The U.K. is facing another heat wave this week, and when you're taking in the tennis action at Wimbledon on a 90-degree day, there's only one accessory that's absolutely essential. Peter Phillips and his new wife, Harriet Sperling, made their first Wimbledon appearance as a married couple on Wednesday, July 8, with Harriet fanning herself with an old-school paper fan. But Queen Camilla took the cooling action up a notch as she was pictured using a battery-operated plastic fan— and it turns out her purse-sized device was a bargain buy from Amazon.

Wearing a long-sleeved turquoise Anna Valentine dress and a sentimental pair of turquoise drop earrings, Queen Camilla looked fresh and summery—if not slightly overheated—as she enjoyed a day of tennis in the royal box. Although she was pictured using her paper fan at one point, it didn't seem to be doing the trick, and she clutched her white fan throughout the afternoon as the temperatures soared.

The Queen's fan, designed by Tecknet, retails for under $20 on Amazon U.K. and features multiple speeds, and it seems like she might have been using the highest one based on a hilarious meme shared on Instagram by the Archbishop of Banterbury.

As for her other accessories, Camilla wore the turquoise drop earrings that King Charles gifted her ahead of their 2005 wedding, with jewelry expert Oliver Hobart, founder of 925E, commenting that the jewels "a beautiful example of late Victorian and Edwardian craftsmanship."

"Turquoise also carries a rich symbolism," Hobart adds. "Historically, it has been associated with protection, prosperity and enduring love, making it an especially meaningful choice for a gift between the then Prince Charles and Camilla before their marriage in 2005."

Sperling also wore some dazzling jewels to Wimbledon, choosing a pair of green amethyst drops by royal favorite jeweler Kiki McDonough that coordinated with her lime green Emilia Wickstead dress.

Camilla's handheld fan isn't available to ship to U.S. addresses, but fortunately, there are plenty of similar options for those of us about to face our next heatwave here in the States.

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Royal nicknames are an endless source of fascination, with everyone from Queen Elizabeth (a.k.a. Lilibet) to Prince George (PG Tips) going by some adorable aliases. But when it comes to Queen Camilla, she has a rather unexpected nickname, according to royal author Gyles Brandreth.

Writing in his biography of the late Queen, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, Brandreth shares that King Charles “sometimes calls” his wife Camilla “Mehbooba,” noting the nickname is “Urdu for ‘my beloved.’”

Urdu is the official language of Pakistan and is also commonly spoken in India, a country Charles has a deep affinity for and has visited 10 times since 1975.

The King has even called Queen Camilla by her Urdu pet name during public speeches, like when he attended an event for the British Asian Trust in 2022.

“I cannot quite believe it is almost two years to the day that both my mehbooba and myself were able to be with all of you,” he told the crowd at the time.

Although King Charles doesn't speak fluent Urdu, he's proficient in French and can speak conversational German and Welsh, along with having knowledge of the Scottish Gaelic and Greek languages.

As for Queen Camilla's nickname, she also has another unusual one, although King Charles reportedly didn't care for it. According to royal biographer Robert Hardman (via the Daily Mail), some friends and family started calling her “Lorraine,” a play on the French word for Queen, “la reine,” when it seemed she'd never become Queen. “She always saw the funny side of that—even if Prince Charles did not,” a friend said.

Queen Camilla has been a longstanding champion of reading and a supporter of literacy-related charities, often meeting with authors and visiting schools to read to children. But on Tuesday, June 30, the Royal Family received a barrage of negative comments after sharing a photo of The Queen with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

Rowling has made repeated anti-trans comments over the years, and with their meeting taking place on the last day of Pride month, The Queen's meeting with the author was criticized by many social media users.

“With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh,” the Instagram post read.

According to Buckingham Palace, "Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations.”

Rowling has become a divisive figure for her social media posts about the transgender community, and the Royal Family's comment sections on both Instagram and X were filled with fans expressing their disappointment over Queen Camilla's meeting.

“As an admirer of the Queen and her Reading Room I’m deeply disappointed in her giving a platform to JKR, any month but especially during Pride Month,” one Instagram user wrote. “There are many other admirable individuals to spotlight who champion reading for children and young people.”

Another comment read, "there's a lot of other children's authors (who have published kids books more recently than 20 years ago) that you could have worked with on this," adding several emojis of the transgender pride flag.

The Queen's meeting with Rowling took place in Edinburgh, where the author wrote the majority of her Harry Potter books, and kicked off Royal Week in Scotland for King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The Royal Family released its annual Sovereign Grant Report on June 25, and along with releasing The King’s tax bills for the first time in history, the palace confirmed that Buckingham Palace will no longer be used as a royal residence.

King Charles and Queen Camilla currently split their time between Clarence House and their respective country homes, Highgrove House and Ray Mill House, opting not to move into Buckingham Palace since their 2023 coronation. Prince William has also made it clear that his Windsor home, Forest Lodge, will be his “forever home” and he has no plans to move back to London when he’s King.

Instead of making Buckingham Palace his royal home, King Charles has chosen to “widen” access to the historic building, which has only been open to tourists on limited dates in the past. “His Majesty retains huge affection for Buckingham Palace and a deep respect for its role in royal and public life,” the report stated.

“It will remain a working home but we are seeking to widen public access precisely to maximise the national benefit of a publicly-funded building,” Buckingham Palace continued, adding that The King and Queen want to ensure there are “increased opportunities” for visitors to tour the building on a more regular basis to lessen the taxpayer burden.

The decision makes King Charles the first monarch not to live at the palace since Queen Victoria moved into the building in 1837. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News that “the optics are likely to raise eyebrows” with the public, especially given the $487 million renovation plan that has been in process at Buckingham Palace since 2017.

However, he added, “I don’t think it will change Buckingham Palace's importance if they don’t live there. It will still be 'Monarchy HQ'; it is an iconic building known throughout the world, and there will be much more public access.”

Queen Camilla doesn’t appear to be making room in her calendar for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming visit to the U.K. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are crossing the pond next month to begin the one-year countdown until the 2027 Invictus Games. King Charles might be meeting with his son but it’s unlikely he’ll be accompanied by The Queen.

Camilla is “steering well clear” of the couple during the visit. According to the Daily Express, she is “not going to be around when they arrive.”

The Queen and Harry were never believed to be close. However, they remained civil when she married into the Royal Family in 2005. The tone publicly shifted after Prince Harry bared his true feelings on paper. In his 2023 memoir Spare, he opened about their complicated relationship, even revealing he and Prince William initially begged their father not to marry her.

According to The Times, Camilla still holds animosity for his public revelations. The Queen is “deliberately avoiding them” and has reportedly made plans to stay at her Ray Mill house in Gloucestershire during their time in the country. She is “unlikely to get involved” in any meetings with the couple, according to a source.

Queen Camilla doesn’t appear to be the only one keeping a distance from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their return to the U.K. Prince William and Princess Kate are also “incredibly unlikely” to meet with Harry.

King Charles seems to be the only working royal open to the idea of a reunion. Dan Wakeford, the founder of Celebrity Intelligence, told Fox News, "The King is the door that might open.”

Prince Harry has expressed a desire for reconciliation. The expert said, “Harry reportedly wants Charles to spend time with Archie and Lilibet, and he's been pushing for that. And I think that will likely happen from talking to folks in and around this."

Like her late mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth, Queen Camilla has always been a horse girl. Royal Ascot is a highlight on Camilla's calendar every June, and she joins The King and other members of the Royal Family on each day of the races. This year, The Queen looked elegant in shades of cream and blue—along with a parade of designer bags—but on June 20, she was snapped in one moment that any racegoer can relate to.

Dressed in a bold royal blue dress by Fiona Clare and a matching Philip Treacy hat, Queen Camilla fumbles with her Lady Dior bag, a pair of gloves and a £20 bill in a photo captured on the balcony of the Royal Box. It felt refreshingly down-to-earth to know that even The Queen carries some betting money to the racecourse, and the folded bank note displayed a photo of Queen Elizabeth instead of the updated King Charles bills.

Former royal butler Grant Harrold previously told Marie Claire (via Spin Genie) that members of the Royal Family are indeed "allowed to bet on horses," and Queen Elizabeth "was famously known for betting" at the races.

Harrold shared "there's a clip of her winning a whole entire £20, which she was really excited about," adding that the royals "don't bet silly; they just bet what anyone else would put on...They like putting something on; it would be wrong not to."

But even if the late Queen did bet at Ascot, she wasn't known to carry cash in her purse—with one exception. Per the Telegraph, Queen Elizabeth always brought one "precisely folded" five-pound bill to put in the donation plate at church on Sundays.

As for Queen Camilla, Harrold says she's the one to go to for betting advice. "If you're going to be taking advice on which horses, I would look at Camilla for a good tip," he shared.

One of the most exciting parts of a day at Royal Ascot is the Royal Procession, a parade of carriages and horses arriving at the famed race course and coming into the parade ring. Usually the carriages are reserved for actual royalty, but Hollywood royalty made an appearance on Day 3 of Royal Ascot 2026 as Stanley Tucci and his wife, Felicity Blunt, joined Lord and Lady Cavendish in the fourth carriage.

With the King and Queen leading the parade in the first carriage, Princess Anne, Duchess Sophie, and Zara Tindall were among the other royal members of the Royal Procession. Stanley Tucci may come as a surprise to join the royals and aristocrats usually riding in the carriage, but the actor most affectionately remembered as Nigel from The Devil Wears Prada is reportedly a very good friend of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

King Charles first crossed paths with Stanley Tucci during several events in support of The Prince’s Trust—now known as The King’s Trust. Their friendship became even more apparent in February 2025, when Tucci was tasked with creating and co-hosting a special Anglo-Italian "Slow Food and Fashion” dinner at Highgrove House. The event lead up to King Charles and Queen Camilla’s official visit to Italy, and celebrated the unique relationship between Italy and the United Kingdom.

Stanley Tucci and his wife, Felicity, looked right at home in the Royal Box at Ascot, alongside close friends and family of The King and Queen. While Stanley has a friendly relationship with King Charles, the invitation may have actually come from Queen Camilla for Felicity Blunt, Tucci’s wife.

