Summer 2006 Newsletter: Featuring Queen Elizabeth II & The Duchess of Cornwall

[GrandDuchess]

Birth - Accession to the Throne. A Timeline of the Life of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

1926-1947

21.4.26 Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary born at 17 Bruton Street, London. Educated by private tutors under the supervision of Marion Crawford, (died 1999) a graduate of Edinburgh University. When older, The Princess studied law and constitutional history under the Vice-Provost of Eton, Mr. C.H.K Marten (died 1948); and studied piano under Miss Mabel Lander.

21.12.37 Enrolled as a Girl Guide; became Patrol Leader of 1st Buckingham Palace Guide Company, and later became a Sea Ranger.

13.10.40 First broadcast. Message given during Children's Hour to children of Britain and Commonwealth at home and overseas.

20.4.42 First official audience. The Princess received Colonel Prescott of Grenadier Guards on the eve of her 16th birthday, who gave her a diamond Regimental brooch as a birthday gift from the officers and men.

21.4.42 First official public engagement. Inspection of the Grenadier Guards on her 16th birthday.

3.2.43 The Times announced the King and Queen had consented to Princess Elizabeth becoming President of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

26.2.43 Princess Elizabeth is enrolled as a Sea Ranger

13.4.43 First public engagement alone when The Princess spent the day with the tank battalion of the Grenadier Guards in Southern Command.

31.5.43 Accepted Presidency of the Royal College of Music in place of the late Duke of Kent.

22/23.3.44 Princess Elizabeth's first official tour with her parents. The Princess spent two days with the King and Queen on a military inspection tour in Yorkshire.

31.3.44 First civic tour. Princess Elizabeth completed a two-day tour of South Wales with the King and Queen.

1.8.44 With the Queen, received an Address from the House of Commons, and replied on behalf of the Throne.

22.9.44 First official tour of Scotland with the King and Queen, made first appearance alone in Scotland when The Princess received purses for the YMCA.

3.10.44 First opening ceremony, when The Princess opened Aberdeen Sailors' Home which had been reconstructed.

1.12.44 Launched HMS Vanguard at Clydebank and flew her own personal standard for the first time. It was the first time The Princess had travelled from London without the King and Queen to take part in a ceremony of national significance.

14.4.45 The Princess completed her driving course and passed out as a fully qualified driver.

23.12.45 Announced that The Princess had consented to become President of the Prince of Wales' General Hospital, London.

18.3.46 Launched new aircraft carrier HMS EAGLE in Belfast. Crossed in the cruiser SUPERB, the first naval vessel to fly The Princess's own standard.

30.4.46 Launched tanker “BRITISH PRINCESS” at Sunderland.

10.7.46 Honorary degree of Bachelor of Music of London University conferred on The Princess by great-uncle Earl of Athlone, Chancellor of University.

23.12.46 Girl Guides Association announces that The Princess had agreed to become Chief Ranger of the British Empire Rangers - senior Branch of the Girl Guides' Association.

27.1.47 Accepted office of Permanent Grand Master of Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators.

20.4.47 The King gave orders for appointment of Princess Elizabeth as Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and of the 16th/5th Lancers.

 

[GrandDuchess]

Birth - Accession to the Throne. A Timeline of the Life of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

1926-1952

21.4.47 Celebrated 21st birthday in Cape Town; broadcast address to the Commonwealth in which she made a “solemn act of dedication”.

9.7.47 Announced engagement to Lt Philip Mountbatten (The Duke of Edinburgh).

20.11.47 Marriage to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

27.5.48 Freedom of the City of Cardiff.

14.11.48 Birth of Prince Charles.

1.3.49 Visit to Edinburgh with The Duke of Edinburgh.

25.5.49 Visit to Northern Ireland; received Freedom of Belfast on 26th May.

21.6.49 Visit to Channel Islands with The Duke of Edinburgh.

4.7.49 Took up residence in new London home, Clarence House.

20.11.49 Visit to Malta.

15.8.50 Princess Elizabeth's daughter, Princess Anne is born at Clarence House.

26.5.51 Presented the King's Colour to the RAF in Hyde Park in His Majesty's absence.

5.6.51 Read the King's Speech of welcome to King of Norway at a State Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

27.9.51 The Princess appointed a Counsellor of State during the King's illness.

9.10.51 Announced from Buckingham Palace that the King, on advice of his doctors, would not carry out intended visit with the Queen to Australia in 1952; and that their places would be taken by TRH Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh.

8.10.51-12.11.51 Tour of Canada.

4.12.51 Introduced as Member of Privy Council.

30.1.52 Attended Drury Lane Theatre in family party with the King, Queen, Princess Margaret and The Duke of Edinburgh on eve of departure for Commonwealth tour.

31.1.52 With Duke of Edinburgh, left London on first stage of tour, arriving Nairobi 1st February.

3.2.52 Arrived at Sagana Hunting Lodge in Nyeri, in the foothills of Mt Kenya. Spent the night at Treetops Hotel. It was at Sagana Lodge that The Princess received the news of the death of HM King George VI on 6th February.

6.2.52 Left Entebbe, Uganda, by air for London, arriving 4.30pm on 7th February.

6.2.52 Her Majesty was proclaimed the new Sovereign at Accession Council at St James' Palace.

8.2.52 The new Queen made Accession Declaration to members of the Privy Council at St James' Palace. Public proclamation of accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

 

[GrandDuchess]

Happy Birthday M'am

Numerous festivities marked the Queen's 80th birthday this year, on her actual birthday of April 21 and on her official birthday on June 17.

April 19: 80th Birthday Reception and Lunch
The Queen and Prince Phillip received 99 guests at Buckingham Palace who were born on the exact same day as her.

April 20: Visit to the British Broadcasting Company (BBC)
The BBC celebrated its 80th anniversary of the granting of its Royal Charter with a visit by the Queen.

April 20: New official portrait
Two new official portraits of the Queen -- one in a royal blue dress and one in a lilac-coloured button up shirt -- is released. The portrait was taken by her former brother-in-law, Lord Snowdon.

