ROYAL VISIT: Duchess of Cornwall returns to her childhood haunts

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visited Sussex this morning and went to Plumpton where she lived as a child.

By The Newsroom

Published 26th Mar 2014, 12:48 GMT

As Camilla Shand, she grew up in the village and still has strong links to the area.

Her Royal Highness, who became Patron of the college in 2009, toured Plumpton College’s new Wine Research Centre.

She met with students and teachers in the tasting room, the laboratories and the bottling plant.

The Wine Research Centre, the only one of its kind in the UK, will enable Plumpton to carry out unique work which will help the English wine industry develop over the next decade.

The college can now offer MA courses in oenology (winemaking).

The Duchess of Cornwall is also Patron of the UK Vineyards Association.

She had earlier visited St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne, where she met staff, patients and their families.