With the recent accession of His Royal Majesty King Charles III, following the passing of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we would like to congratulate His Majesty and celebrate his coming reigning years. In honour of this time, we take a look back on his past visits to Kent alongside Camilla, Queen Consort. Kent has made its place in the history books with its brilliant culture and vibrance, so we are here to share and celebrate some of its monumental sites and the amazing people who make it quite so special. Kent and its locals have made great memories with Charles and Camilla in the past, and all look forward to welcoming them both back soon as King and Queen Consort.
Sheppey Healthy Living Centre
King Charles has always been an advocate for wellbeing and health, so the Sheppey Healthy Living Centre was the perfect place for him and Camilla to visit in February this year. There is a great focus on the local community there, and it was great to see them engaging with the Sheppey locals. The Healthy Living Centre is also the home of Sheppey Matters, a project that helps promote and protect the health of those living on the Isle of Sheppey. King Charles and Camilla have visited many of the projects founded by Sheppey Matters, including 1,2,3 ADHD and Me, Isle Connect You Project, Nordic Walking, and the Community Radio Station. These are amazing projects, founded and run by hard working and inspiring people, something that both the King and Camilla appreciated and congratulated.
Elmley Nature Reserve
While in North Kent, the King also visited the Elmley Nature Reserve, rich in flora and fauna. As a strong supporter of conservation, the King was aware of the reserve before visiting, and took great interest in how the land is managed and preserved. Not only is it home to wonderful wildlife, but you can also spend the night at the reserve in one of their cosy shepherd huts. Celebrate the Kentish countryside in the best way possible and stay the night!
Copper Rivet Distillery
Having opened the distillery back in 2017, His Royal Majesty has since visited Copper Rivet Distillery on the River Medway, giving it his seal of approval. Using Kentish grain from Chatham, this is about as local as it gets, so why not visit and see for yourself just what makes it so great (fit for a king, in fact)? You can take a tour and have a sample of their wonderful, hand-crafted gin, vodka, or whisky. And, while you’re there, why not treat yourself to a bite to eat in the Pumphouse restaurant, where you can enjoy creative, exciting, and lovingly made dishes. Thanks, Charles, for the recommendation!
Historic Dockyard Chatham
Having visited on three occasions, King Charles continues to show his patronage to the Historic Dockyard Chatham in Medway. And it’s no wonder – the dockyard’s rich history, huge social influence, and everlasting legacy is certainly fit for a king. While there in 2022, he enjoyed a tour of the dockyard, including exhibitions, the ropery and the docked ships. Why not follow in his footsteps and explore all that the dockyard can teach us about our maritime history?
Guildhall Museum
While King Charles was discovering Kent’s maritime history on his trip to the Dockyard, Camilla was also doing some learning at the Guildhall Museum in Rochester. While visiting to celebrate the opening of the museum’s exhibition, ‘The Making of Mr Dickens’, Camilla was shown the life of one of England’s most celebrated writers and Medway resident, Charles Dickens. Rich in history and local culture, the museum is the perfect place for all to visit to learn about Kent’s past.
Thank you.
We look forward to welcoming back Charles and Camilla as King and Queen Consort on their next visit to Kent.
Find out more about Kent's royal links here.