Blunt acted as agent for Queen Camilla’s dear friend, Jilly Cooper, and is an executive producer on Rivals, a show close to Queen Camilla’s heart (for many reasons). Dominic Treadwell-Collins, the leading writer and producer on Rivals, was also in attendance, leading us to believe this was Queen Camilla’s doing—perhaps she is also dying to know what happens between Taggie and Rupert during the rest of Season 2.

Despite suffering from mobility issues, Queen Elizabeth carried out her duties to the very end, meeting with the incoming Prime Minister, Liz Truss, just two days before her 2022 death at the age of 96. The late Queen turned to members of her family for support at times, but as Queen Camilla told author Gyles Brandreth, it wasn’t always “necessary.”

In the months following Prince Philip’s 2021 death, those around the late Queen worried about her mental state. Brandreth, a longtime friend of the Royal Family, noted in his book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait that Queen Elizabeth had a “different” approach to mourning than her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

“There is no magic formula that will transform sorrow into happiness,” she said, “but being busy helps.” Part of keeping busy meant attending to royal duties, when possible, since Philip's death happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant attending the October 2021 openings of Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd, and King Charles and Queen Camilla came along for both trips.

But Camilla, then known as the Duchess of Cornwall, told Brandreth that their presence really wasn’t “required” due to the formidable Queen.

“‘We weren’t required,’” the Duchess said to me soon afterwards, laughing,” Brandreth wrote. “‘We were there to help out if necessary. It wasn’t necessary. The Queen did it all. She wanted to.” Camilla added, “She’s unstoppable.”

Queen Elizabeth put so much energy into staying busy after her husband's death that Brandreth said she pushed it a bit too far. “In that period of six months, the late Queen “did so much, so purposefully and with such a determination to not give way to any form of self-pity (which, she said, ‘My husband would certainly have not approved of’), that she probably did too much.”

However, no could have accused of her of wallowing. “Life goes on,” she said. “It has to.”

For Trooping the Colour 2026, Queen Camilla repeated a recognizable coat dress from Fiona Clare. The military-inspired design was a departure from the pastel coats and dresses usually worn by members of the Royal Family, but Queen Camilla’s confidence shined through as she coordinated next to her husband, King Charles.

Queen Camilla is acting Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, which is where she found inspiration for the bespoke coat from her preferred designer, Fiona Clare. The red wool base with black and gold trim and gold military-inspired buttons creates a feminine rendition of the Grenadier Guards uniform, and is notably similar to King Charles’s own military coat. The similar designs create a unified image of The King and Queen, representing their country on the most important royal occasion of the year.

Queen Camilla first wore the coat dress in 2023, paired with a Philip Treacy hat inspired by the Grenadier Guards bearskins. This year, she wore a new black beret, also designed by Philip Treacy, which featured a unique white plume and gold detail. The gold design is a reimagination of the cap badge of the Grenadier Guards, which features a “flaming grenade,” the same cap badge worn by King Charles.

While we initially thought King Charles and Queen Camilla were sporting matching gold pineapples on their hats, the flaming grenade has an interesting history. It is one of the oldest military symbols in military history, used by different regiments and military groups throughout the world. Queen Camilla’s white plume—officially known as a heckle—has historical meaning as well, signifying her role as colonel.

The departure from feminine coats and hats to a bold military-inspired look, matching King Charles’s regal uniform, demonstrates Queen Camilla’s role as The King’s modern "strength and stay." The two look unified in their commitment to the United Kingdom, representing Britain in a modern world.

Queen Camilla has an enviable handbag collection, ranging from Dior to Bottega Veneta to Chanel. Anyone would be tempted to swipe a classic top handle bag or an evening clutch from her closet. At a recent royal engagement, Queen Camilla gave us a peek at what she keeps inside her handbags that has made us all love her even more. It isn’t a Clarins Lip Perfector or a silk handkerchief, but something much more relatable.

On a visit to St. Mungo’s, a homelessness support charity in London, Queen Camilla revealed that she almost always has a book in her handbag. Speaking to morning talk show broadcaster Lorraine Kelly, Kelly told the Queen “I’ve always got a book in my bag,” to which Queen Camilla enthusiastically replied, “so have I.”

For the special visit, which focused on the connection between literacy and homelessness support, Queen Camilla donated 20 books to the facility from her own bookshelf of favorites. The books included popular titles such as Wuthering Heights (is Queen Camilla Team a fan of Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, one wonders?), War Horse, A Gentleman in Moscow and Black Beauty. “Books do so much for people,” the Queen said during the visit. “It is a wonderful way of escapism and taking them out of their life and into another one.”

Queen Camilla has been a passionate advocate for literacy and the power of a book. Through The Queen’s Reading Room, Queen Camilla has connected many charities and organizations through the impact and benefits of reading “With their extraordinary power to educate and inspire, books have enriched my life since I was a child,” Queen Camilla shared on The Queen’s Reading Room website. “I hope that we, together with our partners, can foster in adults and children alike a lifelong love of literature and connect more people with that special magic that can only be found in the leaves of a book.”

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When it was announced that King Charles and Queen Camilla were confirmed to attend the Epsom Derby on the same day as his nephew Peter Phillips’s wedding, some royal watchers wondered if he’d be skipping the nuptials. But true to form, the smiling King and Queen arrived at the church in Kemble, England on Saturday before dashing off to the derby. It’s an approach The King’s former butler, Grant Harrold, says is markedly different from the late Queen.

Speaking on behalf of CasinoHawks, Harrold says King Charles has always “adored his nephew,” describing them as “very close.” He adds that even though it was a tight timeline, The King made sure that being at Peter's wedding was a top priority, despite his scheduled royal duties.

“It would have been a logistical nightmare to make it work, but the King and his team would have gone to extreme lengths to ensure he could be there for the ceremony,” Harrold shares.

Queen Elizabeth was known for her incredible dedication to Crown and country, but at times, that came at the expense of her family, as Harrold points out. He calls The King attending Peter and Harriet’s wedding “interesting because it shows how different the King is to his mother.”

“The late Queen was always about duty first, family after,” he shares. “She missed many family occasions as she didn’t want to let people down at official engagements. However, The King is a bit more relaxed on this, and wants to make sure he’s there for the big moments in his family’s life.” Harrold describes his former boss as trying to keep “all the plates spinning.”

“Where The Queen was Crown first, family second, the King works really hard to keep them equal,” he adds.

Although the King and Queen weren’t able to be there for Peter and Harriet’s wedding reception at Princess Anne’s home, Gatcombe Park, the bride and groom certainly would have understood.

“Many people took this as rude or a snub, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Harrold says of Their Majesties leaving early. “The King was due to present a trophy at the races, which is a huge engagement in the royal diary. And while for us, we wouldn’t feel bad about cancelling a work event for a close family member’s wedding, it’s of course very, very different from the royals.”

Queen Camilla brought back a familiar favorite pink coat to attend the Founder’s Day ceremony at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on June 4—but it was her new floral bag that stole the show. Queen Elizabeth’s favorite handbag brand, Launer, recently launched a new collection with fellow royal warrant holder Sanderson, and Camilla was among the first to get in on the floral-filled action.

The late Queen carried Launer’s top-handled bags on repeat—most often in black—but she occasionally reached for the British brand’s clutches for formal events. Queen Camilla also chose a Launer clutch for her visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, carrying an $1,885 Bella bag covered in Sanderson’s historic rose and peony print which dates back to 1914.

The clutch also pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth in a more direct way, with proceeds from the Launer x Sanderson collaboration benefiting The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST). The charity supports talented and aspiring artisans by funding education and training, with QEST dedicated to strengthening the future of the U.K.’s craft sector.

Queen Camilla paired her flowery clutch with the same candy pink coat dress she wore to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's May 2018 royal wedding. The Anna Valentine design is trimmed with fringe detail at the seams, and she pinned Queen Elizabeth's favorite diamond starburst brooch to her jacket.

Instead of the fanciful feather-trimmed hat she wore to the wedding, Camilla chose a summery beige hat she's had in her closet for a number of years.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is the home of the Chelsea Pensioners, who are retired members of the British Army. During its Founder's Day event, Queen Camilla paid tribute to the facility and it staff, saying, “You offer care, camaraderie and community to those men and women who have served our nation, whilst upholding the highest standards.”

However, she threw in some of her signature humor to the speech, adding, “At the same time, I gather from some ‘off-the-record’ conversations with pensioners, that it is also a place of secretive gin bars, port associations and the feeding of foxes, done at night to dodge the quartermaster.”

Ever since Prince Albert bought the Balmoral estate in 1852, it’s been a cherished retreat for members of the Royal Family. The 50,000-acre estate includes multiple private residences as well as Balmoral Castle, and is the traditional summer home of the British royals. King Charles and Queen Camilla invite family, friends and politicians to Balmoral every year, and former royal butler Grant Harrold is sharing what it’s really like behind the scenes at the Scottish retreat.

Speaking on behalf of Heart Bingo, Harrold—who served King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House for nearly a decade—says visiting Balmoral is “lovely but it’s quite full on and regimented.” Guests receive “a full information pack” before their arrival, and members of staff will take their bags away (and unpack them) once they get to the property.

Apparently, this part of the trip is what Harrold and other staff members sometimes struggled with when welcoming new guests. “The only issue we ran into was guests not knowing where their clothes were!” he reveals. “So we’d leave drawers slightly open and wardrobes ajar so they could spot their things. We’d unzip toiletries too, but never unpack them. We’d just leave them sitting by the wash basin.”

Describing the guest rooms at the castle, Harrold says they’re “more like an exclusive hotel” and are “private, elegant and a little grand with Victorian furniture.” Visitors and royals alike have often shared that they were overwhelmed with the rules at Balmoral, and Harrold admitted that “you can't really say no to anything.”

“Guests know what they’re doing at all times,” he said, explaining that a schedule is given that tells visitors where to be and when. However, the activities are planned with guests in mind.

“The Prime Minister would normally go up for a long weekend, but it will be the same treatment as any other visitors,” Harrold shares. “He'll be given an idea what to do and he'll get the itinerary. The itineraries are tailored to accommodate each guest. If he likes fishing, maybe they go fishing. If he likes walking, they'll go walking. He’ll also have meetings with the King and they can use the time to catch up.”

Once upon a time, guests would even expect to see a bit of royal dish washing. The late Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter recalled a visit to Balmoral when he got to work cleaning up after a picnic with Her Majesty.