Pictures left to right: The Queen meets Allan Garrioch and his wife Helen. (© Pool/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Pool/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Corbis); The Queen with radio presenters Chris Evans and Jo Whiley (© Pool/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Pool/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Corbis); © Tim Graham/Tim Graham/Corbis; Snowdon/Camera Press.

 

[GrandDuchess]

Happy Birthday M'am -- continued

April 21: The Queen Opens Birthday Cards
For a photoshoot in the Regency Room of Buckingham Palace, the Queen opened some of the nearly 20,000 birthday cards and wishes she received from people around the world, young and old. And in this day of technology, the Queen received nearly as many e-mails!

April 21: Birthday Walkabout
On the day of her actual birthday, the Queen - dressed in a vibrant red jacket and hat - and Prince Phillip enjoyed a walkabout in Windsor's town centre, receiving flowers, gifts and cards from the hundreds of people lined along the route.

April 21: Birthday Dinner and Fireworks
On the evening of the Queen's actual birthday, the Queen's family joined her at Kew Palace for a special family dinner - smoked salmon, Sandringham venison and birthday cake were on the menu - followed by a spectacular fireworks display.

Prince Phillip, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Peter and Zara Phillips, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex were among the family in attendance.

Prince Charles publicly feted his mother at this family dinner, saying in part:
"An eightieth birthday is a very special occasion for every family – an occasion for celebration, for giving thanks and for looking back. As a child, I can just remember my Great Grandmother, Queen Mary, at eighty; then I recall so well the eightieth birthday of my Grandmother in 1980. Now I find it hard to believe my own mother, The Queen, is today celebrating her eightieth birthday, and it gives me enormous pride to be able to congratulate her publicly in this way, and to thank her on behalf of us all for the many wonderful qualities which she has brought to almost an entire lifetime of service and dedication to her country, to her family, to the Realms and to the countries of the Commonwealth ... For very nearly 60 of those 80 years she has been my darling Mama and my sentiments today are those of a proud and loving son who hopes that you will join with me in wishing The Queen the happiest of happy birthdays, together with the fervent prayer that there will be countless memorable returns of the day… "

Picture credits (left to right): Press Association; © Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Tim Graham Photo Library/Corbis; © Tim Graham/Tim Graham/Corbis; © Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Tim Graham Photo Library/Corbis; © Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Tim Graham Photo Library/Corbis; © Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Tim Graham Photo Library/Corbis.

 

[GrandDuchess]

Happy Birthday M'am -- continued

April 23: Service of Thanksgiving
Members of the royal family, including the children of Princess Margaret, participated in a special service at St. George's Chapel to celebrate the life of the Queen.

May 3: Help the Aged Living Legends Awards
Work and pleasure coincided at the annual Help the Aged Living Legends Awards, which recognizes the work of individuals who have helped disadvantaged older people as well as older individuals who have made outstanding achievements in their respective fields or industries.

May 18: Service Over Sixty Reception
The Queen and Prince Phillip honoured individuals over the age of 60 at a special reception at Buckingham Palace, recognizing individuals who have contributed to Britain in some manner, culturally, socially, environmentally and otherwise.

Photo credits (left to right): © Tim Graham/Tim Graham Photo Library/Corbis; Yahoo/Reuters; © Pool/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Pool/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Corbis; Press Association

 

[GrandDuchess]

Happy Birthday M'am -- continued

June 15: Service of Thanksgiving and Mansion House Lunch
A service of thanks was paid in the Queen's honour at St. Paul's Cathedral. Prince Phillilp and more than 40 other members of the royal family, including Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were in attendance.

Following the service, a lunch with a theme of a "Great British Menu" was served at Mansion House. Guests savoured smoked salmon and custard tart.

Picture credits (left to right): © Tim Graham/Tim Graham/Corbis; Press Association

 

[GrandDuchess]

Trooping the Colour

June 17: Trooping the Colour
The Queen's official brithday is celebrated on this day. In addition to the annual activities Trooping the Colour, a flypast and a "feu de joie" (fire of joy) are added to contribute to the festive mood of this special day on this year. The Queen is joined on the balcony by the rest of her family, immediate and extended.

Photo credits (left to right): © epa/Corbis; © Tim Graham/Corbis; Press Association

 

[GrandDuchess]

Happy Birthday M'am

June 25: Children's Party at the Palace
The theme of books is the focus of the Children's Party, at which 2,000 children are invited for readings and a party on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver created a special menu for the day. Other special guests who spent some quality time the Queen and the Countess of Wessex included author J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter), Winnie, Piglet and Tiger from Winnie the Pooh and Noddy. The Countess of Wessex even joined in on a Teddy Bear's tea!

Photo credits (left to right): © Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Tim Graham Photo Library/Corbis

 

[GrandDuchess]

A Review of Camilla's First Year as
The Duchess of Cornwall
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(The Duchess' Coat of Arms)




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On February 10th, 2005, Clarence House announced that Camilla Parker Bowles and the Prince of Wales would marry on April 8, 2005, at Windsor Castle with a civil service followed by a religious prayer.

Her Royal Highness's engagement ring, is a Windsor family heirloom that belonged to the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. With a 1920s platinum setting, it is composed of a square-cut central diamond flanked by six diamond baguettes.

Announcement thread

The first appearance of the officially engaged couple happened at that same day at a dinner in Windsor Castle. Camilla was wearing a long red gown and sporting her engagement ring and a huge smile.



On April 4th, it was announced that the wedding would be postponed 24 hours until April 9th, so that the Prince of Wales could attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II as the representative of the Queen. The postponement also allowed some of the dignitaries that were invited to the wedding to attend the funeral.

