Royal visitor to return to Bexhill

The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla (right), tours the De La Warr Pavilion next Thursday, September 9, after cancelling a visit in April when she broke her leg on holiday in Scotland.

In May 2006, when she laid a plaque in the Pavilion's then newly-built Education Block, the Duchess told crowds waiting in the pouring rain she would return when the weather improved.

Sally Ann Lycett, head of communications at the Pavilion, told the Observer she was delighted the Duchess, president of the building, is set to return, and promised she would cut the first slice of a 75th anniversary birthday cake.

"It has been four years since her last visit and she will see a lot of changes," said Sally. "Not in the least a completed studio that has had approximately 30,000 people through its doors to participate in our busy education programme for adults, children and young people."

Any patriotic residents keen on glimpsing the Duchess should gather outside the north entrance at around 10.45am to see her arrive at 11am.

The Duchess was made president of the Pavilion trust shortly after her last visit. At the time, Pavilion director Alan Haydon said her patronage would boost the Pavilion's profile nationally and internationally.

On Thursday, Her Royal Highness, wife of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, will tour the Education Studio and be presented with a print of the photograph taken of hundreds of locals at the Pavilion's 75th birthday party on Monday.

She then visits the recently-extended Anthony Gormley exhibition on the rooftop, as well as Tomoko Takahashi's work in the main galleries.

The iconic modernist building's 75th anniversary is being used as the springboard for a fund-raising campaign aiming to generate 1million for maintenance works.

After the success of Monday's party, Pavilion staff say we can expect similar high-profile events in future.