Queen Camilla Pulls Out of a Key Christmas Role after Palace Confirms Sudden Exit
After becoming Queen Consort in 2022, Queen Camilla quickly learned the ropes, taking on major royal roles as part of her public duties. Among them was her meaningful involvement in Christmas-season community events, particularly the annual 'Festive Spread' lunch in London. Organized by the Royal Voluntary Service, the luncheon sees the Queen join charities to help deliver festive meals to those in need. This year, however, she will not be participating after the Palace announced her sudden exit from the event on Instagram.
On December 17, the royal family shared a photo of the Queen from last year's event, pouring brandy over a Christmas pudding. It came with the caption, "Last year, Her Majesty @theroyalfamily joined @royalvolservice at their Festive Spread event in London to celebrate the incredible volunteers who bring joy, company, and support to so many over the holidays." Sharing a sweet message from Camilla for this year's lunch, it continued, "Thank you all for all you do for the community. As I always say, this country would collapse without you. I am eternally grateful for everything you do." The Palace also mentioned that instead of Camilla, Rosemary Shrager, a TV chef, would be taking over the festive baton and brandy-pouring duties.
Last year, Camilla was enjoying the festive spirit, joking around with volunteers and staff during the 'Festive Spread.' There, she joined several tables where RVS volunteers were snacking on canapés before their meal, and engaged in a conversation with the organization's chairman, Patrick Dunne. Later, Dunne spoke positively of their chat, telling The London Standard, "She's [Camilla] very at ease, she gets what it's like to be a volunteer because she's been a volunteer." The event, staged in Little Venice, marked the start of the RVS's 'Festive Spread' campaign, which saw staff organize more than 70 Christmas lunches for those in need of company across London.
As for her meaningful role with the RVS, the Queen Consort has long been their long-time supporter, having worked as a volunteer before becoming Queen. She now serves as its patron and was joined by celebrity ambassadors Elaine Paige and Felicity Kendall at last year's event. When Camilla arrived, Paige asked how she was doing following a bout of pneumonia, to which Camilla reportedly quipped, 'just standing.'
Camilla's sudden exit from the 'Festive Spread' lunch isn't the first time she has suddenly pulled out of an event. Last year, she opted out of the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance and the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph. Buckingham Palace later confirmed that she was "following doctors' guidance to ensure a full recovery" from a chest infection, later confirmed as pneumonia. Because of the illness, she was also forced to withdraw from parts of the Qatari state visit and other scheduled events. While recovering at home, Camilla recently shared that she binge-watched the TV show Rivals during her illness, saying it helped her feel 'much better.'