1. The official engagement picture released by Clarence House
2. The stamps issued in commemoration of the wedding

Pictures from Polfoto, Hello Magazine & Prince Charles' Official website

 

[GrandDuchess]

The Wedding

The wedding took place at the Guildhall in Windsor. A civil ceremony was planned because of controversy within the Church of England regarding the remarriage of divorcés. This was attended by all the senior royals apart from the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. At the wedding, the couple's witnesses were Prince William of Wales and the bride's son, Tom Parker Bowles.

For the civil ceremony, Camilla wore a cream-coloured suit and wide-brimmed cream-coloured hat.

For the blessing afterward, The Duchess of Cornwall wore a porcelain blue silk dress with hand painted ikat design, hand embroidered with gold thread work. Tones of blue and gold were the favoured colours. The designer’s starting point was Mrs Parker Bowles’ comment that she liked the style of the velvet dress which they had designed for her to wear for the Gala night at the Royal Opera House. To compliment the dress, The Duchess wore a gold leafed feather headdress tipped with Swarovski Diamonds.

Both ensembles were by Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine, London designers who work under the name Robinson Valentine; both hats were made by the Irish milliner Philip Treacy.

The Duchess carried a small, simple elegant floral bouquet bound with silk from her dress. Complementing the grey blue of her dress, Auricular flowers in dusty shades of greys and creams with touches of gold, have been mixed with clusters of Lily of the Valley both for the scent and the sentiment. Again, these flowers are cut from English grown plants later to be grown in the gardens at Highgrove. A sprig of myrtle, representing happy marriage, was sent from a well wisher in Cornwall for the bouquet.

In keeping with tradition, the couple's wedding rings are crafted from 22 carat (92%) Welsh gold from the Clogau St David's mine in Bontddu. The design of the wedding rings is by Wartski, a London jeweller that has held the Royal Warrant to The Prince of Wales since 1979. The Prince wears his on the small finger of his left hand.

The civil ceremony was followed by a televised blessing at St George's Chapel, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, which the Queen and her husband did attend, along with many foreign royals. Along with the congregation attending their post-wedding blessing, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall recited an acknowledgement of past "sins and wickedness" taken from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. At the conclusion of the blessing, a contralto sang the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed in Russian. After the blessing, the Queen hosted an 800-guest reception in Windsor Castle.

Upon marriage, Camilla acquired all of her husband's titles as a courtesy, becoming Duchess of Cornwall, Princess of Wales, Princess of Scotland, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Carrick, Countess of Chester, Baroness Renfrew, Lady of the Isles.

Wedding thread
Wedding Special at Prince Charles' Official Website




Pictures from: AP, Reuters, Uppa, ANP, Polfoto, Hello Magazine

 

[GrandDuchess]

First Year as a Duchess - Official Engagements

April 2005

On the next day of their wedding, April 10th, the new Duchess and Prince Charles met well-wishers at Crathie Parish Church in Aberdeenshire, in their first public engagement after the wedding.

On April 14th, the couple met again the cheering crowds while opening a play park at Monaltrie Park in Ballater, Aberdeenshire.

On April 24th, Charles and Camilla attended a memorial service at The Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, displaying to everyone the happiness they shared for being together.

On April 27th, Charles and Camilla opened London’s largest outdoor sports area and pavilion in The Regent’s Park, London.

Still on April 27th, the Prince and the Duchess attended a reception at The Queen's Gallery to launch Museums and Galleries Month.

On April 29th, they visited the Institute for Indian Art and Culture and officially opened a theatre named after The Prince’s great uncle, Lord Mountbatten. Camilla thoroughly enjoyed the visit and wore a broad smile the whole time the couple spent at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Institute in London.

Pictures from: ABACA Press, AAP Image, Getty Images & Prince Charles' Official website

 

[GrandDuchess]

May 2005

On May 2nd, Charles and Camilla met Wales's Grand Slam-winning rugby team at a celebration of the team’s achievement at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

On May 4th, the couple offered a reception at Clarence House for supporters and donors of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer, of which Prince Charles is a Patron.

On May 8th, Prince Charles launched commemorations at a moving service at the Cenotaph, laying a wreath in tribute to the fallen as dozens of former servicemen watched along Whitehall, at one event to mark the 60th anniversary of VE Day. Camilla, taking part in her first major state occasion, watched the Cenotaph service from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Continuing the day, the Prince and the Duchess, now together, attended the parade and service of the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association at the Cavalry Memorial in Hyde Park.

On May 16th, Charles and Camilla attended the gala performance of new West End musical The Far Pavilions, held in aid of The Prince of Wales’s Initiative in India. The Duchess, dressed in a tailored white and gold jacket and a full length gold organza skirt, said that the musical was based on one of her favourite books, the 1978 novel of the same name by British author M.M. Kaye.

On May 18th, the couple visited the Kemble Airfield in Cirencester. The field is a former RAF/UASF base, but is now in civilian use. Camilla showed her softer side with a feminine springtime look. Her blonde hair in loose waves, the Duchess chose a pretty pink tweed suit – and matching soft rose lipstick – accesorised with pearl earrings for the occasion.

Visit to the South West of England

On May 19th, The couple began two days of engagements in the South West of England with a visit to the Devon County Show near Exeter. Crowds cheered and applauded as the Duchess of Cornwall inspected cattle, sheep and pigs and sampled the local cider. Before the couple left, they were presented with a late wedding present, a garden seat hand made by a local craftsman, Martin Symes. The duchess inspected the seat and said: "If I sat down I would be out for the afternoon - it looks far too comfortable." The couple later travelled on to Cornwall for a reception at Restormel Castle, which is owned by the Prince's Duchy of Cornwall.

On May 20th, On their second day of engagements in the South West of England. Their Royal Highnesses opened the Sir John English unit, a new day assessment centre, during the visit to St Austell Community Hospital in St Austell, Cornwall. Inside the hospital four-year-old Amy Cheeseman presented a bouquet to The Duchess. The Duchess chatted to the little girl and said: “How lovely. Thank you very much indeed. I love your hat, it is very pretty.”

Together, Their Royal Highnesses unveiled a plaque opening the new unit at the hospital, which will provide a Falls Clinic and Stability Group, and rehabilitation services for coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.


