Doncaster: King Charles confers city status during royal visit

Reuters/Pool King Charles meets well-wishers in DoncasterReuters/Pool
King Charles spent several minutes chatting with members of the public during the visit

King Charles has formally conferred city status on Doncaster as part of a two-day visit to Yorkshire.

Together with the Queen Consort, he spoke with well-wishers and attended a reception at Mansion House during a brief visit to to the former town.

Doncaster was granted city status as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Reuters/Pool Camilla, Queen Consort in DoncasterReuters/Pool
Camilla, the Queen Consort, was presented with flowers and teddy bears during the visit to Doncaster

Hundreds of people lined the streets outside Mansion House ahead of the royal couple's visit, with many arriving several hours beforehand to guarantee a good vantage point.

As the monarch stepped out of his car he was greeted with cheers and shouts of "God save the King" and "Welcome to Doncaster".

Among the crowd was 73-year-old Julia Roberts, who told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I just wanted to see the King. I've never met any of the Royal Family before.

"I wanted to go to London for the Queen's funeral but on my own it was a long way to go."

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Later, Charles and Camilla met charity volunteers at a reception to mark the conferral of city status.

Army veteran Ben Parkinson, 38, who spoke to the King at the reception, said it was "a waste of an egg" when he was later told by reporters that eggs had been thrown at the royals in York.

Reuters/Pool King Charles meets Ben Parkinson in DoncasterReuters/Pool
The King spoke with Army veteran Ben Parkinson during the reception

Andrew Dernie, Mr Parkinson's stepfather, added: "You're always going to get one."

Mr Dernie said the King remembered giving an MBE to Mr Parkinson, who lost both legs in Afghanistan, and asked how his walking was.

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