Coronation Gown Spotlights Queen Camilla's Style

Queen Consort Camilla will come under scrutiny for what she wears at her husband King Charles III's coronation. ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP/File
Queen Consort Camilla will come under scrutiny for what she wears at her husband King Charles III's coronation. ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP/File
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Coronation Gown Spotlights Queen Camilla's Style

Queen Consort Camilla will come under scrutiny for what she wears at her husband King Charles III's coronation. ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP/File
Queen Consort Camilla will come under scrutiny for what she wears at her husband King Charles III's coronation. ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP/File

In just a few days' time, the eyes of Britain and millions more around the world will be on Camilla as she is crowned queen alongside her husband, King Charles III.

"It'll be the dress that will be the most talked about, it will be analyzed in every detail," said Caroline Young, a writer specializing in fashion.

While the design of Camilla's gown is being kept under wraps, the 75-year-old queen consort commissioned British couturier Bruce Oldfield, who boasts a long list of high-profile clients, including Charles's ex-wife Princess Diana, AFP said.

According to fashion expert and royals' commentator Miranda Holder, the coronation gown is going to "define" Camilla.

"It's going to go down in history," she added.

Britain last held a coronation in 1953. Charles's mother Queen Elizabeth II wore an intricately embroidered white satin gown on the day.

But Camilla is likely to opt for something less luxurious with the new king keen to slim down the ceremony as the country grapples with a cost of living crisis.

When the royal procession arrives at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, the queen will be cloaked in a crimson velvet "Robe of State", originally made for Elizabeth 70 years ago.

'Working with Diana'

Camilla will be crowned with Elizabeth's grandmother Queen Mary's Crown, which she wore at the coronation of her husband King George V in 1911.

In honor of Camilla's late mother-in-law, the crown will be reset with several diamonds from her personal jewelry collection.

According to British media, Oldfield, 72, has designed Camilla's gown but Buckingham Palace was keeping tight-lipped when contacted by AFP.

Oldfield designed dozens of evening gowns -- several of them iconic -- for Diana before her death in a Paris car crash in 1997.

"He was developing his own style and aesthetic while he was working with Diana," Holder, the royal fashion commentator, said.

But after Diana's formal separation from Charles in 1992, she distanced herself from royal life and the designer.

Oldfield had since become one of Camilla's favorite fashion creators, as well as a long-time acquaintance.

He designed the elegant black evening gown Camilla wore on the royal couple's state visit to Germany in March.

Glamour v confidence

"I gave Diana her glamor and Camilla her confidence," Oldfield was quoted as saying in 2014.

While the outfits of heir to the throne Prince William's wife Kate are some of the most scrutinized on the planet, Camilla's style has often left commentators indifferent.

"I don't think people kind of go, 'wow, look at what she's wearing!' But I think she knows perfectly what is the right fit for the right occasion," Young said.

According to Holder, Camilla likes pastel colors but also "flamboyant" jewelry.

"She is very earthy and natural in her spare time. She was in her 60s when she married prince Charles. It was a little bit of an advantage," Holder added.

She said Camilla was not under the same "scrutiny" as Kate or Meghan, whose husband is Charles's younger son Harry.

As for the design of the coronation gown, it's a guessing game for now.

Holder predicts Camilla will be wearing blue or a "pastel color". But definitely not black.

'Fantastic fashion'

"Black is a no-no. It's for evening, red carpet," Holder said.

The fashion expert also expects "much symbolism" that will reflect the Commonwealth nations and the countries making up the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Young says that Camilla will not want her outfit to be "too showy".

"She's got a difficult job because she's been criticized for years and years as being the other woman," Young said.

"So she has a reputation at stake as well," she added.

The start of the king's reign also comes as many Britons struggle with stubbornly high double-digit inflation.

"So there can be the worry that it might be criticized for being too ostentatious, too expensive. All that will be in her mind," Young said.

But Holder hopes that cutting costs in other areas of the coronation will allow "to splash out on a bit of fantastic fashion".



