The King and Queen host palace event with the Prince and Princess of Wales for the first time since being thrust into racism row. The most senior members of the Royal family have been photographed in a four-point show of unity, dressed in white ties and tiaras for a diplomatic reception showcasing the heart of their public duties.
The King, Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales posed together for a formal portrait in the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace, before a reception celebrating the work of diplomats around the world. The photograph was taken in the 1844 Room shortly before an evening reception hosted annually by the monarch. It was the first time the quartet have been seen together since the publication of Omid Scobie’s book, in which the King and Princess of Wales were accused of making comments about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s child in a Dutch translation. The palace has not formally responded to the allegations and it is understood discussions among senior aides will take place this week. A source said “all options” remained on the table, but they are not rushing to respond publicly. The King has privately written to the Duchess about the subject in an exchange of letters in 2021, following her Oprah Winfrey interview. On Tuesday, the senior members of the Royal family stepped out for their day jobs: the Princess to open a new surgical unit at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, the King to celebrate advent in a Coptic Orthodox Church, and the Prince to sell the Big Issue outside a branch of Tesco as part of his ongoing campaign to end homelessness.
The Prince was photographed by members of the public working alongside 61-year-old vendor Dave Martin who also sold the magazine with the Prince around the time of his 40th birthday – and the pair swapped Christmas cards. By evening, the members of the Royal family had switched their daywear for their finest evening attire. The Queen wore a cream embroidered evening gown by Fiona Clare, with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, her Garter sash, the late Queen Mother’s diamond brooch and Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond bracelet. The Princess of Wales wore a pale pink sequinned dress by Jenny Packham and the Lover’s Knot tiara she favours for such occasions, along with the Greville diamond chandelier earrings that once belonged to the late Queen. The outfit was previously worn by the Princess when she attended a Jordanian royal wedding in June. Across the Atlantic, the Duchess of Sussex was photographed near her Californian home, wearing exercise clothes and a baseball cap along with a tennis bracelet said to have been given to her by the King in happier times.