Later, Their Royal Highnesses traveled to the Isles of Scilly where they visited the main island of St Mary's. They made their first stop at St Mary’s to open a newly built passenger terminal at the airport. The couple signed a visitors’ book before unveiling a plaque commemorating the opening of the new terminal.


They next visited the Guardhouse, a Duchy of Cornwall property which is being turned into the Duchy's first commercial holiday let on the islands. After lunch, the couple walked down to St Mary's harbour, which was lined with holidaymakers and locals eager to catch a glimpse of the couple. They then offered their congratulations to newlyweds Andy and Antje Taylor, from Ongar, Essex, who married only half an hour earlier.


Prince Charles then presented Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Royal Humane Society awards before boarding a chartered boat to travel to the tiny community of St Agnes.


Pictures of the visit (click to enlarge)
Pictures from Getty Images & Prince Charles' Official website


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On May 23rd, The Duchess performed her first solo official engagement as she officialy opened the Medical Research Council’s Epidemiology Resource Centre in Southampton, in her capacity as President of the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS). Camilla’s mother and grandmother both died as a result of osteoporosis, and Her Royal Highness became involved with the NOS in 1994, becoming a Patron in 1997. In 2001, Her Royal Highness became President of the organisation and has made around 20 visits to bone units and hospitals across the country to help raise awareness of the fragile bone disease.


The Duchess also visited the Southampton Women's Survey, which is the largest study of women's lifestyle and childhood development ever carried out in this country, with 12,500 women involved. After Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening, Professor Cooper gave The Duchess a painting of statues outside the NOS offices as a gift. During the visit, The Duchess received several posies of flowers including one from two-year-old Emily Forrester from Southampton, who ran up to Her Royal Highness, gave her the posy and ran back to her mother before deciding to go back to The Duchess and give her a kiss.


On May 26th, the Prince and the Duchess attended the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in London, and told the finalists they were setting a “fantastic example”. Camilla made a stunning entrance at the gala wearing a sari-inspired look: a turquoise silk skirt and blouse with a drapped chiffon shawl over one shoulder for distinct Eastern flair.

Pictures from AAP Images, Getty Images, and Prince Charles's Official website

 

[GrandDuchess]

June 2005

On June 1st, Charles and Camilla attended a reception for the Calendar Girls in London. The Calender Girls are a group of Yorkshire women who posed nude or semi nude for a calender to raise funds for Leukemia Research.

On June 7th,the couple attended the premiere of "Mystic India". They received a vibrant welcome as they arrived for the charity screening of Mystic India and were both presented with garlands of bright flowers. Camilla bowed her head and made a traditional "namaste" greeting by placing her hands together as a necklace of blue, orange and white chrysanthemums was placed around her neck.

On June 9th, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall carried out the inspection of the scarlet-coated Chelsea Pensioners during the annual Founder’s Day Parade.

On June 11th, Camilla made her debut at the Trooping the Colour ceremony, appearing at the balcony with the Royal Family and sharing a carriage with Prince William and the Earl and the Countess of Wessex.

Pictures from Corbis



On June 14th, it was time for the Duchess to debut at Royal Ascot.

Pictures from Corbis



On June 15th, Charles and Camilla toured the BBC Gardeners' World Live at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, one of the country’s leading garden exhibitions. They visited two Shakespeare-themed gardens, one by students at Derby College and another inspired by Anne Hathaway's cottage at Stratford-upon-Avon. There was also a sensory garden for people with visual impairment. Her Royal Highness was presented with a rose which was named after her, the Rosa Duchess of Cornwall. A donation from the sale of each plant will go to the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS).
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Three-day visit to Scotland

On June 21st, The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as Charles and Camilla are known in Scotland joined pupils for lunch when they visited a Scottish school which is pioneering a healthy eating scheme. Their Royal Highnesses were visiting Hurlford Primary in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, on the first of three days of engagements in Scotland.

Still on June 21st, The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay officially reopened the last surviving spinning mill in Paisley after a major refurbishment.

On June 22nd, The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay were guests of honour at a reception at Edinburgh Castle to mark the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

On June 23rd, Charles and Camilla attended Prince William's graduation from St. Andrews University in Scotland.

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On June 28th, Charles and Camilla joined crew and guests aboard HMS Scott to watch Her Majesty The Queen review an international fleet of 167 ships to mark the Battle of Trafalgar 200 years ago.

On June 29th, Charles and Camilla attended the Metropolitan Police Annual Memorial Service and reception at the Metropolitan Police training centre, Hendon, London.

On June 30th, Camilla, on her second solo engagement opened a farm shop on the Duke of Wellington's estate at Stratfield Saye, Hampshire.

Pictures from Getty Images, Hello Magazine, Prince Charles' Official website and Rex Features

 

[GrandDuchess]

July 2005


On July 4th, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall paid tribute to the heroes of wartime Britain when they launched Veteran’s Week to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Their Royal Highnesses were officially opening the Living Museum in St James's Park, London, where the experience of living in wartime Britain is brought to life.

On July 5th, Charles and Camilla invited Kindertransport evacuees who had fled Nazi Europe on the eve of the Second World War to Clarence House to hear their heartbreaking stories.

On July 7th, Charles and Camilla attended a ceremony in Cardiff to commemorate the end of the Second World War.

On July 8th, Charles and Camilla paid a visit to the people wound by the terrorist attacks in London subway.

On July 10th, Charles, Camilla and Prince Harry accompanied The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to the National Commemoration of the end of the Second World War on Horse Guards Parade. The day was the culmination of a week of events to mark the six decades since the conflict came to an end.

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Annual Tour of Wales

On July 12th, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have started their first annual tour of Wales together. Their Royal Highnesses visited Carmarthenshire as their first stop of the tour, to see how The Prince’s Trust Cymru is helping young people get into agriculture.