Prince William Brings His Son to the Same Homeless Shelter He First Visited with Princess Diana

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. (Reuters)
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Prince William Brings His Son to the Same Homeless Shelter He First Visited with Princess Diana

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. (Reuters)

Prince William and his eldest son, Prince George, put on aprons to help make Christmas lunch at a homeless shelter, a charity that the Prince of Wales first visited as a child with his mother, the late Princess Diana.

The royal father and son were seen decorating a Christmas tree and helping with meal preparations in the kitchen at The Passage in central London, in a video posted to William's YouTube account on Saturday.

“Proud to join volunteers and staff at The Passage in preparing Christmas lunch – this year with another pair of helping hands,” read a post on the social media account of William and his wife, Princess Catherine.

William is the royal patron of The Passage, which he first visited when he was 11 with his mother, Diana. The heir to the throne has visited the charity in recent years, but this was the first time George, 12, joined him.

The young royal signed his name in a book on the same page that Diana and William had written their names 32 years ago, in December 1993.

William was shown pouring Brussels sprouts onto an oven tray, while George helped set out Yorkshire puddings and set a long table for dozens of attendees.

William launched his Homewards project in 2023 to tackle homelessness.


Japan Footballer 'King Kazu' to Play on at the Age of 58

Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a new team at the age of 58. STR / AFP
Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a new team at the age of 58. STR / AFP
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Japan Footballer 'King Kazu' to Play on at the Age of 58

Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a new team at the age of 58. STR / AFP
Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a new team at the age of 58. STR / AFP

Evergreen 58-year-old striker Kazuyoshi Miura is set to join a Japanese third-division team to begin his 41th season as a professional footballer, local media reported Sunday.

Miura, known as "King Kazu", will join Fukushima United on a year-long loan after spending last season with fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, said AFP.

The signing is not yet official but Miura's recent moves have typically been announced at 11:11am on January 11, in a nod to his shirt number.

The former Japan international will turn 59 in February.

He made seven appearances last season for Suzuka, who were relegated to Japan's regional leagues after finishing second-bottom of the table and losing a playoff.

Miura made his professional debut in 1986 for Brazilian team Santos and he has also played for teams in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal.

He helped put football in Japan on the map when the professional J. League was launched in 1993.

He made his Japan debut in 1990 but was famously left out of the squad for their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 games for the national side.


Elysee Palace Silver Steward Arrested for Stealing Thousands of Euros’ Worth of Silverware

General view of the Elysee Palace, the French President's official residence, in Paris, France, February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
General view of the Elysee Palace, the French President's official residence, in Paris, France, February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
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Elysee Palace Silver Steward Arrested for Stealing Thousands of Euros’ Worth of Silverware

General view of the Elysee Palace, the French President's official residence, in Paris, France, February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
General view of the Elysee Palace, the French President's official residence, in Paris, France, February 21, 2024. (Reuters)

Three men will stand trial next year after a silver steward employed at the official residence of the French president was arrested this week for the theft of items of silverware and table service worth thousands of euros, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

The Elysee Palace’s head steward reported the disappearance, with the estimated loss ranging between 15,000 and 40,000 euros ($17,500-$47,000).

The Sevres Manufactory, which supplied most of the furnishings, identified several of the missing items on online auction websites. Questioning of Elysee staff led investigators to suspect one of the silver stewards, whose inventory records gave the impression he was planning future thefts.

Investigators established that the man was in a relationship with the manager of a company specializing in the online sale of objects, notably tableware. Investigators discovered on his Vinted account a plate stamped “French Air Force” and “Sevres Manufactory” ashtrays that are not available to the general public.

Around 100 objects were found in the silver steward’s personal locker, his vehicle and their home. Among the items recovered were copper saucepans, Sevres porcelain, a Rene Lalique statuette and Baccarat coupes.

The two were arrested Tuesday. Investigators also identified a single receiver of the stolen goods. The recovered items were returned to the Elysee Palace.

The three suspects appeared in court Thursday on charges of jointly stealing movable property listed as part of the national heritage — an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a 150,000-euro fine, as well as aggravated handling of stolen goods.

The trial was postponed to Feb. 26. The defendants were placed under judicial supervision, banned from contacting one another, prohibited from appearing at auction venues and barred from their professional activities.