Here are some photos from the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s trip to Greece last week. I didn’t cover the photos as the international tour was happening because, quite honestly, people barely pay attention to what Charles is doing at any given moment. Even when he’s doing something interesting, there’s a charisma vacuum thing happening with him, I’m sorry to say. The tour was only a few days long, it ended with a whimper, and Charles and Camilla were back home in England by Friday. They arrived back to… loud criticism about why in God’s name it was even necessary for them to travel while a pandemic still rages.
Prince Charles and wife Camilla’s visit to Greece while Brits prepare for a strict new international travel ban will “create confusion and hostility,” anti-monarchy campaigners tell Newsweek. The Prince of Wales was on a charm offensive in Athens after Britain’s exit from the European Union. However, the royal couple’s arrival was days before the government begins imposing $6,800 (£5,000) fines for overseas travel from Monday. The strict measures, announced on Tuesday, cover anyone going abroad without a reasonable excuse and Sky News reported the House of Commons will vote on the proposals today.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, told Newsweek: “Well, it’s non essential isn’t it? So presumably they’ll be stumping up £5,000 each in fines.
“They’re flying over there on a junket which is completely unnecessary, taking a large gang of flunkies and servants with them all of whom are going to be put at risk, who are then going to have to quarantine themselves and put other people at risk. It beggars belief. It’s going to create confusion and hostility. An awful lot of people are desperate to get away whether for a holiday or to be reunited with their families. To see Prince Charles and Camilla swanning about in the sunshine in Greece is absolutely extraordinary.”
While the fines have not come into force yet, existing “stay at home” rules forbid any long distance travel without a reasonable excuse and remain in place until March 29. A Clarence House spokesperson said: “All of Their Royal Highnesses official overseas visits are undertaken at the request of the government.”
Reminiscent of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Covid Choo Choo Tour, right? The only difference is that I actually believe that the government likely asked Charles and Camilla to travel and make a big show of strengthening European alliances, whereas Will & Kate’s Covid Tour of Doom was undertaken DESPITE pleas from governmental civil servants, local leaders and Nicola Sturgeon to just stay home. That being said, I do wonder if the British government really signed off on the Greek tour, especially since there is so much insistence that people should NOT travel at the moment. It reminds me (again) of the fact that William and Kate fancied themselves “essential workers.” I think Charles probably sees himself the same way. If he didn’t accept some gaudy gold medal from the Greek government, who would? He is essential!!
At Athens City Hall, the Mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis presents The Prince of Wales with the Gold Medal of Honour for services to the city and to Greece.#RoyalVisitGreece pic.twitter.com/uRQhoESJ07
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) March 25, 2021
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
I do think that the government likely requested this tour but obviously business in greece wasn’t that important because if they were really going for a charm offense they wouldn’t send charles &camilla (sorry but there’s nothing charming about them). And no offense but i think that in the context of international alliances greece doesn’t have much to offer to the UK. So maybe this was simply a bit of muscle flexing from the UK gov? Idk.
Chuck and Camilla aren’t charming, but neither are the rest of the family, or Boris. My guess, they are the least likely to make utter asses of themselves, and fuck up any trade negotiations.
The government and the RF saw the reaction to the train tour, and still thought this was a good idea!🤦♂️ They really don’t know have to read a room, or the publics opinion.
The only charming members of the BRF were driven out.
Yepp!
Greek here, you are right the Greek government did invite them and request their presence to celebrate 200 years of the Greek revolution. It was a very big deal, and I don’t count this as a mistake of Charles but of the Greek government. People are getting sick and dying here but sure, let’s endanger more foreigners and locals because Greek history is more important than todays people’s lives.
I’m really sorry.
Sorry for my English by the way, not my native language and not sure if I expressed myself with the correct words.
Your English is more than fine, dont worry about it lol.
I do think its tricky when a foreign government requests the royals for something like this, but considering the pandemic is still ongoing, it seems like a bad call all around.
Ellie Al, let’s also add that Greece has a MAJOR position as a buffer to Turkey and now with oil fields being discovered off the coast of Cyprus – Greece has a great deal to offer.
For somebody with English as a second language, you did impressively. Better than some with English as a first language.
Ellie Al, I never would have known English wasn’t your first language. That’s how good your English is!
Charles and Camilla are often the ones sent on charm offensives. Believe it or not, they are effective at it.
Exactly. And Charles does have an interest in the area and religion and can converse on it unlike William.
