Palace releases new portrait of King and Queen as their Samoa journey ends | EUROtoday

There are not any plans to host weddings for members of the general public on the King’s Balmoral Estate, a spokesman for the royal residence has mentioned.

Weddings are talked about in plans a consultant for the Aberdeenshire property had lodged for the Queen’s Building, on the grounds close to Balmoral Castle.

The plans state the venue “may be used for weddings, dinners, meetings and associated events”, which it mentioned could be “rare throughout the year”.

But a spokesman for the property mentioned: “There are no plans for Balmoral to host weddings as a commercial venture.”

It is known the property has had the aptitude to host capabilities and occasions, each non-public and public, for a variety of years.

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Mike Tindall, the late Queen’s grandson-in-law, says the Queen’s life “wasn’t like an episode of Downton Abbey”.

The world cup profitable rugby union participant, who’s married to the Queen’s granddaughtr Zara Tindall, revealed what the Queen was like behind closed doorways in his joint e book ‘The Good, The Bad and The Rugby – Unleashed’, launched alongside podcast co-hosts James Haskell and Alex Payne.

“I’m sometimes asked if the Queen did informality like ‘normal’ people, and the answer to that is yes,” Mr Tindall mentioned.

“Her life wasn’t like an episode of Downton Abbey, with meals on long tables and everyone dressed in their finery every night, and Zara and I would often watch the racing with her on TV, as I’m sure lots of people reading this have done with their gran.

“Lunches were also relaxed, especially up in Scotland, where lunch would often be heading out into the open space of the Scottish Highlands for a picnic.

“There’s a great picture of my daughter Mia sitting with the Duke of Edinburgh that captures exactly what those afternoons were like: members of a very close family who loved each other dearly spending precious time together. Yes, there’s a lot of drama surrounding the royal family, but they aren’t much different to anyone else underneath it all,” he added.

As the King’s landmark journey to Australia and Samoa come to an finish, right here’s a have a look at one of many more odd moments of the royal tour.

The King was left in “disbelief” after a crown-wearing alpaca wearing a swimsuit with a gold bow tie sneezed as he went to say hi there on Monday.

The animal was calmly ready with its proprietor amongst a whole lot of well-wishers to fulfill the King exterior the Australian War Memorial in Canberra when he dedicated the social gaff.

Robert Fletcher had introduced his nine-year-old alpaca – named Hefner as his mom was known as Playgirl – on its result in meet the King.

But when Charles stroked his nostril the animal sneezed and people round him laughed.

Mr Fletcher mentioned afterwards: “I got to shake his hand and then Hefner sneezed. The King just looked in disbelief. But it’s just who Hefner is. He is an alpaca after all.”

The King has mentioned he hopes to “survive long enough” to return to Samoa as he heads again to the UK.

Charles and Queen Camilla ended their four-day state go to to Samoa by visiting a village twinned with the UK, as a serious Commonwealth summit was hosted by the Pacific nation.

After his landmark speech on the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) on Friday, the King and his spouse took half in a cultural welcome as friends of Siumu village the next day.

He advised his friends: “I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you all.”

From poignant remembrance occasions to historical welcome ceremonies, the King and Queen’s tour of Australia and Samoa had all of it.

Crowds flocked to the well-known Sydney Opera House to see the monarch making his first go to to Australia as King, together with his spouse Camilla. It noticed the most important crowd of the tour, with greater than 6,000 folks vying for one of the best spot to get a glimpse of the couple.

In the capital Canberra the temper was very completely different when the couple paid their respects on the Australian War Memorial throughout a poignant wreath-laying ceremony. There have been moments when the formalities have been forgotten, together with Charles being hugged by one well-wisher throughout his go to to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney.

Some encounters have been extra uncommon, from an alpaca sporting a crown and bow tie that sneezed because the King stroked its nostril, to the Queen attempting to coax a parrot to speak.

Royal excursions generally have controversial moments and when Charles was welcomed by parliamentarians in Canberra, senator Lidia Thorpe accused him of “genocide” in opposition to the First Nations.

In Samoa the King confirmed off his personal tackle native vogue throughout welcoming ceremonies.

Charles swapped his trademark tailor-made swimsuit for a short-sleeved white jacket and trousers he designed himself as he was honoured with a brand new title, sipped a symbolic drink and was offered with a pig for feasting on the opening day of his state go to to the Pacific nation.

The itinerary was tailor-made to provide the King, who has been receiving remedy for most cancers for a lot of the 12 months, intervals of relaxation. A relaxation day was allotted after the couple first arrived in Australia and the King regarded engaged, relaxed and in good spirits all through the abroad go to.

Charles and Queen Camilla ended their four-day state go to to Samoa on Friday as they boarded their aircraft again to the UK.

Before departing, the King and Queen visiteda village twinned with the UK and later sheltered underneath umbrellas once they boarded their aircraft residence in torrential rain.

Camilla went forward of her husband, who chatted to dignitaries for a couple of minutes earlier than becoming a member of his spouse on the high of the steps and so they each waved goodbye to the Pacific nation.

Charles and Queen Camilla ended their four-day state go to to Samoa by visiting a village twinned with the UK.

Villages across the Samoan capital Apia are twinned with every of the 56 member states of the Commonwealth, flying the flags of the nations they’ve adopted, with road furnishings painted within the nationwide colors.

In his impromptu speech Charles mentioned: “We’ve been so impressed by the beautiful way in which all the villages have decorated the roadsides, it is something very special about Samoa.”

He thanked residents for his or her “wonderful generosity” bringing presents of meals and “other wonderful things”, and mentioned the royal couple would take away “special memories of our time here”.

When the couple arrived, a downpour started, drenching villagers and elders gathered for a ceremony wherein a drink constructed from powdered kava root is drunk, signifying unity.

Charles and Camilla have been offered with pink garland necklaces earlier than taking a seat on beige leather-based throne-style chairs.

The King was honoured with the mainly title of To’aiga-O-Tumua by the village’s excessive chief, as he and Camilla have been offered with sacred kava in coconut shells with straws.

“May God bless this kava,” mentioned Charles as he lifted the cup and drank.

The chief advised Charles: “Your papa, Prince Philip, was here, so thank you for making the time. Your royal visit has lifted our house.”