Cheeky Camilla’s birthday poke at the woke
THE Duchess of Cornwall took an affectionate poke at woke culture yesterday when she addressed guests at a lunch in her honour by saying: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, if I am allowed to call you that.’
Camilla appeared to make the lighthearted reference to the debate about gender identity and pronouns at a gathering to mark her upcoming 7 th birthday.
The remark prompted laughter at the event, which was thrown by The Oldie magazine and hosted by Camilla’s friend, presenter and author Gyles Brandreth.
Aides suggested the remark was in keeping with the ‘irreverent’ spirit of the lunch.
The occasion at London’s National Liberal Club brought together 120 national ‘treasures’ including Dame Joanna Lumley, Lord Lloyd-Webber, Felicity Kendal, model Twiggy, Sir Trevor McDonald and Lucia Santa Cruz, the Chilean historian who introduced Prince Charles to Camilla in 1971.
In a touching speech, the duchess vowed to follow the late Prince Philip’s example in her approach to royal duties.
The future Queen Consort said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s philosophy was clear: “Look up and look out, say less, do more – and get on with the job”, and that is just what I intend to do.’
Referring to her year of birth, she said 1947 was ‘the year when the first of the Ealing Comedies was released, the school leaving age was raised to 1 , Gardeners’ Question Time was first broadcast, the University of Cambridge admitted women to full membership and soft loo paper went on sale for the first time, in Harrods, much to the nation’s relief.
‘It was also in 1947 that the then-Princess Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten ... Both he and Her Majesty have always been the very touchstone of what it truly means to “get on with the job”, and an inspiration to each one of us here to do the same, whatever our age.’
Opera singer Sir Willard White, 7 , led guests in a rendition of Happy Birthday.