Latest news with #QueenCamilla
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gun salutes ring out across London and Wales to mark Queen Camilla's 78th birthday
Gun salutes rang out across London and beyond to mark Queen Camilla's 78th birthday on Thursday. To mark the special event, several military units across the nation banded together, each putting on their own artillery display for the royal. The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-gun salute in Green Park and The Honourable Artillery Company set off a 62-gun Salute from Tower Wharf. Soliders from the 160th Field Artillery Battalion, from the US National Guard in Michigan, were involved in firing a Royal Gun Salute in Cardiff Bay. They performed alongside Reservists from the 104th Regiment Royal Artillery, as the British Army marked Camilla's special day with traditional gun salutes and music. The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and The Honourable Artillery Company each fired celebratory Royal Salutes at 12 noon and 1pm respectively. Gun salutes are regularly fired for the Royal Family on special occasions, such as anniversaries and birthdays and are often given as a sign of respect or welcome. The basic salute is 21 rounds, fired at 10 second intervals, but in Hyde Park or Green Park an extra 20 are fired because it is a Royal Park. The special cannon fire comes as the Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute to Queen Camilla for her birthday. Kate and William, both 43, used their social media accounts to wish William's stepmother many happy returns. The pair, taking to Instagram, shared a sweet photo of the Queen with a message that read: 'Happy Birthday to Her Majesty'. They later shared the message on X (formerly Twitter). Developing a close bond with his stepmother over the years, the heir to the throne appears to have bonded with Camilla as they last year faced similar hurdles in their personal lives, with both of their spouses are undergoing treatments for cancer. Elsewhere, mother-of-three Kate is also said to enoy a warm relationship with the Queen, with the pair often snapped chatting cordially during joint royal engagements. In December, the two even wore nearly identical outfits as they arrived at St Mary Magdalene church for the Royal Family 's annual Christmas Day service in Sandringham in a sartorial display of solidarity. King Charles 's wife has marked today's celebrations with a stunning new portrait released by Buckingham Palace. Royal photographer Chris Jackson, who also snapped the then-Duchess of Cornwall on her 75th birthday, took the picture earlier this month at Ray Mill - the Queen's private residence in Wiltshire. Camilla is pictured with a big smile on her face as she leans against a fence while enjoying a warm summer day at her home. She opted to wear a bright teal dress with motifs of a colourful bird as the Queen appeared relaxed and happy in her latest portrait. She is wearing the same Fiona Clare dress in an earlier image released by the Royal Family on July 14 - three days before her birthday. In that photo, the King's wife was seen cuddling her sweet rescue dog, Jack Russell-cross Moley, in the garden of her Wiltshire home. Camilla, who often repurposes her outfits for different occasions, also picked the striking maxi dress for the final day of the King and Queen's state visit to Kenya in 2023. For her birthday portrait, Camilla opted to keep her makeup light and dewy as she wore a hint of blusher, a light coat of mascara, and a swipe of pink lip gloss. She also kept her accessories to a minimum, with Camilla opting to wear a stack of rings - including her five-carat engagement ring from King Charles - and a pair of gold earrings. The release of her birthday portrait comes after Camilla unveiled a new dog garden at the Battersea animal shelter in central London, which was thought to have been originally created this year's Chelsea Flower Show by broadcaster and gardening expert, Monty Don. As she toured the premises of the South West London-based site, Camilla, who lost her beloved Jack Russell rescue Beth last November, made a fuss of the pooches living at the shelter The outdoor space was designed in collaboration with the RHS and BBC Radio 2 and was gifted to the animal charity to help provide a calming environment for canines. Camilla fastened a sweet Terrier badge to her chest to honour her visit to the animal shelter, which cares for strays and abandoned pets. The Queen rescued Jack Russell-cross, Moley, from Battersea earlier this year when she was just eight weeks old. It's understood that Moley is a female and was born on Boxing Day and her mother is half Jack Russell, half unknown - while her father's breed is also unknown. It's thought Moley lives at Rat Hill, Queen Camilla's private Wiltshire residence, although it's expected she'll accompany the royal couple when they stay at official royal residences. The Queen revealed the happy news as she affectionately stroked a guide dog while meeting a partially-sighted museum group in the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge located in the centre of Canterbury's bustling high street in February. 