A WOMAN was delighted to have a surprise encounter with royalty, as a mystery guest at the opening event of a community café turned out to be none other than HRH Prince Charles.
Chantelle Bacon, who is Tesco community champion at the Dorchester Tesco superstore, attended the grand opening of Pavilion in the Park (PIP) café on Monday, as part of her role supporting Tesco nominated charity the Alcohol Trust, as PIP also runs events for the charity.
But when sniffer dogs and police turned up ahead of a mystery VIP, she and other guests were wondering who it could possibly be.
Chantelle - a proud Royalist - said she was "nervous and very excited" when the penny dropped and she realised she was about to meet the future king - but was delighted when the two of them later shared a conversation and a joke after she asked for a selfie.
Chantelle and Prince Charles shared banter Picture: Neil Crick/ARPS
"When he was walking down we all stood to attention," said Cerne Abbas resident Chantelle. "Before he first came into the cafe, undercover sniffer dogs came around to check everything was above board - which made me realise someone important must be coming - then everyone was saying Prince Charles was going to arrive. We were waiting in anticipation for a few hours until he turned up shortly before 1pm."
The Prince raised smiles during his appearance
She added: "I was pretty anxious but very excited to meet the future king. He was such a great gentleman - very very pleasant - we had a good conversation, which I was quite surprised about because I'd just got a selfie at first, thinking I wouldn't have a chance to speak to him."
- Read more: Poundbury's Pavilion in the Park unveiled
Chantelle said the prince asked about her role with Tesco, and the conversation turned to her husband's occupation. "I explained that he has a mortgage advice business just behind Poundbury - we had a bit of a laugh over this, as Prince Charles said that everyone needs mortgages at the moment."
PIP runs activities for the Alcohol Education Trust charity
She added: "It was great that he had a bit of a sense of humour - he was very warm and charming, he seemed as though he had a lot of time for people which was great."
Chantelle even shares a birthday with Prince Charles - November 14. "I've followed Kate and William's story all the way through - I love the Queen and the Royal Family, so it was wonderful to be able to meet him," she said. "I'm still on a high really."
Workshops offered by PIP include awareness courses teaching the effects of alcohol, including for children of parents affected by alcohol dependency.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/PavilionInThePark/
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