Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, came to Trowbridge’s The Mead Community Primary School for a cuppa and slice of cake to mark their first ever Big Lunch on Sunday.

The Duchess was taken for a tour of The Big Community Grow gardens at the school, in Hackett Place, Hilperton, talking to children and then planting a Jubilee oak tree, marking her visit and the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

The Duchess said: “I will give the tree a little touch for good luck as that is always helpful.

“It is an absolute honour to come to this impressive garden, thank you for letting me plant the tree and showing me around, I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Afterwards, she shared lunch with around 600 people inside a marquee that was patriotically decorated in red, white and blue, as part of the school’s Big Lunch event. Guests brought along a plate of food to share with others on their tables.

The Duchess is a patron of the annual national event, which first launched in 2009, aiming to bring communities together.

Alison Bennett, Kingfisher Church team leader, who sat next to the Duchess, said: “It was very exciting – we gave her a stained glass kingfisher and she said she really liked it. She was really engaging.”

The Duchess later took to the marquee’s stage to hand out prizes to the winners of the event’s best crown competition, giving the children a book and mug.

Winner Kelly Blackwood, eight, said: “She was really nice to us and she said she liked my crown a lot.”

Before leaving, the Duchess was serenaded by a school choir performance of Celebration, the Big Lunch’s anthem, and received flowers and vegetables from the on-site garden, used by schools and children’s centres across Trowbridge.

Mel Jacob, one of the project’s organisers and chairman of the school’s governing body, said: “She seemed to really enjoy going around the garden and was very interested in chatting to the children. The whole atmosphere, especially in the marquee, was just amazing.”

To show her appreciation, the Duchess gave boxes of biscuits to The Mead Community Primary School’s headteacher, Lyssy Bolton, who said: “The children will always remember the Diamond Jubilee, last year, and I think this will be another very special memory for us all.

“I’d like to thank the Duchess for coming and also give a huge thank you to everyone who came along and made the event such a resounding success.”

The Duchess had earlier visited a charity event for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, at Middlewick House, Corsham, her former home before she sold it to P