Charles continued his tour of North Wales over the weekend with a blast from the past – reuniting with a penny farthing bicycle he fell off 25 years ago.
During his last visit to the Erddig National Trust house near Wrexham in 1977, the Prince had insisted on trying out the antique cycle himself, and quickly found himself taking a tumble – an experience he wasn’t keen to repeat during Saturday’s visit. “I’m not going to get on it again,” Charles told house manager Jeremy Cragg with a laugh. “Certainly not on these cobbles.”
Later on the North Wales visit, the sporting Prince showed he’s not quite a pool expert as he tried his hand at the game at a Llandrillo pub. Though he was met with cheers as he sank a ball on his first shot, fellow players first had to tell him that it was the white ball, not the red, he was to hit with the cue.
Meanwhile, an anonymous donor has bid £80,000 at auction for what may be the most expensive cuppa in recent memory – an appointment to take tea with Charles at his Highgrove estate.
The mystery man in question made the impressive bid during a £5,000-a-plate children’s charity auction and dinner at Somerset House. The donation, which benefits a project for abused and ill young people, also includes a visit to the Prince’s private gardens.
“I can confirm that as a way of supporting the charity the Prince has offered a tour of the garden at Highgrove,” said a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman. “I can’t confirm the exact figure, but I understand that the guidance of that figure is not wildly wrong.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
