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The Prince of Wales showed off his dancing skills as he made a surprise appearance at a tea party hosted at Highgrove in honour of the Queen‘s Platinum Jubilee.
The heir-to-the-throne, 73, showed off his moves during the Prince’s Foundation event which took place yesterday, ahead of the Platinum Jubilee’s celebrations later this week.
Charles took his dancing partner for a spin on the dancefloor and dazzled with his fancy footwork, before meeting with the attendees and the band.
After boogying on down the dancefloor, the royal sat down for some tea and chatted with his guests, which included TV star Jools Holland and soul singer Ruby Turner.
The heir-to-the-throne, 73, showed off his moves during the Prince’s Foundation event which took place yesterday, ahead of the Platinum Jubilee’s celebrations later this week
The event, held as a way combat loneliness and isolation within the community, saw men and women from the local area enjoy an afternoon tea of finger sandwiches, scones and a glass or two of Highgrove prosecco, while socialising and enjoying live music.
Guests were unaware the prince would be joining them, and his entrance was met with delighted gasps.
Immediately after arriving, Charles sat down with special guest Elizabeth Powell, from Highnam, who celebrated her 100th birthday on May 6.
He presented her with a bouquet of flowers from his gardens and a handwritten birthday card, the front of which was decorated with a print of one of his own paintings.
Fancy footwork! The Prince of Wales dazzled on the dancefloor as he took of his dancing partners for a spin
After showing off his dancing skills, the Prince of Wales had a chat with the band present at the event
Holland and Turner got the room to sing Happy Birthday to the centenarian.
Mrs Powell said afterwards: ‘I’m so surprised by everything, its so beautiful here and Prince Charles was so very nice, bless him.
‘He wished me a happy birthday and asked if I was keeping well and if I live on my own, which I do in a bungalow not far from my son, his wife and my grandchildren.’
She said she was ‘all geared up’ to watch the Jubilee and was looking forward to attending a street party and village fête with her family.
Asked for her secret to a long life, she replied: “I like to have a glass of red wine in the evening. And sometimes I have a sherry at lunchtime as well.”
Guest Bridget Tibbs, who donned a vibrant red skirt for her afternoon of dancing, looked delighted to be dancing with the future King
Charles graciously took the time to greet the guests who came for tea and Highgrove yesterday
Partygoers gathered around the heir-to-the-throne during the dancing tea. From left to right, Jools Holland, Ruby Turner and Patrick Grant were among those who received an invite
Elizabeth Powell, who celebrated her 100th birthday on May 6th, me with Jools Holland during the event
A local Lindy Hop group, Cheltenham Swing Dance, were on hand to get the dancing under way.
After greeting most of the guests, Charles joined dancer Bridget Tibbs for a tango to a rendition of Just Softly As A Morning Sunrise, performed by The Honeymoon Swing, with his entrance to the dancefloor greeted by applause.
Ms Tibbs said: ‘We were talking about dancing and then I said, “Would you like to have a little dance”? I thought, you’ve got to ask. He came back a few minutes later and said, “Shall we have that dance?”
‘It was wonderful. He was very lovely to dance with, a lovely sense of rhythm, a nice hold. It was a pleasure.
Ms Tibbs, an alpaca farmer, added: ‘He was delightful to talk to and we had a good chat. I was actually talking to him about environmental issues and saying the work that he does is amazing.’
Audrey Webber, 61, who began Highnam’s Goodneighbour Cafe, which started during Covid-19 lockdowns as a support group for those feeling isolated, said: ‘It is so important, what they’re doing here, especially after the lockdown, which has exacerbated people’s feelings of loneliness.
‘Seeing the smiles on people’s faces today is just so lovely.’
Elizabeth, left, who wore a lovely blue ensemble, seemed delighted to be introduced to the crooner Jools Holland
Jools Holland delighted guests with a piano performance during Highgrove’s dancing tea yesterday
Guests put on their best clothes and hats in order to attend the glitzy event in Gloucestershire
Charles was seen in deep conversation with Bridget as the pair enjoyed a turn around the room
Anna Gibbins, 64, from South Cerney, an Age UK volunteer whose husband recently died with dementia, said: ‘Older people tend to feel invisible but they have a part to play in society, and many have hidden talents that we should all want to capitalise on.
‘Events like this help people feel special, loved and connected.’
Every guest at the tea dance was given a gift bag with items donated by friends of the Prince’s Foundation including a Penhaligon’s hand cream, a Halcyon Days tea tidy, a scarf from Johnstons of Elgin.
It also included a David Austen mug or teacup and saucer, a voucher for a David Austen rose, Highgrove berry tea, a Platinum Jubilee keyring and candle, and a mini Bramley hand wash or hand cream.
The Prince of Wales impressed with his moves on the dancefloor as he and Bridget gave the rest of the attendees a show
Dressed in a dapper grey suit with a light blue tie, the heir-to-the throne gallantly met his guests
Other dancers soon joined Prince Charles and his dancing partner on the dancefloor as others looked on
Showing them how it’s done! The heir-to=-the-throne showed he was smooth on the dancefloor
Guests began the afternoon by watching the several dancers who were entertaining at the tea yesterday
The dancers gathered at the centre of the table in order to give their audience a proper show as Jools Holland played on
The first of four tea dances took place on Monday at the Garrison Chapel in Chelsea, the foundation’s exhibition space in west London, where pianist Joe Thompson and a choir featuring pupils from nearby Francis Holland School provided the entertainment.
On Wednesday a large event will be held at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, followed by another at the Castle of Mey in Caithness on Thursday.
The Prince’s Foundation hosts such events every three weeks at its Dumfries House headquarters with funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Guests of the tea dances are identified by partner organisations from across Britain, including Age UK, East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities and Befriending Caithness.
To decorate each of the four venues, thousands of triangles to form bunting were sewn by members of the Dumfries House Sewing Bee, another of the foundation’s initiatives aimed at providing people with a social environment.
Savile Row tailor Patrick Grant, co-presenter of the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee, helped put the finishing touches to the bunting in the pavilion of the Ayrshire country house.
Simon Sadinsky, executive director of the foundation, said: ‘Social isolation is a widespread issue which has been felt more keenly than ever by many over the past two years, and it has been great to see so many people enjoying the opportunity to socialise with others in their local communities.’
Dancer Bridget showed off her moves as well with another partners that made her skirt flow elegantly as she danced
Bridget’s skirt flowed around her during another couple’s dance to the sound of Jools Holland’s music
Prince Charles was first introduced to the dancers who had come to entertain at his event yesterday
The Prince sat down and chatted with centenarian Elizabeth Powell, right, during yesterday’s event
The heir-to-the-throne listened intently as he and Elizabeth shared a few words over tea yesterday
Charles seemed relaxed during the event, where he met and chatted with several of his guests
Guests were sitting around perfectly propped tables. Menu included scones and a selection of pastries and dessert
Dancers lit up the dancefloor during the event at Highgrove yesterday, in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Guests seemed enchanted by the swing dancers who had come to entertain at the dancing tea yesterday
Other dancers joined in as the afternoon progressed and yesterday’s Jubilee dancing tea went by
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