US Edition “Oh, I do love Hay,” sighed the Duchess of Cornwall as she dropped in to the world’s greatest literary festival. This was one royal engagement close to the Duchess’s heart.
As she told her hosts, she hails from a family of authors - her father, brother and son are writers. She is also a supporter of children’s literary projects and joined Michael Morpurgo in the Hay Fever tent to read from Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates.
“Dog loved books. He loved the smell of them. He loved the feel of them. He loved everything about them...” she read to her young listeners. What could be more appropriate for Hay Festival?
The tour took in the best of what the festival has to offer, including visits to the Wiggly Wigglers garden and the local food producers’ tent where she stocked up on chocolate brownies.
After a visit to the Telegraph tent to meet some of the Scribblers - aspiring writers who are helping to produce the Hayly Telegraph - it was off to launch The Scribbler’s Tour, a creative writing project which will tour Wales offering 10,000 pupils and teachers the chance to take part in events promoting literacy and the environment.
“I am thrilled to launch the Scribbler’s initiative,” the Duchess said. “I met a few of them in the Daily - or should I say the Hayly - Telegraph tent. They were so inspiring and excited by it all. Perhaps in a year or two they will be back to talk about their own scribblings.”
And with that it was off to Scotland for another round of royal engagements, with a copy of the Hayly tucked away in her bag. “It looks fantastic. I will read that on the next step of my journey,” she said.