Hmmm, I haven’t read any Greek press around this; but currently Greece has a conservative government who are attempting to roll back certain freedoms by stealth. The Mayor of Athens is from a political dynasty; and actually the nephew of the current Prime Minister. The trip was for the bicentenary of the Greek War of Independence; and Emmanuel Macron for example cancelled his trip last week. Not really sure what exactly Charles has done for Greece except stay in the monasteries of Agion Oros. Not sure why he was awarded a medal. Poor form in a pandemic nonetheless.
Ellie, you are very informed. And I agree with all you said.
Maybe the UK government wants to make Greece an exception, given Boris Johnson’s Dad has a second home there?
(I am half kidding)
I am surprised that Boris Johnson did not send Prince Philip to Greece, since he was born there.
All the Expats from England that did not pay taxes in the EU countries, where they had second homes realized this week that they’re immigrants. They even voted for Brexit thinking it would not effect them.
Cry me a river! Guess who’s going to rage on telly if they have to do more paperwork to spend the winter in their second homes in Greece and Spain. We’ve had some on telly here, because our government has imposed quarantine hotel for everyone who’s returning from abroad. They think they should be allowed to quarantine in their own homes. That’s already been tried, and the new virus mutations have spread trough the country like a whirlwind. Clearly they can’t be trusted!
Most likely because he’s way too old at this point. Even HM has stopped state visits abroad due to her age.
Even if Philip was well enough to travel? 1) He’s retired and 2) He doesn’t consider himself Greek and he’s made that clear through the years.
I’m not sure Greeks consider him Greek as well.
The desposed Greek royal family is Danish, or mostly Danish, but ArtHistorian can elaborate on it.
They are Danish, but Danish by way of German. The entire Northern European monarchy is ethnically german–the little german principalities were the only non-catholic source of sufficiently “royal” brides and grooms for legitimate (and not morganatic) marriages. So even the Danish royal family–from whom Prince George was sent to Greece to become the King of Greece–is ethnically German.
With a little French throne in the in Swedish royal family, with the throne being handed to one of Napoleon’s commoner generals. Hence the Bernadotte family name.
Totally unecessary – seriously, after a year of lockdown measures and all the criticism of the Cambridge Xmas Covid express tour, how could anybody think this is a good idea?
Also, it’s a grim portent of charm offensives in the future if this is the best they got.
The word was the Greek government invited Charles so I’m guessing he used his connections in the Johnson Administration to agree to his visit
Seriously, what is the point of any of this?? Especially when ppl aren’t even interested in C&C? Just seems like a waste of time and money and yes, not smart when we’re still in a pandemic.
Camilla is wearing black throughout?! Is she there for a funeral? And Chuck in a black coat?! But but but I thought royals couldn’t wear black? I thought they had to wear colorful frocks so they can be seen 🙄🙄🙄
Did they also fly on a private plane? I’ll bet they did.
Other than that, I’m glad to see that all the members of the racist wing of the family are doing their own special part to bring about the end of the monarchy with all of these ‘the rules don’t apply to us’ tours and trips (Peter The Milkman Phillips).
Wearing black while black to be added to the list of things black people cannot do. It just makes me mad all over. The way Meghan was attacked for things white royals had done and continues to do. The way people nitpicked over every little thing to do with her. Not only did they never allow her some space to make minor mistakes/faux pas, but they were attacking perfectly acceptable norms.
Same, Myra. Same. It’s infuriating. But now we know it was all an orchestrated plan (and in cahoots with the RRs) to bully the black Duchess out of there. I’m happy to see karma coming hard for all the racist family members though. Warms my heart!
They used the RAF plane that is used by Royals and the British Prime Minister.
Hey at least Camilla didn’t engage in theme dressing. What would Kate have worn?
A big blue and white dress.
Heavy eye makeup because Greece is pretty much Egypt, which pretty much still has pharaohs, right?
And a bikini on the beach, because all their royal tours must also double as personal vacays.
It is odd they’ve selected black. Maybe they thought it would convey ‘solemn’ in a time of a pandemic?
I kind of love Camilla’s black pretzel brooch. I’m assuming it’s a POW thing, but I like to pretend it’s a squid ink pretzel.
Camilla has the best brooches in the family.
The outfit is actually dark blue silk and lace. Town and Country has photos from the tour. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/g35936585/prince-charles-camilla-greece-photos-march-2021/
Camilla has osteoporosis and this may be why she had a blanket over her legs when she was seated watching the parade. She needs to keep her legs warm and often wears thick tights or long boots in colder weather.
