King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the Sandringham Flower Show in style, turning up in an impressive horse-drawn carriage. The royal couple, who will soon be enjoying some restbite over the summer, arrived in Queen Victoria’s Victoria – a type of open-sided carriage made popular by the former monarch.
Today’s visit to the annual one-day event marks the King and Queen’s last large-scale joint public event before the summer break. Charles is expected to do a couple more official duties later this week before they head to Scotland for some downtime.
Free from public duties, the couple can relax with family while surrounded by the beautiful Scottish highlands.
Holding on to umbrellas in case the sunny weather made a turn for the worse, Charles and Camilla were greeted by a choir and band before being presented with flowers by Isabelle Franklin, seven, who won the 2023 Under 11’s Cup and her brother, Jack, who won last year’s 11-15 age group.
Hundreds of well-wishers cheered the royal couple as they arrived and waited patiently for a chance to shake their hands.
One well-wisher delighted him by handing him flowers and a card, while another said, “Lovely to see you back here.”
The 76-year-old monarch looked delighted to return to the annual event, having missed it last year due to his cancer treatment.
Meanwhile, the Queen was amused by a royal fan who had her royal cypher tattooed on his leg, and it was revealed that one of her police officers also had one.
Phil Smith, 61, from Northampton, pulled up his shorts to show Her Majesty his latest royal inking. He told her that it took an hour and a half to complete and it had “bloody hurt”, prompting her to laugh uproariously.
She then turned to one of her police protection officers and said, “Look, he’s got one, too.” Mr Smith has four large tattoos along the outer side of his left leg, starting with Queen Elizabeth’s royal cypher and including both Charles and Camilla’s individual ones.
After admiring some roses and sympathising with gardeners about the havoc the recent heatwave caused, the King and Queen explored the fresh food on offer in the tents.
“Do you remember last time when we had the pie that looked like the King,” Camilla said. “Let’s see what they have this year.”
After seeing a display of dog-themed cakes, the Queen chatted happily about her new Battersea rescue puppy, Moley, who was unable to accompany her last week on a visit to the famous dogs and cats rescue centre in London.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t bring Moley to the engagement last week,” she said.
Asked whether it was too hot, Her Majesty replied: “Well yes, and she’s very naughty. I think I only have one shoe left.”
She also described how growing vegetables at Raymill, her private Wiltshire home, is “the best therapy in the world”, and she’s been kept busy with watering due to the hot temperatures.
After spending over 90 minutes touring the show, the King and Queen returned to Sandringham House in their carriage, smiling and waving to onlookers.