Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar, Prince Edward and Sophie, visit Cooper Park and Moray Food Plus in Elgin
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THE Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar visited two locations in Elgin on Tuesday afternoon.
After visiting Gordonstoun in the morning, Prince Edward and wife Sophie stopped by Cooper Park, where they presented primary five and six pupils from Seafield Primary School with Royal Mint Jubilee coins and unveiled a plaque for the Queen’s Green Canopy.
A visit was then paid to Moray Food Plus, where Edward and Sophie presented the hard-working team, who have faced increasing demand due to the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Sarah Travis, a teacher at Seafield Primary, where pupils have received the Junior Forester Award, said: “The class was told on Thursday who was coming.
"They were left with open mouths, shocked and surprised, when they found out – but they were excited.
"They had known it was going to be a VIP, but they didn't know who the VIP was.
"Edward and Sophie asked them about what they enjoyed about going into the woods, as well as about the recovery from Covid.”
Gillian Pirie, volunteer development officer at Moray Food Plus, said: “We were delighted at how the visit went.
"The royal couple were really down to earth and took the time to hear about the volunteers' experiences.
"After greeting the royal couple and discussing some of the work we do, we set them a task of making two food parcels.
"It was lovely to see the royals engage with our volunteers. I was personally impressed by the Countess, who had already researched our work prior to the visit.
"The Earl was genuinely surprised at the amount of referrals our foodbank deals with day-to-day and the geographic area our office covers.
"It was a fantastic experience for the volunteers and a very well-deserved reward for all their hard efforts."
Seymour Monro, lord-lieutenant of Moray, added: “Sophie and Edward spoke to the young children and congratulated them on their Junior Forester Awards.
"It was a great day for the children of Moray.”
