FLUTTERING flags, posh frocks and posies will be to the fore in Tavistock next Friday as the town hosts a visit by the nation's future king. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are visiting the Times offices in Brook Street, in celebration of the paper's 150th birthday this year. Prince Charles and his wife are due to arrive in Tavistock at 12.30pm on Friday, May 11, when they will be met by Sir Ray Tindle, owner of the Times. After being welcomed to the town by Sir Ray and invited civic dignitaries, the royal couple will make their way to the Times offices to meet the staff. Lyn Roberts, Times general manager, said excitement was mounting in anticipation of the royal visit. Mrs Roberts said: 'I think it's wonderful that Prince Charles and Camilla are coming to us. 'We are really thrilled and very honoured — not just for the staff at the Times, but for the town as well. Everybody I have spoken to thinks it's marvellous and are really looking forward to the visit.' The Duke and Duchess will meet staff in the paper's advertising and typesetting departments. They will also take time to talk to Chris Dyke, of Tavistock gym Bodyzone, who was instrumental in organising a staggering collection of presents from town residents to troops in Afghanistan at Christmas. Letters, or 'blueies', from the grateful servicemen were displayed outside the Times office following their successful delivery. Mr Dyke said: 'There was an incredible response from the town — our reception at the gym looked like Morrisons! 'It's a great honour to meet the Prince — when I first heard I thought it was a wind-up — but really I was just doing the same thing as someone did for me as a Royal Marine back in 1974.' At 1pm, the Duke and Duchess are due to meet local people in Brook Street, which will be closed to traffic for the duration of the royal visit. The royal couple will then be taken to meet the Times editorial and accounts teams, before a champagne reception when they will meet staff from Tindle-owned papers the Cornish Times and the Cornish and Devon Post, which are also celebrating their 150th birthdays. Sir Ray will make a short speech and invite the Prince and Duchess to unveil three special plaques to commemorate the royal visit, which will be displayed at the papers' offices in Tavistock, Liskeard and Launceston. The royal couple are due to leave Tavistock separately at around 2pm. Prince Charles, who is president of Business in the Community, is attending a meeting at Runnage Farm at Postbridge during the afternoon, where he is joining business leaders and farmers to discuss skills and resources support in agriculture. The Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Dartmoor Pony Moorland Scheme at Dunnabridge Pound and be briefed on conservation work to preserve the breed in their native habitat. The Duchess, who is a member of the Women's Institute, will also meet members of the High Moorland WI on their 10th anniversary and representatives from the Pony Moorland Scheme at Prince Hall Hotel near Two Bridges. Brook Street is due to be closed to traffic from around 11.30am until 2.15pm approximately.