'I've just got a new puppy, he's eight-weeks old,' she told owner Susan Mason, 66, who is partially-sighted. When Ms Mason asked what breed she is, the Queen laughed and said: 'You may well ask, a bit of everything. It's a rescue dog. It's called Moley - it looks just like a mole.' She has been patron of Battersea since 2017 and had a tour around the new garden, which has shady spots for pooches to cool down from the sun, along with grass and also sensory elements with the aim of helping them de-stress. One day before her birthday, Camilla appeared in high spirits as she attended a garden party at HMNB Devonport on Wednesday to honour her new position as Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom. The royal attended the event in Plymouth, which marked the end of HMS Astute's first commission - the longest first commission of any Royal Navy submarine in history - at over 15 years. Camilla - who has become the first female Vice Admiral of the UK - put her best fashion foot forward in a sapphire pleated blue dress which fell elegantly to her ankles and paired the stunning ensemble with her trusty nude and black heels, pearl earrings and a classy gold brooch. The royal, 77, attended the event in Plymouth, which marked the end of HMS Astute's first commission, which is the longest first commission of any Royal Navy submarine in history, at over 15 years. Camilla - who has become the first female Vice Admiral of the UK - put her best fashion foot forward in a sapphire pleated blue dress which fell elegantly to her ankles and paired the stunning ensemble with her trusty nude and black heels, pearl earrings and a classy gold brooch. Earlier this month, Camilla took her place in the Royal Box at the recently-concluded Wimbledon tennis tournament, when she met British actor Hugh Grant - before he now-famously nodded off mid-match.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle 'sends cryptic message' as Queen Camilla turns 78
Meghan Markle shared a cryptic birthday message on social media on Queen Camilla's 78th birthday. A video of the Netflix star unboxing a crate of wine from her lifestyle brand As Ever, was shared on her Instagram stories. She captioned the clip: "Sending birthday love (both near and far) to my ladies." READ MORE: Robbie Williams says 'not ready for it' as he shares sad family update Meghan ended the message with a heart emoji, the Mirror reports. It's not clear who Meghan's message was for, but many have speculated she was sending well wishes to the Queen. Camilla was believed to have bonded with Meghan when she first joined the royal fold, as the pair share a love of the arts and wine. The mystery message comes as the Palace released a new portrait of Camilla, along with well wishes for her big day. Camilla was born at London's King's College Hospital on July 17, 1947, and spent her childhood living in Sussex. She met her husband, King Charles, through a mutual friend at a polo match in 1970 - but their courtship was short-lived. Camilla went on to marry Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973 and they remained together until 1995. Prince Charles and Princess Diana - who he wed in 1981 - divorced in 1996 - a year before the then-Princess of Wales' tragic death. In 2005, almost 10 years later, Charles and Camilla tied the knot. There have been recent rumours that the royal family and the Sussexes were looking to put their differences aside. Senior aides to both King Charles and Prince Harry were spotted having drinks last week at London's Royal Over-Seas League. Harry recently made his desire to bury the hatchet with his family public. During a tell-all interview with the BBC in May he said he'd "love a reconciliation" with the King and William, and admitted he was tired of fighting.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Queen Camilla's best fashion moments and where to find them on the high street, from her go-to floral dresses to chic pastel coats - as the royal celebrates her 78th birthday
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more To celebrate Queen Camilla 's birthday, we're shining a spotlight her most elegant fashion moments - from the tropical print dress featured in her latest portrait to the sophisticated white coat dress worn for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Since becoming Queen, Camilla has come into her own sartorially. Her signature style blends timeless tailoring with luxurious finishing touches - think designer handbags, Chanel heels and eye-catching Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery. And the best part? You don't need a royal budget to channel her look. We've created a high street edit so you can effortlessly recreate each outfit. Tropical print dress In her official birthday portrait released yesterday, Camilla wore a tropical print shirt dress by her longtime designer, Fiona Clare. Captured by royal photographer Chris Jackson, the image was taken earlier this month at Ray Mill, her private Wiltshire residence. Beaming in the photo, Camilla dons a mid-length dress adorned with birds and palm tree motifs in vivid blues and greens - an effortlessly summery choice. White dress with contrast stitching For the Thanksgiving Service commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey, Camilla chose a pristine white coat dress by Anna Valentine. She accessorised with a Philip Treacy hat and Eliot Zed shoes. The standout feature? Black blanket stitching, adding a graphic twist to the classic design. The look offered a contemporary edge - demonstrating that Camilla's style is both polished and on point. Blue figure-skimming dress During a visit to HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, Camilla chose a striking cobalt blue Fiona Clare dress. The flattering silhouette featured soft puffed shoulders, embroidered detailing on the bib, and a signature front zip. She teamed the dress with nude Chanel pumps and a raffia clutch by Anya Hindmarch. Pastel pink coat dress On a recent tour of Canada, Camilla embraced soft hues in a pastel pink coat dress by Anna Valentine, first seen at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding. She once again wore her trusted Chanel heels, reinforcing her preference for timeless pieces. While Barbie pink stole the spotlight in summer 2023, this season is all about softer shades like powder pink - captured in Camilla's refined ensemble.