A Cornish bard has recreated the day that Queen Victoria came to Falmouth - and was so impressed she compared it to one of the world’s most famous rivers.
The monarch had been visiting Cornwall in 1846 in the new royal yacht, joined by Prince Albert and the new Duke of Cornwall, Prince Edward.
Greeted by a seven-cannon salute, the story goes that Queen Victoria was so impressed with the River Fal that she declared it equalled Europe’s major river, the Rhine.
Now singer and musician Richard Trethewey, has brought to life that day by filming a video for his new song, which he has called ‘Queen of the Cornish Rhine’ in honour of that day.
A bard of the Cornish Gorsedh, with a fierce pride for the traditions, history and culture of his native Cornwall, he is passionate about bringing to life the stories of people and events that have shaped its identity.
It was whilst looking for stories from Cornwall’s rivers and estuaries that Richard stumbled across a story that sparked his imagination.
He said: “I was looking for stories from Cornwall’s estuaries, thinking about my next album and was reading a book called ‘Bridging the Tide’ by Bob Richards when a brief mention of one story caught my eye.
“It was an account of Queen Victoria’s visit to Cornwall in 1846 in the new royal yacht with Prince Albert and the new Duke of Cornwall Prince Edward.
“A magistrate from Truro called John Gwatkin decided he would give Queen Victoria a welcome to remember and gathered seven cannon from his own residence and took them down to the river bank at Trelissick.
“He built them a platform and fired a welcome to the Queen. The sound was reported as echoing up and down the estuary and all its inlets.
"Queen Victoria was so impressed with the River Fal that she declared it equalled the Rhine.
“My song imagines what might have gone wrong from that point on!”
Richard reunited with film makers Grace Fox and Rob Moth, who he previously worked with when making the video for his song ‘Hope in a Jam Jar’.
“I had a very clear image in my mind and wanted the video to be very tongue in cheek and give people something to laugh about during these strange times,” said Richard.
“Grace and I chatted and decided to shoot it in a Georges Méliès inspired style, in black and white and with titles in period style.”
The film was shot on location at Roundwood Quay near Trelissick and Epiphany House in Truro and features Rory Wilton, who has appeared in Poldark, Doc Martin and Fisherman’s Friends, playing Queen Victoria, while Richard himself plays the eccentric John Gwatkin.
“We had so much fun filming this video, without giving away too much you can expect a police chase, scenes on horseback and cannon firing left right and centre!” he added.
‘Queen of the Cornish Rhine’ was released on Sunday and can be found online on YouTube, on Richard’s website www.richardtrethewey.org and the song is available to stream on all the usual platforms.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here