Prince William, focusing on environmental and farming initiatives, made an appearance in one of his father's duchies on Monday, July 10th. The Prince of Wales visited the nursery within the

Duchy of Cornwall near Lostwithiel to officially open The Orangery, a new restaurant. Expressing his delight, Prince William was heard saying, "It's turned out amazingly!" The restaurant, constructed during a nine-month renovation of the nursery, was designed with significant input from King Charles III, formerly the Duke of Cornwall. The visit of Prince William, the 25th duke, was seen as a significant occasion by the nursery staff.

The Orangery follows a sustainability model by utilizing produce grown on-site and serving food sourced exclusively from the local area. This commitment has garnered the support of King Charles and Prince William. In a surprising gesture during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Prince William invited two children, James and Violet Scott, aged nine and visiting from Edinburgh, to perform the honors. The involvement of the nursery with the local community and tourists was highlighted through this act. The children and their parents expressed their excitement and appreciation for the opportunity to meet Prince William, praising his openness to the public.

Originally a slate quarry, the Duchy of Cornwall's Nursery transitioned to producing forest trees in the late 1960s before transforming into a nursery in 1974, selling plants to the public. Today, the nursery houses a diverse range of plants, including those grown in the Glasshouse. It also features a Bumblebee Garden, an area dedicated to various wildflowers aimed at aiding the recovery of bumblebee populations. Photo by USAID/Vietnam, Wikimedia commons.