The Countess of Wessex visited the UK's best fish and chip shop in Cornwall

The Countess of Wessex spent her second and final day in Cornwall on Tuesday visiting the UK’s best independent fish and chip shop amongst other engagements.

Sophie, who has undertaken a two-day tour of the county, visited Harbour Lights Fish and Chip Shop in Falmouth, which was recently crowned ‘Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year 2017’ at the National Fish and Chip Awards in London.

Now in their 29th year, The National Fish & Chip Awards are one of the most prominent and respected seafood industry events in the UK. Dubbed as the Oscars of the fish and chip world, they showcase the best chip shop talent from across the UK.

In Falmouth, Her Royal Highness met the owners and staff, before sampling some of the award-winning food. Harbour Lights prides itself on selling fish only from sustainable sources and chips from locally grown Cornish potatoes.

The restaurant has stunning views of Falmouth harbour and is accessible to all – they even have a braille menu.

Also in Falmouth, the Countess of Wessex HM Coastguard Station, the most southwestern Coastguard station in the United Kingdom.

At the station, Her Highness met coastguards and was informed of the important work they undertake on a daily basis rescuing people from the sea.

Covering 660,000 square miles, the Falmouth Coastguard station has the biggest search and rescue operation in terms of area in the whole of Western Europe. The rescue area begins at the Devon & Cornwall border, extending to Lands End and the Isles of Scilly.

The Countess also travelled to the village of Sithney on Tuesday where she visited Coastline Housing, an independent, not-for-profit housing association.

Coastline Housing owns and manages over 4,100 homes with the aim of building “great homes and offer great services provided by great people.”

As she arrived in the Plover’s Field site, Sophie was greeted by excited school children who presented HRH with bouquets of flowers. She also got the chance to meet the local Rainbows who came out to get a glimpse of the Countess.

Customers who were visiting the organisation in the morning also got a welcome surprise, with Sophie personally going to meet them and partake in conversations.

While at Coastline Housing, the Countess looked at how the company are trying to tackle the housing crisis.