Buckingham Palace released King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Christmas card on Saturday, and you can see it above. It was taken in the gardens of Buckingham Palace earlier this year. The palace released the card as Prince William was getting a lot of attention in Paris. Do you think they released the card as a way to steal William’s thunder? Eh. Maybe, but I mostly believe they released the card on Saturday so that it would make all of the Sunday papers. Now, who wants to talk about why William went to France and not King Charles? Traveling to the grand reopening of Notre Dame and hobnobbing with world leaders sounds right up Charles’s alley. So why was William sent in Charles’s place? From the Daily Beast:
Prince William made headlines after a back-slapping meeting with Donald Trump Saturday at Notre Dame, but the British media shied away from asking the more obvious question: why wasn’t King Charles there with the other 35 world heads of state?
Prince William was only confirmed as attending in Charles’ place on Friday. Charles’ aides pointed out that he had already viewed the rebuilt Cathedral, which was destroyed by fire five years ago, on a trip to France earlier this year.
The palace didn’t respond to questions asking if the king’s health, cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment were factors in his non-appearance.
However, a friend of the king and queen told The Daily Beast that the royal couple wanted to keep things “quiet” to “preserve their health in the run-up to Christmas” after Camilla contracted pneumonia after their long-haul trip to Australia earlier this year. The infection has lingered for several weeks and she is still not back to full strength. The 77-year-old is understood to have contracted viral pneumonia, sometimes referred to as walking pneumonia.
The palace were only partially transparent about Camilla’s condition, referring to it as a “nasty bug” before Camilla went dramatically off-message during the state visit of the Emir of Qatar this week and told guests she had been suffering pneumonia.
The friend said: “His vulnerabilities are well-known but her pneumonia has been a nasty reminder of hers. I think everyone is relieved he didn’t want to go off to Paris and stand in the cold for hours on end. They are very sensibly just keeping things quiet to preserve their health in the run-up to Christmas.”
Few people remarked on it, but I thought Charles looked worlds better last week – he seemed to be back to looking relatively healthy during the Qatari state visit, and he was out and about for a few other events and he looked like his old self. Compare that with his pallid complexion and blood-rimmed eyes throughout November, and it actually looks like Charles might have turned a corner, health-wise. Just as Camilla’s health got worse. Anyway, I would guess that Charles simply didn’t feel like adding a trip to France at the end of a “busy” week, so he sent William, who is trying to make a meal out of it, such a big-boy global statesman! The sudden announcement on Friday that William would attend the reopening does suggest that Charles was probably loosely scheduled to do it first, but then made William do it. Which also suggests that Charles probably is trying to take it easy. Also: Charles & Camilla skipped Kate’s Together at Christmas event, but no one’s saying anything about that (which is funny).
Unremarked upon in the media coverage has been the absence of King Charles.
This was a gathering of at least 40 world leaders.
Did Downing Street ask the king to attend and he declined – hence the last minute scrambling of Prince William? https://t.co/wOmblukKlD
— Peter Hunt (@_PeterHunt) December 7, 2024
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Avalon Red.
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- London, UK, 03 December 2024: from left to right: Queen Camilla, The Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, King Charles III and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani during a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London.,Image: 942580940, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon/Avalon
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- Queen Camilla ahead of a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the Emir of Qatar’s state visit to the UK Featuring: Queen Camilla Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III (2nd left) with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (left) with Queen Camilla and the Emir of Qatar’s wife Sheikha Jawaher make their way along the East Gallery to attend the state banquet for the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Buckingham Palace, London, during his state visit to the UK Featuring: King Charles III, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Queen Camilla, Sheikha Jawaher Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the state visit to the UK of the Emir of Qatar and the first of his three wives Featuring: King Charles III, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and The Princess Royal during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the state visit to the UK of the Emir of Qatar and the first of his three wives Featuring: King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Anne Princess Royal Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III waves to well wishers during a visit to St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill, London, to meet and thank DEC staff, aid workers and volunteers. The Church has supported the Middle East Humanitarian cause through Tearfund, a DEC member charity Featuring: King Charles III Where: London, United Kingdom When: 04 Dec 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III waves to well wishers during a visit to St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill, London, to meet and thank DEC staff, aid workers and volunteers. The Church has supported the Middle East Humanitarian cause through Tearfund, a DEC member charity Featuring: King Charles III Where: London, United Kingdom When: 04 Dec 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III during a visit to St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill, London, to meet and thank DEC staff, aid workers and volunteers. The Church has supported the Middle East Humanitarian cause through Tearfund, a DEC member charity Featuring: King Charles III Where: London, United Kingdom When: 04 Dec 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Copyright of the photograph featured on the card is held between Buckingham Palace and Millie Pilkington. Publications are asked to credit © Photograph by Millie Pilkington for Buckingham Palace. Copyright of the photo of the card itself belongs to PA. Publications are asked to credit © Buckingham Palace/Millie Pilkington/PA. The photograph of the Christmas card is being made available through PA Media on condition that: The photograph should be solely used for news editorial purposes only. It is not approved for use on souvenirs, or memorabilia; or anything similar. No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the photograph. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photograph. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals when published. The photograph shall not be used after 31st January 2024 without prior permission from Buckingham Palace The 2024 Christmas card of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in front of a Christmas tree at Buckingham Palace in London. The photograph was taken in the gardens of Buckingham Palace by Millie Pilkington. Featuring: King Charles III, Queen Camilla Where: London, United Kingdom When: 05 Dec 2024 Credit: Buckingham Palace/Millie Pilkington/PA **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
Keir Starmer and KCIII wanted to appease Trump’s ego by giving him a photo op not just at the Cathedral but at the British embassy but they did not want to to attend themselves. Their presence would have given the moment greater importance than what was needed. The US did not send the President,Vice-President or the Secretary of State. They sent Flotus which means this was considered a special occasion but not a significant state diplomatic event. Also, any time I see a daily beast article referencing KCIII’s health. I always assume it is Willileaks trying to undermine his father’s status by painting his father as weak. Willileaks did not look like a stateman he looked like a fanboy.
I wonder if Charles would have attended if Trump wasn’t there. It kind of feels like the British government tossed Trump a bone by arranging the meeting with William – both got to feel important and get their pictures taken and that’s pretty much what both like best.
I am both surprised and not surprised that the British press is avoiding the question of Charles and Camilla’s non-attendance at the Christmas concert. I find that very telling. There wasn’t even a weak excuse offered. They just……weren’t there. Much loved daughter in law indeed…..
QE 2 was said to be disgusted by Trump and his lack of manners. I wonder if Charles shares the same opinion and declined to kiss the ring.
Charles and Camilla don’t have the best manners. I remember them both giggling at those singers on one of their tours.
There were likely just too many people there in a close space for his compromised immune system.
Didn’t he recently go on a tour of Australia as well as the Royal Variety Performance and the Premiere of Gladiator? Seems like he has met a lot of people in close proximity.
These people went maskless during the peak of Covid when people were dying and continually attend multiple engagements with large groups of people despite a cancer diagnosis. Charles not going to France has nothing to do with him being immunocompromised.
Charles and Camilla went to this crowded reception (COVID was resurging a bit a few months ago). Neither wore a mask.
When Charles was PoW, this is the type of event that he would have attended on behalf of QE2 so it should not really raise any eyebrows that the current PoW is representing the monarch. However, given William’s lack of effort in any type of royal event it is quite unusual.
One privileged white slumlord’s some meeting a [checks notes] likewise privileged white slumlord’s son.
@Amee Touché. A perfect way to describe those two losers.