THE PRINCE OF WALES RECENTLY BECAME THE FIRST ROYAL TO HANDLE THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD IN 1,400 YEARS. THE PRINCE WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE TO EXAMINE ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION INCLUDING A CRUMPLED GOLD CROSS AND A SWORD HANDLE, DURING A VISIT TO THE POTTERIES MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY IN STOKE-ON-KENT. ACCOMPANIED BY THE DUCHESS OF CORNALL, THE PRINCE ALSO CHATTED WITH THE FARMER ON WHOSE LAND THE HOARD WAS FOUND NEAR LICHFIELD LAST SUMMER. MUSEUM OFFICIALS SAID THE PRINCE AND THE DUCHESS HAD BEEN FASCINATED BY THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE PROCESSIONAL CROSS, EVEN INQUIRING WHETHER IT COULD BE STRAIGHTENED OUT. MORE THAN 100 PIECES OF THE TREASURE, WHICH HAS BEEN DATED TO THE 7th CENTURY AND IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BELONGED TO ANCIENT KINGS, ARE CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM'S PRINCIPAL COLLECTIONS OFFICER, DEB KLEMPERER, SHOWED THE ROYAL COUPLE AROUND THE EXHIBITION DURING THEIR VISIT TO MARK THE CENTENARY OF THE FEDERATION OF STOKE-ON-TRENT'S SIX TOWNS. SPEAKING AFTER THE HOUR-LONG VISIT, KLEMPERER SAID: 'THE PRINCE WAS REALLY INTERESTED, AS WAS THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL.' DURING THE VISIT, KLEMPERER SAID, THE PRINCE ALSO ASKED HOW MUCH HAD BEEN RAISED TO BUY THE HOARD, WHICH HAS BEEN VALUED AT MORE THAN £3 MILLION. PRAISING THE PRINCE FOR HIS SUPPORT FOR THE FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN, WHICH AIMS TO ACQUIRE THE HOARD FOR DISPLAY IN THE WEST MIDLANDS AND STAFFORDSHIRE, KLEMPERER ADDED THAT CHARLES HAD EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE CROSS COULD BE 'UNFOLDED'. FRED JOHNSON, WHO OWNS THE FIELD WHERE THE HOARD WAS DISCOVERED, ADMITTED TO FEELING A LITTLE BIT DAUNTED BEFORE HIS MEETING WITH THE PRINCE. THE 65 YEAR OLD, WHO ARMS LAND NEAR HAMMERWICH, STAFFORDSHIRE, STRESSED THAT HE FELT PRIVILEGED RATHER THAN PROUD THAT THE HOARD HAD BEEN UNEARTHED ON HIS LAND. 'YOU CAN BE PROUD OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE DONE YOURSELF, THIS WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE STROKE OF LUCK', HE SAID.
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