“No sooner had I started than I heard footsteps and, thinking it was the lady-in-waiting coming to give me a hand, I casually said over my shoulder, 'okay, I’ll wash you dry,' but it was not the lady-in-waiting,” he wrote in Woman & Home. “The Queen washed up and I dried, and no, she did not wear rubber gloves to protect her hands.”

Former Prime Minister David Cameron told a similar story to author Gyles Brandreth, who included the tidbit in his biography Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait. “I'm not making this up, you sat down and Prince Philip and Her Majesty The Queen served your dinner and cleared it away and washed it up while you sat talking with the other guests,” Cameron told the author .

Harriet Sperling will marry Peter Phillips on Saturday, June 6, and the question on everyone’s lips is whether she’ll wear a tiara. It will be a second marriage for both NHS nurse Harriet and Princess Anne’s only son, and ahead of their wedding, jewelry expert Nilesh Rakholia says that the newest member of the Royal Family could look to Queen Camilla for inspiration.

“Historically, second royal weddings tend to lean much more understated in their jewelry language, with less emphasis on overt bridal grandeur,” Rakholia says. He points to The King and Queen’s 2005 wedding, when Camilla wore a feathered Philip Treacy headpiece instead of a tiara.

“Camilla notably chose not to wear a tiara for her civil wedding or subsequent blessing at Windsor,” Rakholia notes, adding that her hat gave “a more relaxed and modern bridal aesthetic compared to traditional royal bridal dressing.”

After marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981, Princess Diana became a member of the British Royal Family. As a result, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip became her in-laws. After Charles and Diana separated, Elizabeth and Philip reportedly weighed in on the couple's issues, and some of their comments allegedly made the former Princess of Wales's "blood boil."

In the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled Princess Diana's reaction to some of Prince Philip's accusations about her marriage.

"But what stunned the princess was when Prince Philip raised the thorny issue of her husband’s mistress," Burrell shared in his book. "He wrote that she should have been grateful that her husband had, initially, cut himself off from Camilla Parker Bowles. Prince Charles felt he had made 'a considerable sacrifice' in cutting ties with her and that the princess had 'not appreciated what he had done.'"

According to Burrell, Prince Philip seemingly delivered a "knock-out blow that had left the princess sobbing."

In a letter to Princess Diana, the former Duke of Edinburgh reportedly wrote, "Can you honestly look into your heart and say that Charles's relationship with Camilla had nothing to do with your behavior towards him in your marriage?"

As noted by the former royal butler, "The princess was being accused of driving Prince Charles into the arms of the one woman she had tried to keep him away from. Even a year on, the idea made her blood boil."

Per Burrell, the accusation caused Princess Diana to rant, "They are all the bloody same—looking after one another!"

Royal Ascot isn’t Royal Ascot without the “royal” part—that is, the presence of royalty in the Royal Enclosure and the iconic royal procession of carriages arriving at the famed race course. Queen Elizabeth II, as a passionate horsewoman, attended almost every year, and King Charles III has taken up the reins as he attends the annual Royal Ascot races as often as he can.

The British do pomp and ceremony better than anyone else, and Royal Ascot is a great example of that. “That is the history we are trying to continue,” Mike Tindall, former rugby player and husband to King Charles’s niece, Zara Tindall, said on The Luxury Dispatch. “That royal procession down the course, it's still a standalone feature of what happens at Royal Ascot.”

Mike Tindall has sat in the royal carriage procession next to his wife, a well respected and former Olympic equestrian, many times, and revealed a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the events of the day. “You jump in cars, the fleet of cars that they use are old, historical, good old fashioned state cars and they take you to the edge of [Windsor] Great Park.”

From Windsor Great Park, the royals climb into historic wicker landau carriages that process through Windsor and onto the race course. “It’s about a 20 minute carriage ride from start to finish,” Tindall said, sharing the overwhelming experience of the entire procession. “The horses, the green coats, when you set off you go past schools, it seems to be a load of schools, and they always let the children out and wave the British flags, and I’m thinking that’s great.”

With Royal Ascot running in mid-June, there is a risk of the weather being too good. “If it’s too hot, it’s a bit of a nightmare,” Tindall admitted. Royal Ascot’s Royal Enclosure dress code requires full tails and a top hat for men, which can be oppressive if the temperatures are sweltering. “If you take the hat off, a pool of water drops out” Mike Tindall joked, referring to pools of sweat on a sweltering day.

The iconic image of the carriages processing through the Royal Ascot racecourse are a British classic. “You turn on to the track down the middle of the course, and when you turn into the stadium,” Tindall reflected on previous years at Royal Ascot. In carriages carrying the King and Queen and other senior members of the Royal Family, it’s hard to miss the significance of this carriage procession. “The anthem starts, and it’s quite special.”

The end of May marks a holiday weekend in both the United States and the U.K., but according to former royal butler Grant Harrold, King Charles and the rest of the royals don’t get up to any exciting plans. Instead, they’re focused on business as usual, and when they do go away, Harrold says it’s “a bit boring.”

Speaking on behalf of Heart Bingo Online, Harrold—who served King Charles as a butler at Highgrove House between 2004 and 2011—says members of the Royal Family are “normally working” over a long weekend. “The royals have very boring bank holiday weekends,” he shares. “Sometimes they will have friends come over for dinner, but overall it would still be a working day for them. They’re creatures of habit, they don't change.”

Workaholic King Charles, in particular, likes to keep the same schedule. “The King’s routine is the same every day. His mother was the same, so I think it’s just how he’s been brought up,” Harrold added. “Even if they’re away for a bank holiday weekend, they still do their same routines. They’re a bit boring really.”

Like the late Queen, The King and Queen Camilla like to spend their time on the Balmoral estate in Scotland, but before she married into the Royal Family, she preferred warmer spots. “Camilla likes the sun, I think she likes the Mediterranean,” Harrold says. “Before she went to Balmoral, she used to go on yacht holidays.”

He adds that Prince William and Princess Kate—who are big fans of the French Alps as well as beach vacations— also “seem to like their yachting holidays.” As for Princess Anne, she’s more like her mother and eldest brother.

“I'm not aware of Princess Anne going overseas like that,” Harrold shares. “I think she tends to do the traditional Scotland when she goes up there for her breaks.”

Although he’s a Balmoral enthusiast, King Charles does occasionally travel elsewhere, with Harrold noting that when The King goes on an overseas tour, he “sometimes ties in other trips.” The former butler continues that King Charles has “a house in Romania, which he will add onto a tour. But normally for holidays it’s Scotland. He’s more of a traditionalist.”

It’s been a busy May for the Royal Family filled with overseas trips, garden parties and birthday celebrations, and despite the shadow of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s scandals, it seems like it’s back to business for the monarchy. After receiving a rock star reception in Italy, Princess Kate is generating quite the buzz about taking on more trips abroad, with multiple royal experts pointing out that the future of the monarchy is riding on Prince William and Princess Kate’s shoulders.

Reflecting on Kate’s first solo trip overseas since her 2024 cancer diagnosis, Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson told People that it was integral for the future Queen to be out there in the public.

“As Queen Elizabeth used to say, you have to be seen to be believed,” Anderson said. The former palace employee continued that the Princess of Wales is “glamorous” and “beautiful,” as well as “warm and approachable.”

“On the back of The King’s successful visit to the States, William and Kate are upping their game,” she added.

With The King, Queen and Princess Anne all well into their seventies and Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie in their sixties, it’s become more important than ever for the Prince and Princess of Wales to carry more of the burden of royal work.

“Princess Anne and the other senior working royals are all stretched thin — and none of them are young,” author Catherine Mayer told People. “William and Catherine carry the whole thing.”

After years of being called “work shy,” Prince William and Princess Kate are now amping up their royal projects—on their own terms. The Princess of Wales, who announced she was in remission from cancer in January 2025, has been clear that family is her first priority. But as seen from the tremendous response to her Italy trip, she’s also needed as a worldwide ambassador for the Royal Family.

Mayer says that Prince William and Princess Kate’s star power is helping restore confidence in the monarchy after former Prince Andrew’s arrest and involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

“For the moment, after that period of unprecedented turbulence, they are doing a very good job of making it look like the ship is steady,” said Mayer. “That is why Kate is so important.”

Queen Camilla has been quietly putting her own stamp on Queen Elizabeth’s fashion legacy, and she showed she’s on top of her style game while joining King Charles for a three-day visit to Northern Ireland.

The King and Queen arrived in Belfast on Tuesday, May 19, and Camilla put a French girl spin on some classic British brands as they met organizers and performers involved in an upcoming Irish festival. The weather didn’t quite cooperate for their visit, but Queen Camilla was prepared with one of the late Queen’s favorite accessories, a clear Fulton birdcage umbrella.

Queen Elizabeth owned the British brand’s bubble umbrellas in a huge variety of colors, but Camilla favors classic black. And while The Queen has long been a fan of her late mother-in-law’s beloved Launer bags, she carried a Princess Diana-approved style for her trip to Belfast, choosing a beige Lady Dior bag.

The Lady Dior bag is one of Camilla's favorite styles, and she's been spotted carrying the quilted style in black and white versions over the years, along with her biscuit-hued colorway.

She kept the French theme going with cap-toed Chanel heels and a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet, but added a tribute to the Emerald Isles with her brooch. Queen Camilla wore one of Queen Elizabeth's wedding gifts pinned to her lapel, choosing the late monarch's turquoise and diamond shamrock brooch.

As for the rest of her outfit, Queen Camilla wore a baby blue wrap coat by one of her go-to designers, Anna Valentine, pairing it with a cheerful white floral-print dress by British designer Fiona Clare.

On May 20, The Queen had another shamrock moment, pinning the same brooch to a navy coat by The Fold before changing into a brighter blue coat dress and hat for a garden party at Hillsborough Castle. This time, she swapped her shamrock for a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch that she's owned for a number of years—the perfect pin for a day in the garden.

Queen Camilla has been in the public eye for decades. After her husband, King Charles, acceded the throne, Camilla took on an even bigger role within the Royal Family. And according to one royal author, The Queen contains multitudes.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal author Christopher Wilson explained, "She's every bit as convincing as the old Queen Mother was when it comes to putting on a sweet smile and saying just the right thing to put people at their ease."

