Latest news with #Camilla
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Knowing that Charles would be admitting to having an affair, Princess Diana broke royal protocol in a 'revenge dress' with a lasting legacy
On June 29, 1994, Princess Diana attended a dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in London, fully aware that her husband Charles would be admitting to his affair with Camilla that same night on TV. Determined to make a lasting impression, she chose to wear a daring black dress by designer Christina Stambolian - and while it broke a string of royal protocols in the process, it did its job, and photos of the stunning princess filled newspapers around the world.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Queen Camilla's telling Wimbledon remark that laid Royal Family drama bare
Queen Camilla paid a surprise visit to Wimbledon last year amid a tumultuous time for the Royal Family - and during her day out at the tennis she made a telling remark If there's one sporting tournament that's guaranteed to bring in a royal crowd - it's Wimbledon. The tennis grand slam tournament returns for another year on Monday and regular royal spectators usually include the Princess of Wales, Zara and Mike Tindall - and even Queen Camilla. Last year, she made an unnannounced visit to the All England Club to watch the quarter finals action from the Royal Box on Centre Court with her sister Annabel Elliot. The outing came during a tumultuous time for Camilla, who during the early part of 2024 had been keeping the royal show on the road while her husband King Charles and Kate took time out from public duties as they were both diagnosed with cancer. But amid the worrying time, she was able to relax somewhat on a day out at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, where she wore a cream linen dress featuring large giraffe motifs by Anna Valentine, with a Jack Russell brooch from Van Cleef and Arpels. On arriving at the championships, she met former player Laura Robson, who works in international player relations. And tellingly the Queen told her about her day out that it was it was "so nice to be able to escape for a day". Meanwhile, Camilla also praised head gardener Martyn Falconer, who has worked at Wimbledon for 25 years and cares for all the plants around the grounds. "It all looks fantastic. It always looks absolutely perfect," she told him. She also met another Camila – the daughter of Mexican doubles player Santiago Gonzalez – after the youngster boldly introduced herself to the royal guest. The Queen said "fancy having two Camillas here" and asked if she would like a picture together, and had a peek at Camila's Wimbledon pass by holding her lanyard to read it. She spent time chatting to ball girl Natalia, from Burntwood School in Wandsworth, and ball boy Yug, from Harris Academy Wimbledon, asking them which courts they worked on and how much they had been enjoying the experience. It has not been confirmed yet if Kate is set to attend SW19 during the Wimbledon fortnight this year as she is still gradually returning to royal duties following her cancer treatment. Confusion was sparked last week when it was announced that Kate, who is in remission from cancer, would not be attending the second day of Royal Ascot festival. It came after her name originally appeared on the official list of those taking part in a carriage procession alongside her husband Prince William as well as the King and Queen. When it was confirmed that she would not be attending, sources said she is still trying to find the right balance following her cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy treatment.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The scandalous love story of Queen Camilla's great-aunt Violet and her lesbian lover Vita Sackville-West
Childhood holidays were always truly special for Queen Camilla. Each year her mother would take her, together with sister Annabel and brother Mark, to the Villa dell'Ombrellino, a palatial mansion in Tuscany with breathtaking views looking out towards Florence. As Camilla grew older she'd lie under the umbrella-shaped gazebo in the garden, after which the house is named, and devour books taken from the well-stocked library. Among them were Broderie Anglaise, written by Camilla's great-aunt Violet Trefusis, and Challenge by Vita Sackville-West. Through their pages, the future queen came to learn about one of the greatest unspoken society scandals of the 20th century – the scorching lesbian affair between the two authors who eloped together, leaving their husbands behind. Violet was the second daughter of the fabled Alice Keppel - the last and most powerful of King Edward VII's mistresses. Violet liked to say that she was the King's daughter, though she wasn't (her sister Sonia, Camilla's grandmother, may have been). It was Edward VII's money which had bought Ombrellino and where, for decades after the King's death, Alice reigned as queen. But her daughter Violet was a wayward and unruly child who, when sent away to boarding school, got to know Vita, daughter of the wealthy Lord Sackville. At 14, Violet declared her undying love for the older girl – and the seeds of the scandal which would last many years were sown. Brunette, beguiling, and always with a rebellious look about her, Violet captivated Vita. And though, as they emerged into adulthood, Vita became engaged to diplomat and writer Harold Nicolson, the women maintained an unbreakable bond. Jealous of Vita's forthcoming marriage, Violet became engaged to Denys Trefusis, a mild-mannered aristocratic soldier. But before the wedding could take place, she and Vita disappeared to France together for several months, and Violet told her future husband she could only go through with the marriage if he promised they would never have sex. Extraordinarily, Denys agreed. Within a day of their arrival in Paris after the Trefusis's Mayfair wedding in 1919, Violet and Vita met at the Ritz Hotel and, according to Violet's celebrated biographer Diana Souhami, had sex. 