She only popped across town to attend a charity event, but the Duchess of Cornwall landed herself with a parking ticket earlier today.Camilla, 68, looking elegant in a dress by Anna Valentine and a sparkly diamante Poppy brooch, was surprised to be handed the yellow penalty charge notice at a reception for wounded, injured and sick military veterans helped back into work by the Poppy Factory.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Cornwall was given a parking ticket by ex-paratrooper Richard Dungate
But she quickly saw the funny side when she realised it was a joke gift from one ex-soldier who found a new career as a parking enforcement officer thanks to support from the organisation.
Camilla, who is patron of the Poppy Factory, giggled as she posed for a photograph with ex-paratrooper Richard Dungate, telling him: "I'll have to hang this up on my wall."
© Photo: Getty ImagesCamilla is patron of the Poppy Factory
Pointing to his business card attached to the back of the frame, he told her: "This is your get out of jail free card if you ever get caught out in Cornwall. "Richard, a former Lance Corporal in the Royal Anglian Regiment, had framed the quirky gift for the Duchess after travelling from his home near Truro, Cornwall for the event to celebrate the charity having helped 500 veterans find sustainable employment since 2011.He told HELLO!: "I was going to put it on her motor, but they wouldn't allow me. "It was an honour to meet the Duchess – what a lovely lady and she listens as well. "Describing how the Poppy Factory helped him find the job after he battled Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he said; "It puts the injection back into you. I couldn't have done it without them."
© Photo: Getty Images'I'll have to hang this up on my wall', she said after being gifted the parking ticket
But it has since become a specialist employability charity for disabled veterans, helping them find work with civilian firms.
Employment consultants help them with their CVs, job skills and careers advice, while a mentor stays in touch with them throughout the first year in a job to help them settle in.
Those served by the charity are often some of the hardest veterans to help and typically seek help several years after leaving the military after suffering a crisis.
The Poppy Factory was founded in 1922 to provide veterans left disabled after World War One find work putting together commemorative poppies, and it still makes wreaths and crosses from its base in Richmond, Surrey.
