What Present King Charles Likes to ‘Spoil’ Queen Camilla With and Where They May Go on Her Birthday Because ‘Dining Out Isn’t Easy’
As Queen Camilla (formerly known as Camilla Parker Bowles) celebrates her 77th birthday on July 17, a couple of people who used to work for the royals are giving insight into what plans she may have and the present that King Charles will give her because he loves spoiling his wife.
Also, the monarch’s former aide is revealing where they might go as dining out isn’t an easy thing for them.
The place King Charles and Queen Camilla may go that can provide what they need
Paul Burrell began working in the royal household when he was 18 years old and served as Queen Elizabeth II‘s personal footman. In 1987, he was moved to the household of then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana to serve as their butler. Burrell believes Camilla’s birthday will be celebrated privately at home.
Speaking on behalf of Slingo, he opined: “I think privately, the king will give her a party at Clarence House or Birkhall and they’ll have people go up to Scotland … I don’t think there’ll be any public celebrations because it’s not a milestone birthday. Everything will be behind closed doors.”
The former butler explained that if they do venture out, it will be to one or two specific places because dining out isn’t “easy” nowadays, considering everything that has to go into it.
“Maybe they’ll go back to the Ritz again because that was a milestone when they first stepped out together,” Burrell said. “Dining out for the royals isn’t easy. They have to have a private dining room. And their favorite places are the Ritz and Claridges because they can provide the security, the lockdown they need, and that purple corridor, that special place that they can move to and from without too much interaction with the public or the press.
“Because when they dine out, they like it to be private. So that’s why those two places can offer them security and accommodations, which will be a smooth passage for them. Because they just can’t walk into any old restaurant, could they? No, it will be exactly far too difficult for them. It will be uncomfortable for them and it will be uncomfortable for the people dining with them.”
The king will ‘spoil’ his wife with what he has always loved to give her
Burrell added that in terms of presents, Camilla is likely to get a nice piece of jewelry from her husband.
“He likes to give her jewelry. I think he’ll give her something special,” Burrell said. “He may have had something commissioned for a birthday. He’s very spoiling, the king, and he will make sure that all attention is on Camilla. He likes to remind her that she’s queen. He likes to remind her that this is given by him for her service over the years to him, and this is his reward to her.”
Another former aide agrees that the queen’s birthday will be celebrated privately and that jewelry will almost certainly be one of Camilla’s gifts from the king.
Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler from 2004 to 2011. During his time working for the now-monarch and Camilla, Harrold’s duties included that of housekeeper, house manager, driver, and valet.
Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, Harrold said: “The last time it was a big occasion was her 70th. I wasn’t there but I remember the party because I could hear the party from my house. But normal birthdays are very private. I always remember her birthday being the climax of summer at Highgrove before the royals head off to Scotland … Normally, Charles would get Camilla a piece of jewelry [for her birthday].”
