The Prince of Wales today visited the the Royal College of Art in Battersea, London, to tour the school and meet students and staff.
During his first visit to the College since taking up the role of Royal Visitor in May this year, His Royal Highness met Ceramics & Glass and Print students, staff and start-up design innovators.
The Prince of Wales spent time with students, technicians and staff on a tour of the Ceramics & Glass workshops and studios. Several students demonstrated the workshops in action.
In the Wolfson Printmaking Hall, The Prince of Wales saw different types of printing press including the John Haddon Etching Press, which dates from 1851 and was used in the Great Exhibition. The press is also known fondly as the ‘Hockney press’, after RCA alumnus David Hockney.
The Prince was invited to participate in a demonstration of the renowned press, using it to produce an aquatint created by MA Print alumna Kristina Chan. The featured design was a drawing of the press to mark the occasion of HRH’s 70th birthday and his first visit to the RCA.
Pioneering projects from InnovationRCA – the RCA's centre for enterprise, entrepreneurship and incubation – were also displayed to showcase the breadth of research, knowledge exchange, innovation and entrepreneurship at the College.
The Prince of Wales succeeds his father, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who was Royal Visitor for 50 years from 1967, the year the Royal Charter was granted to the RCA by Her Majesty The Queen.
Dr Paul Thompson, Vice-Chancellor of the RCA, said: "It’s a great honour for us to welcome His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales on his first visit as Royal Visitor and show him the variety of arts, crafts and innovations that are developed in our studios and workshops.
"His passion for traditional making skills, training and educational opportunities for young people are well documented, and it was a wonderful opportunity for us to demonstrate how we are leading the way in design globally, and embracing new areas of research and innovation."
