BUDE received a very special visit this week as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh stopped by.

The town welcomed Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh as she attended The Castle Heritage Centre on November 13. The Duchess met with a variety of local community groups and organisations which seek to enrich the lives of residents.

School children from Marhamchurch CofE Academy, Stratton Primary School, and Bude Primary Academy gave The Duchess a warm welcome upon her arrival, proudly waving flags as she took time to stop and chat with them.

During the visit, the Duchess engaged with a broad range of groups, reflecting the diversity and strength of Bude’s community spirit. These included accessible and adaptive surfing, environmental conservation, and youth development initiatives, such as The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme at Budehaven Community School.

Her Royal Highness also met with Cognition Learning CIC, a community interest company providing young people with technical and creative learning opportunities.

Mayor of Bude-Stratton, Cllr Steven Haynes, shared his thoughts on the day: “We were delighted to showcase the fantastic work our local community groups achieve.

“It was incredibly special to have this dedication recognised by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, and it will undoubtedly be a day to remember for all involved. The Duchess’ genuine interest and warm approach left a lasting impression on us all.”