Duchess Camilla visited the Chelsea Pensioners & almost no one wore a mask

The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Royal Hospital

Here are some photos of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, yesterday at a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. She met the “Chelsea Pensioners” and only a handful of people wore masks, and none of those people were Camilla or the Chelsea Pensioners. I get that the UK is not America and every country has their own rules and regulations when it comes to social distancing and mask-wearing, but damn, are the royals allergic to masks or something? This would have honestly been a good moment for the Windsors to lead by example and just wear masks for their public events. I can count on one hand the number of times any of the British royals have been photographed wearing masks in the past four months though. It sucks.

Anyhoodle, today is Camilla’s birthday. She’s 73 years old, and she’s not getting half of the “birthday PR” that Princess Anne is getting for her 70th b-day in a month. I have a theory about this as well – I think Anne is getting so much PR around her 70th because Charles made such a big deal about his 70th, and people just decided to do the same for Anne (and maybe she actually wanted the attention). I also believe that no one wants to remind the general public that Camilla will be a very old Queen Consort, and that will actually be her title. Charles can promise to not give Camilla a “queen” title, but he wants that for her and that’s how it will be.

Interestingly enough, Princess Beatrice just got married this morning… on Camilla’s birthday. I get that desperate pandemic times call for desperate measures, but usually the Windsors are a bit better about avoiding these kinds of conflicts. I’m pretty sure Charles & Camilla weren’t invited to Bea’s wedding either.

Clarence House released some new portraits (taken by Chris Jackson/Getty) for Camilla’s birthday too. Surprisingly, Camilla does *not* look half in the bag.

The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Royal Hospital

The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Royal Hospital

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Chris Jackson/Clarence House.

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64 Responses to “Duchess Camilla visited the Chelsea Pensioners & almost no one wore a mask”

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  1. VS says:

    So a member of the royal family can get married today and not overshadow the FQC birthday? who knew!!!!

    • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

      A poster downthread laid out a good argument of how this is Andrew taking a shot at Charles, and I tend to agree. Hopefully Camilla has a good birthday- she’s known for having a great sense of humor, so I’m sure she can find the humor in all of this. I’ll always like her more for the way she handled the Trump visit.

      • VS says:

        I was being sarcastic! even if Andrew did it on purpose or it was an accident, why should that matter? their target audience can only focus on thing at the time?
        gosh rolling my eyes; I wonder how many times Meg had to do it! she must have thought she was surrounded by aliens LOL

      • Tessa says:

        I am not a fan of Camilla. Never was. She’s the next Queen consort though. I think she should have worn a mask. I notice how she takes those glances at the camera.

      • Harper says:

        I think overshadowing Camilla’s birthday was the Yorks’ payback for Camilla snubbing Eugenie’s wedding. Did they purposely pick the date hoping to do that? Maybe.

      • Tessa says:

        They probably got busy planning when word got out about Ghislaine. I think they had the “essentials” to put together the wedding ahead of time. Maybe they did deliberately choose Camilla’s birthday for her not coming to Eugenie’s wedding. Probably the wedding had to be scheduled soon.

      • AMM says:

        I don’t think Camilla has much of a relationship with any of the Windsors or their spouses. She’s got her own family who stays out of the public eye and occupies herself with good causes, hat shopping and day drinking. I felt like Harry had a better relationship with her than William did, but I never got the impression that she was particularly friendly with anyone in that family.

    • Tessa says:

      Actually to me both events are not all that interesting. I hope Bea is doing the right thing.

    • Tessa says:

      I don’t like the way Camilla smirked at Meghan and Harry’s wedding (during the sermon). She also apparently did nothing to support them. I’m wondering how she feels about the Cambridges, really, she would score some points with me if she did not like them.

      • Lizzie Bathory says:

        Prior to the Cambridges’ wedding, It was rumored that Camilla thought Kate was quite “dull,” which, I mean…. And I can’t imagine Camilla & William have a warm relationship.

      • Becks1 says:

        I cant imagine Camilla and Kate getting along that well. I’m sure they’re “fine” but what would they talk about? What common ground is there? Kate doesnt even seem like she has a sense of humor, and Camilla seems to have a huge sense of humor.

        At least with Meghan, there is a common interest of women’s issues, even if their specific interests/causes differ (thinking of Camilla’s work with rape survivors and DV victims). And there was good camaraderie between them at the garden party shortly after the wedding. I also liked how Charles walked out both Camilla and Doria from the church. (again, that wedding was SUCH a PR win for Charles!! Way to ruin it chuck!)

        But in general, I imagine Camilla probably has her kids, grandkids, Charles, and her work, and that probably keeps her busy enough (in that order.) I don’t get the impression she is overly concerned about the Cambridges or Sussexes, for various reasons.

      • Nic919 says:

        There is a photo of Camilla giving Kate quite a look at one of the Remembrance Day ceremonies, that is quite reminiscent of the look Sophie have Kate when she was twirling her hair at those same ceremonies years before.

