Charles & Camilla enjoy the theatre and the park

Clarence House

Last Wednesday The Prince and Princess of Wales undertook engagements in London.

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First, Charles and Camilla visited Theatre Royal Drury, which is the UK’s oldest theatre site. Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber and his wife Madeleine Lloyd Webber, the owners, gave them a tour of the venue following the restoration, where they even met with members of the public. Charles then officially reopened the theatre.

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Their Royal Highnesses also enjoyed some scones and tea on the terrace.

Clarence House adds on the engagement:

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is undergoing a two year restoration project to bring to life the building’s history and offer an amazing space for the public to enjoy. The theatre sits on the oldest theatre site in continuous use in the world - there has been a theatre at this location since 1663! (...) One of the aims of the restoration was to create a space that will see the building alive throughout the day for everyone, whether or not they are coming to see a show. The new hospitality offering includes all day dining and a cocktail bar for everyone to enjoy. People will also be able to enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace with playwright Noel Coward! The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is set to reopen to the public in August 2021.

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Then, The Prince and Princess visited Hyde Park to thank staff from The Royal Parks, Charles’ patronage that looks after London’s green spaces. Clarence House on the engagement:

Their Royal Highnesses spoke to gardeners, apprentices, cleaning staff, litter pickers, volunteer and the mounted police force, whose efforts helped to provide an escape for people during lockdown. Park staff said it had been a “challenging but rewarding” time, and added it was nice to receive appreciation for their work. Hyde Park boasts a “super” nursery which houses all 450,000 bedding plants and shrubs needed for flower displays across the eight Royal Parks, including the gardens outside Buckingham Palace.

The Royal Parks charity, launched by The Prince in 2017, welcomes 77 million visitors a year to its 5,000 acres of historic parkland across London – including Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, Green Park, Regent’s Park, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park and Bushy Park.

Chief Executive of The Royal Parks, Andrew Scattergood, said: “It’s an incredibly special day, but for me it is bigger than just the Royal Parks, I think they’re trying to say thank you to parks and gardens across the UK.

“This year with everything we’ve been through just the importance of green spaces and that access to nature is hugely important, but what today shows you is just how many people are working to enable that to happen.”

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At one point Camilla stopped to enjoy an ice cream.

Now, for what she wore to enjoy the warm British weather. The dress is a new piece in her wardrobe, Samantha Sung’s ‘Audrey Drapery Dota Dress in Ivy Green’ (£705). It features a fitted upper, full length button fastening. You can buy it here.

Clarence House

She carried her Bottega Veneta bag named ‘Intrecciato small leather shoulder bag’. It’s currently unavailable. Selfridges’ description:

Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato weave is just so versatile, isn’t it? It works on every bag the brand uses it on. This one is covered in the technique, and it even reaches inside too. It doesn’t just look good, though — it’s functional as well. It’s got two roomy main compartments with a zip pocket in each, and there are a couple of ways you can carry it — with the top carry handles, or over your shoulder with the strap.

Regarding jewelry, The Duchess turned to pieces she has been wearing for almost a year by now. The gold necklace is Jens Hamsen’s ‘Golden Kiwi’ (NZ$1,390). It was gifted by the Mayor of Nelson to Her Royal Highness during a tour in 2015. She has been wearing it frequently since last year. The description:

Jens Hamsen

The Golden Kiwi pendant is a beautiful stylised interpretation of the national symbol of New Zealand, the rare flightless Kiwi bird.

Kiki McDonough

She usually pairs it with another much-loved necklace as she did today, the ‘Apollo Mini Blue Topaz and Diamond Pendant in White Gold’ (£1,916.67) by Kiki McDonough. I personally believe it was a gift by The Duchess of Cambridge, who also frequently buys Kiki, and as it was first seen around Camilla’s birthday. It’s an exquisite 18ct White Gold and Diamond intricate circle pendant encasing a beautiful Blue Topaz stone. The delicate design has been crafted to ensure maximum sparkle.

Her shoes are unidentified as well.

Camilla enjoys day with children and elephants

Via Clarence House

The Princess of Wales today undertook engagements very close to her heart.

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First, she visited Griffin Primary School in Wandsworth, South London along with Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell MBE to formally open the Life Changing Library. The school is currently one of the six pilot primary schools selected to take part in Cressida Cowell’s flagship project and aims to show how a “well-resourced primary school library has on a child’s opportunities in life.” It’s stocked with 1000 titles selected by the Book Trust, Her Royal Highness’ patronage.

