Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is all smiles as she braves mid-summer showers for barge cruise down Swindon canal

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The Duchess is the patron of the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal Trust
Travelled on the narrowboat, Dragonfly, to inaugurate new landing stage
Camilla mingled with the public, volunteers and town dignitaries

Published: 15:11 EST, 13 July 2015 | Updated: 15:11 EST, 13 July 2015

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After a busy five days in Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall has kicked off another week of royal engagements with a very British pleasure cruise.

Despite drizzle and overcast skies, Camilla sailed into Swindon on a narrowboat on Monday to open a new canal landing stage.

To celebrate the opening of the Wichelstowe landing platform situated outside Waitrose, in Mill Lane, the 67-year-old donned a rain coat and carried an umbrella as the heavens opened.

Despite the rain Camilla appeared in high spirits as she travelled on the narrowboat, Dragonfly, to inaugurate new landing stage

Camilla arrived at the event on traditional style narrowboat called the Dragonfly, which she named in 2010.

It was built by the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust to provide the public with a way to enjoy trips on the historic stretch of water.

Camilla has been the patron of the organisation for the last eight years.

She was accompanied on the rainy day trip by mayor of Swindon Andrew Bennett and Wilts & Berks Canal Trust company secretary Chris Coyle.

Camilla looked sophisticated in a polka dot dress layered underneath a chic blazer and cream-coloured rain mac

Despite the miserable weather Camilla was all smiles as she carried out the engagement.

She looked sophisticated in a beige polka-dot dress that she layered under a smart blazer and cream-coloured mac.

The regenerated landing stage is on a mile-long stretch of the original canal restored by volunteers from the trust.

As she disembarked, Camilla was met by 28 children from East Wichel Community Primary School with year six pupil Chloe Spencer, 11, selected to hand her a posy.

The Duchess of Cornwall was joined on the traditional barge by members of the canal trust and local dignitaries

In order to shield herself from the rain, Camilla carried a large see-though umbrella throughout the day

The Duchess was greeted by children from East Wichel Primary who had come out to give her a posy

Camilla happily chatted with the waiting public and was given a bunch of pretty purple flowers

Chloe said: 'She was really nice and I was really excited. She asked me how I was and I said I was fine.'

Caroline Henham, headteacher at East Wichel Primary, brought children from every age group for the royal visit.

She said the Duchess could not resist making a joke about the typically British weather that greeted her in Swindon.

The Duchess spent half an hour mingling with the public, volunteers from the trust, supporters and town dignitaries including MP for South Swindon Robert Buckland and Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard.

She then unveiled the plaque to officially open the landing stage which was greeted with cheers and applause from the audience.

Camilla posed for a photograph with members of the canal trust of which she is a patron

The Duchess of Cornwall chatted to local MP Robert Buckland during her official royal visit

Camilla managed to shield herself from the rain by draping her cream-coloured mac over her shoulders

The Duchess looked ecstatic as she unveiled the new plaque at Wichelstowe Landing Stage

The trust said they are 'hugely grateful' for Her Royal Highness's continued to support

The leader of Swindon Borough Council, Cllr David Renard said of the visit: 'We are extremely honoured to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to Swindon and, in turn, showcase our ambitious and exciting plans for the development at Wichelstowe.'

The Wilts and Berks Canal is going through a massive restoration.

The trust is endeavouring to re-establish the full 70-mile length over the next ten years.

Lord Lansdowne, the president of the Wiltshire, Swindon and Oxfordshire Canal Partnership, added: 'We are hugely grateful for Her Royal Highness’s continued support which helps to inspire the 2,600 members who still form the backbone of our work.

'Since we opened just over a year ago we have built an excellent relationship with the Canal Trust, and we are looking forward to that continuing for many years to come.

'The fact that Her Royal Highness will be officially opening the landing stage is the icing on the cake.'