THE Duchess of Cornwall officially opened the Kamsons Pharmacy warehouse and offices on Tuesday (30), highlighting the efforts of pharmacists during the coronavirus pandemic.
After meeting frontline community pharmacy staff, the duchess was told that the Kamsons Pharmacy branch had remained open throughout the pandemic despite the additional pressures.
She met several pharmacists, including a student pharmacy technician, a medicines counter assistant, and a delivery driver from Kamsons Pharmacy at the Meads Medical Centre in Uckfield.
Kamsons Pharmacies are based mainly in Sussex but also have
outlets in Kent, London, Surrey, Hampshire, Luton, West York-
shire, Manchester and Dorset.
Bharat Chotai, director of Kamsons Pharmacy, said the team were “delighted” to meet the duchess.
“She took a genuine interest in our staff who have continued to
serve their local populations throughout the last year in extremely difficult circumstances,”Chotai said.
“We are also very proud of the loyalty of our staff and are delighted that their contribution has been recognised by Her Royal Highness.”
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall adjusts her face mask as she thanks unsung frontline workers during a visit to Kamsons Pharmacy head office and warehouse on March 30, 2021 in Uckfield, East Sussex, United Kingdom. (Photo by Eddie Mulholland-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
She reached Kamsons after travelling by train – thought to be the first rail journey a senior member of the monarchy has made this year, reported The Telegraph.
During the journey the duchess met Darren O’Brien, a retail systems and contract manager with train operator Southeastern. His Rail to Refuge scheme helps people escape abusive relationships by rail.
“This is a brilliant initiative and you should feel very proud of yourself. It’s amazing during this lockdown how many wonderful ideas have been thought up… we need more Darrens," she told him.
Rail to Refuge was launched during the first lockdown and has been extended for the foreseeable future after reports showed that abuse had worsened during coronavirus restrictions.
It is a joint initiative between rail companies and Women’s Aid, with train operators in the mainland UK covering the costs of those travelling to refuge accommodation.
During the past year almost 1,350 people – including 362 children over five – have received free tickets, equivalent to four abuse survivors travelling to safety each day on average.
Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of people who used Rail to Refuge said they would not have travelled if the journey had not been free, the newspaper report added.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)