Heir she is! Duchess of Cornwall is greeted by flag-waving pupils at a Bath primary school as she makes her first public appearance since winning Her Majesty’s backing as ‘Queen Camilla’
- The Duchess of Cornwall made her first public appearance since receiving the Queen’s official approval on her future title at the weekend, paying a visit to meet pupils at Roundhill Primary School in Bath
- In a Accession Day statement on Saturday, the Queen officially assured Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, that she will be crowned Queen Consort when Charles becomes King
- Royal, 74, was greeted by enthusiastic school children waving Union Jack flags as she honoured the long-standing diary commitment
- The trip has been organised in her role as Patron of St John’s Foundation, a position she had held since 2009
The Duchess of Cornwall today carried out her first public engagement since the Queen signalled her approval on Saturday that she will become Queen Consort when Prince Charles takes the throne.
Camilla, 74, visited Roundhill Primary School in Bath – a long standing commitment in the royal diary – where she looked delighted to be greeted by dozens of Union Jack-waving youngsters.
The Duchess, who was told by the Queen in her Accession Day statement that she will be crowned Queen Consort when Charles ascends to the throne, looked delighted to be at the West Country school.
Camilla eschewed a winter coat for the occasion, looking elegant in a navy and emerald tartan skirt suit with navy velour collar and cuffs – and black leather gloves – as she made her way into the primary school earlier today, greeting dozens of well-wishers as she went.
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Waving the Union Jack for the future Queen Consort! The Duchess of Cornwall made her first public appearance since receiving the Queen’s official approval on her future title at the weekend, paying a visit to Roundhill Primary School in Bath
In a Accession Day statement on Saturday, the Queen assured Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, that she will be crowned Queen Consort when Charles becomes King; Camilla, 74, looked enamoured with the young school pupils she met this morning in the West Country
The Duchess looked elegant in a navy and emerald tartan skirt suit with navy velour collar as she made her way into the primary school this morning, greeting dozens of well-wishers on the way
A delighted school mum chats to the future Queen Consort across the blue gates as parents and students wave their flags
Once inside, the royal joined a range of classes with the excited pupils, including a ‘Language for Life’ session with a group of three-year-olds and the Sunbeam’s Early Years Classroom.
She also sat down with a group of children aged eight to ten in the Owl Reading Room as part of her campaign to promote literacy and joined in with a group of youngsters making fruit smoothies in ‘The Nest’.
Before she left she carried out another two ‘hardy annuals’ of royal life – a tree planting to mark the Queen’s Green Canopy Initiative with the school’s ‘Eco Team’ and unveiling a plaque to commemorate the visit.
The trip has been organised in her role as Patron of St John’s Foundation, a position she had held since 2009.
A local Bath charity, dating back to the 12th century, it is running an ambitious plan to support the most disadvantaged children in their local area, helping to equip children with the skills and level of education needed to thrive in their transition into secondary school.
Camilla and her husband, Prince Charles, have said they are ‘touched and honoured’ by the Queen’s Accession Day message on Saturday in which she made clear it was her ‘sincere wish’ that she be known as Queen Consort when her husband becomes King.
Wearing black leather gloves, the Duchess offered a hand through the gates to greet children and their parents during the visit, where she would later join a group of three-year-olds for a learning session in the school’s Early Years centre
Time for a chat: The Duchess, 74, leaned in to hear the youngsters who were waving their Union Jacks at her
The trip has been organised in her role as Patron of St John’s Foundation, a position she had held since 2009
With the Queen setting out her wishes and calling for people to support Charles and Camilla, the duchess will undoubtedly be crowned alongside the prince at his coronation when the time comes. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Rothesay share a laugh during a visit to Dumfries House, Scotland
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Prince of Wales said: ‘On this historic day, my wife and I join you all in congratulating Her Majesty The Queen on the remarkable achievement of serving this nation, the Realms and Commonwealth for seventy years. The Queen’s devotion to the welfare of all her people inspires still greater admiration with each passing year.
‘We are deeply conscious of the honour represented by my mother’s wish. As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout.
‘The year of this unprecedented Platinum Jubilee brings an opportunity for us all to come together in celebrating the service of The Queen, by whose example we will continue to be led in the years to come.’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have not commented publicly on the Queen’s statement but did retweet the Royal Family’s post, which included the Queen’s announcement. They also shared a news story on their joint Instagram account.
However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made no public comment since the announcement that Camilla would become Queen Consort at 10pm on Saturday.
Camilla’s journey from royal mistress to Queen Consort
The Duchess of Cornwall is the former royal mistress who will now stand shoulder to shoulder as Queen with the Prince of Wales when he becomes King.
Camilla’s public image has been transformed after she was initially cast as the ‘third’ person in the Prince and Diana, Princess of Wales’ marriage, before becoming a campaigning member of the monarchy prepared to serve the nation.
Underneath, she was the down-to-earth Sussex girl who grew up with a love of horses and happened to fall in love with a prince.
Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall, leave St George’s Chapel, Windsor, following the blessing of their wedding
During the 17 years she has been married to Charles, the duchess has grown into her role and is now an assured royal host when staging events at Clarence House and a confident representative of the Queen when invited to foreign lands.
She is patron or supporter of a number of literacy charities, speaks out in support of victims of domestic violence and champions several animal welfare organisations.
But her most significant role is supporting the prince and being the comforting presence at home that enables him to take on the role of heir to the throne.
After Charles and Camilla both divorced – and Diana died in 1997 – the duchess’ emergence as the prince’s long-term partner was part of a carefully planned PR campaign masterminded by the heir to the throne’s spin doctor Mark Bolland.
Their first public appearance together was outside the Ritz hotel in London in 1999, dubbed Operation Ritz, where the mass of waiting photographers had been tipped off.
The culmination of the romance was a marriage between the long-time lovers who wed in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall on April 9, 2005.
With Camilla by his side, Charles appears more relaxed and many times during royal events she has cajoled and encouraged him to try something new or have some fun.
Now the Queen’s wishes have bestowed upon Camilla the ultimate accolade in recognition of her importance to Charles and the monarchy.
Royal experts responded to the Queen’s Accession Day statement, saying there was ‘no finer vote of confidence in Camilla’ than making her Queen Consort.
Peter Hunt, a former BBC royal correspondent said: ‘The Queen is ensuring the transition, when it comes, to her son as king is as seamless and trouble free as possible.
‘She’s future-proofing an institution she’s served for seventy years.
‘And for Camilla, the journey from being the third person in a marriage to queen-in-waiting, is complete.’
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward said Camilla becoming Queen is the ‘ultimate royal stamp of approval’ Prince Charles has always craved.
‘It’s a remarkable rehabilitation for the woman who a large proportion of the public blamed for the end of a royal fairytale’, she wrote in the Sun.
‘Far from being “the other woman”, Camilla has cemented her place at the heart of the Royal Family.
‘It is the ultimate royal stamp of approval he has always craved and “in the fullness of time when he becomes King” it is something he will always cherish.’
In her surprise announcement, Her Majesty declared it was her ‘sincere wish’ for her daughter-in-law to be fully acknowledged when Charles succeeds her.
The Queen issued the message, shoring up her support for her heir and his wife, as she today marks a milestone 70 years on the Throne.
It is the clearest sign yet not just of the Queen’s unswerving support for her daughter-in-law but proof of her enduring affection for the woman who has secured her eldest son’s happiness.
In a statement that ends years of uncertainty, Elizabeth II has expressed her ‘sincere wish’ that Camilla be given the title when Charles ascends to the throne, telling the public ‘I know you will give them the same support you have given me’ Pictured: The Queen, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a state banquet for the King of the Netherlands
Earlier today, Boris Johnson – the 14th British Prime Minister to occupy No10 during her reign – paid tribute to the Queen for her many years of service, and said he looked forward to ‘coming together as a country to celebrate her historic reign in the summer’.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May described the Queen as ‘an extraordinary woman, who has dedicated her life to the service of her people & our family of nations’.
David Cameron thanked the Queen, adding ‘there can be no finer example of dignified public duty and service’.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also issued a statement expressing his ‘deepest thanks’ to the Queen for ‘seven decades of unparalleled public service’.
The Queen’s statement also quashed speculation that the 95-year-old Monarch might abdicate, as she reiterated her Coronation pledge. She told her subjects ‘my life will always be devoted to your service’ – and that she would continue to honour that ‘with all my heart’.
In her message to the nation – signed ‘Your Servant, Elizabeth R’ – the Queen said: ‘When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.’
Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former press secretary, said the announcement showed the Queen was ‘tying up loose ends’, aware of her own vulnerability and by acknowledging the work Camilla has done.
Writing in the Mirror , she said: ‘[Camilla] has been absolutely marvellous in everything she’s done – proving to be an incredibly good support not only for the Prince of Wales but also for the Queen, who she has become very close to. She will be good for the King and good for the country.
‘And she is good for the country even now. If you go anywhere in the United Kingdom where Camilla has visited, you will find they have welcomed her with open arms and have gone away very light-headed and thankful that she’s been there.’
Camilla’s biographer Penny Junor said the Queen’s endorsement was ‘a hugely significant moment’ for the Duchess.
‘This is brilliant news because if this is the Queen’s wish, then I don’t think people will question it,’ she said.
‘The Duchess of Cornwall thoroughly deserves the title. She will not overshadow Charles when he becomes King but she will be the strength behind the throne, giving him the confidence and courage he needs.’
And Royal historian Hugo Vickers said: ‘Making it clear that Camilla should be Queen is not just a wise and generous decision, it is a masterstroke and typical of a thoughtful sovereign. The timing has great symbolism. This is an important moment for the Monarchy.’
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