Featured Image Credit: AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Queen Camilla, Royal Family, King Charles III, The Queen, Social Media, Reddit
Madison Burgess
Topics: Queen Camilla, Royal Family, King Charles III, The Queen, Social Media, Reddit
Queen Camilla has been accused of 'breaking royal protocol' by eagle-eyed royal fans who've picked up on a specific detail during her recent appearances.
And it's all to do with what she was wearing, or should we say not wearing, at the last two UK state banquets.
Back in July, the British royals welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, to the country for a state visit, followed by a visit from US President Donald Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania, just last week at Windsor Castle.
The standout moment of both of these visits was a luxurious state banquet, where the royals and honoured guests got dressed up to the nines for a lavish meal.
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However, royal fanatics picked up on something to do with Camilla's outfits for both occasions; she wasn't wearing her Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II.
For those unfamiliar, a Royal Family Order is a personal decoration awarded by a reigning monarch to female members of the royal family.
It consists of a miniature portrait of the monarch on a ribbon, the colour of which is unique to each sovereign.
The Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II was a personal honour bestowed by the late Queen on women in the royal family to be worn on formal occasions.
King Charles III's own family order was quietly unveiled last year when Camilla wore it at the state banquet for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan.
She donned it alongside her family order from the late Queen, which she first received back in 2007, with the two placed side by side along her sash.
However, as royal fans have pointed out on social media, Camilla only wore her husband's family order at the last two state banquets, sparking confusion.
Someone wrote on Reddit: "Does anyone know why Camilla hasn't been wearing her QEII family order? The other female royals who have been given Charles's family order all wear it together with QEII's family order at formal events, but at the last two state banquets Camilla only wore Charles's order (after wearing it several times together with QEII's order)."
They further questioned: "Is there some protocol reason for this that I'm not aware of? I can't think of what it would be, given that she has worn both together multiple times.
"Or is the simpler explanation that the QEII badge needed some kind of repair that is just taking some time? It looks odd, and seems like an invitation for the usual gossipy speculation."
While a second user speculated: "I don’t know if it’s a legitimate "protocol" or just what previous royal women have done, but I think the answer is she seems to not want to. If it was broken or something, I feel like they would have said so."
And a third agreed: "I noticed that. She has previously worn both orders, so it is possibly just a malfunction."
However, another royal fan pointed out: "The Queen Consort only wears her husband the King’s order during his reign. As the Queen Mum did during her husband’s reign."
Another person added: "She has the order. But it’s normal now for the King’s wife to only wear his order. When Catherine is Queen, she will likely only wear the order William creates."
Tyla has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.