Queen Camilla was all smiles today as she made a surprise appearance at a very special festive lunch in London, where she even flambed a Christmas pudding.
The Queen, who is still recovering from the after-effects of her recent bout of pneumonia, attended the Royal Voluntary Service’s “Festive Spread” Christmas lunch at the Amadeus, where she spoke to lunch club volunteers, charity members and celebrity supporters to celebrate the positive impact of Royal Voluntary Service in local communities.
RVS is a charity which supports the NHS and thousands of vulnerable people in the community. It also works in local communities, running home libraries, companionship support, home-from-hospital services and patient transport.
She told guests that she was “eternally grateful for everything you do”, adding: “As I always say, this country would collapse without you.”
Camilla, who has been president of the charity since 2012 and became patron this May, stunned in a forest green skirt suit which she paired with a white blouse underneath – both by Anna Valentine. To accessorise, she opted for a pair of pearl earrings, a statement pearl necklace and a pair of black leather gloves.
She saw first-hand RVS’s recently launched Festive Spread campaign as she chatted with volunteers at the Christmas event.
The campaign is enabling volunteers to provide Christmas lunches to people who may be spending the festive season alone, with the charity hosting over 70 Festive Spread events across the country.
The Queen and the rest of the guests were treated to a lunch prepared with support from culinary student volunteers from West London College.
Camilla then flambed the Christmas pudding and warned guests to “hold onto their hair” as the 14in, 22lbs showstopper went up in flames. She poured an entire jug of brandy over the Christmas pudding before admitting that she was “a bit nervous”.
King Charles’s wife had to pull out of several engagements recently after catching a chest infection over the past month.
RVS volunteers Felicity Kendal and Elaine Paige, who first met the Queen when she was still Duchess of Cornwall, asked her how she was after her latest health woes, to which she replied jokingly: “I’m still standing.”
The royal sat at three tables in total while she wished “Happy Christmas” to each table before moving on to the next.
In a short, unprepared speech, she told guests: “Thank you all for all you do for the community. As I always say, this country would collapse without you. I am eternally grateful for everything you do.”
Last week, Camilla revealed that her chest infection was a form of pneumonia.
She has been suffering from post-viral fatigue and was urged by her doctors to take more time to recover.
The Queen told guests at a reception in London: “I am still a bit tired. It catches up a bit.”