Prince Charles admires London designer's work
The Prince of Wales thought of his "other half" when he came across an elaborate Asian jacket created by a promising designer.
As Charles toured the graduate show of his School of Traditional Arts in east London, he pointed out the handcrafted garment made in India.
The velvet sherwani jacket featured embroidered gold and silver thread, a technique known as zardorsi, and was designed by 29 year old Londoner Anjali Khanna.
Ms Khanna originally trained as a lawyer but changed career and enrolled on the School's two-year MA course and developed her passion for textiles creating a range of Indian garments for the course.
She travelled to India and used local textile workers to help create the outfits.
After chatting to the Charles she said: "I wanted to create something princely and I think I've done it. The Prince said 'I know somebody who would love that' and I asked who and he said 'my other half'.
The designer said she would happily create the jacket for the Duchess but joked "I'd have to get her measurements".
Camilla has worn a number of Eastern-style jackets in the past and the garment could be an early birthday present as she turns 66 next week.
The Prince's School of Traditional Arts specialises in teaching, researching and promoting the practice and theory of the arts and crafts of the world's great traditions.
Founded by Charles in 2004, if offers practising artists the opportunity to undertake research at the highest level with post-graduate degrees validated by the University of Wales.
Charles gave a speech at the end of his tour of the show staged at the schools campus in Shoreditch.
The work of students ranged from intricate geometric designs to traditional paintings and technique from countries like Tibet.
He said:
"I'm so proud of all the students, because I try to come whenever I can every year to see what the final year exhibition is all about.
And I can't tell you what joy it gives me to see the results of all their unbelievable hard work and determination and application in terms of what they've produced. I pray they find valuable ways of putting what they've learnt into practice wherever they come from in different parts of the world."