'I treated her savagely. I had her. I didn't care, I only wanted to hurt Denys,' Vita wrote afterwards. The next day they summoned Denys to tell him his marriage was a sham. 'Violet told him she had meant to run away with me instead of marrying him; she told him she didn't care for him. He got very white, and I thought he was going to faint. I wanted to say, "Don't you know, you stupid fool, she is mine in every sense of the word?",' Vita wrote in her diary. The soldier, who'd just returned from the Great War having been awarded a Military Cross, broke down in tears. 'He had been used, tricked,' writes Souhami. Husband and wife quit Paris and travelled south, but when they arrived at Saint-Jean-de-Luz they slept in separate hotel rooms. Meanwhile, Vita was sending letters from Paris, determined to ensure Violet and her husband were not having sex. Violet married Denys Trefusis in Hanover Square, London, but within a day of arriving in Paris after the wedding, Violet and Vita met at the Ritz Hotel and, according to Violet's celebrated biographer Diana Souhami, had sex Broderie Anglaise was written by Camilla's great-aunt Violet Trefusis Back home in England, the lovers could not bear to be apart and audaciously planned another elopement that autumn. Meanwhile, to console himself, Vita's husband Harold Nicolson found himself a new lover – the couturier Edward Molyneux (later to dress the Duchess of Windsor). The lesbian relationship was 'not just a torrid affair', writes Souhami. They had loved each other for more than a decade. But when Violet suggested buying a house in Sicily with Vita and moving there permanently, Vita got cold feet – she sensed social isolation and, maybe, bankruptcy. She engineered a situation where her husband and Denys would hire a plane in London and fly to France to 'rescue' her. There was an angry scene between the runaways and their husbands at a hotel in Amiens, but nothing changed and everybody carried on as before. The women were too sexually and emotionally entangled to part. But now there grew a difference between the two lovers. Violet was prepared to throw away everything – her reputation, money, husband, future – for Vita. But Vita wanted to cling on to what she'd got. The lovers separated, came together again, then separated once more. It was a recipe which repeated itself several times more in the coming years, but the wheels were slowly coming off the relationship. Because of the affair Violet and Denys had parted, but Vita and Harold did not. Mrs Keppel, who held the purse-strings, ordered Violet to find somewhere to live in Italy, and in the end she came to live with her mother at Villa dell'Ombrellino. 'There was never enough furniture and it was a real white elephant, with two sitting rooms to every bedroom,' recalled a visitor. 'But as far as Alice Keppel was concerned, it was Buckingham Palace.' But when Alice died – just two months after her grand-daughter Camilla was born – Violet inherited the house. And here, throughout her childhood, Camilla and her siblings would come to play every summer, delighting in the lush surroundings and spacious grounds. When Camilla returned to Ombrellino a few years ago – now empty and mothballed – she mournfully expressed the hope that something could be done to bring the house back to life. But today it still stands empty. Like her great-aunt, Camilla was to create a scandal all of her own – though one which ultimately resolved itself happily. The same, alas, could never be said of Violet, who died aged 77 in 1972, the tragic victim of what she described as 'the unwanted licence of loneliness'. Vita had two children and lived a rich life as an author and garden designer. But never again in her life was Violet able to find someone to love and cherish.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Common Spice You'd Never See In The Queen's Royal Kitchen
The late Queen Elizabeth II ran a tight ship. With some of the world's best chefs at her disposal and strict control over the kitchen at all times, the Queen's personal preferences often dictated what could, and could not be served from the royal kitchen. Case in point: Queen Elizabeth hates garlic, the alluring allium adored around the world, and it was formally banned from any and all royal meals. Yes, you heard that right. Garlic, while beloved as a flavor base for thousands of dishes, was nowhere to be found in the British monarch's culinary routine. That being said, it's not because of its flavor, but rather its odor. In a 2018 appearance on MasterChef Australia, Camilla, then-duchess of Cornwall, confirmed to one of the show's judges, Gary Mehigan, that "garlic is a no-no" in the royal diet since at formal banquets, there will be lots of chatter (via X). It's understandable, as when speaking with diplomats, world leaders, and esteemed nobility, the last thing you would want is for your breath to smell unpleasant. Not only is garlic's odor potentially offensive, but it could also cause some embarrassing moments at the dinner table, at least according to one former chef at Buckingham Palace. "The Queen is a wonderful lady, the royal family are wonderful people but they're missing out on garlic because at Buckingham Palace you don't cook