Overview
- Queen Camilla served as Reviewing Officer and inspected the March Past during the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s Founder's Day parade on Thursday, receiving a Royal Salute and observing the Royal Hospital Collect.
- Before the parade she visited the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary and spent time with Chelsea Pensioners who were too frail to join the outdoor ceremony, speaking with residents and staff at their bedside.
- In a speech on the dais she praised the veterans’ service and community role and relayed light-hearted, off-the-record anecdotes from pensioners about secretive gin bars, port associations and fox feeding.
- Camilla wore the Lady Jardine Star Brooch from the late Queen Elizabeth II’s collection, a visible symbol of royal continuity noted by coverage of her outfit and jewellery choices.
- Founder's Day traditions were observed with oak-leaf sprigs and a decorated King Charles II statue, and the Royal Family shared official images of the visit on its Instagram feed as part of public messaging about veteran care and heritage.