A RAFT of local pooches got the Royal touch this week as Prince Charles visited Cumnock.

The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay touched down in Scotland last Wednesday (June 22) and made a special appearance at Dumfries House on royal duty.

Prince Charles and the Duchess first made an appearance at the Dumfries House Future Textiles Sewing Bee Challenge for secondary schools pupils.
Local pupils pitted their sewing and design skills against a host of other schools from across the country.

The Dumfries House Future Textiles showcase event was to highlight the educational activities and take the form of a Sewing Bee Challenge for secondary school pupils.

Ten schools took part in the ‘Dress in a Day Challenge’, to make a dress to a professional standard in a short time frame. The competition was overseen and judged by experts Victoria Stapleton and Patrick Grant.

The effort from pupils at Cumnock Academy came second place over all for their design, with Coltness High School winning the challenge.
Cumnock Academy pupils Kobi Freel, Claire Alexander and Dana McCracken were runners up from the ten schools that competed to win the challenge thanks to their stylish design.

The pupils got the chance to chat the Prince Charles and tell him a bit about their creation. After their brief meeting, Kobi said: “I was a bit nervous. Claire had actually met him before, but I hadn’t so I was nervous.”

From there, the Duke and Duchess made their way to open a brand new part of the estate.

Prince Charles fulfilled a childhood dream when he opened The Maze.

Having recently redesigned the parterres at the front of the house, which consists of knee-high hedging around an intricate set of pathways, His Royal

Highness noted that children enjoyed winding their way through the design and thought it would be a good idea to have a full sized maze for them to explore.The Prince selected an area immediately to the south east of the Adam Bridge.

At the centre of the maze is a Japanese-style pavilion designed by Julian and Isabel Bannerman, sitting within a central pool. The royal couple were piped in to the maze by the Irvine Pipe Band.

Opening The Maze, the Duke of Rothesay said: “I’m so pleased we have reached the final moment where it’s possible to open this magnificent maze and above all else I wanted to express enormous appreciation to Mrs Barbara Albury for her fantastic generosity in making this maze possible in memory of her late husband Joe Albury who was a very special person indeed.  

"There’s nothing more enjoyable than getting lost in a maze. So I hope there will be many generations of people from Cumnock and elsewhere having a chance to get lost in the maze.”

Fifty pupils from Sorn Primary then worked their way to the centre of the maze to join the Duke and Duchess by the Japanese pavilion.
The Duke and Duchess then stopped to chat with locals. 

Prince Charles got up close and personal with one local pooch. He stopped to pet Cooper the dog and shake his owner, Andy Blackwood’s hand.

Andy, from Cumnock said: “He was wondering what kind of breed he was and was asking how many times we shampoo him.

“I’ve seen him quite a few times so it was good to finally meet him.
The Duke and Duchess then made a visit to the second Dumfries House Dog Show where they made the rounds before judging the Best in Show.

Ann Little from Kilwinning and her pet, Skye managed to grab a quick work with the Duchess.

Ann said: “She was asking me what kind of dog and I said it was a 16 month old Cairn terrier and she said it was lovely. If you watch out she will be dressed up as Santa in the fancy dress competition.

“I got a word with Prince Charles as well. I kept moving back and forth between the two. 

“I knew they were coming so I thought we’d make the trip down.”

The Duke and Duchess ended the days visit by judging the Best in Show.

With dozens of dogs competing for the title, they chose Oliver and his handler Daniel as the winner.

Daniel noted how the Duke and Duchess were left impressed by nine year old Oliver.

The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay then headed back for the comfort of Dumfries House to end their visit for the day.