Queen Camilla has paid loving tribute to her late mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth II, recalling her ‘wonderful blue eyes’ and a smile that is ‘unforgettable’, just hours before the late Queen’s State Funeral.
In a pre-recorded segment for television filmed a few months ago at Clarence House, Queen Camilla spoke of Queen Elizabeth II as someone she’s known her entire life, despite only being a member of the Royal Family for the past 17 years.
“She’s been part of our lives for ever. I’m 75 now and I can’t remember anyone except the Queen being there.” Queen Camilla would have been four years old when Elizabeth’s father, George VI died in 1952.
Queen Camilla continued: “It must have been so difficult for her being a solitary woman. There weren’t women prime ministers or presidents. She was the only one so I think she carved her own role.”
While her message was mostly devoted to the late queen as a stateswoman, Queen Camilla also spoke about personal moments she shared with her mother-in-law, including a shoe mishap that occurred on her wedding day in April 2005.
“I remember coming from here, Clarence House, go to Windsor the day I got married when I probably wasn’t firing on all cylinders…quite nervous,” she said. Then she realised that her shoes were two different heights.
“Talk about hop-a-long! There’s nothing I could do. I was halfway down in the car before I realised and she could see and laughed about it and said, ‘Look, I’m terribly sorry.’ She had a good sense of humour.”
Queen Camilla ended her message recalling The Queen’s “wonderful blue eyes, that when she smiles they light up her whole face. I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable.”
Queen Camilla will join her husband King Charles III and the rest of the Royal Family for Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 19th 2022.
