I have a dream, a fantasy, part 4

Royal Patronage

It was time to change tack and my next logical step was to approach HRH The Prince of Wales.

After all, I am looking for a backer who shares my beliefs in sustainable living, community development and inspiring guests and people in the community to make changes to their own lifestyles, even if it just growing some herbs on the windowsill.

So I followed Royal Protocol and wrote to The Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM*.

To which I received a very posh reply – the postman actually bowed when he delivered it!

Whilst not being much of a Royalist, I was impressed with the prompt and nicely worded response – it really was the best ‘no’ I have ever received!

However, I was not done with their majesties. Royal patronage was a good option, but I had approached the wrong one. Prince Charles is more interested in farming, where my little enterprise is to be a B&B and smallholding, a place to relax and unwind, a refuge. 

It wasn’t Prince Charles I needed to approach, it was his wife.

Surely the Duchess of Cornwall would be the ideal person to understand that, whilst there is a lot of support and opportunities for younger people, there is far less for older people (and ladies in particular).

Logically she would therefore be interested in offering her patronage, as a lady who shares these beliefs and understands that women over a certain age are very capable and determined, as demonstrated by her schedule and that of her mother-in-law.

The timing of researching the interests of the Duchess of Cornwall also fitted in with some ideas I had been having in my own plans.

Yes, I still wanted to have a sustainable B&B with smallholding, I still wanted to sell my own Auntie Allie produce to guests and the local community and at local markets and host community events.

But I was also developing a plan to create a hub for female artisans at the property, with a row of craft stables for blacksmiths, cheese makers, wood carvers, willow workers etc. to demonstrate their work and sell their wares in a central shop.

Once again I was in receipt of a prompt, posh reply; once again the postman felt the need to bow and once again it was a polite ‘no’.

Maybe I could try baking some royal crested cakes…