The Prince and The Duchess hosted a private lunch at Newton House, a National Trust property in Llandeilo, to thank key supporters of The Prince’s charities in Wales. Charles and Camilla also visited Cwm Berem Farm, near Llandeilo, to visit a pedigree herd of Welsh Black Cattle. Their Royal Highnesses enjoyed high tea and Welsh cakes with farmer Enzo Sauro and his family in the farmhouse in West Wales.

The Prince and The Duchess then officially opened Cig Calon Cymru Cyf abattoir in Crosshands Business Park, Carmarthenshire before visiting a local farm shop where they were presented with a Welsh black beef sirloin and fillet steak.

On July 13th, Charles and Camilla started the day with a trip on a steam train, as they opened a new station on the Talyllyn Railway in Tywyn, Gwynedd. Their Royal Highnesses also visited Tregynon, Powys, to join the 20th anniversary celebrations of Coed Cymru, a charity which helps to manage Welsh woodland. The third stop for them was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Farmers' Union of Wales on the farm of the President of the Union, Gareth Vaughan, at Dolfor, Powys. Their Royal Highnesses also visited Gorwydd farm to meet the Trethowan family who make the award-winning Gorwydd Caerphilly cheese and met members of the SCA and presented the James Aldridge Memorial Trophy to the makers of the best raw milk cheese.

On July 14th, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall joined hundreds of villagers in Pendoylan for the two minutes silence to remember those who died in the terrorism attacks on London. Their Royal Highnesses were visiting Pendoylan, a pretty village that was the winner of the Environment category for Wales in the 2004 Calor Village of the Year competition.

The Duchess of Cornwall performed her first solo engagement in Wales at the University Hospital in Cardiff, as President of the National Osteoporosis Society. The Duchess left to rejoin The Prince at Ty George Hospice in Whitchurch, Cardiff, where Their Royal Highnesses were due to open a new hospice building.

Some pictures of the trip (click to enlarge)
Pictures from Prince Charles' Official website



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On July 17th, Clarence House announced the new Coat of Arms for The Duchess of Cornwall to mark Her Royal Highness's 58th birthday.
The crest shows both the Coat of Arms of her husband, HRH The Prince of Wales, and her father, Major Bruce Shand. On the left hand side of the central shield is the Royal lion Supporter of The Prince of Wales while on the right-hand side is a boar taken from Major Shand’s Crest.

On July 19th, Camilla attended her first event at Buckingham Palace after the wedding: the Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

On July 20th, Charles and Camilla visited the search and rescue helicopter hangar at Osprey Quay,
Portland, Dorset, to present a Colour and the Commodore’s Commendation for bravery.

On July 22nd, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall spent a day conducting engagements in Suffolk. They attended the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the completion of the Millennium Tower project at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. After the service, The Prince and The Duchess toured an exhibition showing the different stages of the Cathedral Project. Charles and Camilla also toured an exhibition on traditional Suffolk life, and both of them pulled a pint of local ale during a visit to a beer stall set up by the Greene King Brewery based in Bury St Edmunds. To finish the day, they visited St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds where they met patients, volunteers and staff, and the town of Lavenham where Their Royal Highnesses visited the Guildhall of Corpus Christi.

On July 26th, The Prince and The Duchess visited Norfolk to launch a new lifeboat and to mark National Parks’ week on the Norfolk Broads.

Pictures from Prince Charles' Official website & Getty Images

 

[GrandDuchess]

August 2005

On August 4th, Charles and Camilla toured the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Thurso Lifeboat Station at Scrabster in Caithness, Scotland.

On August 5th, The Prince and The Duchess attended the Mey Highland Games in Scotland.

On August 7th, still in Scotland, Charles and Camilla attended a Church Service at Canisbay Church near the Castle of Mey.

Pictures from Prince Charles' Official website and Getty Images

 

[GrandDuchess]

September 2005

On September 10th, Charles and Camilla attended the wedding of the Duchess' son, Tom Parker-Bowles to Miss Sara Buys, held at St. Nicholas Church at Rotherfield Greys in Oxfordshire.

On September 12th, The Duchess agreed to become President or Patron of 6 more charities:
• Animal Care Trust (under the umbrella of The Royal Veterinary College)
• London Chamber Orchestra
• The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
• Youth Action Wiltshire
• Cornwall Community Foundation

Camilla also agreed to become a President of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme based in Edinburgh, mirroring a similar role to The Prince of Wales who is Patron of the English equivalent, the National Gardens Scheme.
For a full list of Camilla's Patronages, click here

On September 13th, The Prince and The Duchess paid tribute to recipients of the Victoria Cross and the George Cross who have died over the years at a Service of Remembrance and Re-Dedication.

On September 14th, Charles and Camilla visited Richmond in North Yorkshire to help celebrate the 850th Anniversary of the market town’s charter. First, they visited the oldest and most complete working Georgian theatre in Britain, the Georgian Theatre Royal. After that they toured the Richmond’s farmers’ market, and sampled the pork and cheese on offer. Charles and Camilla ended their day's visit with afternoon tea and scones at Richmond station, a Grade II-listed building.

On September 18th, The Prince and The Duchess unveiled a lasting monument to the heroic Royal Air Force pilots who defeated the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and a attended a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.

Pictures from Getty Images and Prince Charles' Official website

 

[GrandDuchess]

October 2005


On October 23rd, Charles and Camilla joined other members of the Royal Family in a weekend of engagements to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

On October 25th, Camilla took part in her first gala dinner, in honor of the State Visit of the King and Queen of Norway, together with the Crown Princely Couple. Her Royal Highness wore the magnificent Delhi Durbar Tiara.

On October 26th, Camilla attended a reception for Americans representing arts, culture, business, media and public services at Clarence House

On October 26th, Charles and Camilla welcomed the Crown Princely Couple of Norway, Haakon and Mette-Marit, for tea at Clarence House.

On October 27th, Charles and Camilla attended a lunch hosted by the Norwegian Royal Family on their yacht moored on the River Thames.

On October 27th, Camilla received a delegation from Axminster at Clarence House.