with garlic. I suppose, in case you get the royal burp," John Higgins told The National Post in 2016. Read more: We Asked 14 Celeb Chefs How They Order Their Steak Garlic is just one of the common foods Queen Elizabeth didn't eat. Another allium, onions, were considered off-limits in the royal kitchen, likely for the same reasons as garlic. Unlike garlic, though, onions were permitted from time to time, so long as they were not overpowering in a dish. Outside of alliums, lengthy pastas, such as spaghetti or angel hair, were also frowned upon, due to their tendency to make a mess, as were pizza and burgers without buns. Queen Elizabeth also didn't request starchy or overly heavy side dishes on her plate. Instead, she preferred simple foods in her daily meals, like meat and vegetables. Some foods were barred from the royal family's diet due to concerns over safety. Shellfish — like crabs, lobster, shrimp, and clams — would never be seen on the Queen's plate. This was particularly true while abroad or visiting with world leaders. After all, a royal should never appear under the weather before the general public, and just one bad oyster could sideline an entire week of official duties. The same logic applies for red meats cooked rare. If the Queen's steak was cooked more, there's less of a chance of catching some form of foodborne illness from it. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Royals mark Prince William's birthday by sharing photo
King Charles and Queen Camilla have marked Prince William's birthday by sharing a photo of the royal on the Royal Family's Instagram and X profiles. The monarch, 76, and wife Camilla, 77, posted the snap of the future king kneeling in a field on Saturday as William turned 43, with the image also shared earlier this year during his visit to farmland owned by the Duchy of Cornwall in Bath. Charles and Camilla captioned the snap, which showed William smiling as he sat on a rock wall: "Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!" The caption was followed by a balloon and confetti emoji to mark the celebration. William has also marked his 43rd birthday with a furry celebration - posing for a new photograph alongside four black cocker spaniel puppies. "It's a very happy birthday," he said in a caption alongside a snap of him with his pets posted on his and wife Catherine's Instagram page. He added: "Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies." The photograph, taken by Catherine, Princess of Wales, 43, earlier this month at Windsor, was shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales' official social media accounts on Friday morning. It showed the Prince of Wales surrounded by the playful pups, who were revealed last month by The Sun to be the offspring of the family's pet spaniel Orla. The photo was posted with a caption featuring the initials of the couple's children - Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six - along with Orla. The new additions to the royal household were born earlier this year, although their names - and the identity of their father - have not yet been revealed. According to The Sun, Orla, who joined the family in 2020, was originally a gift from Catherine's brother James Middleton, 37, a dog breeder who also bred their late dog Lupo and Orla's parents. A source told The Sun at the time: "Mother and babies are doing well." The couple's children are said to have quickly bonded with the puppies. Last year, the Royal Family marked William's birthday by posting a childhood photo of the royal in his father's arms. Catherine also shared a personal image at the time showing William enjoying time on a beach with their children. The birthday celebration comes amid Catherine's ongoing return to public life following her cancer diagnosis. She recently pulled out of her scheduled appearance at Royal Ascot, with Kensington Palace confirming her recovery remains the priority. King Charles and Queen Camilla have marked Prince William's birthday by sharing a photo of the royal on the Royal Family's Instagram and X profiles. The monarch, 76, and wife Camilla, 77, posted the snap of the future king kneeling in a field on Saturday as William turned 43, with the image also shared earlier this year during his visit to farmland owned by the Duchy of Cornwall in Bath. Charles and Camilla captioned the snap, which showed William smiling as he sat on a rock wall: "Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!" The caption was followed by a balloon and confetti emoji to mark the celebration. William has also marked his 43rd birthday with a furry celebration - posing for a new photograph alongside four black cocker spaniel puppies. "It's a very happy birthday," he said in a caption alongside a snap of him with his pets posted on his and wife Catherine's Instagram page. He added: "Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies." The photograph, taken by Catherine, Princess of Wales, 43, earlier this month at Windsor, was shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales' official social media accounts on Friday morning. It showed the Prince of Wales surrounded by the playful pups, who were revealed last month by The Sun to be the offspring of the family's pet spaniel Orla. The photo was posted with a caption featuring the initials of the couple's children - Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six - along with Orla. The new additions to the royal household were born earlier this year, although their names - and the identity of their father - have not yet been revealed. According to The Sun, Orla, who joined the family in 2020, was originally a gift