PRINCE CHARLES & THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
Prince charles and his wife the Duchess of cornwall held a gala charity event in london last week ahead of their tour of devon and cornwall
It’s set to be a busy time for Prince Charles and wife Camilla as they undertake a tour of Devon and Cornwall this week – part of their annual visit to the South West. But before their schedule of engagements, the royal couple let their hair down at a glamorous fundraising event at Lancaster House last Wednesday.
A Starry Night In The Nilgiri Hills was hosted by British Asian Trust and the Elephant Family, the latter being particularly close to their hearts, as the charity was set up by Camilla’s late brother, conservationist and elephant enthusiast Mark Shand.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall donned their finery for the lavish 280-guest gala. Camilla looked elegant in an Anna Valentine three quarter-length tunic and trousers, accessorised with a woven clutch bag, drop earrings and gold court heels. Charles looked smart in a navy pinstripe suit with blue elephantpatterned tie. Charles spoke on behalf of the two charities, warning that the “increasing overlap” of the human and animal worlds is in part responsible for the rise of “deadly zoonotic diseases” like coronavirus. He said, “The last year has shown us more than ever the importance of dealing with issues like this.”
Ahead of his speech, the royal couple entertained guests at a private reception at Clarence House before walking through to Lancaster House next door. They took their seats inside a tent erected on the lawn for an outdoor screening of The Year The Earth Changed, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
Stars in attendance included Katherine Jenkins (who also performed), Tom Odell, Lily Cole, and reality television star Gemma Collins, who arrived on the arm of her former fiancé Rami Hawash. The couple recently rekindled their romance and sparked rumours of an engagement on the night when Gemma wore a diamond sparkler on her ring finger.
It wasn’t the only engagement for Camilla last week. She paid a visit to Helen & Douglas House, of which she is patron, a hospice that helps terminally ill babies, children and young people to live their short lives to the full.
She met with five families in the hospice’s garden, along with staff, to find out how they have coped during the pandemic and how Helen & Douglas House has helped them through this difficult time. The
Duchess saw paper butterflies pinned on a tree in the garden with messages from bereaved families, to remember children who have sadly passed away.
Camilla dressed elegantly for the occasion, with an understated navy blue and white patterned dress, gold charm necklace and nude heels.
Charles and Camilla aren’t the only royals who have had packed agendas of late. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge rounded off a hectic schedule of sporting engagements with the tennis and football finals.
The Duke and Duchess attended the women’s Wimbledon finals, to watch Australia’s Ashleigh Barty take on the Czech Republic’s Karolína Plíšková on Centre Court. It was the first event Kate had attended following a period of self-isolation after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19. The Duchess looked eye-catching in a bold green dress, while William wore a smart lightweight blue suit.
The next day, Kate returned to Wimbledon to enjoy a father-daughter day with Michael Middleton. The pair were in fits of giggles as they took part in a Mexican wave on Court No.3, at Gordon Reid and Joachim Gérard’s men’s wheelchair tennis final.
After watching Novak Djokovic lift the trophy for the men’s singles final, she hot-footed it across town for the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, joining her husband and eldest son, Prince George, who looked crestfallen in the stands after England’s defeat in the penalty shootout.
Fortunately, William was there to console him, affectionately gripping his shoulders and holding him close. Earlier in the match, Kate – looking chic in a cream blazer, white top, black trousers and bright red statement earrings – was also pictured looking tense, as she covered her face at one particularly stressful moment.
William, president of the Football Association, was pained at the loss, but showed good sportsmanship by congratulating the winning team on
Instagram. He wrote, “Heartbreaking. Congratulations @Azzurri on a great victory. @England, you’ve all come so far, but sadly this time it wasn’t our day. You can all hold your heads high, and be so proud of yourselves – I know there’s more to come.”