Britain’s Duchess of Cornwall enjoyed tea with prisoners at the HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire yesterday (18.11.14).
The 67-year-old royal visited the category C jail to show her support for a new prisoner rehabilitation scheme, where she met prison staff and volunteers, as well as sharing a drink with inmates.
The Duchess is a patron of the Friends of Erlestoke Prison charity which has founded the new scheme, allowing prisoners to be driven to and from the jail by volunteers.
The wife of the heir apparent, Prince Charles, praised the new initiative and thanked the volunteers for taking part.
She said: "I always say this country would collapse without volunteers. You are the backbone of this country.
"I imagine it must make a big difference to their lives because otherwise how would they get there?"
According to MailOnline, the Duchess first visited the prison in 2012 before becoming a patron of the Friends of Erlestoke Prison charity the following year.
As well as aiding the rehabilitation of offenders into society, the organisation also helps prisoners find accommodation and employment on their release, and works to keep fathers close to their families on the outside.
Britain’s Duchess of Cornwall enjoys tea with prison inmates
