Duchess of Cornwall wears check dress on visit to Swindon

Monochrome magic! Duchess of Cornwall dons stylish checked dress as she visits Swindon Fire Station and Borough Council to thank staff for their work amid the Covid-19 crisis

  • Camilla, 72, visited Swindon Fire Station and Swindon Borough Council today
  • Met with firefighters, staff from Great Western Hospital and South Western Ambulance Service paramedics 
  • Learned how emergency services have adapted services throughout COVID-19

The Duchess of Cornwall visited Swindon Fire Station and Swindon Borough Council today – as she slowly returns to royal duties amid the easing of the coronavirus lockdown.

Camilla, 72, put on a stylish display in a monochrome checked dress which featured white collar detail – and accessorised with a pair of dainty pearl earrings.  

During her visit, the royal said everyone will have to keep their ‘fingers crossed’ the country does not experience a second wave of coronavirus as she thanked frontline health and emergency workers for their efforts.

Camilla expressed her concerns as she met firefighters, medical staff and paramedics during her first solo public event since the lockdown, and heard their stories about working through Covid-19. 

Duchess of Cornwall, 72, put on a stylish display as she visited Swindon Fire Station and Swindon Borough Council today

Her Royal Highness met firefighters, staff from Great Western Hospital and South Western Ambulance Service paramedics at Swindon Fire Station (pictured)

Her Royal Highness met firefighters, staff from Great Western Hospital and South Western Ambulance Service paramedics at Swindon Fire Station (pictured)

The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to Swindon Borough Council Office Gardens where she met with members of the council and representatives from the Live Well Hub

The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to Swindon Borough Council Office Gardens where she met with members of the council and representatives from the Live Well Hub

Members of the council and representatives from the Live Well Hub have worked on and benefited from the council's services during the pandemic. Pictured, the Duchess of Cornwall

Members of the council and representatives from the Live Well Hub have worked on and benefited from the council’s services during the pandemic. Pictured, the Duchess of Cornwall

At the end of the visit to Swindon fire station, the duchess told the group: ‘Just before I go, I’d like to thank you for everything you’ve done throughout this pandemic – I don’t know, we just have to keep our fingers crossed that we don’t see the second wave.

‘But I think it’s lovely to see how everybody’s working together.’

The royal family has been returning to public duties as lockdown restrictions have eased and on Sunday the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toasted the 72nd birthday of the NHS at a tea party in Norfolk for frontline workers.

Health and emergency service workers had gathered at the fire station to meet the duchess and Ben Ansell, chief fire officer of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, introduced her to local firefighters. 

During her visit, Camilla learned how emergency services personnel have had to adapt their services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and thank them for their work. Pictured, speaking to staff

During her visit, Camilla learned how emergency services personnel have had to adapt their services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and thank them for their work. Pictured, speaking to staff

Camilla opted for a black and white monochrome dress and accessorised with a pair of dainty pearl earrings

Camilla opted for a black and white monochrome dress and accessorised with a pair of dainty pearl earrings

The royal looked in high spirits as she slowly returns to royal duties amid the easing of lockdown restrictions

The royal looked in high spirits as she slowly returns to royal duties amid the easing of lockdown restrictions

The Duchess of Cornwall looked deep in conversation as she spoke with staff from Great Western Hospital and South Western Ambulance Service

The Duchess of Cornwall looked deep in conversation as she spoke with staff from Great Western Hospital and South Western Ambulance Service

The royal made sure she adhered to government guidelines amid COVID-19 - and was socially distanced as she engaged in conversation with staff (pictured)

The royal made sure she adhered to government guidelines amid COVID-19 – and was socially distanced as she engaged in conversation with staff (pictured)

Camilla chatted to station manager Sam Legg-Bagg and praised the commitment of his crews, saying: ‘We couldn’t have done without you – thank you very much.’

Crews have been responding to call-outs throughout the pandemic, but firefighters trained in driving emergency vehicles and first aid have been relieving the pressure on paramedics by driving ambulances alongside a clinician.

Firefighters from the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have driven ambulances in 716 of more than 3,000 incidents that South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) has responded to.

During the visit, which was staged in the open air at the back of the fire station surrounded by engines, the duchess praised fire crews who changed roles to support paramedics, saying: ‘It’s one of these things, everybody has pulled together, which is so important – I take my hat off to you all.’ 

It comes just days after it was revealed the Duchess of Cornwall will discuss life in lockdown, missing her grandchildren and how Charles is the fittest man she knows for his age in an upcoming radio interview.

Camilla is due to cover a wide range of topics as she undertakes her first-ever radio guest edit on BBC Radio 5 Live’s The Emma Barnett Show on Tuesday.  

Camilla paired her outfit with some block heeled beige shoes and a watch on her left wrist (pictured)

Camilla paired her outfit with some block heeled beige shoes and a watch on her left wrist (pictured)