The Duchess of Cornwall visited HTB Onslow Square today to join hundreds of HTB's older members and friends celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at their regular Concert with Afternoon Tea.

The 600 people present were only made aware that the Duchess had accepted an invitation to join them after they had taken their seats and Vicar Nicky Gumbel made the surprise announcement.

The concert had just ended and the tea begun when the Royal car drew up outside the church.

The Duchess was greeted by the event organizer Mrs Fi Costa along with Vicar Nicky Gumbel and his wife Pippa.

She then moved around the church, sitting down with different groups at long trestle tables, concluding with a group of Chelsea Pensioners. On all the tables were a selection of special cakes provided by the Duchess to add to those made by the many church volunteers.

Welcoming her to the church, Nicky Gumbel presented her with a teapot painted especially for the occasion by internationally recognized artist Charlie Mackesy, a member of the congregation.

She then met a group of the volunteers who organize the regular tea parties and signed the church visitors’ book before leaving.

The concert featured violinists Rhys Watkins and David Worswick and double bassist Michael Francis.