Canine capers! The Duchess of Cornwall and her rescue terrier Beth take on TV star Paul O’Grady and his pooch in a dog training game as she joins Prince Charles on a visit to Kent
- Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall stepped out for engagements in Kent
- Camilla visited Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in Brands Hatch in role as patron
- Royal, who re-homed two terriers from organisation, took part in training game
- Couple also visited a community centre to hear how locals coped during Covid
It was a battle royal today as the Duchess of Cornwall – and her rescue dog, Beth – took on television star Paul O’Grady and his abandoned pup, Sausage, in the ultimate canine showdown.
The two pooches went head to head in a dog training game known as ‘Temptation Alley’ in which competitors are encouraged to ignore dog treats and toys either side of them and run straight to their owner at the other end.
Camilla, 74, was at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s rural centre in Brands Hatch, Kent, in her role as the charity’s patron.
She has re-homed two Jack Russell Terriers through the organisation, Beth and her pal Bluebell – who was also present but deemed too naughty to take part.
It was a battle royal today as the Duchess of Cornwall – and her rescue dog, Beth – took on television star Paul O’Grady and his abandoned pup, Sausage, during a royal engagement in Kent (pictured)
The Duchess, who is patron of Battersea Dogs and Cat’s home, cuddled up with some kittens during her visit earlier today
Camilla was joined by the Prince of Wales for the visit to the county earlier today where they visited Sheppey Matters at Sheerness Healthy Living Centre
O’Grady is Battersea’s ambassador and was filming his hit tv show, For The Love of Dogs, in which Camilla and Beth will star.
As she walked in Camilla was delighted to see ‘Bethy’ already waiting for and made a great fuss. ‘What could possibly go wrong,’ she laughed, rolling her eyes.
Head of canine behaviour, Ali Taylor, positioned the dogs at one end of the room with the staff member and told the douches and O’Grady to stand at the other end ready to call their dogs.
‘Mine doesn’t speak English!’ Interjected O’Grady. ‘She’s from Romania and has a Polish chip!’
On her arrival Camilla was greeted with a ‘Doggy Guard of Honour’ and met some of the stray dogs looking for homes.
Camilla, who adopted two of her own terriers from the organisation, could be seen chatting with staff and volunteers during the outing
The royal warmly greeted TV star Paul O’Grady and his pooch Sausage during the engagement this afternoon
Head of canine behaviour, Ali Taylor, positioned the dogs at one end of the room with the staff member and told the douches and O’Grady to stand at the other end ready to call their dogs (pictured, Camilla with her dog Beth)
The Duchess and her dog Beth were awarded a rosette after completing a training challenge known as ‘Temptation Alley’, where dogs are encouraged to ignore treats and walk straight to their owner
Camilla and Beth went first, Camilla holding a yellow squeaky ball in her hand and encouraging Beth to run towards her.
With only a very slight detour at the beginning to collect another ball, Beth made it to her mistress – albeit on the outside of the alley.
She was given another chance and had to be dragged away from her mistress, barking in excitement as she was given the chance to run back to her.
Crouching on the ground, Camilla made a huge fuss of her. ‘She did well,’ O’Grady admitted.
Camilla appeared to share a laugh with staff and volunteers as she cuddled up with one black-and-white kitten
The royal and the TV presenter appeared totally enamored with the animals during their visit earlier
Comedian Paul could be seen tucking one of the animals into his coat, while the Duchess held a black-and-white kitten in her arms
HOW CAMILLA RE-HOMED TWO TERRIERS AFTER BECOMING PATRON OF BATTERSEA DOG AND CATS HOME
The Duchess of Cornwall’s relationship with Battersea stretches back to October 2010, when she visited the charity’s south London centre to open its new state-of-the-art cattery in its 150th anniversary year.
A huge animal-lover and supporter of rescue dogs, she chose Battersea when she re-homed two Jack Russell Terriers – Beth in August 2011 and Bluebell in September 2012.
The Duchess returned to Battersea in 2012, accompanied by Beth and Bluebell, when she met the dogs in the charity’s care, alongside Battersea Ambassador Paul O’Grady.
The Duchess has gone on to visit the London centre regularly, meeting staff and volunteers over the years.
In September 2016 she opened the charity’s new Veterinary Hospital and Centre of Excellence.
She visited again in December 2020 to unveil a new kennel facility named after her.
Then it was Sausage’s turn. She was brought down to the far end of the room but made clear, despite the presenter’s frantic squeaking of a toy pig, that she was going to make a beeline for the treats.
After hoovering up a few pieces of food, she ran over to the photographers and seemed more keen to say hello to them.
Camilla and Beth were duly handed a small trophy for their victory.
‘She’s pretty good with people, just less good with other dogs,’ Camilla confessed.
Battersea Brands Hatch opened in 1999 is is used for dogs and cats that suffer from stress or anxiety in the home’s busy London centre.
