Queen Camilla appeared today full of Christmas cheer as she joined a ‘Festive Spread’ lunch at The Amadeus in London.
During the event, the royal, 77, who wore a cream shirt and elegant green Anna Valentine jacket, warned Christmas dinner guests to “hold their hair” as she helped flambé a figgy pudding 22 pound giant.
Her Majesty admitted she was “a little nervous” as she poured an entire 14-inch flagon of brandy over the desert at a Royal Voluntary Service lunch and watched it go up in flames.
She told volunteers gathered for the launch of ‘Festive Spread’ (a community lunch aimed at ensuring no one spends the holiday season alone) that she was “eternally grateful for everything you do”; And he added: “As I always say, this country would collapse without you.”
The RVS will host 70 of the events across the country. Today’s ceremony, at The Amadeus in west London, was attended by the charity’s ambassadors, Felicity Kendal and Elaine Paige, and the Queen spent half an hour meeting guests and volunteers.
Catherine Johnstone, chief executive, told the assembled guests that the Queen would join them shortly before their arrival, and said Her Majesty would prefer that they not worry about bowing or what to call her and concentrate on having fun.
Laughing, he described his role lighting the Christmas pudding as a “career-limiting moment.”
The lunch was prepared with the help of students from West London College, who were the first people to meet the Queen when she arrived.
Queen Camilla (pictured) appeared full of Christmas cheer today as she joined a ‘Festive Spread’ lunch at The Amadeus in London.
Asked how long they had been cooking and what they particularly liked to do, he told them it was “very kind” and “very lovely” of them to use their new skills to help others with SVR.
Greeting Felicity Kendal and Elaine Paige, who have worked with RVS for years and met Camilla, as Duchess of Cornwall, before, the Queen was asked how she was doing, following a bout of pneumonia, and joked: “I’m still standing.’
Joining the lunch, he sat at a succession of round tables, shaking hands with volunteers and guests who were wearing Christmas hats and headbands and waiting for their lunch.
The topic of Christmas pudding came up several times and the Queen said: “I’m a bit nervous.”
Making the gesture of a fire roaring upward, he said: ‘I can see it! You’re making me nervous now.
The Queen praised the volunteers, repeated that it was “very important” and asked about their Christmas plans.
“I used to do that,” the Queen was heard saying during a conversation about Meals on Wheels. From time to time, the 77-year-old would lean toward an elderly guest for a more leisurely conversation.
The lunches have been created to help ensure that vulnerable people, older people or those bereaved do not go the entire festive season without seeing another person.
Queen Camilla, Patron of the Royal Voluntary Service, joined lunch club diners, volunteers and staff for a ‘Festive Spread’ Christmas lunch at The Amadeus in London today.
Her Majesty admitted she was “a little nervous” when she poured a whole 14-inch jug of brandy over the desert at a Royal Voluntary Service lunch – and watched it go up in flames.
“Everyone has something to say,” said the Queen. He wished each table a “Merry Christmas” before moving on to the next, seating three in total.
She was then invited to the front of the room, where the large Christmas pudding, measuring 36cm in diameter and weighing 10kg, was placed on a plate.
Catherine Johnstone, in a short speech, told the Queen: ‘You are incredible. We didn’t know if you were going to be able to come today, we would have totally understood if you couldn’t, but the fact that you came has made it very special for everyone, so thank you.
‘You are an amazing sponsor and I don’t want to steal your line, but every time we meet you say that volunteers are the backbone of our community.
‘If every volunteer went on strike for just one day, the country would literally come to a standstill. “It is now more necessary than ever for people to step up in their communities.”
Turning to the Christmas pudding and wielding a large lighter, he said to the Queen: “I’m going to light it, you’re going to serve it.” You serve all you want and I’ll do the honors.
When instructed to pour the brandy over the pudding, the Queen said ‘good… good…’ in concentration as she continued to pour, as the room echoed with laughter.
“I think it would be very sensible if the lady could back off a little bit,” said Mrs Johnstone, before setting it on fire.
The monarch, dressed in an elegant cream-colored shirt and green jacket by Anna Valentine, attended the event in high spirits.
The royal opted for glamorous makeup for the occasion, complete with a touch of pink lipstick.
Camilla looked focused as she chatted to diners, volunteers and lunch club staff at the event.
The Queen gave a short speech without notes and said: ‘Thank you all for everything you do for the community. As I always say, this country would collapse without you. I am eternally grateful for everything you do.’
The Queen has been President of the RVS since 2012 and became Patron in May this year.
It comes after Buckingham Palace released King Charles’ third Christmas card as monarch, featuring a sweet photograph of the royal with his wife Queen Camilla.
The image was taken by Millie Pilkington in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, captured in April when the foliage behind the royal couple was full of pink and purple flowers.
In the photograph, Camilla, 77, is seen wearing a blue wool crepe dress by Fiona Clare, with her arm around her husband.
Charles, 76, wears a light gray suit and a blue patterned tie, smiling with his hand in his pocket.
The card is a radical departure from the formal image their Majesties chose last year: an official coronation photograph taken by Hugo Burnand in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace.
That year, the photo showed the King wearing the Imperial State while Camilla wore Queen Mary’s Crown. Both were dressed in the robes of the state.
An inscription inside last year’s letter read: “I wish you a very Merry Christmas and New Year.”
Speaking of his experience as a coronation photographer, Hugo Burnand, who also photographed Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, described the atmosphere in the throne room as “cozy” during the photo shoot.
He added that there was a “lovely buzz” as he prepared and took the coronation images.