After the Commonwealth service and reception which she attended with the senior members of the Royal family accompanying Her Majesty the Queen the previous day on March 12th, HRH the Duchess met with staff and student of Barn Croft Primary School for a Commonwealth Big Lunch event on March 13th.

The Duchess of Cornwall is attending a #CommonwealthBigLunch with pupils from Barn Croft Primary School in London.

HRH received a very jolly welcome! pic.twitter.com/rU5FhYaYGm

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 13, 2018

The Big Lunch is an initiative all about bringing people together to share food and friendship and meet new people. Her Royal Highness is its Patron, and according to Clarence House has attended a number of events in support of the project including a Big Lunch street party in honour of The Queen’s 90th birthday.

HRH is Patron of The Big Lunch, an initiative that encourages communities to have lunch together in a simple act of friendship and fun.

In 2016, HRH attended a Big Lunch street party in honour of The Queen’s 90th birthday. pic.twitter.com/EcnoRyD8QM

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 13, 2018

While at the school, she met children taking part in different Commonwealth themed activities including decorating special biscuits, baking bread, and making bracelets. Before departing, she gave the school cake to share amongst the staff and students in honor of CommonWealth Day.

The pupils at Barn Croft Primary School are taking part in Commonwealth themed activities as part of their Big Lunch event. 👩🏻‍🍳

HRH joins children who are baking bread in the school kitchens before listening to pupils recite poems about the Commonwealth. 📝 pic.twitter.com/wJeJsMRXEA

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 13, 2018

Commonwealth Big Lunches are part of the official celebrations leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, from Commonwealth Day on 12th March until 22nd April.

“Thank you to all of you for having me here today.

“I’m very, very proud to be part of The Big Lunch. It’s a wonderful way to get people together.” - HRH

Find out more about The Big Lunch: https://t.co/M4d484PEC2 pic.twitter.com/Fnc2UdrIAd

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 13, 2018

Last year 9.3m people took part in The Big Lunch across the UK at over 96,000 events. The initiative was started in 2009 by The Eden Project and consisted of a very simple idea to get people to sit and have lunch with their neighbours on one day each year.


Cheltenham Festival:
Later The Duchess attended the first eventing events at Cheltenham Festival. She congratulated the Queen Mother Champion Chase winning jockey Nde Boinville.

HRH presented the trophy to the owner of Altior during the prizegiving.