      • Tessa says:

        I wish Charles and Camilla had done more appearances with the Sussexes to show solidarity. Charles should also have spoken out firmly against his grandson likened to a chimp. Most grandfathers
        or nearly all would have been furious over that.

      • notasugarhere says:

        There is also epic side-eye of the Downton Abbey beige lace outfit Kate wore to a war commemoration event in France or Belgium. Charles, Camilla, W&K were all there. Kate walked by Camilla, Camilla eyed her up and down and grimaced.

      • Nic919 says:

        That was the outfit that made her blend in with the gravel wasn’t it? It was really out of place considering everyone else wore dark colours at the commemoration. Of course sugars defended it just like the pink dress at the 9/11 memorial.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Yes which made me LOL. Kate was deliberately trying to stick out, like she’s done at so many other solemn events. She went with cream when everyone else was in navy or black. And she was indistinguishable from the gravel courtyard.

  2. Maplesbass says:

    This fills me with rage. The Chelsea Pensioners live at RCH which is a hospital and therefore you are required to wear a mask.
    I’m presuming they got round it because it’s outside, same as Kate’s hospice visit, but I just don’t understand the resistance to wearing a mask. Why not trying role modelling some good behaviour for once??

  3. Becks1 says:

    I think Camilla looks good for her age. She looks her age, maybe older given how much time she has obviously spent out of doors, but I think she looks good. and I like her clothes for the most part, they are very appropriate for her.

    Kate almost has that identical dress/coat though, lol.

    And yes, they should be wearing masks.

    • Nic919 says:

      They need to wear masks. These are all at risk people and it doesn’t matter if they are outside.

      Plus Boris thinks social distancing will end in November and wants people to stop working from home August 1. So the UK govt is out to lunch when it comes to what is really going on.

      In Spain Felipe wore a mask for an outdoor ceremony and they have taken this far more seriously.

    • Tessa says:

      I think Camilla like most of the royals is out of touch.

  4. Priscila Bezerra-Fischer says:

    She is aging well, I have to admit.

    Will anybody mention the ” overshadow” nonsense this time? or it just happens because the Cambridges are cry babies?

    I think so. I think Charles definetely sees it as a slap on his face from Andrew´s side, which let´s not be shy about it, is exactly what it is. This wedding has Andrew´s pawns all over, from the fact that even his 99 year father came , and the flowery reason they made it this way because the Queen, mommy dearest, is the most important guest and must always come first.

    But Charles is not William, so I doubt he will have his aides coming to RR and speaking about how terrible Andrew is for overshadowing Camilla, how the royal households must work in tandem and coordinate, how important it is not to take focus away from important milestones bla bla bla.

    • Mac says:

      Beatrice is an adult and can plan her own wedding. Camilla’s 73rd birthday isn’t particularly newsworthy.

      • Priscila says:

        If it was any other family I would agree..nothing involving Pefo Andi is simple

    • Tessa says:

      Camilla’s photos are often airbrushed. She has bad skin from many years of smoking.

    • Tessa says:

      Camilla’s photos are often airbrushed. She has bad skin from many years of smoking.

    • Tessa says:

      It seems that usually the royal landmark birthday are every 5 years. Her next landmark would be 75.

  5. Solace says:

    She looks nice.

    Re masks…these ppl (the royal cohort) make a good case for Darwinism if they refuse to practise critical thinking. Why are they holding events and why are they not wearing masks..the mind boggles.

    It also seems to be a systemic issue where a combination of incoherent/dumb govt policies and an archaic Firm have led to blinders in security protocols.

  6. lucy2 says:

    It’s weird to me that anyone would worry about their wedding being the same day as their uncle’s 2nd wife’s birthday, but whatever.
    WEAR A MASK.

  7. My3cents says:

    Proving they are tone deaf and don’t give a F**k day in and out.

  8. Green Desert says:

    My god. Wear a f*cking mask.

    • grey says:

      Check the rules, outside and socially distanced UK

      • Elizabeth says:

        COVID 19 can be spread up to ten feet with a cough; science doesn’t care about arbitrary “rules.” Being outdoors is of course better than being in an enclosed space but it is still not a panacea. Viral load also seems important. Carriers can be asymptomatic. Don’t we all have this memorized by now.

        I realize the UK wasn’t hit as hard as my country (the US) but this is still not wise and not advisable. The Pensioners (not to mention Camilla) all seem well into their senior years, a very vulnerable demographic.

      • Sid says:

        I live in the U.S. If I followed the “rules” my federal government laid out, I’d probably be screwed. Sometimes common sense and science has to rule the day. Camilla is elderly and has health problems. She is visting pensioners. She should be wearing a mask.

  9. Fani says:

    It’s interesting to me because if Charles had married her instead of Diana, I probably wouldn’t really know much about the royal family. Diana was the gateway personality to them all.

