The royal family is honoring Queen Camilla as she celebrates her birthday on Friday, July 17
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Buckingham Palace; Yui Mok – Pool/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
-
Queen Camilla celebrates her 79th birthday on Friday, July 17
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William led tributes to Queen Camilla on social media
-
Buckingham Palace marked the occasion with a new portrait and announced her renewed commitment to supporting children’s literacy
Queen Camilla is being honored on her 79th birthday!
On Friday, July 17, Prince William and Kate Middleton kicked off tributes to Camilla by reposting the new portrait of her released by Buckingham Palace alongside a sweet message on their Instagram Stories.
“Wishing her majesty The Queen a very Happy Birthday! 🎂,” the couple wrote.
Buckingham Palace’s new portrait shows Queen Camilla in a bright blue dress with a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch.
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty for Buckingham Palace
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
The Royal Family announced on Instagram that she marked her birthday by renewing her “commitment to supporting children’s literacy.”
Queen Camilla will be gifting U.K. children in year six with a “special edition” of the bestselling book Impossible Creatures by award-winning author Katherine Rundell this Christmas.
The Royal Family also posted a photo showing Queen Camilla opening a door with the caption: “Thank you for all the kind wishes on Her Majesty’s 79th birthday! 💙🎈.”
Credit: Lesley Martin – Pool/Getty
It’s been a busy summer for the royal family, ahead of their traditional getaway to Balmoral in Scotland, from Trooping the Colour to the Royal Ascot to Wimbledon.
Last week also marked a long-awaited reunion between King Charles and Prince Harry.
Harry, his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, reunited with his father, King Charles, at Highgrove House on July 10. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Queen Camilla was also present for the private family meeting, which marked the first time in four years that King Charles had seen Meghan and his California-based grandchildren.
“She is a non-negotiable part of Charles’ life,” royal author Catherine Mayer told PEOPLE in an exclusive cover story on the reunion. “There is no reconciliation with him without her.”
Credit: Matt Rourke – Pool/Getty
The palace has stated that there will be no photos or details released about the family reunion and what was discussed.
“It is better that people don’t know anything about these meetings,” said a source close to the family. “They should be allowed to rekindle those family ties.”
Hosting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s family at Highgrove was a meaningful choice for the King and Queen. After an explosive back and forth between the two parties about security arrangements and accommodations, the country retreat offered a quiet and private setting for the family to reunite.
Read the full article here
