The Duke of Kent rolled up in his gleaming gold Jag this week to cast his Royal gaze over the work of South Lakeland charities and schools.

First call for the Queen’s cousin was a visit to CancerCare in Kendal, the winner of the highly prized Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by groups in the community.

The grey-suited Duke was ushered in to the Blackhall Road centre on Monday by the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria James Cropper to witness for himself the charity’s work providing help and support to cancer patients and their carers.

Inside, the centre’s users were busy going about their business as normally as they could, putting together wooden artworks in the carpentry workshop and jewels and textiles with the art therapy group.

Users said they were hoping to show the 68-year-old Duke the value of the sessions which, according to one cancer sufferer undergoing chemotherapy, had proved invaluable in giving her something new to focus on during her treatment and stopped her getting depressed at home.

The Royal visitor was free to chat to CancerCare’s clients and those who benefit from its services that include counselling, aromatherapy, massage, hypnotherapy, day care and a drop-in service.

“It’s good to see this recognition of the work we do here,” said CancerCare general manager Peter Hearne. “This visit is a bit like the icing on the cake after winning the Jubilee award and reinforces CancerCare’s role in this area.” Next stop was St Mark’s CE School, at Natland, where children and staff were eager for the distinguished visitor to give their new school hall the Royal seal of approval.

After a spirited rendition of Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God, the Duke congratulated the children on their singing and unveiled a plaque on the £200,000 building which was completed in the summer and will soon be backed with a fund-raising campaign to find the £20,000 the church-aided school borrowed to help pay for its new facility.

He was given a tour of the school and popped in to a few classes. The father of three grown-up children was said to be at ease talking to the children about their lessons.

The Duke stayed on for a school lunch although he was not served the same fare as the pupils - instead he tucked into a special buffet prepared by the school cook.

“It was a very happy and enjoyable experience for the whole school,” said head teacher John Chandler who had chatted with the Duke over vol-au-vents and sandwiches about tennis and his role as colonel for a number of Army regiments. “I’m sure the occasion will live in the memories of the children and staff for many years to come,” he said.

The final hours of his Lakeland visit closed with a tour around Bendrigg Lodge, the Old Hutton home of the Bendrigg Trust that specialises in running courses and activities for disabled and disadvantaged young people.

Despite the rain, the Duke watched students with cerebral palsy from Beaumont College at Lancaster having fun climbing and abseiling.

Bendrigg Trust principal Trevor Clarke said the Duke had been “very impressed” and took a “genuine interest” in the youngsters and in the trust, which is celebrating its silver jubilee this year.

“It was nice to be able to show off the work of the trust,” said Mr Clarke, who added it had been fortunate that they had just taken delivery of some smart Bendrigg Trust umbrellas to keep the Royal party dry. “We were delighted to be able to welcome him here.”