Pictures from Getty Images

 

[GrandDuchess]

November 2005

Official Visit to the United States

On November 1st, The Prince and The Duchess arrived in the New York for the first leg of their tour of the United States of America. They visited Ground Zero as the first stop of their tour.

Charles and Camilla were taken to the site of the World Trade Centre straight after landing in New York to pay their respects to the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 and to meet relatives of those who died. The Duchess left a bouquet of yellow and orange orchids, roses and lilies at the site memorial with a hand-written message from them both that read “In
enduring memory of our shared grief, Charles and Camilla.”

They also went to visit the British Memorial Garden which is dedicated to the memory of the 67 British victims of the atrocity. The Prince is Patron of the project, that is intended to be a gift to the people of New York and provide a place of reflection and remembrance. Their Royal Highnesses unveiled a dedication stone in memory of the British victims of the terrorist attacks. The inscription on the memorial stone, made of Morayshire stone, reads: “This stone was laid on 1 November 2005 by the Patron of this garden, The Prince of Wales.”

In the evening Their Royal Highnesses attended a reception at the Museum of Modern Art. The Prince and The Duchess, who was wearing a midnight blue velvet dress with a large white lace collar, made their way inside accompanied by the host, British Consul General Sir Phillip Thomas, as a jazz band played in the corridor. Guests at the event included Donald Trump, Sting and Trudi Styler, Yoko Ono and Joan Collins.

Pictures from Prince Charles' Official website and Getty Images



On November 2nd, Charles and Camilla went to Washington DC and were received by the President of the United States, George W. Bush and the first lady, Mrs. Laura Bush.

Accompanied by first lady Laura Bush, they toured the SEED Public Charter School, the only public urban boarding school in the U.S.

In the evening, Charles and Camilla attended a gala dinner at the White House.

Pictures from Getty Images



On November 3rd, Charles and Camilla attended a meeting on osteoporosis at the National Institutes of Health.

They toured an exhibition of The Prince's School of Traditional Arts, at the National Building Museum.

In the evening they attended a reception at the ambassador's Residence in Washington.

Pictures from Getty Images

 

[GrandDuchess]

Tour of the US - continued

On November 4th, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall laid a wreath at the Second World War memorial in Washington D.C.

Afterwards, they looked at the Freedom Wall, a wall of gold stars set between two waterfalls, with each star representing 100 war dead.

Later, Charles and Camilla visited the Folger Shakespeare Library to meet children involved in the ‘Bill’s Buddies’ project and watch a performance in the library’s theatre.

The Prince and The Duchess then headed for New Orleans where they meet survivors of Hurricane Katrina and emergency workers involved in the massive relief effort. The couple, who were on their way to San Francisco, stopped off in Louisiana to see first-hand the widespread damage to the city and visited one of the worst hit areas, the Lower Ninth Ward.

There, they met emergency workers and stood side by side on top of a patched 20 feet-high levee, shaking their heads as they took in the extent of the destruction. All across the area were splintered homes, chunks of concrete and overturned cars.

Later, in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, The Prince wore a string of Mardi Gras beads, given to him by a well-wisher, which he wore over his blue suit.



On November 5th, Charles and Camilla visited an organic farmer’s market in Marin County before visiting a local farming community at an organic farm. Their Royal Highnesses were visiting the Marin County market in Point Reyes, a small village nestled in the sweeping California hills, on the fifth day of their tour of the USA.

The Duchess sampled food products off some of the stalls and laughed, saying: “I am eating my way around here,” she said. “Luckily I've got a good appetite!”

The couple popped over the road to the Old Western Hotel, an old-fashioned saloon bar. Greeted warmly by landlady Judy Borello, The Prince was handed a pint of the local Boothammer ale, while his wife supped from half a pint of IPA.

The Prince held his pint aloft, toasting a heartfelt “Cheers!” to the handful of local regulars. Charles also patted Fred, the resident dog, and the couple shook hands with well-wishers.

Afterwards, Charles and Camilla toured Star Route Farms, the oldest certified organic farm in California. They enjoyed a tour of the chard fields with owner and leading light of the Californian organic movement Warren Webber and had an organic lunch made up of such delights as “garden sandwiches lavished with local butter and wild watercress”.



On November 6th, Charles and Camilla broke off from their US tour for prayers in a village chapel. Their Royal Highnesses worshipped and sang hymns in an hour-long service at the Episcopalian St Columba's Parish Church in Inverness, near San Francisco. They were greeted by Pastor Tom Brindley, whose daughter presented The Duchess with a small bouquet.

Later in the day, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were treated to a special version of Beach Blanket Babylon, America’s longest running musical. The musical was specially revamped for the occasion with a British theme.

The Prince and The Duchess laughed and clapped as a giant hat in the shape of London's skyline made an appearance. Former US Secretary of State George Shultz even made a surprise appearance dressed as Superman and said: “Hat's off to the British!” Charles and Camilla joined the audience in a standing ovation.

 

[GrandDuchess]

Tour of the US - continued

On November 7th, Charles and Camilla visited a market in the Ferry Building on the waterfront.
They also visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, accompanied by California's First Lady, Maria Shriver, and attended a dinner for business and civic leaders at the De Young Museum



On November 8th, Charles and Camilla visited the Empress Hotel Homeless Project and bid farewell to the American citzens.

Pictures by Getty Images

 

[GrandDuchess]

November 2005

On November 16th, The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Soroptimist Residential Club in London to see the newly refurbished rooms and to unveil a plaque.

On November 17th, Camilla turned on the lights in the historic Burlington Arcade on Piccadilly, London, in aid of the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS). The Duchess performed the honour in front of hundreds of shoppers in her role as President of the NOS.

On November 18th, the Prince and the Duchess visited the North West of England for a day of engagements. In the first stop of the day, while Charles visited Warrington, Camilla was greeted by a cheering crowd of staff and patients as she arrived at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Later, together again, the couple visited Anfield, the home of European Champions Liverpool Football Club to see The Prince’s Trust Football Initiative which is celebrating its 10,000th participant.

