A delighted Duchess of Cornwall meets pooches at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – as she’s unveiled as the charity's new patron

  • Clarence House announced the news on Twitter on Wednesday morning
  • The Duchess of Cornwall was visiting dogs in the charity's Windsor branch
  • Camilla, 69, has made several visits to the organisation's London centre

By Unity Blott For Mailonline

Published: 06:55 EST, 1 February 2017 | Updated: 07:10 EST, 1 February 2017

The Duchess of Cornwall has been announced as Royal Patron of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

The news was announced by Clarence House on Twitter as Camilla, 69, joined stars David Gandy and Amanda Holden for a special visit to their Windsor centre on Wednesday morning.

The Duchess donned a smart black and white check coat dress as she braved the rain in Berkshire, wrapping up against the winter chill with a pair of leather gloves and printed scarf.

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Camilla grins as she meets Willow the spaniel during a trip to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home at Old Windsor on Wednesday - her first visit to the centre since its opening

Down boy! The Duchess makes friends with a Jack Russell as she chats to staff outside the centre in Old Windsor. She adopted her own dogs, Beth and Bluebell, from the charity

The royal completed her look with a pair of black suede leather boots, which she also wore on a visit to Bath on Tuesday. 

The Duchess could be seen chatting to staff outside the centre, before heading inside where she met some of its canine residents including an adorable spaniel named Willow.

Children's author Jacqueline Wilson also dropped in on Wednesday and could be seen grinning as she petted dogs. 

Camilla, who adopted her two Jack Russells Beth and Bluebell from the charity, is an avid animal lover and last visited their London headquarters in September. 

The news was announced by Clarence House on Twitter during Camilla's visit on Wednesday

Stars including model David Gandy and presenter Amanda Holden (and daughter Lexi, right) were on hand to greet the royal as she arrived at a rain-soaked Windsor on Wednesday

Camilla greets a pooch before heading inside. She donned a smart black and white check coat dress, wrapping up against the winter chill with a pair of leather gloves and printed scarf

The royal heads inside to meet dogs being cared for by the centre including Willow, pictured. Camilla, an avid animal lover, has made several visits to the charity over the years

She told MailOnline at the time that while she would love to get another canine, she wasn’t sure that her two 'girls' would be that accommodating.

‘We’ve had to have a bit of extra training and will probably be in to have some more,’ Camilla admitted.

‘But why would you go out and buy a dog when you can come to Battersea and rescue one?'

She joked: ‘I am literally having to hold myself back and stop popping one in my bag, they are all so gorgeous. But I think three would be a little but too much and I’m not sure my two girls would be that accepting of a stranger.' 

Down boy! Camilla meets a Labrador during her visit as she is announced as royal patron of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

This is Camilla's first visit to the Windsor branch, according to Clarence House's Twitter account.

The charity acquired Bell Mead Kennels on the edge of Old Windsor in 1979, which is now Battersea Old Windsor - just a stone's throw from the Queen's official residence. 

Established in 1860, the charity relies entirely on public donations and aims never to turn away a dog or cat in need of its help. It has so far helped care for over 3.1 million animals.

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