King Charles visits Lancashire in busy days of public engagements

King Charles visited Lancashire today, stopping at Clitheroe, Samlesbury and Inglewhite.

His Majesty visits the county for the second time since he was crowned, in a full day visit, which included a number of public and private engagements.

The King arrived by Royal train and was welcomed at Clitheroe Station by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire on Monday morning, Amanda Parker, and civic dignitaries, including Ribble Valley Mayor Simon O’ Rourke and Ribble Valley Borough Council chief executive Sarah Threlfall.

Slaidburn Silver Band provided a musical accompaniment and local school children mingled with well-wishers of all ages as His Majesty went on a short walkabout, shaking hands and chatting to onlookers some of whom were “veterans” of previous Royal visits to our area.

From there, he headed to Clitheroe Auction Mart and met with local farmers.

While there, he met a fell pony called Pearl, related to the late Queen's pony Emma, and spoke to local farmers who brought their rare breed sheep, spoke to representatives of the Field Nurses charity, and unveiled a plaque in the auction ring to mark the visit.

He then travelled to Samlesbury Hall, near Preston, becoming the first monarch to visit the 701-year-old site.

Inside Samlesbury Hall, he met the hall's archivist, trustees and volunteers, responsible for preserving the Grade-I listed building. He also met Ishwer Tailor and his wife Urhila Tailor, from the Gujarat Hindu Society, based in Preston, which the King had previously visited in 1981.

The final leg of his public engagements saw him head to Butler's Farmhouse Cheeses in Inglewhite, where he was shown a new facility that has been built after a fire destroyed the firm's base two years ago, before opening a ‘cheese campus’ at the site.

A spokesperson for Butler's Farmhouse Cheeses said: ‘’To welcome His Majesty King Charles III to officially open our brand-new Cheese Campus was an incredibly proud moment for our family, team and the wider Lancashire community.

‘’His Majesty tasted Blacksticks Blue cheese with blackcurrant jam on a ginger biscuit, saying it was something that would be “great as a dessert.”

‘’We were deeply moved when The King commented that Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses was “an exceptional family business.” It’s another historical moment to cherish for our family business.’’

The King has also carried out further private engagements in other parts of the county.

In June 2025 the monarch, who is also the Duke of Lancaster, visited Lancaster, where he received the keys to the castle in front of the John O'Gaunt gateway as part of an ancient ceremonial tradition.