On November 22nd, Camilla spent a day in Wiltshire and visited a playgroup for pre–school children with special needs, a victim support initiative and a voluntary youth organisation during her first solo awayday.

She visited the Springboard Opportunity Playgroup, a local charity that helps young children with special needs in Chippenham and then went to the town's police station, where she visited staff at the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust. As a trustee, The Duchess has been involved with the organisation for seven years, but became Patron this year. The Trust provides victim support to those targeted by criminals, sending out a manned Bobby Van to repair doors and windows at properties which have been broken into to help restore a sense of security. The Duchess jumped into a Bobby Van to pay a surprise visit to Melksham resident Evelyn Hawkins who was preyed on by burglars.

The Duchess then visited a youth club in the village of Atworth, run by Youth Action Wiltshire (YAW). She became Patron of Youth Action Wiltshire in September. After meeting staff and children at the centre, The Duchess tried out the sporting facilities at the club, taking on a couple of youngsters in an impromptu game of table tennis and even trying her hand at archery.



On November 23rd, Charles and Camilla attended a star-studded dinner for representatives of London’s financial community to raise money for The Prince’s Trust.

On November 24th, the couple paid tribute to the “pure courage” of the British Armed Forces injured in the line of fire during a visit to open a rehabilitation centre for injured military personnel.

On November 25th, the Prince and the Duchess met artists at a reception for The Prince’s Drawing School. The Prince’s Drawing School is an educational charity set up by His Royal Highness in 2000 to be a centre of excellence for observational drawing.

On November 25th, the Prince and the Duchess made a surprise visit to Borough Market today, one of London’s most famous food institutions.

On November 29th, Charles & Camilla presented soldiers from the 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Wales with their Iraq tour medals.



Pictures by Getty Images and the Prince of Wales' Official Website

 

[GrandDuchess]

December 2005

On December 7th, Charles and Camilla attended the world premiere of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

On December 12th they met young people helped by The Prince’s Trust in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and also met shoppers when they visited a Christmas market.

On December 14th, Camilla met some of Britain’s bravest youngsters today and presented them with awards for their courage. The Duchess shook hands with each of the inspiring young winners before hanging the medals around their necks.

On December 15th, the Duchess visited Kew Palace today to see the ongoing renovation work to restore the historic building to its former glory.

On December 16th, Charles and Camilla attended a Royal Gala Performance of Madam Butterfly in aid of The Prince’s Trust.

On December 19th, Camilla attended the last evening of the London International Horse Show.

On December 25th, Charles and Camilla joined the remaining of the Royal Family at Christmas Day service at Sandringham.

 

[GrandDuchess]

January 2006

On January 6th, The Duchess of Cornwall visited the osteoporosis department of Northampton General Hospital and was warmly received by members of the public as she arrived. During the 90-minute visit she met with members of the Northampton branch of the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS), of which she is President.

On January 26th, Camilla spent a day in Hertfordshire visiting St Albans Cathedral and helping to highlight a fundraising appeal at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

She also met children from the Abbey Church of England Primary School who turned themselves into an artistic representation of the Cathedral's stained glass windows for her visit.

On January 30th, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited a new state-of-the-art sports centre at one of the country's top boarding schools in Gloucestershire. Their Royal Highnesses watched an inter-house swimming race in the balmy heat of the impressive new swimming pool before chatting to staff and pupils as they toured the gym.

 

[GrandDuchess]

February 2006

On 7 February, the Duchess paid her first official visit to Kingston Upon Hull. During the day she visited the Centre for Metabolic Bone Disease at Hull Royal Infirmary, were a charity had managed to raise money for the purchase of new bone scanners, opened a new dairy for the award-winning cheese makers Lowna Dairy, and the Healthy Living Centre, a centre providing services and activities for elderly people, and watched a special dance performance.

At the Centre for Metabolic Bone Disease, the Duchess, who has been President of the National Osteoporosis Centre since 2001, told the invited guests about her personal relation to the disease:

“I became involved with osteoporosis after my mother and grandmother both died as a result of this devastating disease. Then, only 11 years ago, osteoporosis was seldom discussed, rarely diagnosed and usually attributed to old women with so-called Dowager’s Humps. Huge strides have been made since that but we still have a long way to go.”


Pictures from the Centre for Metabolic Bone Disease, Healthy Living Centre and Lowna Dairy. All by Getty Images

On 10 February, The Prince and Duchess opened the University of Derby’s new campus in Buxton, Derbyshire. The campus was created in the old Grade II listed former Devonshire Royal Hospital, but now houses 1 500 students. The Duchess of Cornwall officially started a model of Foucault’s Pendulum during the opening.


Pictures from the new campus. From the PoW's official website and Getty Images.

On 15 February, The Prince and Duchess attended a reception marking 100 years of Everyman Books at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

Picture from the reception. From the PoW's official website.

On 20 February, The Prince and Duchess presented The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success awards at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London, to honour achievements of young people whom have overcome barriers in their lives. It was the start of the 30th anniversary celebrations of The Prince’s Trust.


Picture from the awards. From the PoW's official website.

On 21 February, The Prince and Duchess opened the Shooting Star House in South West London, a hospice for children with life-limiting conditions.


Picture from the hospice. From the PoW's official website.

 

[GrandDuchess]

March 2006

On 1 March, St David’s Day, The Prince and Duchess paid a full day visit to Wales were they performed several official engagements. Together with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince and Duchess attended the opening of the new Senedd, the Welsh Assembly in the day, and later that day they returned to the Assembly as they attended a reception in the debating chamber. In the evening, Their Royal Highnesses attended a Royal Gala Performance of Wagner’s opera ‘The Flying Dutchman’ at the Wales Millennium Centre.


Picture from the Senedd. From the PoW's official website.