It’s well known that she has a passion for reading and even owns an instagram focused on that.

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As usual, Camilla sat down to read for the children, this time for a class of Year 2 pupils. She picked ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ by Judith Kerr. Cressida readed an extract from her own book, How To Train Your Dragon. Before that, Her Royal Highness cut the ribbon to officially open the state-of-the-art library.

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The Duchess of Cornwall also (not quite) enjoyed a game of ‘draw-along’ to everyone’s fun.

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Before leaving, Camilla presented the school library with three books: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse by Charlie Mackesy; Swallows And Amazons by Arthur Ransome, and The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

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Cressida Cowell said:

The response to ‘Life-changing Libraries’ has been incredible, and the formal opening of these beautiful new library spaces is a very exciting moment in the campaign. I am honoured that The Duchess of Cornwall was able to join us at Griffin Primary School for the first of these special occasions, and I’m looking forward to visiting the other pilot schools across England over the next few days to celebrate the magic of reading and the transformative power of literacy and libraries.

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Then, Camilla went to St James Park to open their Story Trail, an interactive literary installation around the park. Clarence House says:

This elephant-themed story trail stretches from Green Park to St James’ Park from 22nd June – 12th July and children are invited to find their way with a specially created map and complete nature-themed challenges from the story trail booklet along the way.

Conservation charity Elephant Family are raising awareness of healthy co-existence between humans and animals by placing 100 life-size Asian elephants across locations in London. The elephants were created by indigenous communities in Tamil Nadu.

Created in memory of Elephant Family Co-Founder and The Duchess’s brother Mark Shand, the CoExistence art exhibition marks a unique time when a reduction in human activity is having a positive effect on wildlife around the world.

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Elmer the Elephant clearly helped keep the children entertained.

Camilla wasn’t at her best through the engagements, though ― the Evening Standard reports that she told National Literacy Trust chief executive Jonathan Douglas that she was having “hay fever struggles” and was “red-eyed” due to the high pollen count.

Jonathan Douglas also said:

Today has been an amazing moment because we’re coming together with her in person, and celebrating these fantastic elephants and the fact that they’re inspiring children’s imaginations and creativity. We want to get children out and about. They’ve been home-based for long enough and this is a fantastic opportunity to get into the open air, and read a story.

Trustee and creative lead of Elephant Family, Ruth Ganesh, spoke of how important the event was for The Duchess: “It’s a very special thing because Mark (Camilla’s late brother) dreamed of bringing elephants to London and he always used to talk about how he hadn’t ever met anyone that didn’t love an elephant. So it’s like fulfilling old conversations of many years ago.”

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Regarding outfit details, she turned to Fiona Clare as usual. It’s a vibrant and lovely dress by the brand.

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At arrival she used her Burberry coat. Unfortunately her earrings, which can be clearly seen here, haven’t been identified.

Clarence House

She carried her Bottega Veneta bag named ‘Intrecciato small leather shoulder bag’. It’s currently unavailable. Selfridges’ description:

Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato weave is just so versatile, isn’t it? It works on every bag the brand uses it on. This one is covered in the technique, and it even reaches inside too. It doesn’t just look good, though — it’s functional as well. It’s got two roomy main compartments with a zip pocket in each, and there are a couple of ways you can carry it — with the top carry handles, or over your shoulder with the strap.

Regarding jewelry, The Duchess turned to pieces she has been wearing for almost a year by now. The gold necklace is Jens Hamsen’s ‘Golden Kiwi’ (NZ$1,390). It was gifted by the Mayor of Nelson to Her Royal Highness during a tour in 2015. She has been wearing it frequently since last year. The description:

Jens Hamsen

The Golden Kiwi pendant is a beautiful stylised interpretation of the national symbol of New Zealand, the rare flightless Kiwi bird.

Kiki McDonough

She usually pairs it with another much-loved necklace as she did today, the ‘Apollo Mini Blue Topaz and Diamond Pendant in White Gold’ (£1,916.67) by Kiki McDonough. I personally believe it was a gift by The Duchess of Cambridge, who also frequently buys Kiki, and as it was first seen around Camilla’s birthday. It’s an exquisite 18ct White Gold and Diamond intricate circle pendant encasing a beautiful Blue Topaz stone. The delicate design has been crafted to ensure maximum sparkle.

