Charles and Camilla visit the South Bank

The Prince is the patron of the British Film Institute. The royal visit to BFI Southbank (formerly the National Film Theatre) was part of the 51st London Film Festival which draws to a close this week.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall met film stars Colin Firth and Laura Linney as well as a number of young people involved in London Film Festival education projects.

During their visit the Royal party received a tour of the BFI Southbank complex which opened ealrier this year.

The Prince and the Duchess were shown the work of artist and filmmaker Mark Lewis in the new gallery space and visited the Mediatheque where they had the chance to explore the BFI National Archive.

Next year the BFI will celebrate its 75th year and is about to embark on a campaign to secure funding to begin the design process for a new a Film Centre on the Hungerford Car Park site next to Jubilee Gardens.