It is surrounded by 12 acres of fields and has re-homed around 3,000 dogs and cats over the last five years alone.
On her arrival Camilla was greeted with a ‘Doggy Guard of Honour’ and met some of the stray dogs looking for homes.
She greeted her friend O’Grady warmly with kisses and was introduced to Sausage. ‘She’s a bit of an escape artist, I hear,’ said Camilla of the wire-haired dachshund.
Inside the cattery she picked up nine-week-old kitten Bell who, along with its sibling Jingle, is looking for a home. ‘Hello, you are very sweet,’ she said.
Camilla showed the kitten off to the camera but then had to disentangle herself from it after the animal got caught as it tried to climb up her coat. ‘They’ve got quite strong claws!’ she exclaimed.
She also got the chance to spend time with an elderly 11-year-old West Highland White Terrier who was brought into his Battersea by his owners as they had other dogs.
He is currently undergoing medical treatment so he can be deemed fit and healthy before being rehomed.
The Duchess opted for a forest green coat for the outing in Kent earlier today, which she paired with black suede boots
Camilla also got the chance to spend time with an elderly 11-year-old West Highland White Terrier who was brought into his Battersea by his owners as they had other dogs
‘Hello George,’ said Camilla.
‘He’s very sprightly for his age, isn’t he?’
Speaking after the visit O’Grady praised the duchess’s commitment to Battersea, saying: ‘I just love her. She’s great. What I think is wonderful is that she had got two dogs from here too.
‘She puts her money where her mouth is. She’s a fantastic ambassador for the charity. If Sausage and me were going to lose to anyone it might as well be her!’
Later, Camilla visited the Sheppey Matters at Sheerness Healthy Living Centre to meet groups who help and promote the health of the local community
Meanwhile the Prince of Wales met with members of a sewing group in Kent this afternoon and appeared impressed by their knitting efforts
The Duchess spoke with groups over a cup of tea and cake as she joined her husband at the community centre
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are presented with a Gypsy Tart during their visit to Sheppey Matters (pictured)
Later Camilla opened a new permanent exhibition in Rochester about Charles Dickens, who spent much of his life in the Medway towns after being born in Portsmouth.
At The Making of Mr Dickens, which opens to the public on February 8 at The Guildhall Museum in Rochester, she was greeted by members of the Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship dressed as characters from the great author’s book David Copperfield – Betsey Trotwood, Mr Micawber, and Agnes Wickfield.
Camilla toured the exhibition, which includes a number of objects owned by Dickens, including his walking stick and paperweight, as well as first edition copies of the six instalments of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, purchased and donated to the exhibition by The Friends of The Guildhall Museum.
She joined a group of Year 5 pupils from St Margaret’s at Troy Town C of E Primary School who were learning about Dickens. Camilla listened to the author’s great, great grandson, Gerald Dickens read the children a passage from Great Expectations and read an extract from the novel as well.
The Duchess, who promotes literacy and a love of literature through several patronages and an online book club on Instagram, The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room, answered questions from the children.
She told them her favourite Dickens novel was A Tale of Two Cities and her favourite character, the Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist.
Gerald Dickens said: ‘It is fantastic that there is an exhibition dedicated to celebrating the life of Dickens in Rochester once again and for it to be opened by Her Royal Highness was fantastic and fitting for what Dickens brought to Medway.’
And elsewhere in Kent today, Prince Charles asked for a tune by Jools Holland when he visited a community radio station with the Duchess of Cornwall.
Presenters from Sheppey FM in Sheerness, on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, had researched some of Charles’s favourite songs before the couple’s visit.
Tracks played during the 46-minute royal tour were an eclectic mix, including Givin’ Up, Givin’ In by The Three Degrees, La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf, Upside Down by Diana Ross, and Charles Trenet crooning La Mer.
But when Charles and Camilla went into into the studio and the prince was invited to pick a favourite, he came up with something not on the list.
And earlier today, the Prince of Wales visited the Historic Dockyard Chatham, two days before the 2022 season opening, to see some of the Dockyard’s flagship projects
The royal spoke with members of the Sea Cadet Corps as he arrived for his visit to the Historic Dockyard Chatham
‘I tell you what… if you’ve got anything by Jools Holland,’ he said, giving a namecheck to his friend, who is a regular visitor to Sandringham when Charles is in residence during the summer.
‘He lives in Kent.’
Presenters Maz Camilleri and Anna Gillingham-Sutton, who said they had researched the prince’s favourite songs on Google, found him a song featuring Holland and Ruby Turner, You Are So Beautiful.
Elsewhere today, the Prince of Wales visited the Historic Dockyard Chatham, two days before the 2022 season opening, to see some of the Dockyard’s flagship projects.
He could be seen chatting with members of the Sea Cadet Corps during the outing, and sharing a laugh with a few.
Later, he and Camilla visited the Sheppey Matters at Sheerness Healthy Living Centre to meet groups who help and promote the health of the local community.
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