The trip was at the government’s request. Charles is good at this kind of ‘soft diplomacy’ work.
Even if both the Greek and British governments asked, I still think it’s too soon for tours, even to Europe and even to places that are “open” like Greece. This is just my opinion however.
These two seem to me like the Joker and Harley Quinn. I can’t take them seriously anymore.
Pandemic & all right now, sure, but is anything they *ever* do really essential?
Graham Smith basically said everything I would. Yeah I haven’t had a proper vacation in over a year due to not traveling anywhere because of COVID. My parents cancelled a once in a lifetime trip to Oberammergau. Seeing royals or KarJenners just go on big splashy overseas trips is definitely gross.
Well, it was pointless of the Greek government to schedule a fiesta for the Bicentenary of the Greek Independence in the middle of 4th or 5th wave (as they have managed to make a mess out of the whole COVID19 issue) and it was pointless that the UK government decided to follow through with that “request”. I am beyond frustrated 😞
Sofia, can you please explain how Greece has made a mess out of the pandemic?
Also, a “fiesta” is not what the Greek government was trying to schedule.
Really!
She has tons of money spent on her clothing, but it is SO bad, the wrinkled black dress and the flowing skirts. He looks no better.
The ‘flowing skirt’ in the picture is a white blanket draped over her black outfit. Maybe she was cold? Camilla is usually very well dressed. It looks like someone thought black linen was a good idea for the weather, when she should have stuck with a sturdier and warmer fabric.
The outfit did not even look like it was ironed. Camilla has her outfits tailored just for her and certainly her dresser could make sure the outfits are presentable when taken with her on trips.
That’s what I’m saying. For some reason it looks like they went with black linen for this outfit, when they usually choose fabric better. So the outfit wasn’t warm enough and wrinkled easily.
Black is the default color when one has gained a few pounds. A good bra fitting could help her clothes fit better as well. Surely there must be some trusted advisor who could point out that she is sagging in this regard.
Camilla generally wears flowing clothes that disguise her shape. A few pounds here or there wouldn’t be notice in her usual flowing trousers and tunic. The choice of black clothing is odd here. As I wrote above, maybe they thought this was showing solemnity?
Nota I think I read somewhere that Camilla is dressing in plain and simple clothing during the Greek tour so as to not steal the spotlight from Chuck. She doesn’t want the headlines to be all about her and her clothing.
Her clothing rarely steals headlines, especially from his Saville Row Suits. She tends to be very simple in her outfits. Little embelishment, not a lot of bright shades.
Agree. Both her and Sophie have the worst fitting bras.
In the pics it looks like Camilla is wearing navy not black. Especially zooming in on the one with the white blanket.
Why do members of the Royal Family always get prizes and flowers whenever they show up?
I definitely think this was at the request of the British government. The U.K. is headed for huge difficulty because of Brexit so they have to find ways to reinforce ties to European nations. So they decided to play nice with Greece and attend their birthday celebrations. It’s ironic because for so many years they basically didn’t even discuss Philip’s Greek heritage. Back in the day he was viewed as too foreign even though he is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria on both sides of his family. Now it’s hey we’re all family. It was a bad look. It was unnecessary. But no doubt there is some sort of BTS arrangement. When the Sussexes went to Morocco. There were a lot of questions about why they would take a trip so late in Meghan’s pregnancy and it appeared the trip was arranged quickly. It was later revealed that there were negotiations ongoing between Morocco and the U.K. government. The trip was designed to show off relations between the two countries. Even the South Africa trip was used to highlight some new agreements and promote the upcoming SA/U.K. summit. So this was a bad idea but I don’t fault Charles and Camilla because I do think it was an actual negotiated arrangement between the two countries. This is very different from the Coronavirus Choo Choo trip which was clearly taken against advice and clearly not based on any invitation. KP said they governments were informed and coordinated with. But there was never one of those official statements that the trip was at the request/invitation of the governments/countries involved.
If you’re going to have royals go from UK to Greece to celebrate a Greek event, why not just sent back the Greek royals. They can go back to their homeland and Brexiteers will be rid of another family of immigrants, lol.
Greece doesn’t want them. There was a plebiscite in 1973. The last thing Greece needs right now is Marie-Chantal and her simpering. Besides, the government has commandeered their homes, which belong to the people.
Ellie, if only the British were this strong to do the same.
Marie-Chantal and her fake title need to take several seats.