For sale: A lavatory seat fit for a duchess

Published on Friday 17 April 2009 22:07

A PUB owner is set to auction off a lavatory seat for charity after the Duchess of Cornwall made an impromptu stop at her country inn.

Camilla surprised staff at the Hare and Hounds in Framfield, East Sussex when she popped in unannounced to use its facilities before attending a funeral.

Landlady Chris Azerkane, 52, who was washing up when the duchess arrived, said: "I went to open the latch on the door, then lo and behold Camilla was standing there. She smiled, said hello and I thought 'What do I do? Curtsey or bow?'

"She asked if she could use the toilet and I said 'Of course you can. The toilet still needs to be decorated, but they are spotlessly clean'. She said, 'It's fine, don't worry'.

"I think she was busting a gut because she had come down from Gloucestershire."

The duchess was thought to have been attending the funeral of a family friend in the village.

Now the plastic white lavatory seat is to be sold to the highest bidder to raise money for the two London hospitals treating Mrs Azerkane's 16-month-old grandson Omar, who is suffering from lung disease.

Funds collected will be split between the Royal Brompton and King's College Hospitals.

Her husband Rafai, 52, is also organising a sponsored motorcycle ride from Framfield to Marrakech in September.

Mrs Azerkane, a mother-of-three, said: "I think she would find it quite funny. She'd be amused, she's very down to earth. It's only going to go in the bin when we redecorate, but if we can get some money for it, that's something worthwhile."

She added: "I've never sat on a public toilet, but after she left I went in there and said 'My derriere has been touched by royalty'."