LET me eat cake!

Prince Charles issued the royal edict when he unexpectedly popped into a tea shop on Friday.

And he delighted locals by opting for Dorset apple cake when he paid a surprise visit to the Café on the Green during his visit to Poundbury.

Owner Gill Symes only found out a minute before His Royal Highness was about to turn up, even though there had been rumours of a visit all week.

The café gives work experience to adults with learning difficulties, helping them to gain confidence in the work place.

Mrs Symes said: “It was very exciting. He was really nice. He’s very down to earth, very calm and welcoming.”

The Prince commented on the café’s apple cake and shared a joke with the patrons.

Three retired Dorchester librarians were in the café. Daphne Footit, Sally Lines and Ruth Harrison had been on a reunion lunch and said that seeing the Prince had been an added bonus to their day.

Mrs Footit said: “We had no idea he was going to be here. It was fantastic, what a bonus.”

Mrs Harrison said: “It was a nice bonus to the day. I have great admiration for him, he expresses the views of a lot of ordinary people in this country.”

Mr Lines said: “He was very easy and friendly with people.”

Workers at the cafe showed the Prince how to use the coffee machine and how they make the sandwiches.

Worker Clare McVety, 23, congratulated him on his son William’s wedding last month.

She said: “It was really nice. When you see him on TV you think he will be a serious person, but he was a laugh and made a joke of things.”

Fellow worker Laura Oakley, 23, said: “I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. To meet him in person was great.”

The Prince had been visiting Poundbury to show dignitaries including the President of the Madrid Regional Government, Dona Esperenza Aguire, the work that was being done at the site.

Senora Aguire said that she was ‘very impressed’ by the work of the architect Leon Krier.

The Prince then went on to visit Magna Careline, a company that provides telephone monitoring for people, allowing them to retain their independence in their own homes.

Worker Sue Ross-Mackenzie has been working for the company for 17 years, she said that the Prince had been making jokes with the staff.

She added: “He seemed really interested, he didn’t rush and was really taking his time to talk to everyone.”

Careline worker Angela Tozer said the Prince was very nice and very charming.

She added: “It really makes us feel really appreciated.”

Fellow worker Adele Walker said: “It was quite a surreal experience but he was very nice.”