Duchess of Cornwall to visit Massey

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will visit Massey’s equestrian centre and Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the Manawatū campus on November 15 as part of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Prince Charles and Camilla will be in Manawatu, visiting Feilding and Ohakea together and splitting up for him to visit a farm while she comes to Massey.

The visit reflects her particular interest in animal welfare.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor College of Sciences Professor Robert Anderson will lead the official delegation that welcomes Camilla to Massey and he will host the visit to the hospital. It is the second royal visit to Massey. At the first, in 1970, Professor Anderson, who was students' association president at the time, met Queen Elizabeth.

This visit includes a short tour of the hospital led by Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences head Professor Frazer Allan, a tour of Wildbase wildlife health centre led by Associate Professor Brett Gartrell, who will share insights into the work of specialist wildlife veterinarians, and a visit to the equestrian centre, which will be hosted by Assistant Vice-Chancellor and University Registrar Stuart Morriss. There, students will give a display of jumping and riding in the arena.

Professor Anderson says the visit highlights Massey’s strengths in the areas of equine research, veterinary teaching, animal health and specialist wildlife rehabilitation. “During Her Royal Highness' time with us we hope to be able to introduce her to some of our native wildlife being treated at Wildbase.

“We think she will also enjoy finding out that students with horses who are serious competitive equestrians – as many are – are able to stable them on campus so they can keep up their training throughout the academic.”