Sick Camilla Misses Out on Pudding Factory Visit

It might be a factory which makes those black, and white, puddings out
of pig intestines. The sausage links are good, but not those puddings.
Too much sodium ...

8th December 2006

The Duchess of Cornwall has had to pull out of a trip to a Christmas
pudding factory today due to a bout of gastro-enteritis, Clarence House
said.

Camilla was due to accompany the Prince of Wales to Derbyshire to tour
the Matthew Walker site in Heanor, before visiting the nearby village
of Ashover to switch on its festive lights.

The Duchess is "very disappointed" not to be able to join the Prince,
who will continue with the programme, a Clarence House spokeswoman
said.

She added: "She has seen a doctor and hopes to be fit enough next week
to carry on with her other plans and be out and about. She can't make
the engagements this afternoon but it's nothing serious."

The Duchess would have found out how Matthew Walker produces some 25
million Christmas puddings every year.

The company takes on an extra 200 staff during peak times - that is, in
the run-up to December 25. Ashover is proud holder of the title Calor
Village of the Year for England 2005.

Charles will now be without his wife when he tours its shops and spends
time at a pub to meet locals.

Finally, he will switch on the village's Christmas tree lights and
unveil a plaque.