The one-way system in Trowbridge almost got the better of the Duchess of Cornwall and her entourage, making them slightly late for the rescheduled visit to Bellefield Primary and Nursery School today.
Camilla finally made it to the school this morning after cancelling her original visit in March due to severe bronchitis.
Shewas given a tour of the newly merged primary school by headteacher Steve Wigley and shown through the nursery and reception class area where children were being creative with numerous activities.
She took time outv to chatto three-year-old Harriet Gray, from Cherries and Apples class, encouraging her to write her name, before having a chat with Scott Levy, also three, who was working on a computer.
She said: “You are really good at using the computer, so much better than me,” she said.
The duchess then moved on to see children making clay eggs, which are going to be used as golden eggs in the school play.
Megan Hobson, five, was keen to show her the sounds she had been learning as part of their phonetic alphabet before pointing out that she had a wobbly tooth.
The duchess replied: "When your tooth falls out make sure you put it under your pillow."
The group, who included Trowbridge Myor John Knight, Lord Lieutenant John Bush and new High Sheriff Robert Floyd, moved on to the year four, five and six classrooms upstairs.
After having a look at the year four classrooms, Her Royal Highness was particularly interested in the alien project that years five and six have been carrying out.
She spoke to several pupils about their project including ten-year-olds Sam Gerrish and Harry Collins.
Harry said: “She was asking us what we were doing for the project and I told her that we had created some pictures and then wrote some words to go with them.
“We were also pretending to be aliens and had to describe humans as part of our learning the human body. She was really nice.”
In another classroom she asked Nathan Conradi, ten, who was sat at the back of the class whether the good pupils sit at the front or the back. He replied by saying they sit everywhere.
Her Royal Highness was then taken out to the new outdoor stairs that were added onto the building as part of the extension and she spoke to pupils playing in the playground.
Charleigh Williams, who was really interested in the Lord Lieutenant and his outfit said: “I spoke to him and really like his outfit. I reached up to touch his badges. He was very tall and very posh.
“The lady (Camilla) also spoke to me and asked me what my silver star badge was for and I said it pointed out who was filling in the register for the day.”
The tour ended with a visit to the SureStart Children’s Centre where Her Royal Highness had a chat with childminders who use the centre to meet other people and bring the babies and toddlers.
The duchess was particularly taken with 19-month-old Evie Peters, noticing her colourful socks and playing with her toes.
She was given a quick tour of the sensory room in the centre before taking a seat in the assembly.
Mr Wigley led the assembly with several hymns, including the school song that they had created especially for the visit.
Her Royal Highness was also treated to a performance of the Cossacks, with nine-year-old Kerin Yee playing the violin with teacher Charlotte White on piano and then Marmaduke MacKenzie by Felicity White on the cello also accompanied by Mrs White.
The assembly was ended with the Duchess of Cornwall unveiling a new plaque that had been changed with the date of the rescheduled visit.
Two children presented her with a bouquet of her favourite flowers, lilly of the valley and pink roses.
More pictures in Friday's Wiltshire Times
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