from Catherine's brother James Middleton, 37, a dog breeder who also bred their late dog Lupo and Orla's parents. A source told The Sun at the time: "Mother and babies are doing well." The couple's children are said to have quickly bonded with the puppies. Last year, the Royal Family marked William's birthday by posting a childhood photo of the royal in his father's arms. Catherine also shared a personal image at the time showing William enjoying time on a beach with their children. The birthday celebration comes amid Catherine's ongoing return to public life following her cancer diagnosis. She recently pulled out of her scheduled appearance at Royal Ascot, with Kensington Palace confirming her recovery remains the priority. King Charles and Queen Camilla have marked Prince William's birthday by sharing a photo of the royal on the Royal Family's Instagram and X profiles. The monarch, 76, and wife Camilla, 77, posted the snap of the future king kneeling in a field on Saturday as William turned 43, with the image also shared earlier this year during his visit to farmland owned by the Duchy of Cornwall in Bath. Charles and Camilla captioned the snap, which showed William smiling as he sat on a rock wall: "Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!" The caption was followed by a balloon and confetti emoji to mark the celebration. William has also marked his 43rd birthday with a furry celebration - posing for a new photograph alongside four black cocker spaniel puppies. "It's a very happy birthday," he said in a caption alongside a snap of him with his pets posted on his and wife Catherine's Instagram page. He added: "Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies." The photograph, taken by Catherine, Princess of Wales, 43, earlier this month at Windsor, was shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales' official social media accounts on Friday morning. It showed the Prince of Wales surrounded by the playful pups, who were revealed last month by The Sun to be the offspring of the family's pet spaniel Orla. The photo was posted with a caption featuring the initials of the couple's children - Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six - along with Orla. The new additions to the royal household were born earlier this year, although their names - and the identity of their father - have not yet been revealed. According to The Sun, Orla, who joined the family in 2020, was originally a gift from Catherine's brother James Middleton, 37, a dog breeder who also bred their late dog Lupo and Orla's parents. A source told The Sun at the time: "Mother and babies are doing well." The couple's children are said to have quickly bonded with the puppies. Last year, the Royal Family marked William's birthday by posting a childhood photo of the royal in his father's arms. Catherine also shared a personal image at the time showing William enjoying time on a beach with their children. The birthday celebration comes amid Catherine's ongoing return to public life following her cancer diagnosis. She recently pulled out of her scheduled appearance at Royal Ascot, with Kensington Palace confirming her recovery remains the priority. King Charles and Queen Camilla have marked Prince William's birthday by sharing a photo of the royal on the Royal Family's Instagram and X profiles. The monarch, 76, and wife Camilla, 77, posted the snap of the future king kneeling in a field on Saturday as William turned 43, with the image also shared earlier this year during his visit to farmland owned by the Duchy of Cornwall in Bath. Charles and Camilla captioned the snap, which showed William smiling as he sat on a rock wall: "Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!" The caption was followed by a balloon and confetti emoji to mark the celebration. William has also marked his 43rd birthday with a furry celebration - posing for a new photograph alongside four black cocker spaniel puppies. "It's a very happy birthday," he said in a caption alongside a snap of him with his pets posted on his and wife Catherine's Instagram page. He added: "Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies." The photograph, taken by Catherine, Princess of Wales, 43, earlier this month at Windsor, was shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales' official social media accounts on Friday morning. It showed the Prince of Wales surrounded by the playful pups, who were revealed last month by The Sun to be the offspring of the family's pet spaniel Orla. The photo was posted with a caption featuring the initials of the couple's children - Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six - along with Orla. The new additions to the royal household were born earlier this year, although their names - and the identity of their father - have not yet been revealed. According to The Sun, Orla, who joined the family in 2020, was originally a gift from Catherine's brother James Middleton, 37, a dog breeder who also bred their late dog Lupo and Orla's parents. A source told The Sun at the time: "Mother and babies are doing well." The couple's children are said to have quickly bonded with the puppies. Last year, the Royal Family marked William's birthday by posting a childhood photo of the royal in his father's arms. Catherine also shared a personal image at the time showing William enjoying time on a beach with their children. The birthday celebration comes amid Catherine's ongoing return to public life following her cancer diagnosis. She recently pulled out of her scheduled appearance at Royal Ascot, with Kensington Palace confirming her recovery remains the priority.
