Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey (Image: Getty)
has arrived at The Westminster Abbey Sacristy Project this morning to view the site of The King Charles III Sacristy – a new building being constructed adjacent to the Abbey on the footprint of a medieval building.
The 77-year-old was met by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle and members of the Abbey’s Chapter; its High Steward, the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry; and High Bailiff, Sir Kenneth Olisa before heading inside.
The Sacristy is a new building – to be named The King Charles III Sacristy in honour of His Majesty The King.
It is being constructed to house state-of-the-art welcome, security and ticketing facilities, allowing the Abbey itself to be preserved in all its beauty and wonder as a sacred space.
Camilla became the patron of the project earlier this year. Fundraising for the £13 million project has already begun, and the construction phase is due to start towards the end of 2024. It is hoped that the new building will be completed in 2026.
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Queen Camilla Visits The Sacristy Project At Westminster Abbey (Image: Getty)
Queen Camilla takes a tour of Westminster Abbey (Image: Getty)
Queen Camilla views the plans for the project (Image: Getty)
Camilla met Ptolemy Dean, the architect behind the project, and saw some of the archaeological finds made on the site, including dozens of burials. Among these is a remarkably well-preserved chalk-lined grave believed to belong to an 11th-century monk.
The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, said: “This splendid building, which is both new and old, will transform the welcome our visitors receive and, more importantly, change the way they see Westminster Abbey.
“The full drama of this shrine and house of memory is best appreciated by approaching it from the Great West Doors. The transepts and aisles will emerge calmer and more graceful as we move chairs and ticketing booths out of the Abbey.
“It is a building fit for a King and for an Abbey whose faith and ministry is both old and new.”