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ROYAL DAY OUT

The Queen is spotted browsing the aisles in Waitrose while Prince Philip pops out for a PINT

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were joined by Charles and Camilla when they toured the newly completed Queen Mother Square at Poundbury

THE Queen browsed the aisles of Waitrose, while Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall popped to the pub for a swift half during a tour of the Poundbury development.

The royal four today visited the Prince of Wales' project in the Dorset town of Dorchester and unveiled a statue of the late Queen Mother.

 The Queen, Duke Of Edinburgh, Prince Of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall Visit Poundbury
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The Queen, Duke Of Edinburgh, Prince Of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall Visit PoundburyCredit: Getty Images
 Queen Elizabeth talks with Waitrose Marketing Director Rupert Thomas as she looks around a Waitrose supermarket
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Queen Elizabeth talks with Waitrose Marketing Director Rupert Thomas as she looks around a Waitrose supermarketCredit: Reuters
 Prince Philip carefully studies what ales are on offer on tap in the pub on Queen Mother Square
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Prince Philip carefully studies what ales are on offer on tap in the pub on Queen Mother SquareCredit: Getty Images
 Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall toast each other's health as they share a drink
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Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall toast each other's health as they share a drinkCredit: Getty Images
 Prince Philip and The Queen look on as Prince Charles delivers a speech as the statue of his grandmother was unveiled
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Prince Philip and The Queen look on as Prince Charles delivers a speech as the statue of his grandmother was unveiled

During the royal party's tour of the store in Queen Mother Square, they were each given large hampers filled with a range of goods from whisky and jams to cheeses.

Two of the baskets were filled with dog treats - presumably for the Queen's dogs and Camilla's canine pets.

As Philip was leaving he joked with staff who asked if he had come to do some shopping. The Duke gestured to the hampers and said he had some to collect.

Before leaving the royal couple visited the newest pub in Poundbury, The Duchess of Cornwall Inn, which has been named in honour of Charles' wife.

The Duchess even got behind the bar and poured a half pint for her husband, as the Duke of Edinburgh carefully studied the drinks available on tap.

Prince Charles has been the driving force behind a classically inspired extension to Dorchester, which was praised as a "beacon to the way forward" by a member of the team involved with it.

It has been previously criticised for harking back to an earlier architectural tradition.

Work began in 1993 with the aim of creating an urban quarter of Dorchester which gave priority to people, rather than cars, and where commercial buildings were mixed with residential areas, shops and leisure facilities to create a walkable community.

 Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall chats with members of staff in Waitrose in the Poundbury development
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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall chats with members of staff in Waitrose in the Poundbury developmentCredit: Getty Images
 Queen Elizabeth arrives to look around a Waitrose supermarket during a visit to the town of Poundbury
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Queen Elizabeth arrives to look around a Waitrose supermarket during a visit to the town of PoundburyCredit: Reuters
 The royal visitors were presented with a hamper each containing food and produce from the store
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The royal visitors were presented with a hamper each containing food and produce from the storeCredit: Getty Images
 The Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Cornwall inspect their "goodie bags", two of which were full of dog treats
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The Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Cornwall inspect their "goodie bags", two of which were full of dog treatsCredit: Getty Images
 Each had a hamper full of items to take back with them
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Each had a hamper full of items to take back with themCredit: Getty Images
 The Queen arrives in the pub and approaches the bar, where Camilla showed off her pint pouring skills
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The Queen arrives in the pub and approaches the bar, where Camilla showed off her pint pouring skillsCredit: Getty Images
 The Duchess of Cornwall got stuck in and poured a half pint of "The Duchess" which she served to her husband
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The Duchess of Cornwall got stuck in and poured a half pint of "The Duchess" which she served to her husbandCredit: Getty Images
 He seemed happy with his choice of beverage as he sampled the drink named after his wife
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He seemed happy with his choice of beverage as he sampled the drink named after his wifeCredit: Getty Images

Today, Poundbury is home to 3,000 people in a mix of private and affordable housing.

The community also provides employment to 2,100 people and is home to 185 businesses.

Andrew Hamilton, development director for the Duchy of Cornwall, which owns the land Poundbury is built on, told Charles: "You, sir, single-handedly set out to challenge the accepted orthodoxy of planning and development in this country.

"At a time when there is a nationwide clamour for new housing I believe that Poundbury stands as a beacon to the way forward."


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