Camilla and Charles dazzle Deutschland
From cracking out the royal jewellery, to cracking jokes in German, the couple are reigning uber alles on their triumphant first state visit abroad
When you’re about to be crowned Queen, you’ve got to bling it on and that’s just what Camilla did on the state visit to Germany this week.
The King and Queen Consort were in Germany, for their first state visit as monarchs. They had planned to travel to France first, but because of civil unrest it was postponed. However, Camilla was in dazzling form at a state banquet in Berlin on Wednesday, looking magnificent in a Bruce Oldfield top and skirt and a splendid array of jewels. She sported the Greville Tiara, a 1921 diamond honeycomb design, gifted to the Queen Mother. It’s reportedly Camilla’s favourite headpiece.
She also wore the late Queen’s City of London fringe necklace, which was given to her as a wedding gift in 1947. It was the first time anyone else has been spotted wearing it. We can’t wait to see what she wears for the coronation – she has reportedly commissioned Oldfield to make her gown for that occasion, too.
Charles was also on good form – giving a speech partly in German, saying, “The late Queen … cared deeply about the bond between our two countries. It means so much to us that my wife and I could come to Germany for this very first overseas tour of my reign. I can only assure you, that throughout the time that is granted to me as King, I will do all I can to strengthen the connections between us.”
Camilla also made a moving tribute to her friend Paul O’Grady, who passed away aged 67 on Tuesday. Posting a photo of them together, on social media, the Queen put out a statement saying she was “deeply saddened” to hear of the death of the TV presenter, who worked alongside her in support of Battersea Dogs Home, providing “lots of laughter and many waggy-tailed memories.”
Finally – tickets are now on sale for the Queen’s Reading Room Festival. The event, at Hampton Court Palace on June 11, will also feature a Jane Austen-style play commissioned by Camilla, which promises to “show her sense of humour.”
Harry courts attention with surprise visit
Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at the High Court on Monday, for a case against the publishers of the Daily Mail, for alleged unlawful information gathering.
Despite Charles and Camilla’s French visit being cancelled last minute, reports suggest they did not meet up. It’s not known if he met Prince William, although it’s thought the Wales’ are away for the school holidays. According to The Telegraph, Harry flew in to show support for celebrities bringing the case, including Elton John and David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost.
Meanwhile, Meghan had a legal win this week, with the defamation case brought by her half-sister Samantha Markle. Samantha was suing her for allegedly telling “false and malicious lies” about her “rags-to royalty” upbringing, especially that she “grew up as an only child”. The case was dismissed by a Florida judge.
First portrait of King Charles III unveiled
Hours before Charles and Camilla touched down in Berlin, the first oil painting of the new monarch was released. The captivating image by Alastair Barford was done in only two weeks, after he spent time studying Charles at a Buckingham Palace biodiversity reception in February.
At the event, Charles was presented with a bracelet by Domingo Peas, an indigenous leader from Ecuadorian Amazon. If you look closely, you can spot the bracelet on Charles’s wrist. Alastair included it in tribute to Charles’s commitment to the environment and his climate change activism. Alastair said he wanted to capture, “the empathy which came across in his interactions with the people he met. It was important that I captured a sympathetic expression.”
Commissioned by Illustrated London News for the cover of its Coronation Edition (on sale now), Alastair is no slouch at painting monarchs. In 2015, he was asked by the same publication to paint the Queen.
Catch fashion fever at Crown to Couture
Who can resist designer fashion, royals and the A-list all in the same room? Not us! That’s why we’re making our way to Kensington Palace this week to see Crown to Couture, the largest exhibition ever hosted there.
We’ll be stepping in to the glittering court of Georgian royal life and learning how those 18th century dandies and ladies have inspired today’s iconic red-carpet looks. There are over 200 items, from historic Bridgerton-style gowns galore to haute couture looks, such as Lizzo’s 2022 Met Gala dress and a luminous green number worn by Lady Gaga at the 2020 MTV Awards. We can’t wait.
The exhibition opens on Wednesday, until October 29. Buy tickets here. We’ll be reporting back on this fabulous fashion spectacular in next week’s newsletter.
Corgis paws for thought in new palace
Finally, there’s another fun royal exhibition, as Madame Tussauds London opened a new experience this week, The Royal Palace. To celebrate, they let a patriotic pack of corgis get first dibs on hanging out in the new ‘Barkingham Palace’. If you’re in London over Easter, pop in and visit King Charles with Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales in the Throne Room. The late Queen, Prince Philip and Diana, Princess of Wales take centre stage too. You’ll never get a better chance to take a selfie with royalty. Book tickets here.