Fitbit

It’s also possible to spot The Duchess’ faithful Fitbit’s ‘Charge 4’ ($129.95), along with her usual bracelets, which aren’t identified. I believe that her usual colour isn’t available in the site anymore, so the photo below doesn’t represent her actual watch. The description:

Take your goals further with a health & fitness tracker that packs built-in GPS for pace and distance, 24/7 heart rate tracking and more into a comfortable wristband.

Her shoes are unidentified as well.

Camilla dances, receives flower, and more

Via Clarence House

Sorry for my lateness again! Wednesdays are a really busy day for me and yesterday I had a headache. The Princess of Wales had a couple of engagements on Wednesday and Thursday, including a date night with her Prince.

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On Wednesday, to mark the centenary of Royal Academy of Dance ― to which she’s vice-patron ―, Camilla visited the V&A Museum in London. She was given a tour of the ‘On Point: Royal Academy of Dance at 100’ exhibition by Eleanor Fitzpatrick (Archives and Records Manager at the RAD) and Jane Pritchard (Curator of Dance, Theatre and Performance at the V&A).

The Royal Academy of Dance says:

The Duchess had the opportunity to see costumes from some of the most famous dancers to grace the stage, such as Dame Darcey and Rudolf Nureyev, as well as an array of artefacts chronicling 100 years of dance history and the RAD’s role in the development of British ballet. The Duchess, who is a keen advocate for dance and recently spoke about how she takes the RAD’s Silver Swans classes, had the opportunity to pose at the ballet barre installed as part of the display with Darcey Bussell.

Dame Darcey Bussell commented: “I was honoured to join The Duchess of Cornwall and Angela Rippon on a zoom call last year to announce Her Royal Highness as Vice-Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance. It was therefore very special to be able to join HRH today as we marked her first official engagement for the Academy. It was wonderful to see The Duchess take such an interest in this display marking 100 years of the RAD.”

Speaking of the visit, Luke Rittner CBE, RAD Chief Executive said: “We announced HRH The Duchess of Cornwall’s role as Vice-Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance last year, which was when the Academy officially turned 100. As we continue to mark this milestone, it is very fitting for Her Royal Highness to learn more about our rich history through this display at the V&A. We were absolutely thrilled to be able to give The Duchess this special tour of the display, particularly as we celebrate the reopening of museums and theatres, as well as the return to dance classes across the UK.”

Dame Monica Mason DBE, RAD Vice President also commented: “It was a pleasure to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to the RAD’s centenary display. I find it hugely inspiring to look back on 100 years of the Royal Academy of Dance, who I first started learning to dance with, and I hope that The Duchess was equally inspired.”

The Academy received its Royal Charter from King George V in 1936. The following year, the RAD was awarded its coat of arms by the College of Arms. The Academy is proud to have Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as its Patron and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall as Vice-Patron.

The Royal Academy of Dance continues to mark its centenary, looking back on 100 years of teaching the world to dance and boldly forward to the next 100 years, including a move to a new, state-of-the-art headquarters which is scheduled to formally open in spring 2022. This new home for dance will enable the RAD to expand on its mission to bring dance to more people in more places, and serve our local community.

Last year Her Royal Highness revealed that she started to take online ballet dances with her friends to keep fit, so it was clearly a fun engagement to her.

Clarence House adds that The Duchess also visited the Raphael Court where Her Royal Highness viewed the Raphael Cartoons, lent to the V&A from the Royal Collection by Her Majesty The Queen. The Duchess of Cambridge made the same tour last month.

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On Thursday, Her Royal Highness toured the Garden Museum in London ahead of British Flowers Week. Clarence House describes it:

The annual British Flowers Week festival is run in collaboration with New Covent Garden Flower Market. It is an annual, national celebration of the wealth and variety of British cut flowers, plants and foliage. The week aims to showcase great British floristry and talent in floral design, raise awareness of which British flowers are in season when, and encourage the public to buy more British flowers.

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Shane Connelly, Royal Florist, accompanied Her Royal Highness for a tour which was designed around the theme ‘Healing’, before meeting the florists who created these amazing displays. Camilla also had the opportunity to tour the museum’s new exhibition, Constance Spry and Fashion for Flowers, curated by Shane Connolly.

