Queen Camilla Surprised With Rare Birthday Gift That Only King Charles Could Make Happen
Queen Camilla’s 78th birthday turned out to be much more special than one would have anticipated, all thanks to King Charles. The Queen Consort scripted history on the eve of her birthday after being appointed as the new Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom. The announcement was commemorated with a ceremony dedicated to her on the HMS Astute, a submarine, in Plymouth.
Camilla is the first woman and royal family member to serve as the Vice Admiral of the UK. The coveted position was first created in 1513 by King Henry VIII. According to People magazine, the new title was Camilla's early birthday present. On July 16, the Queen arrived at the naval base to mark the end of the submarine's first commission, the longest one in the Royal Navy’s history. She joined the crew to celebrate the Astute's achievements over the past 15 years, before it undergoes an overhaul. During the ceremony, Camilla was presented with a pennant by Rear Admiral Andy Perks. Besides inspecting a Guard of Honor, she also attended the lowering of the Ensign and Union flags.
Camilla has been associated with the Navy for several years and also serves as the sponsor of the ship. To mark her new prestigious role, Chief of Naval Staff, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins RM, said, “We are honored to welcome Her Majesty The Queen to HM Naval Base Devonport. Her Majesty’s visit has been a tremendous boost to morale, and the honorary appointment reflects the high regard in which Her Majesty is held by all of us.”
Meanwhile, Camilla, in her speech, addressed her longstanding relationship with the service as their Lady Sponsor and reflected on the milestone journey of the submarine. Honoring the crew, she said, “It is those of you serving in her (HMS Astute) who ensure that she is much more than the steel of her pressure hull and greater than the sum of her electronic parts…It is this inquisitive spirit and razor-sharp professionalism that has steered you all through dangerous waters and, thanks to your efforts, ensured the safety of this nation and our allies.” Speaking then to the UK public, she assured that the submarine would be ready for its second commission soon.
This, however, isn't likely to be Charles's only gift to his wife on her birthday. According to The Sun, Charles’s former butler, Grant Harrold, said, “The funny thing is that what do you even give to someone in the royal family? Or a Queen? I expect Charles will give her something practical that she wants, a piece of jewelry, or something for her dogs.” The butler opined that the jewelry would come from the late Queen Elizabeth’s collection that Charles had inherited as King.