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meghan shares cryptic post celebrating the birthdays of 'ladies near and far' - as Queen Camilla turns 78
Meghan Markle has sent her 'birthday love' to 'ladies near and far' in a cryptic Instagram post featuring her new wine that was published just as Queen Camilla turned 78 today. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, appears to have filmed herself opening a crate of her newly released $30-a-bottle As Ever rosé, which is made in California's celebrated Napa Valley. 'Sending birthday love (both near and far) to my ladies', she wrote over the video of a crate being opened before the wine is placed in a basket also containing fruit and flowers. Meghan's 44th birthday is just over a fortnight away, on August 4, and it is unclear who the message, set to The Marvelettes' Mowtown hit Please Mr Postman, is aimed at. But royal fans have ventured that it was not addressed to Camilla, who the Duke of Sussex, 40, branded 'wicked' in his autobiography Spare. Harry has also called Camilla 'dangerous', a 'villain' and claimed she had 'sacrificed him' to improve her reputation. The King's youngest son is estranged from his family in the UK. But there have been hopes of thawing relations with his father after pictures emerged of a secret 'peace summit' in London involving two of his aides and the King's communications secretary. Meghan's wine post was shared last night just hours before her husband Prince Harry's stepmother Queen Camilla turned 78. Despite her husband's attacks, there is a minority on social media who hoped that Meghan - who Harry claimed once reached out to Camilla for advice on how to handle bad press - was offering a subtle olive branch to the King's wife. Elsewhere today, the Prince and Princess of Wales have paid tribute to the Queen with a sweet birthday post. Kate and William, both 43, used their social media accounts to wish William's stepmother many happy returns. The pair, taking to Instagram, shared a sweet photo of the Queen with a message that read: 'Happy Birthday to Her Majesty'. They later shared the message on X (formerly known as Twitter). Developing a close bond with his stepmother over the years, the heir to the throne appears to have bonded with Camilla as they last year similar hurdles in their personal lives, with both their spouses are undergoing treatments for cancer. Elsewhere, mother-of-three Kate is also said to have a warm relationship with the Queen, the pair often snapped chatting cordially during joint royal engagements. In December, the pair even wore nearly identical outfits as they arrived at St Mary Magdalene church for the Royal Family 's annual Christmas Day service in Sandringham in a sartorial display of solidarity. King Charles 's wife has also marked today's celebrations with a stunning new portrait released by Buckingham Palace. Royal photographer Chris Jackson, who also snappedthe then-Duchess of Cornwall on her 75th birthday, took the picture earlier this month at Ray Mill - the Queen's private residence in Wiltshire. Camilla is pictured with a big smile on her face as she leans against a fence while enjoying a warm summer day at her home. She opted to wear a bright teal dress with motifs of a colourful bird as the Queen appeared relaxed and happy in her latest portrait. She is wearing the same Fiona Clare dress in an earlier image released by the Royal Family on July 14 - three days before her birthday. In that photo, the King's wife was seen cuddling her sweet rescue dog, Jack Russell-cross Moley, in the garden of her Wiltshire home. Camilla, who often repurposes her outfits for different occasions, also picked the striking maxi dress for the final day of the King and Queen's state visit to Kenya in 2023. The Queen opted to keep her makeup light and dewy as she wore a hint of blusher, a light coat of mascara, and a swipe of pink lip gloss. She also kept her accessories to a minimum, choosing to wear a stack of rings - including her five-carat engagement ring from King Charles - and a pair of gold earrings. Meghan's puzzling birthday post comes just days after the Mail On Sunday revealed that staffers working for Charles and Harry met for 'peace talks', marking the first significant move to resolving their rancorous family feud. Sources said it was the initial step in a 'rapprochement process' to restore the broken relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the rest of the Royal Family. Aptly, the talks were held at a London private members' club that champions international friendship, and whose patron is the King. It is not known whether it was Charles or Harry who extended the olive branch, but insiders said the summit is the strongest sign yet of the determination on both sides to resolve the bitter House of Windsor rift. 