Wilson also suggested that there's much more to The Queen than meets the eye. "But—again like the Queen Mom—there's a ruthless streak to Camilla which she takes care to keep hidden from view," the author noted.

As for why Queen Camilla might keep some of her cards close to her chest, Wilson shared that she takes her role as King Charles's wife very seriously.

"Her job, as she sees it, is to support and protect her man," Wilson claimed.

While Queen Camilla didn't join the Royal Family until 2005, when she married King Charles, she allegedly knows just how important the institution is.

"Monarchy is about survival, and Camilla understands that," Wilson told the outlet. "She's read the history books and knows how, when the House of Windsor was brought to its knees in 1936 with the abdication of King Edward VIII, [the Queen Mother] put fire in the belly of her reluctant husband, turning him into a successful wartime monarch who did a great double act with Prime Minister Winston Churchill."

Per Wilson, "King George needed her ironclad courage, just as King Charles needs Camilla's today."

Basically, Queen Camilla is a great source of strength to King Charles and she's apparently just as focused on protecting the Royal Family's future.

King Charles and Queen Camilla pulled out all the British pomp and ceremony to attend the State Opening of Parliament. In the Irish State Coach, The King and Queen made a fairytale trip from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster in full pageantry: an ermin-trimmed cape, a white satin gown, diamonds, with the state diadems travelling in another regal carriage—for safety, naturally.

While this royal event is a regular exercise, King Charles was feeling the stress of an upheaved parliament as Britain’s government faces some unrest. Luckily, Queen Camilla was there to provide reassurance and an image of continuity for both her husband and the nation.

“Camilla is really his rock, her more relaxed and light movements and expressions balance Charles’ intense focus,” body language expert Darren Stanton told Betfair Casino. “You could see him looking to her for reassurance frequently as they entered parliament.” While King Charles was serious and stern, Queen Camilla’s relaxed mood offset The King’s unease.

“Queen Elizabeth left such a glorious legacy and he had a lot to live up to after his mother’s tremendous reign, so he works incredibly hard to perform at his best during these ceremonies,” Stanton said, explaining The King’s pressure to perform at the State Opening of Parliament. Queen Camilla’s ‘Cinderella moment’ as she takes off down the staircase ahead of him is the perfect depiction of today’s event—The Queen is ready to carry on with her day, while King Charles still feels the weight of the occasion.

While her mood may have been relaxed, Queen Camilla’s attire was entirely formal with George IV State Diadem stealing the show. “What stood out was the sense of continuity rather than spectacle,” jewellery expert Nilesh Rakholia, Founder of Abelini, explained to Marie Claire. The state diadem is an iconic piece in the British crown jewels, but Rakholia explains that the diadem wasn’t chosen for the wow-factor. “It was chosen to reinforce stability, heritage, and ceremonial permanence, which is exactly the role these pieces are meant to perform.”

“Royal jewellery at occasions like the State Opening operates almost like visual diplomacy,” Rakholia said. “These pieces carry memory, symbolism, and institutional identity. Queen Camilla’s approach respected that tradition while still allowing moments of softness and individuality to come through.”

Although King Charles and other members of the Royal Family have chauffeurs to take them to royal engagements, they do drive themselves places, too. Prince William and Princess Kate in particular love to drive their kids to school themselves, and The King has owned a convertible Aston Martin since his 21st birthday. Former royal butler Grant Harrold has opened up about the Royal Family’s driving habits, including the opposing theories King Charles and Queen Camilla have about their car organization.

Speaking to Select Car Leasing, Harrold said that for the Royal Family, driving is “a bit of normality and freedom for them.” He added that King Charles “would often prefer to drive himself than using a chauffeur,” unless it was to an official royal engagement.

As for what the royals keep in their cars when heading to events, the former butler, who served The King and Queen Camilla between 2004 and 2011, said Charles “always had a cushion on his seat to support his back, we always had to make sure there was one in there for him.” Bottles of water and mints were also musts for members of the Royal Family, but Harrold said that snacks were a pass for The King.

“He was always working away, especially if it was a long drive,” Harrold said of King Charles. “But the King never had snacks in the car as he really doesn’t like mess.”

Queen Camilla, however, is known to have a messier backseat. “Queen Camilla in particular was known to always have her dogs in the car,” Harrold said. These days, Jack Russell terrier Bluebell and mixed-breed rescue dog Moley are part of The King and Queen's crew, along with his truffle hunting dog, Snuff.

“Her car always had loads of hair in the backseat where they sat,” Harrold added. Sounds like corgi enthusiast Queen Elizabeth would approve.

It may come as a surprise to learn that Queen Camilla—King Charles's wife, the Queen of England, the 78-year-old consort, that Queen Camilla—has a bit of a racy side. A fan of the sexy TV series Rivals and occasionally raunchy chick lit, The Queen doesn’t shy away from a bit of spice in her life. She’s known for being a little bit cheeky and up for a good flirty joke—after all, her iconic condolences for Dame Jilly Cooper wished the late author a hereafter “filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs."

Queen Camilla shared a potentially very sexy beauty secret with human rights attorney Amal Clooney earlier this week. At the 50th anniversary celebration of The King’s Trust, Queen Camilla met Amal and her husband, George. Amal Clooney complimented The Queen, saying, “you smell very good—amazing.” Queen Camilla quickly replied, “it’s a Charlotte Tilbury scent.” Queen Camilla expanded on her perfume of choice, too quietly for the audio to pick up, but a slightly shocked Amal Clooney replies, “ooh, I see, so it’s a signature."

Charlotte Tilbury has several perfumes that “enhance feelings of love, happiness, seduction and confidence,” according to the brand. The six perfumes all feature a “magic scent trail that lasts up to 18 hours” and “emotion-boosting molecules to boost your chosen mood.” While the aromatic emotions include calm, joy, power, confidence, and love, Amal Clooney’s reaction and Queen Camilla’s hesitance to share the scent on the red carpet made us curious. The Queen’s penchant for cheeky jokes and a bit of spice in her life have Marie Claire editors suspecting she wears the brand’s More Sex fragrance.

Charlotte Tilbury's More Sex scent is described by the brand as “a rush of passion through your body,” with scent notes “that always leave you wanting more.” More Sex is sultry and deep, with notes of black pepper, musk, sandalwood, and leather accord, which “is the perfect scent for an alluring aura of attraction.” I recently attended a Charlotte Tilbury event, and it was truthfully the best scent in the whole collection—warm, sensual, and the kind of perfume you compliment another woman on when you catch the scent it.

Shop The Scent

Like her late mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth, Queen Camilla is also a huge dog lover, so it’s fitting she's served as patron of the charity Medical Detection Dogs since 2014. Princess Kate’s brother, James Middleton, has made dogs his life’s work, and the duo caught up at a Clarence House reception—along with some four-legged friends.

Dog breeder James, who founded premium pet food company James & Ella, is also working with Medical Detection Dogs, and The Queen greeted him with a hug and kiss at the event.

“It’s lovely that you are supporting them, you are doing some feed for them, aren’t you?” Queen Camilla said, per the Daily Mail. Middleton replied, “Yes, treats,” adding he felt “really fortunate to be involved.”

The Queen, James and other guests witnessed demonstrations of the “incredible” work the medical detection dogs do, such as spotting when people are in distress or even sniffing out specific conditions like bowel cancer.

“I’m mind-blown by what they do,” Middleton told Queen Camilla. “It’s incredible. We can learn from dogs as much as they learn from us.”

While James breeds cocker spaniels, Queen Camilla is a fan of Jack Russell terriers and also has a mixed-breed rescue dog, Moley. The tiny dog even starred in a 100th birthday video for Sir David Attenborough last week along with a cast of wild animals.

At the reception, one woman named Lucy told Queen Camilla about the impact her own medical detection dog has had, with The Queen replying, “They are extraordinary the way they change your life.”

At 78, Queen Camilla might not be the first person you’d think of as a royal beauty influencer. But during her recent visit to the United States, her gorgeous appearance “impressed” one British Airways employee so much that the woman drilled a royal journalist for information on The Queen’s beauty routine.

Speaking on the Daily Mail’s “Palace Confidential” podcast, royal editor Rebecca English said that one airport staff member struck up a conversation with her in Washington, D.C. after the state visit. English noted that although King Charles left Washington for Bermuda, Queen Camilla flew back to London commercially.

“The next day I was flying back from Washington myself and when I got to the BA check in desk, the very friendly lady said, 'What have you been here doing? Work? Pleasure?'” English said. “I was telling her I was covering the royal trip and she went 'Ah! We saw Queen Camilla as she walked in yesterday'.”

The woman “desperately wanted to chat” and said that the employees “couldn't quite believe it” when Camilla showed up, noting “she's got really good skin.” The BA employee then began asking more detailed questions to English, like “Has she had anything done? What's her health regime? What's her skin care regime like?”

“She really wanted to chat about it because she was really, really impressed," the royal editor added.

While The Queen isn't exactly doing GRWM videos, we do know some of her favorite beauty products. Camilla recently visited The Couture Brow, a specialist based at The Lanesborough Club & Spa in London, for their bespoke eyebrow design services. And she's such an enthusiast of bee venom facialist Deborah Mitchell that she awarded Mitchell with a coveted royal warrant.

“One day, I decided to surprise her, and I used some of her own honey to make her Bee Venom products and gave it back to her!” the facialist told People in 2025. Perhaps she can make a quick delivery to the Dulles airport, too.

The Royal Family’s love of animals has been well documented throughout the years, and on Friday, May 8, Queen Camilla’s newest rescue dog, Moley, and a group of wild animals were enlisted to pull off an adorable surprise for Sir David Attenborough. Prince William joined the famed naturalist and broadcaster for an event marking his 100th birthday on Friday night, and little Moley made a special appearance in a video shown at the celebration.

In a clip shown at the Royal Albert Hall gala, King Charles sits at his desk at Balmoral Castle to write a letter to Attenborough—who has known The King since he was a child—and sweetly includes Moley in the activity. Queen Camilla adopted the mixed-breed dog after her Jack Russell terrier, Beth, died in 2024, and Moley lets out tiny barks as she runs behind The King in the video.

Once settled in his office, the dog relaxes on a cushion as King Charles writes out his “warmest congratulations” to Sir David. “It is amazing to think that you and I have known each other for more than 60 years,” The King narrated in the video. “Indeed, I believe we first met in 1958, almost a decade before color television.”

