In a surprising turn of events, Queen Camilla has been appointed Colonel in Chief of the Royal Lancers, hosting her first reception at Clarence House.
This announcement comes at a time when Prince Harry is in London, giving evidence in his lawsuit against MGM.
Some royal fans and commentators perceive this as a deliberate snub to the Duke of Sussex during his visit to the country.
The reception, attended by the Queen and former and current members of the regiment, marked Queen Camilla’s second engagement of the day.
Buckingham Palace shared the news on the Royal Family’s social media accounts, accompanied by photos of Camilla.
The caption read, “Her Majesty the Queen has been appointed Colonel in Chief of the Royal Lancers.”
The regiment, which has a rich royal history, was formed in 2015 through several amalgamations.
The Royal Family also posted a clip on Instagram, showcasing Camilla celebrating Lieutenant Michael de Bourgh’s 100th birthday.
Alongside the video, the caption stated, “On the day the Queen was appointed Colonel in Chief of the Royal Lancers, Her Majesty presented Mr. de Bourgh with a regimental honor, the Buckingham Medal.”
This appointment holds significance as both Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother have served as former colonels.
Additionally, Queen Camilla’s late father, Major Bruce Shand, fought alongside the 12th Lancers during World War II.
Camilla looked stunning at the event, donning a long royal blue dress with puffy sleeves and an open button-collar neckline.
She completed her outfit with high heels, exuding elegance and grace.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has returned to Los Angeles after a brief visit to the UK for his High Court phone hacking case against Mirror Group newspapers M.G.N.
Although staying at Frogmore Cottage, Harry did not meet with his father, the King, or his brother, the Prince of Wales, during his short trip.
Harry flew from Los Angeles to London overnight on June 4th, missing the opening day of his court case against M.G.N.
Consequently, Justice Fancourt expressed surprise at his absence.
According to The Telegraph, this visit may be Harry’s final stay at Frogmore Cottage as his father, King Charles, requested that the Sussexes vacate the property shortly after the release of Harry’s memoir, “Spare.”
Reports from January indicated that Charles intended to evict the couple from their UK residence, offering the cottage to Prince Andrew instead.
However, the Duke of York, who has resided at Royal Lodge with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson for over two decades, is reportedly resisting the move.
Frogmore Cottage is considered a downgrade compared to Harry’s current abode, boasting seven bedrooms, a large drawing room, and a conservatory.
The strained relationship between the Sussexes and senior members of the royal family became more evident when none of the official Twitter accounts belonging to King Charles and Prince William wished Harry’s daughter, Lilibet, a happy second birthday on June 6th.
This stands in stark contrast to last year’s celebrations when the royal family, King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales all extended their well wishes for Lilibet’s first birthday.
Royal expert R.S.
Locke suggests that this radio silence reflects the strained relationship between King Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Locke states, “King Charles’s decision not to publicly acknowledge his granddaughter’s birthday, nor Prince Archie’s last month, is a reflection of their strained relationship and likely an indication of future social media practices.”
The snub towards Prince Harry amidst his visit to the UK and the appointment of Queen Camilla as Colonel in Chief of the Royal Lancers have ignited controversy within royal circles.
As tensions persist, the dynamics between the Sussexes and the royal family remain complex and uncertain.