The Duchess of Cornwall visits East Sussex

Today The Duchess of Cornwall carried out engagements in East Sussex.

On her way, Her Royal Highness met station manager Darren O’Brien at Victoria Station to discuss the Rail to Refuge scheme. The initiative, coordinated by Rail Delivery Group and Women's Aid, helps people to escape domestic abuse and reach a safe refuge quickly and free of charge.

Free travel can be a lifeline for people fleeing abuse who may not have access to money. Almost two-thirds of people who used the initiative said they would not have travelled if the journey had not been paid for.

Last week, The Duchess gave her support to Rail to Refuge in a video message.

In East Sussex, The Duchess visited Kamsons Pharmacy to thank the unsung frontline workers who have been working in pharmacies across the UK throughout the pandemic, including lockdown.

The company’s warehouse supplies up to one million items per month to its 77 pharmacies. Each of these pharmacies provides a free delivery service of prescription medicines and the new warehouse contains 925 solar panels that are used to charge some of the company's delivery vehicles in a move towards becoming carbon neutral.

Later, at Christ’s Church in Lewes, The Duchess of Cornwall met volunteers and trustees who operate the Fitzjohn’s Foodbank. The church, which has been transformed into a food bank, stores goods including fresh vegetables, eggs, milk and bread in readiness for weekly deliveries to the vulnerable.