After thanking Attenborough for protecting the planet and wildlife, The King watches out the window as Moley follows a footman carrying the card on a silver tray. It then takes a journey in a Land Rover before a sheepdog named Flynn takes the card in his mouth, passing it off to an eagle before a wide array of animals take the card from Scotland all the way to London.

A hedgehog, deer, fox, swan and many more creatures take the letter on its journey before an owl dropped it through Sir David’s mail slot in a very Harry Potter-esque scene from the video. Finally, it reached the Royal Albert Hall—and Sir David was pictured standing up with the mud-stained envelope as Prince William beamed next to him.

Unfortunately, Moley wasn’t there for the special birthday party, but the Prince of Wales did make a touching speech.

“Like millions across the world, my children have grown up with your incredible storytelling—a window into the wonders of nature that shaped their understanding of our planet, and their belief that it is something worth fighting for,” William said.

“And for me personally, your friendship has been profound,” the future King continued. “You have strengthened my own determination to act. To work with those who are raising awareness of the challenges and building the solutions that drive meaningful change. Through your support in establishing The Earthshot Prize, we are now striving to turn your inspiration into action, to champion those solutions that are creating a more sustainable future for us all.”

King Charles waited more than 70 years to become King, and since he’s taken the throne, the monarch seems to have a new energy. Despite his cancer treatments, The King keeps up with a busy program of local royal engagements and overseas trips, and one royal biographer wrote that much has changed since Queen Elizabeth died in 2022.

In his biography of the late Queen, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, Gyles Brandreth writes that King Charles “is a good man with a good heart” and praised his abilities to be a “fine King.” However, the author noted that when he was the Prince of Wales, Charles might’ve been more of an Eeyore than a Tigger.

“Sometimes in the past, he seemed to walk about with an invisible rain cloud hovering over his head," Brandreth, who has been close with the Royal Family for decades, wrote. “Not so now.”

“He is equal to this moment and you can see it straight away—in his bearing, in his tone of voice, his turn of phrase,” Brandreth continued.

Fellow royal biographer Robert Hardman agreed with the sentiment in a recent interview with Marie Claire. “I think he really enjoys being The King,” Hardman, who has been covering Charles for more than 30 years, said. “He is, I would say, as happy as I’ve ever seen him.”

Hardman added that like Queen Elizabeth, “when the buck stops with you” it can feel “quite lonely at the top,” but King Charles seems to feel “a genuine sort of purpose and an energy” now that he’s King.

The author and royal journalist continued that King Charles has managed to maintain a positive attitude despite his health or the many issues plaguing world politics. “Despite everything that's going on, despite the cancer diagnosis, despite the estrangement from his son [Prince Harry], despite the fact that the country is in a dreadful state and the whole world's falling apart…he's a happy monarch,” he said.

Queen Elizabeth’s style is being explored in a blockbuster exhibition at Buckingham Palace this year, and although the late monarch is no longer with us, touches of her iconic wardrobe are still seen in the Royal Family. Queen Camilla, for one, showed similarities to her late mother-in-law at the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the year on May 6.

The Queen had a Cinderella moment on her coronation anniversary, repeating a beautifully embroidered Fiona Clare coat dress with a matching Philip Treacy hat—but it was the rest of her accessories that brought Queen Elizabeth to mind.

Camilla carried an ivory clutch by British brand Launer, and the designer's distinctive bags were perhaps the most recognizable part of Queen Elizabeth's royal wardrobe. Queen Camilla is also an admirer of the luxury label and has been seen with their bags over the past 20 years, even carrying a Launer clutch to her 2005 civil wedding to King Charles.

Although Queen Elizabeth exclusively carried Launer bags for decades—with the exception of a few rare, custom-made designs—Camilla is often seen with purses from other brands. She's especially fond of the Lady Dior bag, ironically named after Princess Diana, and also favors Demellier, Moynat and Anya Hindmarch, which she recently granted with a royal warrant.

Camilla also channeled the late Queen at the garden party by carrying a clear umbrella by royal-favorite brand Fulton. It's a style the late Queen couldn't get enough of, and she owned the bubble umbrella in a rainbow of colors to match her outfits.

Ever-practical Camilla, however, didn't coordinate her coat to her umbrella like the late Queen, whose enormous Fulton collection ranged from baby pink to bright green and everything in between. Instead, Queen Camilla carried a go-with-everything black-trimmed design rather than a pastel blue umbrella.

King Charles kicked off garden party season at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, May 6, celebrating the third anniversary of his coronation with members of the Royal Family and hundreds of guests. Royal garden parties honor members of the British public who serve their communities, and during the first party of 2026, The King, Queen Camilla and Princess Anne received an extra-warm greeting from one special guest.

In footage shared on Instagram, The King takes time greeting attendees as he walks down a line of people, stopping to pay extra attention to a service dog named Vegas. The monarch bent over to pet the sweet brown cocker spaniel from the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People charity as he chatted with the dog’s owner, Kate Wilson. “They do hearing dogs too, now? Marvellous," he said, per GB News.

Vegas jumped up enthusiastically on The King’s legs, and he seemed so enamored with the dog that one impatient garden party guest exclaimed, “Your Majesty, we’re waiting over here!”

Vegas also met with Queen Camilla as well as Princess Anne, who serves as patron of the hearing dogs charity. The Princess Royal asked if Vegas took such a liking to “everyone or is it just me?” as she gave lots of attention to the dog.

Speaking of Princess Anne, Vegas's owner, Kate Wilson said, “She’s a wonderful lady with all the work she does. I'm a teacher and having Vegas has changed everything for me.”

Wilson said that Vegas “can alert me to things that are going on or alarms going off. And it means my son can leave me alone without worrying. It’s been life-changing.”

“She does jump up a little but everyone took it in their stride,” Wilson said, and it seems like dog lovers Anne, Charles and Camilla certainly did.

Queen Camilla is said to have given King Charles a new confidence as he takes on his role as monarch, and according to biographer Gyles Brandreth, their relationship brings to mind another successful royal couple. In his book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, the author wrote that observing Camilla has convinced him that she’ll be “the co-author” of The King’s success, just like Prince Philip was for Queen Elizabeth.

Brandreth worked alongside the late Duke of Edinburgh with the National Playing Fields Association, now known as Fields Trust, beginning in the 1970s, and wrote that he “liked his style.”

Much like Queen Camilla with her royal work, Prince Philip “wanted to make a difference where others, often, only make a noise,” Brandreth wrote. “He wasn’t one for honeyed words and empty gestures.”

When discussing Prince Philip, Brandreth—who was writing the section of his book shortly after Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022—added, “Until this week I thought he was irreplaceable. I was wrong.”

While watching Queen Camilla interact with the public alongside King Charles in the days following the late Queen's passing, Brandreth mused that he saw his “old boss (and hero) reborn—in Camilla.”

He wrote that while Prince Philip was Queen Elizabeth's “strength and stay,” Queen Camilla provides that same role for King Charles. “She is fundamental to the architecture of his life,” the biographer wrote, calling The Queen King Charles’s “good companion and best friend.”

The late duke “always knew he was the support act,” Brandreth wrote, noting that Queen Camilla takes on the same role. “Like Prince Philip, Camilla has accepted her destiny,” Brandreth continued. “She did not seek it.”

Reflecting on The Queen's 75th birthday lunch in 2022, which Brandreth hosted alongside Dame Joanna Lumley, the author shared that Camilla made a touching reference to her late father-in-law in a speech.

“The Duke of Edinburgh’s philosophy was clear,” she told the guests, quoting Prince Philip by saying, “Look up and look out, say less, do more—and get on with the job.” Poignantly, she added, “And that is just what I intend to do.”

Royal biographer Robert Hardman was granted a special audience with Donald Trump during this week’s U.K. state visit to the White House, and during his private meeting with the president, the author gained insight on the success of The King and Queen's trip.

Hardman previously met President Trump at Mar-a-Lago while he was researching his new book Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. Her Story, and was invited to present the president with a finished copy. Writing for the Daily Mail, the royal author said that he met with Trump the evening before The King and Queen departed, and the president had nothing but positive things to say about Their Majesties.

“We've done a good job with the King, right?” President Trump told Hardman, who replied “that the British team seem overjoyed by the success of this trip.”

The president then summed up the state visit in three words, stating, “It's been unbelievable.”

“He's a great guy, he really is,” Trump said of King Charles, with Hardman adding that the president also gave “warm tributes to the Prince and Princess of Wales.”

According to the outlet, Prince William and Princess Kate have been extended an invitation to the White House this summer, and Trump told Hardman, “William, he'll be a good King, won't he? He's very nice. A great guy. I like him.” Trump was also full of praise for Princess Kate, asking the author, “How's she doing? She's so great. She was sick, people said crazy things about her and she was so brave.”

In his book, Hardman shares details on Trump's first state visit to the U.K. with Queen Elizabeth, and the author shared that section with the U.S. president during his visit this week.

“I pointed out that she had found him, according to those close to her, 'charming, tall, tanned, big, courteous, mid-century' and also 'amusing,'” Hardman said. As for the president, he replied, “'I've had better,” adding, “and I've certainly had worse.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla have finished their historic visit to the United States to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday, and First Lady Melania Trump made sure to let Prince William and Princess Kate know she was thinking of them, too.

President Trump and the First Lady paid a formal farewell to The King and Queen on April 30, with the two couples sharing warm wishes before Charles headed on to Bermuda and Camilla returned to the U.K.

“Good luck with everything, and enjoy yourself,” the First Lady said, as lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Sun. “Send my love to Catherine and William and their children.”

Melania has a particular fondness for the Princess of Wales, who she attended a U.K. scouting event with last September during the U.S. state visit to Britain. And according to the Daily Mail's Richard Eden, President Trump and the First Lady have invited Prince William and Princess Kate to visit the United States this summer.

“Melania wants Catherine, in particular, to come,” a U.S. source told the columnist. ”She admires her greatly and would love her to visit.”

Hickling said that the president was eager to see Their Majesties again, asking King Charles if he was coming to Turnberry, Trump’s golf resort in Scotland. Although The King said no, President Trump said to The Queen, “It’s been very good to have you here. Have a safe flight. I’d like to see you again when we come over.”

