Countess down on the farm for Fanny's big day
The higgledy-piggeldy world of Fanny's Farm welcomed Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, for tea and treats to celebrate their special anniversary.
During her 90-minute stay on Thursday (October 15), the Queen's daughter-in-law enjoyed a Surrey ploughman's lunch in the teashop, walked around the vegetable plots and paused to study rows of home-made jams.
She also took a liking to Burt and Ernie, two Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs who rolled around in appreciation after receiving a royal pat on the back.
In a smart black dress, the Countess drove herself to the charmingly eccentric establishment accompanied by two ladies-in-waiting and a security officer.
She was greeted by the farmshop's owner, Fanny Maiklem, Reigate MP Crispin Blunt, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Sarah Goad, and Reigate and Banstead mayor Richard Mantle.
Fanny first started her business in 1979 by selling sacks of potatoes, eggs, and unwanted garden produce in a barrow at the roadside.
Now the shop and tearoom, on Markedge Lane, Merstham, are truly thriving – and one of the main attractions is the large tree-house tearoom.
Fanny wrote to Buckingham Palace about her three decades in business, and was delighted when the countess agreed to attend.
"I'm a great royalist and I wanted to give all the staff, customers and friends a pat on the back," Fanny said.
On entering the farm shop – which still has no mains electricity – the countess rejoiced at the aroma of freshly-harvested apples, remarking: "It takes me back to my childhood. You do not smell smells like that anymore."
She was introduced to many people, including, by the rhubarb patch, 79-year-old Paul Scott, of Alderstead Fort, Merstham, who grows sweet peas, lettuces and gladioli for the farm.
Fanny quipped: "He likes to come here for a cuddle and a cabbage," to which the countess burst into laughter.
After a tour of the farm, the royal visitor was led up the stairs to the tree house.
Inside she enjoyed a ploughman's lunch of home-grown lettuce, Isle of Wight tomatoes, Sussex cheese, brown bread rolls made by Fanny's daughter, Nelly, and Kent apple juice.
During her visit, the countess also saw the chicken run and heard how customers could, sadly, no longer pick their own eggs from the box, due to health and safety restrictions.
Fanny's sister, Tina, said: "It's a wonderful day in an eccentric setting."
"Fanny always wanted to run a farm shop.
"As a child, she would dream of having a van with Fanny's Farm written on the side."
As the countess patted the pot-bellied pigs, she smiled as she was asked: "Would you like to take them home with you?"
She replied, jokingly, "Perhaps they could go on the back seat."
As the countess was meeting and greeting many of the 200 visitors, Heather Caddick, 22, sang a folk song, The Trees Grow Higher, after which Kevin Matthews, 28, played a Schubert piece on the piano.
A bouquet of flowers was also sent to the farm by pop star Newton Falkner, who used to work in the farm shop before finding fame.
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