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The Duchess was particularly touched at a bouquet she received which contained rosemary, a sign of remembrance. Thursday would be Prince Philip’s 100th birthday, while today is her father’s 15th death anniversary. She commented, “I’m thrilled to be here today. It would have been the birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh and tomorrow would be the day of the death of my father, and I’m very honoured to be here today, doing something I know they would have appreciated.”

The Princess of Wales told the florists that “there is nothing she enjoys doing more than picking and arranging flowers, and she loves this time of year when everything comes out at once,” according to the Daily Mail.

Camilla’s brief speech:

I’d really like to thank all of you who grow, plant and decorate places with flowers. It makes such a difference to people’s lives. I think that a life without flowers would be unbearable.

As a passionate gardener myself and somebody who loves arranging flowers, I try as much as I can, when I have time, to do all the flowers for our houses... It takes me ages but I do love it more than anything in the world.

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During this visit The Duchess of Cornwall met Floral Angel’s volunteers, to which she’s patron. The charity repurposes donated flowers from events to hospices, shelters and care homes throughout London.

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To finish Thursday, Charles and Camilla had a lovely date night. It’s by following everyday engagements that you can see how compatible they are, engagements like one for flowers that Camilla carried during daytime is something that Charles would love to be part of as well. It makes me remember what Katy Perry spoke about Prince Charles during a British Asian Trust reception last year, “In my own personal experience, he has an incredibly kind soul — so kind that yes, sometimes he talks to his plants. And he asked me if I would sing to his plants. And I will in the future. You have my word, sir.”

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But on to the night’s engagement, The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated the recently reopened Royal Opera House by watching a performance of ‘Balanchine and Robbins’.

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After the performance Their Royal Highnesses joined a reception to meet with dancers and Royal Opera House staff.

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Now, for what she wore to Wednesday’s engagement. I don’t think the pale blue dress has been identified, but she has a similar design by Bruce Oldfield, so my guess it’s that it’s their design.

For the three engagements, the rest of her outfit remained the same:

Clarence House

She carried her Bottega Veneta bag named ‘Intrecciato small leather shoulder bag’. It’s currently unavailable. Selfridges’ description:

Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato weave is just so versatile, isn’t it? It works on every bag the brand uses it on. This one is covered in the technique, and it even reaches inside too. It doesn’t just look good, though — it’s functional as well. It’s got two roomy main compartments with a zip pocket in each, and there are a couple of ways you can carry it — with the top carry handles, or over your shoulder with the strap.

Regarding jewelry, The Duchess turned to pieces she has been wearing for almost a year by now. The earrings are her usual pearl ones. The gold necklace is Jens Hamsen’s ‘Golden Kiwi’ (NZ$1,390). It was gifted by the Mayor of Nelson to Her Royal Highness during a tour in 2015. She has been wearing it frequently since last year. The description:

Jens Hamsen

The Golden Kiwi pendant is a beautiful stylised interpretation of the national symbol of New Zealand, the rare flightless Kiwi bird.

Kiki McDonough

She usually pairs it with another much-loved necklace as she did today, the ‘Apollo Mini Blue Topaz and Diamond Pendant in White Gold’ (£1,916.67) by Kiki McDonough. I personally believe it was a gift by The Duchess of Cambridge, who also frequently buys Kiki, and as it was first seen around Camilla’s birthday. It’s an exquisite 18ct White Gold and Diamond intricate circle pendant encasing a beautiful Blue Topaz stone. The delicate design has been crafted to ensure maximum sparkle.

Fitbit

It’s also possible to spot The Duchess’ faithful Fitbit’s ‘Charge 4’ ($129.95), along with her usual bracelets, which aren’t identified. I believe that her usual colour isn’t available in the site anymore, so the photo below doesn’t represent her actual watch. The description:

Take your goals further with a health & fitness tracker that packs built-in GPS for pace and distance, 24/7 heart rate tracking and more into a comfortable wristband.

Her shoes are unidentified as well.

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Camilla wore a Fiona Clare vibrant dress for the daytime engagements.

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For the evening, she changed into another Fiona Clare dress, this time with snowdrops.

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The Royal Family must be over the moon with the news of Lilibeth Diana Mountbatten-Windsor’s birth. She’s one week old today. In an engagement this week, Prince Charles remarked, “(...) having recently become a grandfather for the fifth time. Such happy news really does remind one of the necessity of continued innovation in this area (...)”

