Touring the world is part and parcel of every senior royal’s life, and King Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 76, have long been flying the flag for the UK and Commonwealth abroad. Despite both being at an age where they might want to put their feet up, they’re continuing their globetrotting adventures, exploring Kenya this week for their first long-haul foreign visit of their reign.
These tours are months – sometimes years – in the planning and are orchestrated down to the finest detail, from the minute-by-minute busy schedule to what needs to be taken along for the journey. One of the perks of being royal is that packing is the job of trusted members of staff. As well as remembering specific items – such as mourning clothes in case of a prominent death in the family – comfort is key for a monarch in their seventies, as former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK!.
“King Charles and Queen Camilla don’t have the same hassles about packing and unpacking as the rest of us!” Jennie laughs. “They have valets and dressers to organise all their clothes. I know the King is quite fastidious about such things and woe betide a valet who forgets his favourite shirt or tie. I wonder if his favourite safari suit will appear again? There used to be rumours that he travelled with his own loo seat – but he certainly needs special cushions for his back, which has always given him pain.”
Another factor which has to be considered ahead of any tour is Queen Camilla’s lifelong dislike of flying. “Camilla does not enjoy flying, but she knows it’s part of her job to go all over the world and she will continue to do so,” Jennie explains.
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