Another lip reader, Jeremy Freeman, claimed President Trump told The King that their visit “was fantastic” and sent his best wishes to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“I look forward to seeing you again. Thank you for making it a success. Love to the grandchildren,” the president reportedly said.

A royal warrant is the most coveted stamp of approval a brand could hope for, and Queen Camilla just honored three British labels that are particularly loved by Princess Kate. The Queen has awarded royal warrants to jeweler Kiki McDonough, fashion label Me+Em and handbag designer Anya Hindmarch this week—companies that were widely considered in the running when it comes time for the Princess of Wales to issue her own royal warrants.

Kiki McDonough has been a royal favorite since the 1980s when Princess Diana first wore the British jeweler’s pieces, and over her royal career, Princess Kate has worn dozens of McDonough’s colorful gemstone earrings and necklaces. While Queen Camilla isn’t as zealous of a Kiki collector as her stepdaughter-in-law, she’s frequently worn a blue topaz and diamond pendant from the brand.

In a statement shared with Marie Claire, McDonough said, “Receiving a Royal Warrant is the greatest honour of my career—something I could scarcely have dreamed of when I sat down with a pencil and paper contemplating my first design over 40 years ago.”

McDonough continues that receiving a warrant “is the ultimate mark of trust and excellence, built over time, and that makes it all the more meaningful.”

Another brand Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales loves to wear is Me+Em, with both royal women wearing numerous dresses from the London-based luxury womenswear label. The Queen is particular fond of Me+Em's zip-front midi dresses, recently wearing a polka-dot design to meet none other than Paddington Bear.

The brand focuses on flattering and functional pieces for the modern woman, and Queen Camilla and Kate are joined by scores of other royal women who wear Me+Em to carry out their duties, including Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and Queen Mary of Denmark.

“It is an honour to have been granted a Royal Warrant by Her Majesty the Queen, and to see ME+EM recognised alongside the many distinguished brands that have been awarded Royal Warrants in service of the Royal Household,” founder and CEO said in a statement shared with Marie Claire.

“We are very proud to be able to represent the creativity and craftsmanship of British fashion on a global stage, and it is a privilege to do so now as a Royal Warrant holder,” she continued.

As for Anya Hindmarch, the accessories brand has been a firm favorite of Princess Kate's over the years, and Queen Camilla was spotted carrying a straw clutch by the luxury label last summer.

“The appointment is a true privilege and affirms our deep respect for the Royal Household and their continued work in support of British brands and sustainability,” Hindmarch said in a statement shared with WWD.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are continuing their U.S. state visit on Wednesday, April 29, and they left Washington, D.C. for a day in the Big Apple. While The King headed to Harlem for a solo event, The Queen encountered Carrie Bradshaw herself while visiting the New York Public Library.

Joined by Sarah Jessica Parker, Queen Camilla viewed a selection of historic items in the library’s collection that highlight the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. The New York Public Library’s permanent treasures collection is home to the teddy bears that belonged to Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne’s son, and The Queen brought a meaningful gift to add to the collection.

The original Roo doll has been missing since the library acquired the bears, and Queen Camilla brought a replacement Roo made by British manufacturer Merrythought, which produced the original toys. She also read an excerpt from Winnie the Pooh to local school children at the library, joined by Jim Cummings, the voice of Pooh in the original animated film.

Queen Camilla also held a reception for her charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, at the library, with famous faces like Anna Wintour, Jenna Bush and author Harlan Coben gathering alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and 100 guests from the literary, publishing and cultural worlds.

Speaking with media at the event, Parker—who is a strong supporter of literary causes—said, "Every time you shine a spotlight on reading and the relationship between a reader and a book and how it changes lives and enriches lives and cultivates empathy and curiosity, I’m so grateful. And for Her Majesty, it means a great deal."

Meanwhile, The King visited Harlem Grown, a local community organization and after-school initiative that turns abandoned city lots into sustainable farms. King Charles spoke with founder Tony Hilliery about its partnership with schools to provide safe environments and health foods, and also met with students taking part in some of the charity's agricultural activities.

During a chat with one child, The King received a sweet compliment. "I like your hair," the student told King Charles, via People. “Do you? Good,” the monarch replied.

King Charles is an enthusiastic supporter of farming and keeps his own chickens, so there was no better guest to help children feed chickens at the charity's coop. He also watched students take part in a food education session and viewed Harlem Grown's hydroponic walls of lettuce—another activity that was sure to be of interest to organic food champion King Charles.

Later in the evening, Their Majesties will wrap up their trip to New York at the Greater Together Reception in partnership with The King’s Trust. The event will celebrate the United Kingdom's cultural impact on New York City as well as the work of King's Trust America.

During official royal visits, it’s tradition to exchange gifts that reflect the cultural connections between the two countries, and Queen Camilla and King Charles received some sentimental items from Donald and Melania Trump this week. The Queen’s gift had an especially personal meaning, and it’s one that both Princess Kate and Meghan Markle would love to have on their tables.

During The King and Queen’s visit to the United States, they stopped by the White House’s beehives, viewing a special new hive in the shape of the building. Both King Charles and Queen Camilla are enthusiastic beekeepers, and the sweet theme carried on into both the menu of the state banquet and Camilla’s gift from the first lady.

Queen Camilla received six Tiffany’s English King sterling silver teaspoons along with White House honey to nod to her interest in bees. According to Buckingham Palace, the teaspoons are Tiffany’s interpretation of the “King” designs, which were very popular in England and America in the late 19th century.

For an extra personal touch, each teaspoon is hand engraved with Queen Camilla’s cypher. The royal guests also enjoyed a beehive-shaped chocolate cake at Tuesday’s state banquet, with the dessert served alongside crème fraîche ice cream topped with White House honey.

Both Princess Kate and Meghan Markle keep their own bees, and Meghan's lifestyle brand, As ever, offers honey as part of its collection of food and beverage products. Queen Camilla has also sold royal honey from her own hives at Fortnum and Mason in London, with all proceeds supporting charity. While Kate hasn't offered her honey for sale, she has shared some during official royal engagements.

The Princess of Wales even donned a beekeeping suit in a photo shared on social media for World Bee Day in 2023, writing, "We are buzzing about #WorldBeeDay 🐝
Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and today is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy."

Perhaps Queen Camilla will share some of her special American honey with stepdaughter-in-law Kate when she returns to England.

If a colorful statement necklace gives you flashbacks to nights wearing business casual in the club, it might be time for retinol. The good news is, you can dig those oversized necklaces back out of your jewelry box—the millennial’s once-beloved statement necklace is back, and even Queen Camilla is quickly hopping on the trend. At a State Banquet during her visit to the United States, Queen Camilla wore a honking amethyst necklace pulled from the royal vaults.

The design was an unusual choice, rarely seen in the last several decades since Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t a fan of the necklace. The oversized necklace was too big to be casual, but the amethyst stones are too casual to be overly formal. “Queen Camilla’s choice of the Kent Amethyst necklace is a highly deliberate one,” jewellery expert Nilesh Rakholia, Founder of Abelini, explains exclusively to Marie Claire.

“The design is centred around large cabochon-cut amethysts, each surrounded by diamonds,” Nilesh says. “Cabochon stones have a very different presence to faceted diamonds or coloured gems. They don’t sparkle in the same way, instead they hold colour and depth, which gives the piece a more grounded, almost sculptural quality.”

“This is a piece that dates back to the early 19th century, originally belonging to the Duchess of Kent,” Nilesh explains. “These are substantial gemstones, and the size gives the necklace real presence,” which Nilesh feels creates “a balance between opulence and restraint, which is what allows it to work so effectively in a formal setting.”

“Amethyst is not the most obvious choice for a state occasion,” he says. “Choosing amethyst feels more personal and slightly unexpected, while still entirely appropriate.”

The slightly-casual-yet-over-the-top royal necklace fits right into the current maximalism jewelry trend. Dissecting the latest jewelry trend for Summer 2026, Emma Childs wrote for Marie Claire, “everywhere I look, I see maximalist beaded necklaces in place of hair-thin chains” and declared “big ol’ beaded necklaces are back, baby—and I’m not mad about it.”

“To staunch minimalists, or those scarred by the statement necklaces of the 2010s, the chunky beaded necklace comeback might feel out of left field, perhaps even unwelcome,” Childs explained, “But considering that maximalist beads were popular outfit finishers on the Spring 2026 runways, the writing has been on the wall for a handful of months now.”

Indeed, the chunky, heavy necklaces of the 2010 era are back. The good news is, the same necklace works for work, school, date night, or your junior prom.

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Queen Camilla might have skipped a tiara for a dazzling state banquet at the White House on April 28, but she certainly brought the bling. Wearing the historic amethyst necklace and earrings once belonging to Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, The Queen stole the show as she joined King Charles, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Queen Camilla’s lack of tiara might have disappointed some royal fans, and former royal butler Grant Harrold says the president could’ve been one of them.

“I think this is just Queen Camilla’s modern take on things,” Harrold, who served The King and Queen between 2004 and 2011, says. “Tiaras aren’t a thing in the States, they’re very much something of a bygone era—so I imagine Camilla just wanted to reflect this with her look for the historic dinner.”

Speaking on behalf of Slots Temple, Harrold adds, “I think Trump might have been a bit disappointed as he likes all the royal glitz and glamour.”

The former royal butler continued that Queen Camilla’s sense of humor would have carried her through any awkward moments. “Him being the way he is, I imagine he might have asked her where it was. She’s great with this kind of stuff, so would have just made a joke out of it.”

Although tiaras aren't an American tradition, Harrold notes that Queen Elizabeth still wore one when traveling across the pond. “She loved wearing them, so wore them whenever the opportunity was there. It was never really a discussion for her,” he says. However, Harrold adds that Queen Camilla's role is also “different to that of her late mother-in-law.”

“While they both have the title Queen, Elizabeth was the monarch while Camilla is married to the monarch. So there is a big status difference,” he adds.

As for Queen Camilla's jewels, the incredible amethysts made a statement without a tiara. “These are substantial gemstones, and the size gives the necklace real presence,” Nilesh Rakholia of jeweler Abelini tells Marie Claire. “There’s a balance between opulence and restraint, which is what allows it to work so effectively in a formal setting.”

