Doncaster singer Lesley Garrett in full voice for Charles and Camilla

Doncaster-born opera singer Lesley Garrett CBE was in fine song when she serenaded the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall when they paid a visit to Yorkshire last week.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, visit the Royal Hall, Harrogate.The Prince Shares a joke with Lesley Garrett..17th February 2016 ..Picture by Simon HulmeThe Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, visit the Royal Hall, Harrogate.The Prince Shares a joke with Lesley Garrett..17th February 2016 ..Picture by Simon Hulme
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, visit the Royal Hall, Harrogate.The Prince Shares a joke with Lesley Garrett..17th February 2016 ..Picture by Simon Hulme

The royal couple visited Harrogate last Thursday to congratulate organisers of the Harrogate International Festivals, which is celebrating its 50th year.

Soprano singer Lesley, who is from Thorne, launched her career as part of the festival’s Young Musician Series.

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To mark the occasion, the 60-year-old performed three pieces alongside clarinettist Emma Johnson before Charles and Camilla at The Royal Hall.

Lesley Garrett thanked those behind the Harrogate Festivals, which organises hundreds of cultural events a year, for making classical music available to a wider audience.

She said: “It’s wonderful to be here to celebrate this fantastic achievement. My first recital at the Swan Hotel told me I was going to go on and be a recital giver and travel the world. But, without the festival’s first support, I don’t really believe I would have got to where I am today.”

Charles, who is patron of Harrogate International Festivals, said: “I feel that as patron of this remarkable institution, I must say how enormously proud I am to be associated over the last several years with this.

“It’s become a national treasure really.”