Chris Allerton/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

In their social media, Clarence House said: “Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie on the arrival of baby Lilibet Diana 🎊 Wishing them all well at this time.”

Huge congratulations to all the family!

Another post is coming soon to cover the engagements that happened today.

Charles and Camilla visit Chapham

Clarence House

A quite late post, but yesterday was a busy day for me and at the end of the day I was feeling a little off, so forgive me. Yesterday, The Prince and Princess of Wales toured Clapham Old Town to “celebrate the local high street and recognise its value to the local community”, according to Clarence House.

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Their first stop was at Trinity restaurant to meet staff and representatives from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts in order to mark their 40th anniversary. While outside The Prince and Princess chatted with local suppliers like M Moen & Sons Butchers and Moxon’s Fishmongers. Camilla said that one of the muttons displayed was her “husband’s favourite.”

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Then, The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall met Omnibus Theatre staff and heard about the upcoming plans of the theatre. They walked down the hill and visited many shops along the way.

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One of them was the Prince of Wales pub. Charles enjoyed himself immensely as he poured himself a pint of Sambrook’s bitter and said that he would like to visit every Prince of Wales pub across the country to get a free drink. He and his wife also admired a Toby jug of The Duke of Edinburgh.

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Their final stop was at Clapham Fire Station to greet firefighters and thank them for their service.

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These kinds of visits around communities are especially important to promote other people to support small business and give a sense of normalcy as the UK tries to adapt to the new normal as most of the population continues to be vaccinated.

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Now, what Camilla wore to the busy day. The Duchess wore a floral Fiona Clare design.

Clarence House

She carried her Bottega Veneta bag named ‘Intrecciato small leather shoulder bag’. It’s currently unavailable. Selfridges’ description:

Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato weave is just so versatile, isn’t it? It works on every bag the brand uses it on. This one is covered in the technique, and it even reaches inside too. It doesn’t just look good, though — it’s functional as well. It’s got two roomy main compartments with a zip pocket in each, and there are a couple of ways you can carry it — with the top carry handles, or over your shoulder with the strap.

Regarding jewelry, The Duchess turned to pieces she has been wearing for almost a year by now. The earrings are her usual pearl ones. The gold necklace is Jens Hamsen’s ‘Golden Kiwi’ (NZ$1,390). It was gifted by the Mayor of Nelson to Her Royal Highness during a tour in 2015. She has been wearing it frequently since last year. The description:

Jens Hamsen

The Golden Kiwi pendant is a beautiful stylised interpretation of the national symbol of New Zealand, the rare flightless Kiwi bird.

Kiki McDonough

She usually pairs it with another much-loved necklace as she did today, the ‘Apollo Mini Blue Topaz and Diamond Pendant in White Gold’ (£1,916.67) by Kiki McDonough. I personally believe it was a gift by The Duchess of Cambridge, who also frequently buys Kiki, and as it was first seen around Camilla’s birthday. It’s an exquisite 18ct White Gold and Diamond intricate circle pendant encasing a beautiful Blue Topaz stone. The delicate design has been crafted to ensure maximum sparkle.

Fitbit

It’s also possible to spot The Duchess’ faithful Fitbit’s ‘Charge 4’ ($129.95), along with her usual bracelets, which aren’t identified. I believe that her usual colour isn’t available in the site anymore, so the photo below doesn’t represent her actual watch. The description:

Take your goals further with a health & fitness tracker that packs built-in GPS for pace and distance, 24/7 heart rate tracking and more into a comfortable wristband.

Her shoes are unidentified as well.

Camilla visits recently opened Royal Academy

Clarence House

Earlier today, The Princess of Wales visited the recently opened Royal Academy of Arts as the patron of the Friends of the Royal Academy.

It’s the longest established art school in Britain. Their site expands on their history and what the academy offers today:

For over 250 years, the RA has existed to champion art and artists. Enjoy our expanded campus with free displays, new spots to eat, drink and shop, and much more.

We’re run by the Royal Academicians, artists and architects elected by their peers in recognition of their exceptional work. We’re home to Britain’s longest established art school, the RA Schools. Every year since 1768 we’ve held an annual Summer Exhibition, the largest open-submission art exhibition in the world. We present our collection of art and architecture in free displays throughout our home on Piccadilly. And we put on world-class exhibitions of art from around the world, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people to our galleries each year. (...)

