Duchess of Cornwall celebrates birthday with trip to donkey sanctuary
The visit came at the end of an annual three-day trip to Devon and Cornwall by the Prince of Wales and the duchess.
The Duchess of Cornwall celebrated her 72nd birthday with a visit to a donkey sanctuary, where she met two miniature donkeys named William and Harry.
Camilla went to The Donkey Sanctuary’s headquarters in Sidmouth, Devon, on Wednesday to commemorate the charity’s 50th anniversary.
During the visit, Camilla was invited to officially name a three-week-old foal, which she called Sweet Pea.
“But it gives me the perfect opportunity to come back again,” she added.
The duchess entered a courtyard with 40 donkeys and met many of them, as well as their handlers – asking if they each had a favourite donkey.
“I’ve had a lot of grandchildren on the telephone this morning saying: ‘Please, please if you see a nice donkey, please can we have it?'” Camilla said.
“So I’m hoping that in time I may be able to rehouse some of them.”
She was also given a posy by a three-year-old boy, who began to sing Happy Birthday to her.
Camilla also visited the charity’s donkey-facilitated learning centre, one of six across the UK that offers programmes for vulnerable children and adults.
The Donkey Sanctuary was founded by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen in 1969 and now runs 10 sanctuaries across the UK and Europe, caring for more than 6,000 donkeys and mules.
It operates programmes in almost 40 countries for animals working in agriculture, industry and transportation, and those used in the production of meat and skin.
Camilla, who has a keen interest in animal welfare, became patron of The Donkey Sanctuary’s partner organisation Brooke, which aims to improve the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules.
The duchess has been on an annual three-day tour of Devon and Cornwall with the Prince of Wales.
