Duchess of Cornwall to visit Pavilion

Prince Charles' wife, Camilla, will inspect the building on Friday and lay a plaque in the foundations of the new education studio to commemorate her visit.

The final phase of pavilion's refurbishment, the studio is scheduled for completion later this year.

The public have been welcomed to stand on the south terrace and greet the duchess from 10am.

Her Royal Highness will be met by Dr Richard Sykes, chair of the De La Warr Pavilion Trust and presented to the Earl and Countess De La Warr and Jill Theis, founder of the original pavilion trust.

Camilla will be taken on a tour of the pavilion by director Alan Haydon and meet various people from the building's community past and present, as well as seeing the current exhibitions.

She will then lay a plaque on the site of the new studio followed by lunch with invited guests.

When finished, the studio will provide space for talks, courses, lectures, meetings and rehearsals. The building will also allow the pavilion to further its relationship with schools, colleges, key organisations and community groups.

Director Alan Haydon said: "The visit by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is a great honour for us all and as part of our 70th anniversary celebrations, it will add to the pavilion's rich and diverse history.

"In addition, the visit will give a tremendous boost towards the completion of the new education studio later this year and we are proud that Her Royal Highness can mark her visit in this way."

The Duchess' trip completes a treble of royal visits to the pavilion.

The Queen Mother as Duchess of York, with the Duke, opened the venue in 1935 and the Queen visited in 1966.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex - Prince Edward's wife - made a return visit to Bexhill a few weeks ago as patron of St Mary's School, Wrestwood.