During their five-day state visit to Kenya, King Charles and Queen Camilla
found themselves at the center of controversy, with Meghan Markle's friend and
royal biographer, Omid Scobie, pointing out what he deemed a "ridiculous" move
during the trip.
The monarch and his wife visited Nairobi National Park, where a red carpet was
laid on the ground in anticipation of their arrival. This choice of placing a
red carpet on the soil raised some eyebrows, and Scobie, formerly on Twitter,
expressed his criticism, labeling it as an 'out of touch' gesture.
Scobie commented, "Even if this was a choice made by the hosts (and it
probably was), the optics of the King and Queen walking on a red carpet to
avoid soil at Nairobi National Park are pretty ridiculous and out of touch."
He added, "A knowledgeable Palace aide could have easily requested its
removal. I've been on many royal visits all over the world and seen aides make
last-minute tweaks or changes before royals arrive at engagements, including
removing red carpets that were deemed unnecessary, so there is precedent for
this."
Even if this was a choice made by the hosts (and it probably was), the optics of the King and Queen walking on a red carpet to avoid soil at Nairobi National Park are pretty ridiculous and out of touch. A clued up Palace aide could have easily asked for it to be removed. pic.twitter.com/bnxoGwbgWC
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) November 3, 2023
The incident highlights the challenges faced by royals when it comes to balancing traditional customs and contemporary expectations, especially during state visits and public engagements.