After months of debate as to whether their trip would happen, King Charles and Queen Camilla touched down in Maryland on Monday, April 27, for an official state visit. The Queen wore a new pink Dior coat dress for their arrival, and one piece of her jewelry represented the special friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States.

The King and Queen will be visiting Washington, D.C., Virginia, and New York during their first state visit since taking the throne, and Queen Camilla honored Queen Elizabeth’s first visit to the United States with her jewelry. She pinned a brooch with an American flag entwined with a Union Jack on her pink coat, and the piece was gifted to Queen Elizabeth in 1957 during her own first U.S. state visit as Queen.

The Cartier brooch was presented to the late Queen by New York’s mayor at the time, Robert F. Wagner, and features rubies, emeralds and diamonds in a platinum setting.

Their Majesties' visit is being held to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and Queen Camilla's brooch sends a significant message amid diplomatic tensions between the United States and United Kingdom.

After their official welcome at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the King and Queen headed to the White House to meet President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Beekeeping is a special interest shared by the King and Queen, and the couples will visit the White House beehives, including a new beehive in the shape of the White House, before heading to afternoon tea.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will then attend a garden party at the British Ambassador’s residence, with 600 guests invited to represent the connections between the two countries.

King Charles and Queen Camilla appear to have an extremely happy marriage, but the road to everlasting love was far from smooth. In fact, according to one royal expert, Camilla was initially "frightened" by the idea of becoming King Charles's wife.

In her book, My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward shared, "The full implication of what it would mean to be Prince Charles's wife frightened Camilla, and she was strident in her refusal to be sucked into the vortex of royal life."

Seward continued, "She persuaded Charles it would not be a good idea to consider marriage, telling friends the prospect was 'farcical' and that it would never happen as he would always put his duty first."

However, King Charles was reportedly keen to marry Camilla and wanted her to find her place within the Royal Family.

"Charles desperately wanted Camilla accepted by his family, especially The Queen, and refused to contemplate her hiding away," the royal author shared.

Prior to Princess Diana's unexpected and tragic death in August 1997, Camilla and Charles had been gradually making their romance public. However, the devastating news of Diana's death shifted the focus and caused Camilla to retreat from publicly embracing her relationship with Charles.

"She realized she was a long way from being accepted as [King Charles's] consort, but she had to make the effort for his sake," Seward explained.

The royal author continued, "If it hadn't been for the fickleness of public opinion and the restraining hand of his advisors, Charles would have gone public with Camilla a good deal earlier."

As for why The King was so steadfast in his belief he should be able to have a public relationship with Camilla, Seward shared, "He was used to getting his own way and it was Camilla who persuaded him that she was quite happy with how things were."

According to the royal biographer, Camilla's caution won, with Queen Elizabeth agreeing that the pair needed to take any sort of public romance slowly.

Eventually, Camilla and Charles would tie the knot—on April 9, 2005. But it appears as though Camilla wasn't in a rush to get married again.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are celebrating their 21st wedding anniversary on Thursday, April 9, and although they’re not marking the occasion in Italy like they did for their 20th, the pair will no doubt be enjoying a special day closer to home. The traditional gemstone gift for a 20th anniversary is emeralds, but for a 21st anniversary celebration, a gemstone that’s not quite as well known reigns.

Justin Daughters, managing director at Berganza, tells Marie Claire that “21st anniversaries can be celebrated with the help of iolites, known as 'water sapphires' because of their color that changes from blue to violet.”

Iolites are a popular alternative to sapphires due to their lower cost, and Daughters says that they’re “an interesting gemstone which has always been connected with wisdom and guidance.” Historically, Vikings are said to have used iolites as a navigational tool to help locate the sun, giving the stone an association with intuition and finding your own path.

No matter what The King and Queen share for anniversary gifts this year, it's likely to be a quiet celebration. Former royal gardener Jack Stooks recently shared that “their anniversaries tend to be up in Birkhall near the Balmoral Estate,” adding that their celebrations are never “too extravagant.”

For King Charles and Queen Camilla, they can't exactly head out on the town like a normal couple, so they tend to enjoy a special night at home. “It's not that easy that they can go and have a nice meal in a restaurant and be left alone,” Stooks explains, speaking to Smooth Spins. “It’s so difficult.”

Behind the closed doors of Highgrove, Birkhall, Balmoral, or Ray Mill House, the King and Queen are protected from the prying eyes of the public. Inside these stately homes, the Royal Family can relax and truly be themselves. According to former head gardener Jack Stooks, Queen Camilla carries on quite the social life in the privacy of her own home, but the King can’t seem to switch off.

“I think Camilla is quite social,” Stooks revealed to Smooth Spins. Queen Camilla has her own country home, Ray Mill House, tucked away in Wiltshire. She has owned the impressive stately home since 1994, when she divorced her first husband and bought Ray Mill as her own single girl Barbie Dream House. Since then, it’s been a haven. “She's got a lot of her friends and her family that she likes to see and spends a lot of time with her sister,” Stooks shared.

“She's quite a social character in that sense,” the former head gardener revealed, sharing that Queen Camilla is regularly hosting or spending time with friends and family. “Whenever you see her at events, she's very sociable with the people she's with.” Even without guests staying with them at Birkhall or Ray Mill House, the King and Queen are happy to simply chat to each other. “They're very comfortable in each other's company, and they sort of seem to fit so perfectly together,” Stooks shared. “He obviously dotes on her, and she dotes on him.”

While Queen Camilla loves hosting and socializing, the King has different priorities. “The King is warm and friendly and he is a lovable person, but I think he puts a lot of his work first,” said Stooks. “That's not a bad thing. That’s just something he’s been brought up to do.” While Queen Camilla enjoys her downtime, reading or walking the dogs, King Charles has been known to be late for dinner or work into the wee hours with his infamous red box. “He has that work ethic. I wouldn’t say he’s less sociable, but he’s aware of the amount of work he’s trying to do for the country.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla might not be corgi aficionados like Queen Elizabeth, but they’re the proud owners of two rescue dogs, Moley and Bluebell, and a Lagotto Romagnolo named Snuff. King Charles has always been a dog person, having previously owned a Jack Russell terrier, Tigga, who died at the age of 18. But it turns out there’s one pet that he “cannot bear” to be around.

"Princess Margaret gave him a kitten as a present when he was a child and he disliked it on sight,” royal author Brian Hoey wrote in his book Pets By Royal Appointment. “Since then, he has developed an aversion to everything feline and says he cannot even stand having one in the same room.”

Per Hello! magazine, The King’s hatred of cats is so strong that he “can detect whether one lives in a house, even if it's absent at the time.”

Since Queen Elizabeth was such a dog lover, it's no surprise that the rest of her family followed suit. All of her children have dogs, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who went on to take care of the late Queen's corgis after her death. Prince William and Prince Harry also own multiple dogs, but when it comes to cats, there's only only one member of the family who’s known to be a feline enthusiast.

Princess Michael of Kent, who is married to the late Queen’s first cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, loves Siamese and Burmese cats in particular.

Former Royal Butler Paul Burrell once revealed that the princess’s cats used to play outside Kensington Palace, causing a young Prince William and Prince Harry to treat them as “moving targets as they walked along the top of the wall.”

The boys had received BB guns for Christmas and “thought it was great fun” to aim at the cats, but after Princess Diana found out what her sons were doing, she “stopped it immediately.”

“I don’t imagine Princess Michael found it quite so amusing,” Burrell said—but perhaps The King wouldn’t have minded as much.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary on April 9, and ahead of their big day, some hilarious comments have resurfaced. As a second-time bride at age 57, Camilla opted not to wear a traditional white gown for their church ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, instead choosing an elegant blue and gold coat dress by Anna Valentine. But one part of the future Queen’s wedding day outfit didn’t agree with the British weather—and Queen Elizabeth was right all along.

Instead of a tiara, Camilla chose hats by royal-favorite milliner Philip Treacy for both her civil ceremony and religious blessing. After wearing a wide-brimmed white hat for the first service, the future Queen changed into a more formal headpiece crafted from a spray of feathers. But the couple got married on an especially windy day, causing Camilla to quite literally hold on to her hat as the Royal Family gathered outside the chapel.

According to lip reading expert Nicola Hickling—speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino—the then-Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall shared a hilarious exchange with Queen Elizabeth outside the church.

After a gust of wind nearly blew the feathers off Camilla’s head, she commented, “Oopsie,” adding, “I wish I hadn’t had feathers,” per Hickling.

“I hope you don’t poke out my eye!” Charles joked at one point when Camilla’s feathers blew close to his face. According to Hickling, Camilla admitted, “If only they’d blow away. It really wasn’t a very good idea.”

At this point, Queen Elizabeth had to get a word in, moving closer to Charles and commenting, “I did warn her, wearing feathers,” to which Charles replied, “You did?”

Although the headpiece might not have been the most practical choice, it certainly made a striking addition to the future Queen’s wedding day outfit—and fortunately, it didn’t blow away like Camilla hoped.

However, there was one other fashion emergency on The King and Queen's 2005 wedding day. In a video tribute to Queen Elizabeth broadcast shortly after her September 2022 death, Camilla revealed that she accidentally put on two different shoes, much to the late Queen's amusement.

“I remember coming from here, Clarence House, to go to Windsor the day I got married, when I probably wasn't firing on all cylinders—quite nervous!” Queen Camilla said. “For some unknown reason, I put on a pair of shoes, and one had an inch heel and one had a two-inch heel. So, I mean, talk about hop-along!”

“There was nothing I could do. I was halfway down in the car before I realized,” Camilla added. Queen Elizabeth noticed, but to her credit, “she laughed about it and just said, 'I'm terribly sorry,' and she did have a good sense of humor,” Queen Camilla said.

Following renewed interest in her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, Sarah Ferguson was forced to give up her royal titles and leave the home she shared with her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Now, a new report has alleged that, per a royal source, Ferguson "feels incredibly betrayed" by one senior Royal Family member.

As reported by Heat, an insider alleged, "Fergie's very bitter, she's angry, and feels wronged by everyone in the family." The royal source continued, "She doesn't have the guts to confront anyone but when she's had a couple of drinks that's when the liquid courage kicks in and when she starts unloading."

According to the source, there's one senior royal who appears to be the target of Ferguson's ire. "[Queen] Camilla's been getting the brunt of Sarah's fury," the insider claimed. "They were very close friends for years so Sarah feels incredibly betrayed."

