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Prince Charles and Camilla visit Salisbury to boost city in wake of Skripal poisoning

High five: the Prince of Wales meets Edward Owen, aged 4, on a visit to Salisbury - REUTERS
High five: the Prince of Wales meets Edward Owen, aged 4, on a visit to Salisbury - REUTERS

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have offered their support to the people of Salisbury in the wake of the poisoning of a former spy, as their Royal visit was filmed by Russian state television.

The Prince and the Duchess were greeted by thousands of locals and visitors in a landmark visit to the Wiltshire city, aimed at boosting tourism following the attack on Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia.

During a two-hour-long visit, in which they went to a local market, greeted excited schoolchildren and met privately with the police officer who was taken ill after responding to the incident, the Prince and Duchess were followed by media including a camera crew from Russian state television.

The Prince and Duchess were invited to the city expressly to help with its recovery programme, in the wake of the attack Wiltshire Council calls “the incident on the 4th March”.

Then, former Russian spy Mr Skripal and his daughter were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in the city following a nerve agent attack.

They have since been discharged from hospital, along with Wiltshire police officer DS Nick Bailey, who was also taken seriously ill, with a major police operation causing disruption to the city.

Skripal poisoning - Salisbury map
Skripal poisoning - Salisbury map

Since then, an inquiry has involved 250 detectives, who have trawled through more than 5,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed more than 500 witnesses.

Nine businesses have been closed as a result of the incident with shops near to the police cordons losing between 60-80 per cent of customers.

Footfall across the city centre was down by an average of 15 per cent in April, with tourism dropping around 20 per cent as locals feared lasting damage to its international reputation.

The Prince empathised with locals about their plight, telling them: “It must have been a very difficult time.”

Saying that he hoped he and his wife could help in some small way, he told local business owners he was pleased to see them flourishing once again in the sunshine.

The couple began their visit in The Maltings, a small shopping precinct where many business had to close for 11 weeks as the police operation was completed.

There, accredited media waiting to capture the Prince and Duchess getting out of their car to greet local dignitaries were unexpectedly joined by a journalist and cameraman for Russian state television.

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, holds a baby's foot in Salisbury - Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, holds a baby's foot in Salisbury Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters

Embedding themselves with cameramen and photographers from the local and national UK media, they filmed the Royal couple as they walked through the market until they were spotted by police and asked to move back with the general public.

The Prince and Duchess, focused on their visit, greeted market stall holders selling meat, fish and fruit, asking whether their produce was local and whether they had been affected by the police investigation into the poisoning.

“I hope it’s getting better,” the Prince told them. The couple continued their walkabout through to the market square, where thousands of wellwishers including children from 17 local schools lined a barrier waiting to see them.

Asked how she was enjoying her visit to Salisbury, the Duchess said: “It’s very nice to be back and it’s nice to see it back to itself.”

Shaking hands with schoolchildren and admiring their colourful caps, the Duchess asked whether they had been allowed to miss their normal lessons and admired their waving flags.

She was offered a series of small, hand-picked posies of flowers by children, with nine-year-old Sophie proclaiming her “quite cool."

The Prince gave a cheerful high five to four-year-old Edward Owen, who offered his hand in the unconventional greeting instead of a handshake.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in Salisbury - Credit: WENN
'They really do make a difference': local residents welcomed the Royal visit Credit: WENN

Sheila Owen, his grandmother, said: “He [the Prince] said he didn’t know how much difference they would make, and I said it was very nice that both of them came.

“They really do make a difference. These shopkeepers have been through such a difficult time, and this will boost morale.”

As the Royal Artillery Band played Downtown, the waiting crowd struck up with cries of “three cheers” for the Prince and Duchess as they made their way down the line.

At the Guildhall, the Prince and Duchess had a private meeting with DS Bailey, who was injured in the Salisbury attack, as well as first responders, police and intelligence personnel.

Pc Alex Collins, 36, and his colleague Pc Alexandra Way, 27, have previously met Prime Minister Theresa May and former Home Secretary Amber Rudd on earlier visits to Salisbury.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leave after their visit to Salisbury where they saw the recovery programme after former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were poisoned - Credit: Ben Birchall/PA
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leave after their visit to Salisbury where they saw the recovery programme after former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were poisoned Credit: Ben Birchall/PA

Pc Collins, 36, said: “This was more relaxed. “They were asking how we were involved and they were concerned about our welfare. We were sent to the hospital for observations but we have been fine,” he said.

“It was just a routine call that we received. It could have been any day. A couple of people slumped on a bench - and then it spiralled.”

The pair had been instructed not to go into any more detail about the scene that day. Pc Way said: “I think there was general concern in the community when the nature of the incident became clearer but we have all pulled together and come out as a team.”

Asked about the visit, the Prince told local business leaders: “I hope it’s helped.”

City leaders have already put on a host of events in the hopes of luring tourists back to their streets, including a Royal wedding party, complete with large screen and family entertainment, and an art exhibition featuring 2,500 white origami doves conveying a message of “resilience, peace and hope”.

Salisbury spy attack timeline
Salisbury spy attack timeline

Alistair Cunningham, chairman of the recovery coordinating group, said: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to Salisbury in support of its recovery and to help boost visitors to the centre.

"Whilst the recovery work is well underway, there is still a lot to be done and this visit is a real boost for the city.

"Everyone here is so pleased that their Royal Highnesses have decided to visit and I am sure that local residents and visitors will join us to welcome them to the city centre and to celebrate this special royal visit."