The Royal Story The Royal Story
Prince William’s visit to Princetown on Tuesday included an unexpectedly charming encounter when he came face-to-face with two local alpacas.
The Prince of Wales was in the remote Dartmoor community to officially launch the Princetown Community Fund, which will provide at least £250,000 for projects designed and led by people living in the area. The funding will support initiatives intended to strengthen the town socially and economically while also delivering environmental improvements.
William’s busy programme gave him the opportunity to meet those responsible for managing the new scheme, speak directly with Princetown residents and return to a youth club he had previously helped secure funding to renovate.
A lighter moment arrived when the future King was introduced to Treacle and Noodle, two alpacas belonging to Gari and Karen Mann. The couple run Hooves and Moor, a local business offering alpaca trekking experiences across the Dartmoor landscape.
William appeared fascinated by the animals and stroked Noodle while asking how the alpacas had coped with Britain’s unusually warm summer.
He remarked: “Their wool is so thick isn’t it? How have they fared in the heat this summer?”
Gari Mann, 55, reassured the Prince that the animals had managed the warmer conditions without problems.
William then prompted laughter from those gathered nearby when his curiosity turned to whether Treacle and Noodle were treated as members of the family.
Looking at the well-cared-for animals, he joked: “They look very well looked after. Are they allowed in the house?”
The Prince also had an opportunity to experience one of Princetown’s traditional crafts during a visit to Princetown Press.
With guidance from co-owner Emma Hogbin, who operates the business with Jon Palmer, William tried using the company’s historic letterpress himself, adding another hands-on moment to his tour of the Dartmoor community.
READ MORE: Prince William Puts £1.5m Prison Income Back Into Dartmoor Community as New Fund Launches
Prince William got fully involved during his visit to Princetown Press, taking control of the traditional printing equipment rather than simply watching the process.
The Prince applied ink to the letterheads and worked the roller himself before revealing the completed broadsheet, which had been specially created to mark his visit to the Dartmoor community.
Clearly pleased with the result, William joked: “Excellent. And spelt correctly,” before taking a closer look at the quality of the finished print.
He continued enthusiastically: “Brilliant, look at that. It’s amazing, really, really good. What’s so lovely is how crisp each letter is.”
William later continued on foot through Princetown, giving residents an opportunity to meet him personally. During the walkabout, he stopped to speak with local business owners, members of the wider community and children from Princetown’s primary school.
The informal conversations reflected one of the central themes of the visit: strengthening the relationship between the Duchy of Cornwall and the people who live and work on its land, while ensuring local voices play a direct role in shaping future investment in the area.
READ MORE: William and Kate Face New Disruption Close to Forest Lodge as Windsor Plans Take Effect
Before bringing his Princetown visit to an end, Prince William returned to the local youth club, a facility he had previously encountered in considerably worse condition during an earlier private trip to the area.
After seeing how badly the building had deteriorated, William helped set in motion support from the Duchy of Cornwall. Funding was subsequently provided for extensive improvements, including replacing the leaking roof and creating better facilities so the club could offer a wider programme for young people in the village.
This time, William was able to see the results for himself. He watched a group of teenagers taking part in a drama session before speaking with them about what it is like to grow up in the remote Dartmoor community.
Remembering the state of the building during his previous visit, the Prince joked: “Is it better there is no hole in the roof? A bit draughty when I last came here.”
Youth club chair Emma Byrom said the Duchy’s support had been crucial to ensuring the facility survived. Recalling William’s determination to prevent its closure, she said he had previously told her: “It’s not closing on my watch”, before adding that his promise had been kept.
The new Princetown Community Fund is intended to bring the same locally focused approach to other projects across the area.
Emma Magee of the Duchy of Cornwall explained: “The Princetown Community Fund is about helping local people turn ideas most into action.”
She stressed that residents themselves will have an important say in deciding how the funding is used and which projects could make the greatest long-term difference.
Magee added: “Most importantly, it ensures that local people remain at the heart of decisions about where investment is directed and how lasting benefits can be delivered for the community.”