According to the royal source, Ferguson is also allegedly haunted by recent events, following new revelations about her connection to convicted sex offender Epstein. "What people don't see is just how low she's sunk, every time she opens a paper or goes online it's another reminder that she's completely on the outside and there's no real way back, and she's really struggling to come to terms with that," the source told Heat.

The former Duchess of York also reportedly isn't "dealing with" the situation in a very healthy way. "She's numbing it, and that's only making everything worse because it fuels this cycle where she starts ranting and then feels even more isolated the next day," the source explained. "Not that she'll take any accountability, if you ask her she's got every right to speak her mind."

Basically, if Ferguson and Camilla really were "close friends" at one point in time, it seems unlikely they'd be able to continue their friendship following the latest batch of Epstein allegations.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are getting ready to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary on April 9, and ahead of the event, The Queen has debuted a striking new piece of jewelry. Their Majesties attended the annual Royal Maundy service on April 2, with Queen Camilla wearing a dazzling diamond and sapphire brooch that looks like it could be straight out of the royal vaults.

The Queen wore an elegant navy coat featuring floral embroidery with a matching hat, pairing her outfit with diamond and pearl drop earrings and her new brooch at St Asaph Cathedral in Wales. The sapphire and diamond design resembles a crown, and although its provenance is unknown, jewelry expert Justin Daughters tells Marie Claire that it may have been a gift from King Charles ahead of their anniversary.

“From an antique jewelry perspective, the piece is defined by a series of high-level gemological details that set it apart from many traditional royal jewels,” says Daughters, who serves as managing director of antique and vintage jewelry retailer Berganza. He notes that the central sapphire stone features a “rare sugarloaf cut,” which is an unfaceted stone with “gently rounded sides.”

“The result is a sapphire with a rich, almost ‘velvet’ depth that is seldom seen in modern high jewelry,” Daughters says.

While members of the Royal Family have worn a number of historic sapphire and diamond pieces through the years, including Queen Victoria's famed Prince Albert Brooch, it's unclear if Camilla's design is a previously unseen brooch from the vaults or a modern creation. However, Daughters says that the gemstone pin is full of symbolism.

“The choice of sapphire, long associated with loyalty and steadfastness, set within a crown motif creates a powerful visual narrative, particularly for a ceremonial occasion such as Maundy Thursday,” Daughters says. “It reflects a monarchy that is both rooted in tradition and confidently modern in its expression.”

Royal jewelry blog The Court Jeweler notes that the brooch also resembles a bishop's hat or mitre, making it an especially appropriate choice for Royal Maundy.

King Charles and Queen Camilla marked Maundy Thursday on April 2, carrying on a royal tradition that dates all the way back to the 13th century. British monarchs have been distributing special coins called Maundy Money to senior citizens on the Thursday before Easter for hundreds of years, and in 2026, Their Majesties traveled to St Aspah, Wales for the event. Body language expert Darren Stanton notes that The King looked “more confident” than ever as he attended the church service, and that’s partially down to Queen Camilla.

The King and Queen were full of smiles as they greeted members of the public gathered outside St Asaph cathedral, and Stanton—speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino—says that Camilla is King Charles’s “rock.”

“This is something he clearly really enjoys doing,” Stanton says of Maundy Thursday, adding that “Camilla seems to share this enjoyment.” The body language expert notes that The Queen “shows no signs of insecurity or lack of confidence—she is a very confident person. Hence why Charles can use her as a rock.”

Their Majesties will celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary on April 9, and Stanton shares that his confidence has increased significantly since his marriage.

“Charles looks more and more confident as the years go by,” he says. “There was almost a swagger to him as he left the car—this is a stark contrast to how he was in his youth and a large part of this seems to be largely due to the support Camilla gives him.”

The King and Queen celebrated their 20th anniversary during a state visit to Italy last year, releasing some special portraits to mark the occasion. Although 2026 isn’t a milestone anniversary for the couple, it will certainly be a happy moment for The King and Queen to celebrate amid his cancer treatments and the ongoing controversies surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary later this month, but planning a royal date night can be a challenge. They can’t just book a table at the local hotspot or head down to the local pub for a pint—although Prince William and Princess Kate have been known to sneak out for a dinner for two. Instead, King Charles and Queen Camilla will celebrate privately at home. Former royal gardener Jack Stooks reveals that “their anniversaries tend to be up in Birkhall near the Balmoral Estate” and says that “it’s nothing too extravagant.”

The quiet celebrations would be “just them and if they have a few guests or family members,” they would all be included in “a quiet meal” at home. “Birkhall is lovely,” Stooks says of the 18th century Scottish estate that King Charles inherited from his grandmother, the Queen Mother, in 2002. Since then, King Charles and Queen Camilla have spent many romantic getaways at the modest royal estate, including their 2005 honeymoon and every summer since. “It’s not a huge house and there’s a nice drawing room. There’s a small dining room they might even just have like a crab souffle or something completely simple.

A simple dinner at home—albeit crab souffle made by a royal chef—may seem underwhelming for a romantic wedding anniversary, but the choices for the King and Queen are limited. “It's not that easy that they can go and have a nice meal in a restaurant and be left alone,” Stooks explains, speaking to Smooth Spins. “It’s so difficult.” The King and Queen rarely, if ever, dine out together in a private capacity, and King Charles’s dietary habits may also be to blame. “The King is also quite specific about his eating pattern, and they don't eat huge amounts as well.”

“They're not like these sort of people that will go and have a full on meal and a starter and a main course and the pudding,” the former royal gardener shares. While Queen Camilla dines out with friends and family, frequently seen at London icons like The Wollesley and The Goring, when it comes to date nights, they prefer to be at home. “I think they would just rather have their chef prepare a really nice meal at home that they're used to and that they enjoy.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla might not seem lovey-dovey in public, but they do have a deeply romantic relationship. “They're very comfortable in each other's company, and they sort of seem to fit so perfectly together,” says Stooks. “He obviously dotes on her, and she dotes on him.”

After months of speculation, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles and Queen Camilla’s U.S. state visit will officially be moving forward in late April. The King and Queen will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States during the trip as well as “the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship” between the two countries. But along with visiting the States, King Charles will also make history during a surprise solo visit to Bermuda.

According to Buckingham Palace, King Charles will “continue to Bermuda” after his time in the United States—and his trip will mark the first royal visit by a reigning King to the island in history.

Although the palace didn’t confirm dates for either state visit, Bermuda’s government posted a since-deleted graphic on X announcing the monarch would be traveling to the island from April 30 through May 2. President Trump then posted on X that he was "pleased" to welcome Their Majesties from April 27 through 30.

Bermuda's official government account then shared a new photo and announcement without dates, writing that The King’s visit will be “an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions Bermudians make in their communities, the wider British family in Bermuda and around the world.”

The King previously visited Bermuda just once, traveling to the island in 1970 when he was 21, while the late Queen's last visit to Bermuda was in 2009.

Further details of The King and Queen's trip to the United States will be announced in the coming weeks, but President Trump noted that Their Majesties will be attending “a beautiful banquet dinner at the White House” on the 28th.

The U.S. president and first lady last visited Britain in September 2025, where they joined The King, The Queen, Prince William, Princess Kate and other senior royals for a state banquet at Windsor Castle.

King Charles and Queen Camilla's U.S. trip comes amid tensions between the two countries due to the conflict in Iran. However, President Trump posted a message on social media expressing his excitement about The King and Queen's visit, writing, “I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!”

Queen Camilla has been a longtime supporter of organizations that empower women, and this week, she broke a barrier for royal ladies when she was welcomed as a member of an elite private club in London. According to the Daily Mail, The Queen "secretly attended" a meeting of the Garrick Club and her name was accepted as a member after a 193-year ban on female members.

Per the media outlet, the historic private members club only began allowing women as members in 2024, and Queen Camilla is the first female from the Royal Family to be admitted into its ranks. Her membership will be officially confirmed next month, according to the Mail.

King Charles is also said to be a member of the organization, which was founded in 1831 and is one of the oldest private members clubs in the world.

Dame Judi Dench and Welsh actress Siân Phillips were installed as the first female members of the club in 2024, and the organization was originally created as a private members club for “actors and men of refinement and education.” A number of famous faces are members, such as Hugh Bonneville, Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry, along with numerous leaders in the arts, business and politics.

Queen Camilla has made her own significant contributions to the creative world, and she hosted a reception for her Queen's Reading Room charity on March 25 to present the first Queen’s Reading Room Medals.

The event was attended by prominent authors as well as Hollywood stars like Sigourney Weaver, and King Charles stood by proudly as his wife announced the winners of the National Reading Hero Medal and the Local Reading Hero Medal.

Selina Brown, who founded the Black British Book Festival, was chosen as the national winner, while Liz Waterland, who helped to save Deepings Community Library in England after volunteering for more than a decade.

Queen Camilla is making her film debut this autumn in an exciting new documentary. The Queen announced that she is “delighted” to be a part of a “major new documentary” from Blink Films and the BBC, which “will showcase the life-transforming power of books.” The film will be the first major documentary to follow Queen Camilla in her own right, fittingly themed around her love of books and passion for reading.

Queen Camilla told guests that “my father’s and my own experience” with reading will be included in the documentary, “for which the cameras are filming here today." In a speech during an event for The Queen’s Reading Room, a flurry of camera men were hard to miss amongst the guests and royal team. Attendees at the events included big names like Stanley Tucci, Sigourney Weaver, and Richard Osman, who were likely unfazed by the presence of a film crew.

The documentary coincides with the National Year of Reading, a year-long national reading campaign that Queen Camilla has passionately supported. The initiative is lead by the UK’s Department for Education as new research shows “reading for pleasure is in decline across many groups,” which supporters hope to change by “reconnecting reading with everyday culture.” The film will dive into The Queen’s lifelong passion for reading, from her childhood to present, and her relationship with her late father, Bruce Shand. The Queen once described her father as "probably the best-read man I've come across anywhere.”

“With their extraordinary power to educate and inspire, books—from authors around the globe —have enriched my life since I was a child,” The Queen wrote for The Queen’s Reading Room website. “I hope that we, together with our partners, can foster in adults and children alike a lifelong love of literature and connect more people with that special magic that can only be found in the leaves of a book.”

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