Queen Camilla places on a courageous face as she attends a racing occasion close to her East Sussex childhood residence amid Andrew arrest drama
Queen Camilla put on a brave face at a horse racing event in East Sussex as the police investigation into the disgraced former prince Andrew enters a new week.
Camilla, 78, attended Jamie’s Race Day at Plumpton Racecourse near her childhood home on Monday, February 23.
The Queen was all smiles as she arrived at the racecourse that is located a stone’s throw away from the seven-bedroom property where she grew up, with Camilla once describing the house as ‘perfect in every way’.
Camilla, who is patron of Jamie’s Farm, opted for a forest green coat that she paired with a brown skirt, a printed blouse and a fur-trimmed hat for today’s visit.
She finished her look with a pair of brown suede boots, a black handbag, and a studded brooch pinned to the lapel of her coat.
She soon got stuck into race day, as Camilla was photographed watching the action unfold from the stands at Plumpton Racecourse in what will have been a welcome distraction from the scandal unfolding at her marital home.
Last week, her disgraced brother-in-law Andrew was arrested at his temporary home in Sandringham, following dramatic raids at Wood Farm as well as his former residence, Royal Lodge.
Andrew, 66, was released from custody under investigation for misconduct in public office during his time as a UK trade envoy.
It is understood the former Duke of York was arrested in relation to allegations he passed sensitive information to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a trade envoy for the British government.
Queen Camilla put on a brave face at a horse racing event in East Sussex as the police investigation into the disgraced former prince Andrew enters a new week
Camilla, 78, attended Jamie’s Race Day at Plumpton Racecourse near her childhood home on Monday, February 23
Members of the Royal Family remained focused on carrying on as normally as possible, as King Charles said the ‘law must take its course’ in an unprecedented statement about Andrew’s arrest last Thursday.
Just hours later, the Queen was seen smiling for the cameras with veteran fashion editor Anna Wintour during an audience at St James’s Palace to mark the start of London Fashion Week.
King Charles was seen later in the day sharing a laugh with Stella McCartney as they sat on the front row at Tolu Coker’s fashion show on the same day.
However, Prince William admitted he is not ‘in a calm state’ to watch the BAFTA-nominated Hamnet as he joined the Princess of Wales for the awards show in London last night.
Although their glamorous appearance at the EE BAFTA Film Awards signalled the Royal Family’s determination to put their difficulties aside, William, 43, revealed he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to watch the Best Picture nominee.
Speaking on the carpet before the star-studded event at The Royal Festival Hall, he said: ‘I need to be in quite a calm state, and I am not at the moment. I will save it.’
But Catherine, he said, had watched the hugely emotional film on Saturday night and was left in ‘floods of tears’.
Hamnet tells the story of the tragic death in childhood of Shakespeare’s son and the grief of his parents.
Meanwhile, Catherine, 44, delivered a ‘masterclass in understated power dressing’ as fashion expert Lisa Talbot told the Daily Mail that her pink floor-length Gucci gown sent a powerful message amid a turbulent time for The Firm.
The queen watched the races with rapt attention
She put on a very animated display while watching from the stands at Plumpton Racecourse
The Queen was all smiles as she arrived at the racecourse that is located a stone’s throw away from the seven-bedroom property where she grew up, with Camilla once describing the house as ‘perfect in every way
The races will be a welcome distraction from the scandal surrounding Queen Camilla’s disgraced brother-in-law, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Camilla, who is patron of Jamie’s Farm, opted for a forest green coat that she paired with a brown skirt, a printed blouse and a fur-trimmed hat for today’s visit
She finished her look with a pair of brown suede boots, a black handbag, and a studded brooch pinned to the lapel of her coat
Camilla watching the races from the stands alongside veteran journalist Brough Scott (right)
She said it was a ‘strategic reminder of stability’, explaining: ‘In a moment where the Royal Family is under intense scrutiny, her appearance felt quietly strategic, a reminder of stability, grace and the composure expected of a future Queen,’ she explained.
‘It wasn’t about drama; it was about presence.’
The expert revealed that ‘the soft, flowing silhouette of her gown felt romantic yet incredibly poised, a beautiful balance of femininity and authority’.
‘Kate’s BAFTAs look was a masterclass in understated power dressing,’ she shared.
‘Nothing felt overdone. Her hair was glossy and softly styled, and the make-up fresh and refined, allowing her natural features to lead rather than compete with the dress.’
Last night’s outing would have served as a brief moment of respite for the Waleses.
In the latest developments following the tranche of explosive Epstein file revelations, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was pictured leaving police custody, following his unprecedented arrest on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The former prince looked shellshocked as he cowered in the back of a car leaving Aylsham police station in Norfolk shortly after 7pm on his return to Sandringham.
She soon got stuck into race day, as Camilla was photographed watching the action unfold
Queen Camilla with the winning connections after Enjoy D’allen won the Johnnie Boden Backs Jamie’s Farm Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase at Plumpton Racecourse,
Trainer Neil King (left) and jockey Lily Jones received trophies from Queen Camilla
The Queen photographed in conversation with jockey Hezekiah March
Andrew, who turned 66 last week, was detained by officers during an 8am raid on his new home at Wood Farm. In events that rocked the Royal Family, he became the first senior royal to be arrested in modern times.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the disgraced former prince had been taken into custody just after 10am on Thursday, marking one of the worst days for the family in recent history.
In a statement put out just minutes after Andrew’s departure, Thames Valley Police said ‘a man in his sixties’ has been released under investigation – as images showed how the royal seemed to be trying to evade photographers following his bruising day in the cells.
Wide-eyed and with his hands clasped in front of him, Andrew cut a lonely figure as he ditched his traditional suit and tie attire in favour of a shirt and cardigan more suited to the setting that is so far removed from the upper echelons of luxury he is used to.
The photograph of the former prince, now stripped of all his titles and privileges, is sure to haunt the Royal Family in the days and weeks to come.
Police added that searches being conducted in Norfolk, relating to Andrew’s new residence, Wood Farm, have concluded.
It is understood the former Duke of York was arrested in relation to allegations he passed sensitive information to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a trade envoy for the British government.
King Charles issued an unprecedented statement confirming his ‘wholehearted support and co-operation’ with the investigation into Andrew just hours after he was detained on Thursday – with Buckingham Palace understood not to have known the former Duke of York would be arrested.
The King’s statement added: ‘I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.
‘What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.
‘Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.’
