The Duchess of Cornwall has become patron of the Fulham Palace Trust.

Her Royal Highness, who was guest of honour at a Tudor themed fundraising dinner at the riverside palace in December last year, joins as the trust embarks on a major restoration project.

The £3.8 million Discovering the Bishop of London’s Palace at Fulham will allow a range of major improvements to grounds and rooms.

Fulham Palace chairman Mariana Spater said: “It is a truly great honour and I am delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness as Patron to Fulham Palace.

“We look forward to sharing our next phase of restoration and exciting future plans with The Duchess, continuing the long and rich history of the palace.”

As part of the restoration work, improvements to the iconic Tudor Quadrangle will be made, and bring key historic rooms such as the 15th century Great Hall will be brought back to life.

Innovative interpretation and exhibitions will be introduced, there will be improved access around the botanical gardens, while historic varieties of plants first grown in Europe here at Fulham Palace will be replanted.

The Duchess of Cornwall talking during a visit to the palace

The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund with a £1.88m grant, and work will begin on site at the end of 2017.

It is expected to be completed by spring 2019 with final landscaping due to finish by early 2020.

Fulham Palace Trust is actively fundraising to raise the match funding needed in order to deliver the restoration project alongside funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Camilla chats to BBC presenter Sophie Raworth at the event in December

Thanks to the support of a number of trusts, foundations and individuals, the trust is now only £245,000 away from raising all of the match funding needed for the project to go ahead as planned.

Fulham Palace has raised £15,000 through a crowdfunding campaign in just one month, which will be used to fund a three-week Community Archaeology Dig, which begins in the palace’s grounds this week.

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