Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall
- Written by Paul Rees
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall today (29th March 2011) visited the gardens of Montserrate, Sintra as guests of the Friends of Montserrate for the inauguration of the recently restored rose garden.
The gardens of Montserrate are considered one of the most important English landscaped gardens outside of Britain. The estate was founded in the 1700s and was visited by Lord Byron in 1809 by which time it had already fallen into decay. Son of a wealthy merchant, Frances Cook purchased the estate in 1856 and restored and developed the area which housed his descendents for four generations. Eventually it was purchased by the Portuguese state in the 1940s under whose tenure the gardens were largely abandoned and once more declined.
The 'Friends of Montserrate' was formed in 1992 as a volunteer organisation in order to restore and care for the estate. With UNESCO World Heritage status granted to Sintra and its environs in 2000 the area once more came under state control via a specially formed company whose remit is it to care for and promote the gardens and buildings.
The original rose garden was developed by Francis Cook over 150 years ago but had long been lost until traces of terraces and the original irrigation system were uncovered.
The recuperation and planting of the rose garden was completed in 2011 in time for today's Royal visit. The Prince and the Duchess chatted with ease amongst the small crowd who were delighted at their informality and their interest in this project. Tomorrow the Royal party travels to Spain for two days and then to Morocco.
Algarve visitors included (pictured chatting to the Duchess of Cornwall) Clive Jewell (British Consul - Algarve) Alison Blair (Madrugada) Mrs Sheena Rawcliffe (BPCC), Michael Reeve (CEO of Afpop). Also representing the Algarve were Mark Rawcliffe (MMS Publising),Mr Roy Whitehouse (BPCC), Mrs and Mrs Mark Stilwell, Mr and Mrs Doug McAdam, Dr Miguel Sengo da Costa (British Honorary Consul in Faro) Fr. and Mrs Haynes Hubbard.
