King Charles III will face a dilemma this year as his duties as monarch conflict with an important family event—his wife, Queen Camilla’s 77th birthday. On July 17, the king will be required to attend the State Opening of Parliament following the results of a general election. Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asked the monarch to dissolve Parliament so that a snap general election could be called, with Britons heading to the polls on July 4 to cast their votes for a new government.
The royal family has had to cancel preplanned appearances to avoid detracting from the political debate surrounding the upcoming general election. In accordance with normal procedure, engagements that may divert attention or distract from the election campaign will be postponed. King Charles III has opened Parliament once as sovereign, reading the government’s speech outlining policies and goals for the coming term during the state opening in November 2023. Accompanied by Queen Camilla, the king fulfilled his constitutional duty wearing military uniform and robes while Camilla wore her coronation dress and featured the historic diamond diadem worn by all British queens since 1820.
Queen Camilla’s birthday has coincided with joint engagements with King Charles III in the past, though she does not traditionally mark the occasion with public appearances. The queen has joined her husband at several events, including an official visit to Cornwall in 2019 while celebrating her 72nd birthday. It is likely that Camilla will accompany Charles at the State Opening of Parliament this year, despite it falling on her birthday. Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment on the matter, which has thrown the monarchy’s summer plans into disarray.
Newsweek’s royal reporter, James Crawford-Smith, is based in London and covers stories related to Charles and Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and their family. Readers can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and follow updates on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page. Anyone with questions about the royal family can email royals@newsweek.com for answers from experienced royal correspondents. The publication is dedicated to challenging conventional wisdom and seeking connections in the quest for common ground.
