly waited for them outside the museum.
Victoria and Millie, who are both students at Falmouth University, were lucky enough to have a quick chat with Prince William as he left and told The Packet: "We were a bit starstruck really.
"It was reassuring to see that they were real humans and not just holograms on the TV.
"It was really lovely to know that they care."
Leah, an NHS worker and amateur photographer, also managed to have a quick chat with Kate Middleton as she passed.
Leah recounted: "It was lovely, we weren't expetcing that this morning when we woke up.
"We saw they wer coming down which was really exciting and it was amazing to actually be able to get really close to her.
"She was asking me about my photography kit so, yeah, it was really nice."
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Elaine and Merle, who came to town to try and catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess, told The Packet: "We're very pleased to see them, it's nice!
"I've lived here over 20 years and I'm very pleased to see them.
"We only discovered they were coming this morning! So we came into Falmouth on the off chance we'd see them."
Andrew and Nicola, who also turned up to see the Royal couple, said: "We haven't seen them before, it was really nice.
"It's good for Cornwall and highlights the area.
"There could have been a few more people here."
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall, which is located in Discovery Quay, is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, having been established in 2003.
During their visit, The Duke and Duchess spent some time in the Museum’s workshop where they met with local people working on the refurbishment of the Kiwi, a fourteen-foot sailing dinghy which was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding present from the Royal New Zealand Navy.
They also heard from a group of young people who are taking part in the ‘Young and Talented Cornwall’ scheme which provides financial support to help young people from across Cornwall fulfill their potential, regardless of their financial means or background.
In total, the fund has given out almost £350,000 to some 275 individuals in the past ten years – supporting future Olympic medal winners, international rugby players, and musicians now playing in major orchestras, among others.
Finally, The Duke and Duchess watched pupils from a local school taking part in a model boat race before departing for the Draceana Centre.
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