'There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years,' one insider suggested. 'There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.' Harry was represented by Meredith Maines, his chief communications officer and head of his household in Montecito, California, who flew in from Los Angeles. She met Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary, at the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) a three-minute walk from Clarence House, the monarch's London residence. Also present was Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes' PR team in the UK. It was Ms Maines who organised Harry's BBC interview in May in which he said he 'would love a reconciliation' with the Royal Family, but that the King 'won't speak to me because of this security stuff'. The Duke was referring to the removal of his automatic police security detail in Britain, which he called an 'old-fashioned establishment stitch-up' and suggested his father could have resolved the situation. He admitted that he didn't expect forgiveness across the board from his family, saying, 'Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me for… lots of things.' Despite this, he expressed a clear desire for a rapprochement, saying, 'I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight any more.' Charles was also still said to be hopeful of a reunion with his younger son and that he might yet build a relationship with his two grandchildren, six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet. Ms Maines, wearing a sleeveless cream jacket and high heels and carrying a black Louis Vuitton bag, arrived at the club by taxi with Mr Maguire at 3.50pm. Mr Andreae turned up several minutes later carrying a gift from Berry Bros & Rudd, the wine and spirits merchant which has been supplying the Royal Family since 1760. The trio were later seen chatting over drinks in the 26C (78F) sunshine on the club's first-floor garden terrace overlooking Green Park. After ten minutes they got up and resumed their discussions inside. The source said the summit was only the 'first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father, but at least it is a step in the right direction. 'Everyone just wants to move on and move forward now. It was finally the right time for the two sides to talk.' The Windsor feud began shortly after Harry and Meghan moved to California and gave an explosive interview to US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. The Duchess described approaching Harry and the Royal Family, seeking help with suicidal thoughts during her pregnancy. 'I just didn't want to be alive any more,' she said. 'And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought. And I remember – I remember how he [Harry] just cradled me.' Meghan said she asked a senior royal about the possibility of seeking help and was told that would not be possible because it 'wouldn't be good for the institution'. Harry further claimed that while his wife was pregnant, a member of his family had expressed 'concerns' to him about the baby's skin colour. Insiders said Harry's memoir, Spare, was the final straw for his brother William, as it made public claims such as a physical fight the pair are said to have had over Harry's relationship with Meghan. The Royal Family responded with expressions of empathy, couched with the now infamous line: 'Recollections may vary.' Earlier this year, it was also revealed that the Duke of Sussex had decided to extend an olive branch to the Royal Family by inviting them to the 2027 Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham. He is said to be hopeful that the event could spell the end of his self-imposed exile in California, and mark a return to the royal fold. Meanwhile there are still hurdles to overcome with Harry's Home Office battle over security. After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry lost his automatic taxpayer-funded police protection, but has fiercely contested the decision, insisting that he and his family are at risk whenever they visit the UK. He maintains that if his father would only 'step out of the way' he could get his police protection back. In the BBC interview, Harry accused his father of standing in the way of his fight for protection. The issue became emblematic of the deep mistrust that now defines his relationship with his father and the wider royal household –but which may now, finally, be beginning to thaw. Neither Buckingham Palace nor the Sussex's representatives would comment on the meeting.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
How 'fiercely feminist' Queen Camilla has committed to championing charities helping women for more than three decades
