Royal couple surprise revellers at London party

Charles and Camilla attended the central London street to join one of the biggest Jubilee street lunches in the world.

Braving the damp weather, 500 revellers clapped and cheered when they realised they would be eating with royalty.

It was part of a Big Jubilee Lunch initiative organised by the Eden Project charity, which was hoping to bring six million people out across the UK and in places as far flung as China, Algeria and the Arctic.

Guests were asked to bring food to share with their friends and neighbours, with Charles and Camilla offering a Union flag cake.

Social worker Eva Learner and her daughter TS Learner, a novelist who writes thrillers, sat next to the royal pair and shared cherries with them.

Eva Learner said: “It was great that they sat down and had a cherry with us.

“It was a surprise to see them here but one feels really comfortable with Camilla and the Prince.”

Her daughter said they had attended the Piccadilly street party because they live locally.

“Charles asked me how long we had been waiting and whether we were local.

“They are very good at making people relaxed and they are very down to earth.

“Now I’m going to go in somewhere warm and watch the flotilla on the box.”

After eating, the royal couple walked along Piccadilly and spoke to local residents and curious onlookers.

Among them was Tom Meyer, a former Desert Rat who has lived in Piccadilly for 56 years.

Mr Meyer, 93, was wearing a tie in the colours of the Rifle Brigade.

He said: “Charles recognised my tie and we talked a little bit about the desert campaign.

“We both agreed that we were lucky to survive.”

The former soldier and timber man was accompanied by Lucy Winkett, rector of St James’s Church in Piccadilly.

She said: “It was great watching everything be set up this morning but it was quite wet so we were anxious about how many people would come. We needn’t have worried because people just turn out anyway.”

Before leaving, the royal couple stopped to sing the national anthem, accompanied by a brass band.

The Duke of York and princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also made a surprise visit to a Jubilee lunch at All Saints Church in Fulham, west London. The Duke was wearing his navy best before heading to Thames pageant.