On 3 March, The Prince and Duchess visited the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, in Colchester, Essex, just before the soldiers’ deployment to countries like Afghanistan. The Prince and Duchess spent time with the soldiers and their families in the barracks were they learned about their work and experiences, as well as future missions.



Picture from the regiment. From the PoW's official website.

On 9 March, The Duchess, for the first time, visited the Unicorn Theatre for Children, of which she is patron, on the South Bank of London. The theatre is a producer of professional theatre and education projects for children ages 4-12, and the Duchess got to peak at the rehearsals for a forthcoming play in the main auditorium before she met with children in the education workshop.


Pictures from the theatre. From the PoW's official website.

On 9 March, The Prince and Duchess attended a cello concerto by the Philharmonia Orchestra in The Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. The concerto, written in remembrance of The Queen Mother, is composed by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and was a part of his 70th birthday celebrations.

Picture from the concert. From the PoW's official website.

On the evening of 9 March, the Duchess attended a Royal Premiere of the British film ‘These Foolish Things’ at the Odeon in Kensington, London. The premiere was held in aid of The National Osteoporosis Society (NOS), of which the Duchess has been President for many years. The evening presented a good line-up of stars in attendance.

Among the invited guests were also the Chairwoman of Derby City’s Osteoporosis Society, Pat Kilminster, whom got to meet the Duchess before the screening – her second meeting with Camilla, as she had met her five years earlier while she received treatment for her illness, and was mighty taken as she said: “I’m just so impressed that she remembered me”.


Picture from the Royal Premiere. From the PoW's official website.

On 13 March, The Prince and Duchess visited Dorset to pay tribute to the work of the Dorset Police as they are marking their 150th anniversary this year. They received a tour of the premises, including a presentation of the control room that receives over 90 000 emergency calls every year, they got to listen to a pre-recorded 999 call, and the Duchess, whom thought Dorset is a “wonderful part of the world”, was shown CCTV footage.

That same day, on 13 March, The Prince and Duchess started the Commonwealth Day celebrations by visiting one of the country’s biggest Sikh temple, located in London, in honour of the day and the Sikh festival Holla Mohalla that was being celebrated at the time. The visit also functioned as a preparation for The Prince and Duchess’ coming visit to India later in that month. TRH were greeted by hundreds of local schoolchildren, received flower garlands and took off their shoes as they entered the temple.


Picture from the temple. From the PoW's official website.

Later that Commonwealth Day, in the absence of the Queen (who was on a official visit to Australia at the time) the Prince and Duchess attended a church service in the Westminster Abbey, and afterwards a reception hosting some 2 000 guests at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The theme for this year was Health and Vitality, and the abbey was decorated in flags from around the world.


Pictures from Westminster Abbey and Marlborough House. From the PoW's official website.

On 17 March, TRH attended the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. Seated in the Royal Box, the Duchess wore a green St. Patrick's Day themed hat with shamrocks designed by Patrick Treacy, and presented the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup during the day.


Pictures from Cheltenham. From the PoW's official website and Getty Images.

In the end of March 2006, The Prince and Duchess embarked on their second official royal tour overseas as they begun a two-week tour of the countries of Egypt, Saudia Arabia and India. Their Royal Highnesses visited Egypt from Monday 20th to Friday 24th March, Saudi Arabia from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March and India from Sunday 26th March to Friday 31st March.

1: Visiting the Al Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt on 21 March. The Duchess was wearing the traditional Shalwar Kameez and accompanying headscarf, 2: At the Brooke Hospital for Animals in Cairo on 22 March, were the Duchess struck up a good contact with many animals, 3: In the oasis town of Siwa in Egypt on 23 March, were the Duchess chatted with some participants in the Siwa Women’s Native Artisanship Development Project, 4: Laying down some flowers at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Al Alamein in Egypt on 24 March, 5: Meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on 25 March, 6: Visiting the Multionational School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 26 March, 7: Visiting a Punjab village in Chandigarh, India on 27 March, 8: Visiting the Artiya village in India on 29 March, 9: At a craft market in Jodhpur, India on 30 March, 10: Attending the Rajastahn Day Parade in Jaipur, India on 30 March

 

[GrandDuchess]

April 2006

On 9 April, The Prince and Duchess celebrated their first wedding anniversary in private at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland, which was also the venue for their honeymoon. To mark the special occasion of this anniversary, Clarence House released an official photograph picturing TRH together in the garden of Clarence House, taken by the renowned photographer Mario Testino.


The official photograph marking The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall's first wedding anniversary in 2006. Picture by Mario Testino via the PoW's official website.

On 20 April, The Prince and Duchess visited the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve on Royal Deeside in Scotland. The visit marked an agreement made between two parties in order to secure the future of the reserve at least until 2030. The Estate Manager commented on the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay’s visit in the following manner: “The Duke and Duchess clearly have an interest in the environment and we are very honoured that they came here today. I think they thoroughly enjoyed it.”


Picture from the nature reserve. From the PoW's official website.

On 21 April, The Prince and Duchess hosted a dinner to celebrate the Queen’s 80th birthday at the former royal residence Kew Palace in the famous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in Surrey. A great number of extended family members were present on this special evening, the residence was decorated with fantastically beautiful flowers as the party took their drinks in the Queen’s Drawing Room and the dinner in the King’s Dining Room, all to the tunes of Handel’s Water Music played by musicians from the London Chamber Orchestra.

Afterwards, the guests gathered on the steps of the palace to splendid fireworks display to the wide range of tunes coming from music from across the Queen’s past eight decades. It all ended with the 2 000 crowd, consisting of friends of The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, friends of the Historic Royal Palaces and residents and staff who work for the Queen and Prince of Wales, singing the traditional tunes of 'Rule Britannia', 'Sea Shanty' and 'Land of Hope and Glory' together, and finally the 'Happy Birthday' to the Queen.


Pictures from Kew Palace. From Getty Images.

 

[GrandDuchess]

With wishes for a wonderful summer to all of our members!

//GrandDuchess, Alexandria, Anna_R, Mapple & the TRF Team.

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