Queen Camilla had to battle the elements as she landed at a windy airfield today.
His Majesty, 77, flew into RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire in his capacity as Honorary Air Commodore to meet service personnel and their families.
Wearing an elegant blue Fiona Clare dress, she commented on the wind blowing through her hair and outfit. “It literally started blowing just before you arrived,” she was told.
Station Commander Group Captain Paul Hamilton introduced Camilla to members of 11 Squadron QEAF, which trains RAF and Qatari pilots on Hawk aircraft.
He also met with members of 90 Signals, communications and cyber defence specialists, and a specialist counter-drone team who worked on the Coronation and recently partnered with their French counterparts for the Olympics.
Queen Camilla struggled to cope with the elements as she landed at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire airfield today.
After posing for a group photo, the Qatari pilots presented him with a medal as a token of gratitude. “Thank you very much, I will find a safe place for this,” he said.
The Queen then visited the resort’s wellness area, which includes family gardens, a greenhouse, chicken coops and beehives.
She met 18-year-old Ophelia months later, whose father, Liam Barsby, 24, is a radar technician. Her mother, Phoebe, 25, told the Queen that her daughter loves coming down to feed the chickens every day.
She said: “It’s good to start looking after them from a young age. There’s nothing better than going into the garden and watching the chickens. It’s very relaxing.”
The Queen was also shown a group of rescued laying hens and added: “It’s very good to rescue them. You can help them grow.”
He was also fascinated by five rare breed Ixworths and the noise they made.
Camilla also commented that “there is nothing better than picking up an egg, they always taste much better.”
Mr Barsby said afterwards: “She loved hearing Ophelia come down every morning to feed the chickens. It’s wonderful to have somewhere outdoors where they can grow and explore. The little ones love being able to run around everywhere.”
His Majesty flew into RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire in his capacity as Honorary Air Commodore to meet service personnel and their families.
Camilla posed for a group photo with pilots from 11 Squadron of the Qatar Air Force during her visit to RAF Leeming.
She wore an elegant blue Fiona Clare dress and commented on the wind blowing through her hair and outfit.
The Queen received a card and flowers from Ffion and Archie, both aged three, at RAFA Kidz Leeming nursery.
Archie handed the bouquet to the Queen and said: “These are for you,” to which Camilla laughed and said: “Oh, thank you Archie.”
He then went on to explore the greenhouses where everything from flowers to tomatoes, chillies, courgettes and lettuce are grown using hydroponics, which uses 90 per cent less water.
“They taste much better when you grow them yourself than if you buy them in a store,” she said approvingly.
Among the people she met were Ben Stubbings with his wife Harriet and their three-and-a-half-month-old daughter Rose.
The Queen was stunned when she was told that Harriet had been in labour in the polythene tunnels and had almost given birth there. “Wow, that would have been something new!” she exclaimed.
She also listened to eight-year-old Darwin Sadd read her a poem about them, before giving her an illustrated version of it.
Queen Camilla, who was an honorary air commodore, shook hands with a pilot from the Emir of Qatar’s Air Force.
She met 18-year-old Ophelia months ago, whose father, Liam Barsby, 24, is a radar technician. Her mother, Phoebe, 25, told the Queen that her daughter loves coming down to feed the chickens every day.
Camilla, pictured, met another volunteer in the orchard during her visit to RAF Leeming.
During her visit to the base, the Queen was shown drone surveillance equipment. Photographed during her excursion
Camilla, pictured, looked impressed by the RAF crew and enjoyed her tour of the airfield.
The royal exuded glamour as she accessorized with diamond and pearl earrings and a matching necklace.
A woman curtsied to Camilla as she arrived at the orchard. The royals pictured during their visit
The Queen received a card and flowers from RAFA Kidz Leeming nursery children Ffion and Archie, both aged three.
Camilla witnessed a flight during her visit to RAF Leeming airfield today. Pictured during the visit
“That was brilliant!” Camilla said. “You’re very clever.”
On her way out, she was treated to a three-jet flight before returning on her own plane to Scotland to join her husband.
Station Commander Group Captain Paul Hamilton said of the visit: ‘I was telling him in the car how much he meant to us.
‘This is a great achievement for all of us here, for the entire community. The well-being of our people is very important to us and that is what we have demonstrated today, in addition to our operational capacity.
“Sometimes in the military, people and their families need help and that’s really what we’re trying to do here. It’s been a wonderful day.”