We welcome thousands of different people to our home on Piccadilly every year. We’re fortunate to have so many loyal Patrons and Friends, whose support is absolutely crucial to our survival as an independent charity. We also house a private members’ club, the Academicians’ Room, which hosts parties, film screenings and interviews.

Throughout the year we run events for teachers and students, introducing young people to new artists, artistic processes and architectural ideas. Our access programme tailors events for people with certain accessibility requirements, organising talks in BSL and tours for mobility impaired visitors. We invite families to join us at workshops and talks specially designed for younger visitors, or pick up Art Detectives packs in our galleries to help children engage with the art they see. We also work with specific community groups through initiatives like our Art Club, which welcomes those experiencing homelessness to creative sessions at the RA.

The Royal Academy of Arts notes that it was King George III who was their first patron.

I was only able to find one article about today’s visit aside from what Clarence House offers. Hello! says that she “met with members of the ticketing, visitor welcome and security team who have been instrumental in the gallery’s safe reopening post lockdown.”

Besides that, Camilla had the opportunity to take a look at two exhibitions. When I opened the Royal Academy of Arts’ site the first thing that struck me was David Hockney’s paintings, which The Duchess of Cornwall described as “glorious and uplifting – just what we need.”

Indeed, David created over 100 pieces of art on his iPad before printing onto paper. The academy’s description:

Made in the spring of 2020, during a period of intense activity at his home in Normandy, this exhibition charts the unfolding of spring, from beginning to end, and is a joyous celebration of the seasons.

Opening exactly a year after the works were made during the global pandemic, this exhibition will be a reminder of the constant renewal and wonder of the natural world – and the beauty of spring.

For those like me who are unable to see it in person, you can check out a few of the works displayed here. I must agree with what Camilla says ― these kinds of uplifting and vibrant paintings are exactly what we need after such a hard time.

The Duchess of Cornwall also viewed Michael Armitage’s Paradise Edict exhibition. The Royal Academy explains:

Michael Armitage is a Kenyan-born artist who works between Nairobi and London. His colourful, dreamlike paintings are loaded with provocative perspectives that play with visual narratives and challenge cultural assumptions, exploring politics, history, civil unrest and sexuality. Made using Lubugo bark cloth, a culturally important material made of tree bark by the Baganda people in Uganda, many of his large-scale works draw on contemporary events, combining these with Western painting motifs. This spring – just over 10 years since Armitage graduated from the Royal Academy Schools – we bring together 15 of his large-scale paintings from the past six years, exploring East African landscapes, politics and society. Alongside will be a selection of 31 works by six East African contemporary artists: Meek Gichugu, Jak Katarikawe, Theresa Musoke, Asaph Ng’ethe Macua, Elimo Njau and Sane Wadu. Chosen by Armitage for their important role in shaping figurative painting in Kenya, these seminal artists have also had a profound impact on his own artistic development. A version of this part of the exhibition will be shown at the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute, a non-profit visual arts space founded by Armitage. Armitage has also selected works by three Kenyan artists – Wangechi Mutu, Magdalene Odundo and Chelenge van Rampelberg – that will be displayed in The Dame Jillian Sackler Sculpture Gallery, just outside the exhibition galleries. This display invites conversations between the three artists’ works and sculptures from the RA’s collection, which were curated by Richard Deacon RA.

You can check out a couple of the images exhibited here.

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Now, for what Camilla wore. It’s a navy and white dress with a pleated skirt. I believe she wore the boots which were reported to be by Launer.

Regarding jewelry, The Duchess turned to pieces she has been wearing for almost a year by now. The earrings are her usual pearl ones. The gold necklace is Jens Hamsen’s ‘Golden Kiwi’ (NZ$1,390). It was gifted by the Mayor of Nelson to Her Royal Highness during a tour in 2015. She has been wearing it frequently since last year. The description:

Jens Hamsen

The Golden Kiwi pendant is a beautiful stylised interpretation of the national symbol of New Zealand, the rare flightless Kiwi bird.

Kiki McDonough

She usually pairs it with another much-loved necklace as she did today, the ‘Apollo Mini Blue Topaz and Diamond Pendant in White Gold’ (£1,916.67) by Kiki McDonough. I personally believe it was a gift by The Duchess of Cambridge, who also frequently buys Kiki, and as it was first seen around Camilla’s birthday. It’s an exquisite 18ct White Gold and Diamond intricate circle pendant encasing a beautiful Blue Topaz stone. The delicate design has been crafted to ensure maximum sparkle.