She was once described as a 'fiercely modern feminist'. Queen Camilla, who turns 78 today, has spent more than three decades championing charities helping women - following some tragic family losses. As patron of more than 90 charities, the Queen has worked to highlight organisations supporting victims of rape and sexual assault, as well as bone diseases. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine: 'You don't look at Camilla who has never had a career and who was always linked in with the horsey, aristocratic crowd and think "Oh, there walks a feminist". 'But she absolutely is a feminist. She has stood up, first of all quite quietly, but now very noisily for women's rights and equality.' Camilla's work with survivors of domestic abuse and campaigners was covered in the ITV documentary Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors in November 2024. In the documentary she said: 'One of the most difficult things about domestic abuse, to understand, it's not the bruises and the black eyes, which, unfortunately you see, through violence, this is something that creeps up very slowly and, far too often, it ends up with women being killed. 'By scratching the surface, you get a terrible shock. It's a heinous crime.' She added: 'If we could just get more people discussing it, talking about it, people are so shocked by what they hear that, rather like me, they want to say "oh, hang on a minute" perhaps there's something we can do to put an end to it.' Camilla visited nine rape crisis centres in 2009 and began her advocacy work after hearing victims' accounts. In 2011 she opened the Oakwood Place Essex Sexual Assault Referral Centre at Brentwood Community Hospital. She is patron of the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust which provides home security for victims of crime and domestic abuse and of SafeLives, a charity that campaigns against domestic abuse and violence. In 2013 the then Duchess of Cornwall held a reception at Clarence House bringing together an important group of national stakeholders and key decision-makers. This was the first time in the UK that such a wide range of organisations had been drawn together specifically to discuss rape and sexual abuse. At the occasion, she introduced a plan to help the victims: about 750 washbags, created by her Clarence House staff and packed with luxury toiletries, were distributed to victims at the centres. She partnered with Boots in 2017 to create a line of washbags to be given to sexual assault referral centres around the country. As of 2024, it had donated more than 50,000 washbags. Camilla also lent her support to a family campaigning to lower the age of domestic abuse classification to include under-16s. She also described the scale of violence within the home, coupled with social media, as 'terrifying'. The Queen spoke with the parents of Holly Newton, a 15-year-old who was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend in Northumberland in January 2023, at a reception held at her London residence, Clarence House. Holly's mother Micala Trussler said that it was 'really amazing' to meet the Queen, adding: 'She was really down to earth and lovely and she was really passionate about our campaign. 'She is supporting us in our campaign and she's looking to help young people as well. She said she's sorry for our loss and we shouldn't have to be here doing this.' Her husband Lee Trussler said that the Queen's support meant that their campaign was 'getting heard in the highest place in the country'. He added: 'We're hoping other people are going to take notice that the Queen's paying attention so they can get behind us and get the law changed to protect the kids.' In 2016 at a reception hosted by the Duchess in Clarence House author Kathy Lette praised Camilla as a 'feminist' who 'takes no prisoners'. Lette said the choice of charities and causes the Queen supported showed she was a feminist, adding: 'She surrounds herself with strong women, strong female friends. She's earthy, she's witty, she's wise and deliciously self-deprecating. 'I don't know that she calls herself a feminist, but her behaviour is certainly of one. I would say she is a feminist, for sure.' As well as championing charities which support women going through domestic violence or abuse, the Queen has been involved with the Royal Osteoporosis Society since 1994 after losing her mother and grandmother to the disease. Camilla described her anguish at watching her beloved 'Mama', Rosalind Shand, die a 'crippling, slow and agonising death' from the fragile-bone disease in 1994, aged 72. Her maternal grandmother, Sonia Keppel, died of the condition just eight years earlier. 'Seeing someone you love die slowly, in agony, and knowing nothing about the disease that killed them is heartbreaking,' she told the Daily Mail in 2011. Camilla was made patron of the charity in 1997 and ultimately president in 2001. In 2002 she launched a mini book, A Skeleton Guide to a Healthy You, Vitamins and Minerals, which aims to help women protect themselves from the disease. This led to her receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Southampton in 2016 in recognition of her efforts to raise awareness about osteoporosis. Camilla held a royal reception for bone disease campaigners last year, which the Mail's Group Business Editor Ruth Sunderland was invited to attend following her work for the War on Osteoporosis campaign. The Queen is president of the Women of the World Festival, the globe's largest women's festival, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The festival champions gender equality, celebrating the achievements of women worldwide and examining the obstacles that stop them from fulfilling their potential. At an International Women's Day event in 2017, Lette jokingly described Camilla as like a 'human Wonderbra' for women – 'uplifting and supportive'. Camilla has proven herself to be a feminist through her support for wide-ranging charities and campaigns helping women and girls. As she celebrates her birthday, she can reflect on more than 30 years dedicated to her charity work - honouring her late mother and grandmother.
