King Charles and Queen Camilla, who did not attend Prince Harry's Invictus Games event at St. Paul's Cathedral last week, arrived at the cathedral on Wednesday to attend the Order of the British Empire service.
Their attendance comes just days after the monarch declined the Duke's invitation to the same venue for the Invictus Games service, seemingly sending a message that they have more pressing commitments with their devoted subjects.
During Harry's recent trip to the UK, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, King Charles did not meet with his estranged son before Harry departed for Nigeria with Meghan Markle. The King's appearance at St Paul's Cathedral now adds to Harry's concerns, as this latest step could be seen as further distancing.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were in high spirits, smiling as they ascended the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in bright red cloaks, signaling that the monarch is healthy and capable of fulfilling his duties. They were joined by nearly 2000 individuals who hold Orders awards, including CBEs, OBEs, MBEs, and British Empire Medals.
Additionally, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that "The King will follow The late Queen as Patron of the RNLI." This news came a day after the unveiling of King Charles's first official portrait since his 2023 coronation. The vibrant red portrait, designed by artist Jonathan Yeo, was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate Charles's 50 years as a member of The Drapers’ Company in 2022.