  10. MargaritasForBreakfast says:

    I hate to compliment anyone in this toxic institution/family but I gotta hand it to the Duchess of Husband Stealing. The bish knows how to wear a hat! Always with the jaunty little twist.

  11. MissMarierose says:

    Happy birthday to the Princess of Wales!

    • Tessa says:

      A title she does not use.

      • Becks1 says:

        But she could.

        Tessa, I admit I find your unwavering devotion to Diana/hatred of Camilla kind of endearing, in terms of how steadfast you are, lol.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @Tessa & Becks1 – I never blamed the “three-in-a-marriage mess on Camilla or Diana. I lay the sole blame on Charles.

      • Tessa says:

        Becks I am pointing out a Fact. Camilla opted not to use it. It has nothing to do with feelings about diana. I don’t hate Camilla, I don’t like her and how she got to be a royal.

      • Tessa says:

        Charles if he wanted to get married should have been in love with his bride. Anybody who prefers another woman while marrying someone for heirs is not going to have smooth sailing that’s for sure. And he should have really been honest with Diana so she could have known what the score was.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Charles married the idea of Diana, Diana married the idea of Charles. Neither one of them would have been in that marriage if they’d been everyday people.

    • notasugarhere says:

      And the Duchess of Rothesay!

      • anonymous says:

        Let’s not forget the Baroness of Renfrew or the Countess of Carrick. 🙄 These jokers have more aliases then all the inmates at San Quentin.

      • Tealie says:

        The dofference is charles was a 36 year old man, and Diana was a 19 year old girl, who essentially been groomed into marrying him.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Diana targeted her sisters ex-boyfriend, because she wanted a man who legally wasn’t allowed to divorce her. Gave all sorts of lies about what type of person she was, how she loved hunting and country life, etc. She would have had no interest in him if he wasn’t the Prince of Wales. She had read far too many Cartland novels.

  12. Argus says:

    Not sure if many posters on here are from the UK but hardly anyone in the Greater London area is wearing masks unless they’re using public transport. Our new COVID cases are steadily declining and people are slowly resuming life as usual with schools, businesses and even pubs and restaurants open & functioning. I think as a country we’re pretty good at following the rules and I see social distancing being followed at my kids’ school, the local greengrocer’s and pretty much everywhere I go after many months of lockdown. Of course there are the crazies who flock to the beaches to sunbathe on a hot day but most sensible folk know how to stay safe and act responsibly towards the community.

    • Tessa says:

      I still have to wear my mask and most others do. There are some resurgences of COVID19 going on now. I think caution should be taken especially around senior citizens.

    • Nic919 says:

      Boris wants people to stop working from home by August 1 and that’s going to trigger more cases because it spreads indoors very quickly and not all companies will be ensuring that proper procedures will be in place. The UK rates per capita are still very bad and while the numbers have gone down because lockdown eventually happened, it is not over. Most countries starting to open up have implemented more mask use and the UK needs to do more there as well.

    • Flffgrrrlr says:

      It’s true that mask wearing isn’t a thing here in the same way – and we don’t have the same politicisation of the issue in the UK as in the US. We’re required to wear on on public transport (although people largely aren’t using it at the moment) and from 24 July we’ll be required to wear one in shops. But there’s currently no requirement to wear one, and it isn’t seen as a touchstone issue in the same way. The prevailing wisdom in the UK is that outdoors you don’t need to wear one as the risk is low – and so people largely don’t and it would therefore be surprising to see any public figure wearing one outdoors currently. That may change, but that’s where we are presently. It isn’t a political issue or a statement about rights or science or something here in the UK. The rates of infection are now very low in most areas of the country and so people don’t feel as worried as they did, I think.

      • grey says:

        +1

      • Tessa says:

        Unfortunately some younger people are now reckless and have “COVID19” parties where infected people are invited and spread the disease. Also people going to beaches in Florida are very careless and have become infected.

      • grey says:

        Yes, in the UK also there have been a few illegal “raves” especially in London and quite a few policemen have been injured trying to break them up.

  13. goofpuff says:

    Wow, her pictures are very airbrushed. Not as bad as Kate’s, but still noticeable.

    Hey maybe they don’t care about masks because they’re done with life and don’t mind exiting it in a horrible way (drowning on land).

  14. grey says:

    For the record Princess Anne’s first wedding took place on Charles’s birthday, nobody thought anything about it any more than I bet people think bout Bea’s wedding being on Camilla’s.

    And it is not compulsory in the UK to wear face masks in the open with social distancing, most people aren’t doing outdoors and not close up to people. The pensioners aren’t either.

  15. A says:

    $10 says that none of the Yorks actually knew, nor cared, that today was Camilla’s birthday. They just planned for the wedding, were told this was the, shrugged, and went ahead with it anyway.

    • Tessa says:

      At least Meghan is not involved in it. I remember the Kate fans got all upset that Meghan ‘upstaged” Kate’s birthday (not even a landmark birthday) when she and Harry made their announcement. The OUTRAGE (LOL).