In a written message, Prince Charles acknowledged the gesture. saying: “We are deeply conscious of the honour represented by my mother’s wish. As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout.”

As she toured the community kitchen, the Duchess met staff, volunteers, clients, trustees and partners before joining a cooking demonstration with recently-arrived refugees.

In the training kitchen, she joined members of the group Welcome West London who were learning to cook Loobia Polo, an an Iranian rice dish.

The Duchess, a keen cook, helped Aiman Al-Ruwishan, a 29-year-old from Yemen, to add saffron oil to the pan of steamed rice, which was layered with green beans, tomatoes, quorn mince, cinnamon and turmeric.

Aiman, a trained surgeon, was forced to flee war-torn Yemen nine months ago when his life was threatened by Islamist extremists.

He said: “When I arrived, I had no friends or family here and it was really difficult for me. I found West London Welcome and I started going there, volunteering and meeting new friends – and they have become my family.”