The Prince of Wales has heaped praise down on Cornwall, describing the county as “a beacon of creativity, imagination and achievement”.
In a filmed message played out to a packed audience of young people and their families at a gala, William sent his support to the county, where he is known as the Duke of Cornwall when he is there.
His video was played at the 20th anniversary of the Young and Talented Cornwall: The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund gala, which also saw Dame Judi Dench, Dawn French and Will Young share messages.
The Young and Talent Cornwall fund has been awarded over £600,000 since 2005, helping more than 450 youngsters, with William saying that “no talent should be held back by financial or social challenges”.
The Prince of Wales praised Cornwall
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PA
Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho, the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, said: “What an outstanding demonstration of the abilities of Cornwall’s next generation.
“For two decades Young and Talented Cornwall has been proud to help an extraordinary range of young talent thrive, supporting young people in overcoming financial, geographical and social challenges.
“YT20 clearly shows the powerful impact of nurturing young people’s potential – creating lasting benefits for them, for Cornwall, and far beyond.
“It offers a vision for the future, and I hope it will encourage more young people to believe in themselves and strive for remarkable achievements.”
William described Cornwall as ‘a beacon of creativity, imagination and achievement’
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PA
The Duke of Cornwall’s message comes as he visited the county less than a fortnight ago to inaugurate a newly built access route for Mousehole Association Football Club.
The new road resolved a long-standing transportation challenge faced by players and staff.
The football club had previously struggled with a deteriorating, narrow track riddled with potholes that made reaching their pitch difficult.
William learnt of these access problems and orchestrated a solution by assembling a group of businesses to construct a proper road to the facility.
The royal’s intervention has transformed accessibility for the local football team, whose members previously had to traverse the challenging terrain to reach matches.
The construction project was completed during the summer months without any financial burden on the football club.
Prince William’s Kensington Palace office confirmed the work was accomplished through “generous in-kind contributions from a consortium of partner businesses”.
The prince personally coordinated this group of companies to ensure the road’s completion, demonstrating his commitment to supporting community sports facilities.
While he was at the football club, the future king posed with iconic football coach Neil Warnock.
The former Premier League manager joked about the interaction on social media after taking a picture with the future King, saying: “Always happy to oblige when a fan wants a selfie.”
Taking to social media, William said: “Thank you to everyone in Mousehole for an incredible visit today and to all those who made the new road to this football club possible.
“You are a shining example of what can happen when people and businesses come together to create a team to help a community.
“Maintaining vital community facilities such as roads is an essential element of supporting local life, helping football clubs like Mousehole continue to thrive, connecting people and supporting the next generation into football at the grassroots.”