Queen Camilla Makes Unusual Late Summer Engagement to Support Racecourse Patronage

Mar. 15, 2025

Queen Camilla meets members of the parachute display team.Photo:Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty

Queen Camilla meets members of the parachute display team during day four of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse. Picture date: Saturday August 24, 2024.

Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty

Queen Camillais off to the races this weekend in a surprise end-of-summer engagement.

On Aug. 24, the Queen, 77, visited the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse in York, England to open the new Bustardthorpe Development complex.King Charles' wifewas announcedas patron of the York Racecourse in May and made her first public appearance in the new royal role on the fourth and final day of the horse racing festival.

It’s somewhat unusual for a working royal like Queen Camilla to make a working engagement in late August, asQueen Elizabethtraditionally cleared that period on her calendar for summer respites at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The King, 75, also stepped away from his Balmoral holiday to undertake an important engagement,visiting Southportearlier this week, where three children were killed at aTaylor Swift-themed dance class in late July. He alsoprivately spent timewith their families at Clarence House, his London home, the following day.

Queen Camilla greeting others at York Racecourse.Julian Simmonds - WPA Pool/Getty

Queen Camilla, as Patron of York Racecourse, meets racegoers as she attends the Ebor Festival and opens the racecourse latest development, the new, state-of-the-art, complex called the Bustardthorpe Development at York Racecourse on August 24, 2024 in York, England. The new Development has been designed to improve the experience for racegoers and has sustainability at its heart, with rainwater harvest tanks, solar panels and a living roof. During the visit, The Queen will also presents the trophy to the winning owner of the Ebor Handicap. having been established in 1843.

Julian Simmonds - WPA Pool/Getty

Queen Camilla at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse.Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty

Queen Camilla meets members of the parachute display team during day four of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse. Picture date: Saturday August 24, 2024.

Environmental issues are a key interest of several members of the royal family, including King Charles and his sons,Prince WilliamandPrince Harry.

After cutting the ribbon, Queen Camilla moved to tour more of the new site.  Later in the day, Queen Camilla is due to present the trophy at the Ebor Handicap, the track’s most famous race. The handicap takes its name from Eboracum, the Roman city known today as York, and is the oldest race run at York Racecourse, dating back to 1843.

It was announced the same month that Queen Camilla had taken on the patronage of York Racecourse. The role had been left vacant since Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 amid backlash around his friendship with convicted sex offenderJeffrey Epstein, local paperThe Pressreported. The Duke of York, 64, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and Queen Elizabeth stripped her second son of his military titles and royal patronages in January 2022.

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Queen Camilla.Julian Simmonds - WPA Pool/Getty

Queen Camilla, as Patron of York Racecourse, attends the Ebor Festival and opens the racecourse latest development, the new, state-of-the-art, complex called the Bustardthorpe Development at York Racecourse on August 24, 2024 in York, England. The new Development has been designed to improve the experience for racegoers and has sustainability at its heart, with rainwater harvest tanks, solar panels and a living roof. During the visit, The Queen will also presents the trophy to the winning owner of the Ebor Handicap. having been established in 1843.

“We have been privileged to host Royal visits in the past and very much look forward to welcoming Her Majesty back to York,” added Guerin, who was one of the officials who greeted the Queen on Aug. 24.

Queen Camilla had previously attended equestrian events at York Racecourse in years past, when she was known as the Duchess of Cornwall.

source: people.com

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