Duchess of Cornwall asked to buy a painting during visit to Hull art gallery - but was told it was not for sale

The royal couple embarked on an impromptu walkabout after their car arrived outside the newly refurbished Ferens art gallery in the city.

Many in the crowds said they had been waiting for three hours in the sleety rain for Charles and Camilla to arrive.

The royal couple were given a tour of the Ferens, starting with a rare 14th century panel painting by Pietro Lorenzetti, which is one of the highlights of the opening programmes of Hull 2017.

Charles and Camilla took different routes around the gallery, which reopened three weeks ago after a £5.2 million refurbishment.

At one point, in a collection of work by local artists, the Duchess asked if she could buy one of the pieces but was told it was not for sale.

According to Hull Council, the painting Camilla chose was a piece of art work that the artist had allowed the gallery to have on loan for an open exhibition of local and amateur artists. 

The Gallery said it was up to the artists whether or not they opted to sell the displays or not and the artist in question had decided not to.

Instead, the Duchess of Cornwall chose an alternative piece of work which she will be purchasing, the Council said. 

Hull City Council said: “Each year work by local and amateur artists in the Ferens Art Gallery’s Open Exhibition goes on sale.

"We are thrilled The Duchess of Cornwall has identified a piece of artwork that she would like to buy and is supporting artists during Hull’s year as UK City of Culture.”

While in the gallery, Charles and Camilla met some of the central figures behind Hull 2017, including chairwoman Rosie Millard and director Martin Green.

The royal couple joked with other as they sat to sign the visitors' book, with the Prince having to ask the date, saying he could never remember it.

More than 50,000 people have visited the Ferens since it reopened on January 13 and the Turner Prize will be presented at the gallery at the end of the year.

Another highlight at the gallery will be the unveiling of Spencer Tunick's Sea Of Hull commission in April.

This is the photographs taken by the American artist when he posed more 3,000 naked people, all painted blue, at various locations in the city in July last year.

Charles left the gallery to continue his visit to Hull at Holy Trinity Church while Camilla moved on to Emmaus Hull and East Riding.

Hull's year as UK City of Culture began on January 1 with a huge firework display and the opening of the Made In Hull - the first major event of Hull 2017 - which was curated by award-winning documentary maker Sean McAllister and attracted 342,000 visitors over a week in January.