Fitbit

It’s also possible to spot The Duchess’ faithful Fitbit’s ‘Charge 4’ ($129.95), along with her usual bracelets, which aren’t identified. I believe that her usual colour isn’t available in the site anymore, so the photo below doesn’t represent her actual watch. The description:

Take your goals further with a health & fitness tracker that packs built-in GPS for pace and distance, 24/7 heart rate tracking and more into a comfortable wristband.

Apparently she didn’t carry a clutch and I haven’t identified her face mask yet.

Charles & Camilla celebrate Coventry being UK City of Culture

Clarence House

The Prince and Princess of Wales today visited Coventry, which is 2021’s UK City of Culture. Coventry is the third UK City of Culture following Derry~Londonderry 2013 and Hull 2017. At the time it was announced arts minister John Glen said that it would be “an incredible opportunity for Coventry to boost investment in the local economy, grow tourism and put arts and culture centre stage.”

The day started by visiting the Coventry Cathedral to mark the 59th anniversary of its Consecration year. Clarence House says, “The original medieval cathedral on this site was destroyed during an air raid in 1940 and in the months that followed, it became a place of pilgrimage, remembrance and hope. The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation is recited daily as an act of solidarity and remembrance.

Clarence House

“It was decided to build a new cathedral, leaving the shell of the medieval building as testament to the waste of war and as a memorial to the 600 citizens of Coventry who died that night. Her Majesty The Queen attended the Consecration of the new Cathedral in 1962.”

The Cathedral’s site adds, “As soon as it was opened in 1962, Coventry Cathedral became a major tourist attraction, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. Tourists and pilgrims come from all over the world to experience this extraordinary building and to share something of the quest for peace and reconciliation embodied by the dramatic contrast of the Ruins and the New Cathedral.”

At arrival they were greeted by the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth, and were given an overall view of the historical and spiritual importance of the old cathedral by the Dean of Coventry before seeing the new cathedral’s Peace Bell and the Stalingrad Madonna.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales also had the opportunity to enjoy a short service at Coventry Cathedral. Daily Mail reveals that it’s a “service of thanksgiving which included the litany of reconciliation ― recited every weekday at the site as an act of solidarity and wartime remembrance.”

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Then, Their Royal Highnesses visited Herbert Art Gallery, which has recently opened as the restrictions are being eased all over the UK. Even before entering they watched a street performance to celebrate City of Culture. As they entered, they were given a tour of the 2-Tone: Lives and Legacies Music Exhibition by lead curator Martin Roberts and The Selecter frontwoman Pauline Black. Daily Mail says that the exhibition is celebrating the city’s status as the home of ska music ― a blend of traditional Jamaican music, as well as reggae, punk, rock and rocksteady genres.

The newspaper continues:

Later, showing some of the exhibits to The Duchess, surrounded by displays including Fred Perry shirts and pork pie-hated musicians, Ms Black pointed out an image of The Specials’ founder member Jerry Dammers, asking her: ‘Do you know the song Free Nelson Mandela?’

When Camilla said she knew the tune, Ms Black said: ‘Well, Jerry wrote that.’

Coventry Telegraph also reveals that a “few members of Coventry’s Indian community were then lucky enough to meet The Prince and Duchess, as they are fundraising to help those impacted by the Covid-19 crisis in India.”

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While Charles undertook his own solo engagements, Camilla then had her final engagement today as she visited Coventry Central Library to find out about the activities on offer for the local community. Her Royal Highness is an avid reader and even has her own Reading Room project on Instagram.

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The Duchess of Cornwall was there to launch ‘One Million Reads Coventry’, according to Coventry Telegraph, for the library visitors who are taking part in the challenge of reading one million books by 2022. To mark the launch, she couldn’t resist but read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to the children gathered there.

Camilla also learned about the other activities hosted by the library, like ‘Reading Friends’, which helps to support older members of the community. According to the Coventry Telegraph, a final performance was also in order for Her Royal Highness, who watched a modern dance by the Off-Balance Dance company.

Yesterday, we welcomed @ClarenceHouse to @panahghar.

During the visit, the Duchess of Cornwall met with service users and support staff to hear about their experiences and the work that they've done over the last year.

