Queen Camilla's Subtle Misstep at Elizabeth’s Memorial Stone Ceremony Sparks Major Backlash
On July 1, Queen Camilla and King Charles arrived in Scotland to mark Holyrood Week, a celebration of Scottish culture, achievements, and community. As part of their royal tour, the King and Queen Consort attended a private service, where they participated in the unveiling of a memorial stone dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth. A video from the event caught Camilla looking confused about where to stand next to King Charles. In an embarrassing faux pas, she kept looking around for a place for her and hesitated before Charles gently nudged her towards the correct position.
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Charles and Camilla arrived at the private service at St Giles’ Cathedral to honor the Queen, who passed away in September 2022. As reported by The Royal Insider, just before Reverend Dr. Scott Rennie began his address, Charles gently gestured for Camilla to move to the other side ahead of the memorial stone’s unveiling. She smiled, stepped aside, then promptly returned to her original position. The King and Queen Consort took part in an emotional ceremony, standing in silent reflection with their heads bowed in tribute to the late monarch. Reverend Dr. Rennie’s speech also highlighted the enduring legacy of the Queen's life of service and devotion to the Crown.
After the clip of Camilla's 'royal blunder' was shared on the internet, fans took to the comments to give their take. One royal watcher commented, "Oh for heaven’s sake, this royal protocol on where to stand and one step behind the King is pure stupidity!!" Meanwhile, another opined, "Didn't Camilla know the rules of protocol? If this had happened to Meghan, it would have been the subject of thousands of criticisms in the British and American media." A netizen slammed, "They fumble everywhere they go….honestly!!" As the comments poured in, a fan penned, "I love The Queen's little smile at the end! She knew how funny the situation was and wasn't at all bothered about it!"
Despite the light showers, Charles and Camilla were warmly welcomed by crowds gathered outside St Giles’ Cathedral. Inside, they were led to the sacred space near the Holy Table, where the late Queen’s coffin had rested in September 2022. Following the service, the King and Queen Consort spoke with the skilled craftsmen responsible for carving the stone. The cathedral also holds deep significance, having witnessed more than 33,000 mourners file past the late Queen’s coffin as she lay in state in Scotland.
According to the Daily Express, the stone is engraved with the Scottish Crown and the ER cypher. It also has the dates when the Queen's coffin was at rest in the cathedral after her death at Balmoral Castle. Before her return to London, Queen Elizabeth lay in repose at the Edinburgh Cathedral for approximately 24 hours, from September 12 to September 13, 2022. The memorial stone was crafted by Vincent and Roxanne Kindersley of the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop in Cambridge—an artisan duo renowned for their engraved works at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the National Gallery.