The Duchess of Cornwall visited a much-loved community centre as Brent Council continued its programme as the London borough of culture for 2020.

Camilla attended a special event at The Granville, South Kilburn, to mark the borough’s cultural celebrations this year.

She was received by councillors, including the Mayor of Brent Cllr Ernest Ezeajughi and Cllr Krupesh Hirani, responsible for culture and leisure at Brent Council, as well as the council’s chief executive Carolyn Downs.

Cllr Hirani said: “Being the borough of culture for 2020 is a huge honour.

“It’s something that I’ve never seen before and we’re grateful for the opportunity to amplify our voice and show what Brent is about.

“One of the things we’ve always said about the programme is we want it to reach every corner of Brent.

“This is the south of the borough, but we want to get to places like Kenton and the north of the borough to show that Brent is a great, diverse place that deserves this title.”

He praised the work of the centre and said it would be involved in the area’s regeneration, which was backed by residents in a public ballot last year.

The Duchess met with several users of The Granville, including a Caribbean sauce company, cake makers and a t-shirt business founded following a knife crime incident.

She was also treated to a performance by Ellis-Parr Irish Dance Academy, an Albanian dance routine as part of the Shpresa Programme and poetry from Just-Ori.

Asif Iqbal, president of the Harrow and Brent United Deaf Club, said: “I want to say thank you to the Duchess of Cornwall for coming to meet everyone.

“This shows the recognition of the achievements that working together can bring.

“Brent is rich in diversity and culture, and it can show others the inspiration and empowerment that comes from bringing people together.”

The council explained that a cultural trust has been set up on the back of the programme which can “take the learning from 2020, with some funding, to consider the legacy”.