King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords on November 7, 2023.Photo:Daniel Leal/WPA Pool/Getty
Daniel Leal/WPA Pool/Getty
King CharlesandQueen Camillaare inviting you along for a royal carriage ride.
On New Year’s Day, the King and Queen’s team gave a rare glimpse of the couple’s horse-drawn carriage ride to the 2023 State Opening of Parliament from a unique vantage point: a camera within the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
“#CarriageCam,” courtiers wrote onXwith a crown and camera emoji. “Thank you for all the warm welcomes up and down the country, and around the world, in 2023. Wishing everyone a very happy 2024.”
The festive footage showed the couple waving out the windows as they made their way to the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster on Nov. 7, 2023. The event wasespecially momentousas the first of King Charles’ reign, and his ceremonial role helped mark the start of the parliamentary year.
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach might also feel familiar, as King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 76, used it on their May 6 coronation day to travel to the crowning ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
The coach was commissioned to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary of acceding the throne in 2012 and likely has a smoother ride than the historic (and bumpy!)Gold State Coachthey traveled in after the service.
King Charles and Queen Camilla travel towards Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach after attending the State Opening of Parliament on November 7, 2023.Carl Court/Getty
Carl Court/Getty
The #CarriageCam clip rolled to show other photos from the royal couple’s busy 2023, which marked their first full year as King and Queen following the death ofQueen Elizabethin September 2022. The minute-long video cut to pictures including the royal family’s balcony appearance on the May coronation day, outtakes from King Charles and Queen Camilla’s many engagements, plus pictures ofPrince William,Kate Middleton,Prince Edward,Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh,Princess Anne,Prince RichardandBirgitte, Duchess of Gloucesterhard at work during various royal duties.
The montage was reminiscent of theyear-in-review videothat Prince William and Princess Kate released on social media on Dec. 29.
“2023,” courtiers captioned the 30-second clip with a check mark, which began with the family heading to the coronation. “Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our year."
Much like King Charles and Queen Camilla’s upbeat recap, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ clip highlighted William and Kate each supporting their individual initiatives (like theEarthshot PrizeandShaping Uscampaign) as well as joint engagements. It also featured plenty of family moments withPrince George, 10,Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5, from theirMother’s Day portraitin March to Trooping the Colour in June and Princess Kate’s third annual Together At Christmas concert in December.
Last year was significant for William and Kate, both 41, as the couple further settled into their elevated royal roles as the Prince and Princess of Wales. William’s pivotal place in the line of succession was emphasized on King Charles’ coronation day when he knelt before his father to pay homage after he was crowned. Prince George also served as a Page of Honor for his grandfather during the May crowning at Westminster Abbey and made history as the first future monarch to officially play a role in a coronation service.
When it comes to raising the future of the monarchy, William and Kate are trying to bring up their children in as normal an environment as possible given theirextraordinary life. That means watching George play soccer on his school team and catching Charlotte’s field hockey games as they happily chat with other parents on the sidelines, insiders tellPEOPLE.
Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Page of Honour Lord Oliver Cholmondeley and Prince George of Wales pose on the Buckingham Palace balcony on the May 6, 2023 coronation day.Christopher Furlong/Getty
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“She is very good at setting boundaries, which helps keep everything running smoothly. But the family is the priority, always,” a friend tells PEOPLE.
The family’s tight bond was on display on Christmas Day when the Prince and Princess of Waleswalked in stepwith George, Charlotte and Louis for the royal family’s annual church outing at St. Mary Magdalene near Sandringham House in Norfolk, where Charles and Camillahosted the holidayfor the second year in a row.
King Charles and Queen Camilala lead the walk to Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk on Dec. 25, 2023.Joe Giddens/PA Images/Getty
Joe Giddens/PA Images/Getty
source: people.com
