From Prime Ministers and film stars to charity bosses and members of the public – everyone who meets Queen Camilla agrees on one thing: what an absolute hoot she is.
In his new book published in the Mail this week: Charles III. New king. New Court tells Robert Hardman how Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described Her Majesty as ‘loudly funny’, and how his lasting memory of a weekend stay at Balmoral was ‘laughing with her a lot’.
In Hardman’s book, Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, reveals that her big sister has never lost the mischievous sense of fun she has had since childhood, and that it is this humor that gets her through the demands of her role.
Actress and film director Emerald Fennell admitted she was nervous when she met Camilla – then Duchess of Cornwall – at an International Women’s Day gathering at Clarence House in March 2022.
Emerald had just portrayed Camilla on screen in The Crown as a chain-smoking man-eater and was worried she would get a frosty reception.
Instead, Camilla was warm and friendly, even joking that Emerald could intervene if she ruined the speech she was about to give.
The late Paul O’Grady, who developed a close friendship with Queen Camilla, described her as “a very funny woman, someone you can laugh with a lot.”
And King Charles’ niece, Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, revealed how Camilla loves to hear and tell very risqué jokes.
Always quick with the jokes, here we look at all the times our rambunctious queen has confused people.
Charles had only been married for five months and had to stifle a laugh together at the Caister Lifeboat Station in July 2005. But his new wife’s playful side eye only made matters worse.
Charles had just become a grandfather for the first time to Prince George and was in good spirits at the 2013 Royal Welsh Show in Powys. Had Camilla made one of her famous risqué jokes?
“Don’t give up your day job, honey.” Camilla couldn’t help but laugh at her husband’s attempts to create a portrait from scraps of lace when she dropped by a children’s art charity event at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in March 2012. Fortunately, the future king saw the funny side and at some point it was listened to. to cry ‘stop laughing at me!’
Normally a picture of serenity, Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, was overcome with laughter as she accompanied Queen Camilla on a visit to the French National Library last September. While the two women were posing for the photo, a gentleman behind them let out a series of very loud, dramatic sneezes, setting off Camilla, a notorious giggler. Madame Macron soon followed
“How much did anyone win?” Camilla likes to have a good time and she certainly placed a bet on the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2019. Frankie Dettori raced home on Crystal Ocean and whatever Camilla said certainly tickled him.
It’s Ascot, but on this occasion the royal couple was seen jumping sheep over fences as part of an event called ‘The Lamb National’, organized by the Campaign for Wool. A smile? Ewe bet
Actor Richard E Grant groans as he talks to Camilla at a garden party celebrating the 25th anniversary of the National Osteoporosis Society in 2011. The two know each other well, but the Queen has been keeping an eye on her boyfriend in his latest venture, the very daring Saltburn ?
Former Conservative MP Nicholas Soames has been a close friend of both Charles and Camilla for years and often accompanied them to the races. Could Camilla be making fun of Mr. Soames’ rather battered and ragged hat?
Charles and Camilla go to race meetings as often as the rest of us go to supermarkets, but they always find time to share a joke, just like in June 2013 at Royal Ascot
Film star Ryan Reynolds joked that he had been to ‘monarchy boot camp’ before meeting the king and queen in December 2022 at Wrexham FC, the football club he co-owns with fellow actor Rob McElhenney. Looks like he has nothing to worry about!
The Queen and Princess of Wales have built a close friendship and it was keen photographer Kate that Camilla wanted to photograph her on her 75th birthday. In 2013, they shared a carriage and lots of laughs at Trooping the Colour
The royals gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the RAF’s centenary celebrations in July 2018. Something – or should that be someone – has bonded Charles and Sophie together… I think we know who
Even the Queen joins in on the infectious laughter, this time at the Braemar Gathering in Scotland in 2006