Read more about the visit here: https://t.co/cIhMM32wVY pic.twitter.com/elySUurcIh

— Panahghar (@panahghar) May 26, 2021

UPDATED: Clarence House retweeted an engagement yesterday which I haven’t been made aware of sooner, a visit to Panahghar in Coventry, which provides free dedicated BME multi lingual support, advice and advocacy and access to safe refuge for victims and their families of domestic abuse, sexual abuse or gendered abuse in Coventry and Leicester.

Their site says:

Panahghar was the final visit of the day and saw Her Royal Highness visit the refuge to commend the support Panahghar offered to Black, Minoritised Ethnic Women affected by domestic violence and abuse over the pandemic. During the visit, The Duchess met with the service users and support staff at Panahghar to hear about their experiences and the impact of the pandemic.

Over the last year, Panahghar saw a record number of calls to their helpline and a rise in service users needing support in the community, as well as refuge accommodation during the pandemic. Panahghar’s refuge and support services were accessed 24/7 365 days of the year. During 2020 Panahghar supported over 87 women and 74 children in refuge alone.

Sandra Manak, the Interim CEO of Panahghar, explained, “The last year has been difficult for everyone and especially for BME women’s refuges across the country. We have had to adapt our support services around Covid restrictions and keep the safety of our service users and support staff a key priority. I am very proud to lead such a dedicated team.”

On the special visit, Mrs Manak shared, “It has been wonderful to welcome Her Royal Highness to Panahghar and be recognised for the hard work and commitment that we offer to our community and service users on a daily basis. This has been a very good opportunity for us to highlight the issues that BME women experience as well as the importance of retaining specialist BME services such as ours. We hope to continue to grow and enhance our services.”

In meeting with The Duchess, one of the service users said, ‘they were happy to meet Her Royal Highness and talk about their journey’. The Duchess of Cornwall praised the service users in sharing with her their experiences, as well as commending Panahghar’s staff team for their hard work, especially during the pandemic and understood the challenges faced by service users and staff.

Camilla has been supporting domestic violence victims for years ever since she heard the heartbreaking stories from women supported by SafeLives, which recently became her charity. Over the past year she has expressed her concern of how bad the numbers of domestic abuse would be throughout this pandemic.

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Now, what Camilla wore today.

Fiona Clare

The Princess of Wales wore a navy dress with a white shirt underneath. I’m inclined to believe it’s a Fiona Clare design as they have a similar style already owned by her and Her Royal Highness is a faithful customer.

The cape worn outside is thought to be a Bruce Oldfield design. It’s been reported that her faithful black suede boots are by Launer.

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Regarding jewelry, The Duchess turned to pieces she has been wearing for almost a year by now. The earrings are her usual pearl ones. The gold necklace is Jens Hamsen’s ‘Golden Kiwi’ (NZ$1,390). It was gifted by the Mayor of Nelson to Her Royal Highness during a tour in 2015. She has been wearing it frequently since last year. The description:

Jens Hamsen

The Golden Kiwi pendant is a beautiful stylised interpretation of the national symbol of New Zealand, the rare flightless Kiwi bird.

Kiki McDonough

She usually pairs it with another much-loved necklace as she did today, the ‘Apollo Mini Blue Topaz and Diamond Pendant in White Gold’ (£1,916.67) by Kiki McDonough. I personally believe it was a gift by The Duchess of Cambridge, who also frequently buys Kiki, and as it was first seen around Camilla’s birthday. It’s an exquisite 18ct White Gold and Diamond intricate circle pendant encasing a beautiful Blue Topaz stone. The delicate design has been crafted to ensure maximum sparkle.

Fitbit

It’s also possible to spot The Duchess’ faithful Fitbit’s ‘Charge 4’ ($129.95), along with her usual bracelets, which aren’t identified. I believe that her usual colour isn’t available in the site anymore, so the photo below doesn’t represent her actual watch. The description:

Take your goals further with a health & fitness tracker that packs built-in GPS for pace and distance, 24/7 heart rate tracking and more into a comfortable wristband.

DeMellier London

To end, Camilla carried her DeMellier London ‘Venice’ handbag in black grain, which you can see more about here. Please note that those pages aren’t near the state of being finished.

I don’t believe her face mask has been identified yet.

That’s all for today. Thanks for joining me!

- Thaís