The Duchess of Cornwall joined a women's sewing workshop in Egypt yesterday.

The workshop - in the remote oasis town of Siwa - is designed to give young, unmarried women financial independence they have not had before.

Camilla sat chatting with the girls - she in English and they in Siwien - as they elaborately embroidered jeans for an expensive Italian fashion house.

Proving language is no barrier, the duchess maintained a three-minute conversation, teaching them the words for "jeans" and "silk".

Speaking to Laila Neamatalla, who started the sewing project with money from the British Embassy in Cairo, she said: "These are absolutely beautiful. My daughter would love some. Can I buy some? Just tell me how much I need. She's a size 12."

She placed an order on jeans for her daughter. She also left with a pair of white sheets, embroided with C & C, and wrapped as a gift.

Camilla was in Siwa with her husband, the Prince of Wales, to promote the eco-friendly oasis tourism industry.

The pair stayed in an exclusive top-range eco-friendly lodge during their visit.