A windswept Duchess of Cornwall breezed into two royal engagements in Trowbridge and Steeple Ashton on Monday.

After visiting Trowbridge catering specialist apetito, the Duchess battled with her umbrella as she fought strong winds on a visit to the Wiltshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers and community shop in Steeple Ashton.

Wearing a long blue coat and black boots, the Duchess looked relaxed as she spoke with members of the Guild. She said: “You are all doing a wonderful job in supporting the British wool industry, a campaign that my husband started.”

The Duchess, flanked by the High Sheriff of Wiltshire Dame Elizabeth Neville, joked: “So I will go back and tell him all about your work.”

She tried her hand at spinning and weaving for an evening bag which is being created by members to send to the Duchess.

As she tried out the equipment she said: “I think you will have to take me through it bit by bit. It looks very easy to use once you get going but I don’t think I’ll ever be an expert.”

Guild members joked that they run a beginners course if the Duchess was interested.

After unveiling a plaque, the Duchess received a bookmark from the Guild, and chairman Lesley Greaves said: “She had a go at some weaving which we will finish off and we will send to her.

“She also tried some spinning, had a look at the natural dyes that we take from our garden and spoke with members of our knitting and crochet club.”

Member Sue Godfray said: “She was down to earth and very personable.”

The Duchess also found time to do a spot of shopping in the village shop, where she signed ‘Camilla’ and the date in a visitors’ book. She told shoppers: “It is so important to have a shop like this which is run by volunteers. It is a lovely thing to do.”

One shopper, Julia Tiller, said: “I had just popped in for a card and some stamps and couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Camilla looking around the shop. It was such a lovely surprise.”

Manageress Julie Ludlow said: “It was a great honour for us. The shop is run by volunteers and is a vital asset for the village. We went for seven years without a shop so it is such an important meeting place for everyone and it was great to see that Camilla recognised that on her visit.”

Earlier, food was high on the agenda for the Duchess of Cornwall as she visited Trowbridge-based firm apetito following its success in industry awards over the past few years.

Her Royal Highness, who has delivered an apetito meal herself to an elderly resident in Scotland in 2008, to raise awareness of ‘meals on wheels’, has since developed an interest in what the catering specialist apetito does.

The duchess met members of the workforce before being introduced to the chairman of Wiltshire Council, Brigadier Robert Hall and Trowbridge mayor Cllr Clive Blackmore by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire John Bush.

apetito UK chief executive Paul Freeston presented her to representatives from the community meals, healthcare, care homes and Wiltshire Farm Foods divisions, and the Duchess quizzed members of staff, including head development chef Phil Rimmer and development chef Shiva Osborne, about the food they produce.

She was particularly interested in texture modified products – pureed food that has been moulded back into its original shapes.

Mr Rimmer said: “She was very interested in all the ranges of food we had but also the texture modified range. She was amazed that we had managed to keep the shapes of the food and asked about the nature of that.

“She also asked where we source our food from and I said over 50 per cent of it comes from the UK and the rest from Europe and developing countries."

The Duchess then unveiled a commemorative slate plaque,spoke to staff in one of the kitchens and saw the vehicles used to transport the food, before receiving a bouquet.

Development co-ordinator Peter Todd said: “She said to me ‘you must go to bed dreaming of food’ and I said I certainly go home feeling full.”

After her visit to Steeple Ashton, the Royal entourage then headed to Chippenham where she visited the RISE Children’s Centre and spoke to parents and children.

More pictures in this week's Wiltshire Times