Tweet
350-year-old debt left by King Charles II to a clothes company has finally been paid by the Prince of Wales.
Prince Charles handed over the sum of £453.15 during a visit to The Commandery History Museum in Worcester.The Clothiers Company of Worcester had never forgotten the Royal Family owed them money after King Charles II failed to pay when he commissioned them to make uniforms for his troops in 1651.
As he presented the money in a gaming purse made by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Prince Charles joked that he was glad he didn't have to pay back any interest - which would have pushed the sum into thousands of pounds.
"It seems that members of the Clothiers Company have a long memory," he said.
"By long I mean nearly 400 years. Nevertheless, as a gesture of good will I come today prepared to honour this debt of £453 and three shillings.
"I suspect that it will not have escaped your notice, however, I am resisting the immense temptation to pay the debt with full interest. I was not born yesterday."
Philip Sawyer, high commissioner of the Clothiers Company, accepted the money and gave the Prince a receipt.
He said: "We have closed a very long chapter in our history so we are most grateful to you."
Charles and Camilla were taken on a tour around The Commandery, which has undergone restoration work totalling more than £3million.
Prince Charles handed over the sum of £453.15 during a visit to The Commandery History Museum in Worcester.The Clothiers Company of Worcester had never forgotten the Royal Family owed them money after King Charles II failed to pay when he commissioned them to make uniforms for his troops in 1651.
As he presented the money in a gaming purse made by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Prince Charles joked that he was glad he didn't have to pay back any interest - which would have pushed the sum into thousands of pounds.
"It seems that members of the Clothiers Company have a long memory," he said.
"By long I mean nearly 400 years. Nevertheless, as a gesture of good will I come today prepared to honour this debt of £453 and three shillings.
"I suspect that it will not have escaped your notice, however, I am resisting the immense temptation to pay the debt with full interest. I was not born yesterday."
Philip Sawyer, high commissioner of the Clothiers Company, accepted the money and gave the Prince a receipt.
He said: "We have closed a very long chapter in our history so we are most grateful to you."
Charles and Camilla were taken on a tour around The Commandery, which has undergone restoration work totalling more than £3million.
