The Duchess of Cornwall has unveiled the foundation stone at the new headquarters of the Royal Academy of Dance.

       The new building in York Road, Battersea, south London, is almost double the size of the old premises, with a footprint of 60,000 square feet.

       Camilla toured the building before watching a performance by some of the academy’s dancers.

       Camilla with ballet dancer Darcey Bussell (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA)

       (PA Wire)

       She was then presented with the new building’s foundation stone.

       Recommended Ukraine news – live: Half of Kyiv residents flee Why has Russia invaded Ukraine? The conflict explained Sign The Independent’s petition to help the people of Ukraine

       Unveiling the stone, the duchess told the attendees how “proud” she was of everything they had achieved.

       “I just would like to congratulate everybody who has made this wonder building possible,” she said.

       “Having had a very short tour of it, it’s just doing so much for so many young people and old people like myself.”

       Camilla has been the Royal Academy’s vice-patron since 2020.

       As a silver swan myself I was inspired on my first visit to try it out. I have been doing it ever since

       Camilla

       She has a personal connection with the academy’s Silver Swan programme, having taken one of the over-55s ballet classes herself.

       “As a silver swan myself I was inspired on my first visit to try it out. I have been doing it ever since.”

       Earlier, the duchess arrived at the new premises wearing a navy blue crepe dress by Bruce Oldfield.

       She was greeted by Royal Academy chief executive Luke Rittner and the mayor of Wandsworth, Richard Field.

       Mr Rittner told the PA news agency: “She was just very complimentary about the building, very complimentary about the performers, and I think that she is very thrilled to be part of the organisation, really.”

       Camilla with Cuban-British dance director Carlos Acosta (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA)

       (PA Wire)

       Camilla then watched a Silver Swans class, led by Sarah Platt.

       Ms Platt taught the duchess as part of one of the classes.

       They were joined remotely by a class in Perth, Australia, taught by Jamelia Gubgub.

       The duchess joked: “I am very impressed by you. Being a silver swan myself I reckon I need to put in a lot of practice.”

       Recommended Donations through Airbnb lets hotel serve 15,000 meals a day to people of Kyiv Fraud must be taken ‘far more seriously’ by police Reverse Universal Credit cut ‘in name of humanity’, urges Tory grandee

       On her way out of the venue, she met Cuban ballet director Carlos Acosta.

       The pair spoke briefly, and smiled and posed for photos, before she left the academy.