Queen Camilla smiles as she continues with Royal duties day after King Charles returns home following prostate treatment
QUEEN Camilla beamed as she continued with Royal duties this afternoon after welcoming King Charles home yesterday.
The Monarch, 75, left The London Clinic on Monday following his “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate on Friday.
As Charles recovers at home, the Queen hosted a reception today at Windsor Castle for authors, illustrators and binders.
The event hails those who have been involved in the new Miniature Library collection, displayed alongside Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.
The Queen’s Doll’s House is a perfect 1:12 scale replica of a vast Edwardian home with electricity, working lifts and running water and first unveiled 100 years ago.
It marks its centenary year of 2024 celebration, and Camilla was spotted chatting to visitors who were enjoying their tour around the collection.
Fourteen modern-day authors including Jacqueline Wilson and Sebastian Faulks, Bernardine Evaristo, and rather bizarrely her son Tom Parker Bowles, have penned miniature books for the Queen Mary’s Dolls House.
The Queen, 76, appeared in good spirits and looked in wonder at the carefully crafted miniature books.
She wore an elegant royal blue blazer embroidered with an intricate white lace design, matching skirt and donned pearl earrings.
Camilla joked her eyesight had “deteriorated” as she revealed the 4.5cm high miniature book she wrote which will go on display at Windsor Castle.
She penned her 254-word message across 16 pages of her tiny book, and said “it’s lovely” when she got her hands on the bound copy yesterday.
Glenn Bradley, Head of Royal Binders, described how the Queen had used a regular pen nib to write the message, also described as a foreword.
He said: “For a lot of authors it was quite a challenge. The handwriting is extraordinary. The Queen’s was very good and legible.”
Presented with her book, she said: “It’s so lovely, thank you so much, very kind.”
She thanked the authors in the room and hailed it as “a fantastic scheme”
Without notes, Camilla said: “As a child seeing the Dolls House for the first time, I was always fascinated by the books, the idea of actually seeing very prominent writers actually seeing their writing was huge excitement
“I know the future generation are going to feel the same about all of you, they are going to look at these books and say ‘goodness’, wonderful to see Alan Bennet and Tom Stoppard and see their writing.
“What I was particularly thrilled to see was the amount of authors and daughters who have been doing the illustrations and it’s really nice to see mothers and daughters working together.
“I am thrilled by this and hope you will all be very proud of what you’ve done.
“And also the wonderful binders, I’ve never seen such exquisite works of art, it’s not an easy task to do something that small, so congratulations.
“So again thank you very, very much, I hope your eyesight hasn’t deteriorated that much, certainly mine did.”
It comes after Charles was pictured waving cheerfully leaving hospital yesterday after a three day stay as Camilla arrived at around 2pm to see him back home.
His departure came just hours after Princess Kate was also allowed to head home to Windsor following her planned abdominal surgery.
Kensington Palace said she “is making good progress” after a 13 day stay in the clinic.
The King has now been given the all-clear and a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said he will pause royal duties while he recovers.
The palace said: “The King was this afternoon discharged from hospital following planned medical treatment and has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation.
“He would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days.”
It has been reported the King will need about one month recovery time following the op.
Standard procedure for the planned “corrective surgery” advises patients rest up for three to four weeks.
FAMILY REUNITED
Meanwhile, Kate, 42, has finally been reunited with her devoted children after two weeks in hospital.
The royal mum-of-three had not been able to see children – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, since checking in for abdominal surgery.
It’s understood the delighted trio were at school when the Princess made it home in the morning.
And it’s thought the emotional reunion would have taken place when they arrived home to Adelaide Cottage at the end of the day.
Prince William had been at his wife’s side throughout her stay in hospital with regular visits.
It is understood that the Waleses wanted the children to stick to their normal routine and not disrupt their schooling.
But, even when carrying out royal duties abroad, Kate has never been away from her children for this long.
The Princess of Wales had been admitted to hospital on January 16, with Kensington Palace announcing her procedure the following day.
A palace spokesperson said: “The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress.
“The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided.
“The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.”
ROYAL OPERATIONS: How the health scares facing Charles & Kate unfolded
With King Charles and the Princess of Wales undergoing surgery at the same hospital, here is a timeline of the health troubles facing the two royals.
Tuesday, January 16: Kate, 42, is secretly admitted to the London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery.
Wednesday, January 17: Kensington Palace announces the princess’ operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days.
Over an hour later, Buckingham Palace announces the King, 75, is to have treatment for a benign enlarged prostate and will be admitted to hospital in a few days.
Thursday, January 18: Prince William spends time at his wife’s bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit.
The Queen says the King is “fine” and “looking forward to getting back to work” during a visit to the Aberdeen Art Gallery
Friday, January 19: The King flies back from Scotland with the Queen and heads to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk to rest ahead of the procedure.
Monday, January 22: The Queen tells 86-year-old well-wisher Jessie Jackson that the King is “fine”, and thanks her for asking, while she carries out engagements in Swindon.
Camilla urges the King to take it easy. An insider told The Sun: “The Queen has told him he needs to slow down a bit.”
Thursday, January 25: The King arrives back in London from Sandringham ready for his treatment.
Friday, January 26: The King is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate and also visits the Princess of Wales, who was recovering in the same hospital.