King and Queen jet back to London for public

Release time：2024-05-21 07:15:20 Source：Horizon Herald news portal

King Charles has arrived in London ahead of his return to public-facing duties, as his medical team 'remain positive' about his 'continued recovery'.

The King, 75, was spotted boarding a plane with Queen Camilla, 76, at Aberdeen Airport this morning.

He returns to London ahead of a visit to a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday where he will be accompanied by Queen Camilla.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.'

After landing in London, Queen Camilla was whisked off to Clarence House where she hosted a reception for the Maiden yachting crew - the first all-female crew to win an around-the-world yacht race.

The King, 75, was spotted boarding a plane at Aberdeen Airport this morning

King Charles will visit a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday where he will be accompanied by Queen Camilla 

After landing in London, Queen Camilla was whisked off to Clarence House in a black car where she hosted a reception for The Maiden yachting crew - the first all-female crew to win an around-the-world yacht race

The Queen hailed the record-breaking crew of The Maiden as 'brilliant' as she welcomed them to Clarence House to celebrate their unprecedented victory in the Ocean Globe Race.

They became the first ever all-female crew to win an around-the-world yacht race, setting sail last September and crossing the finish line on April 16 after spending 153 days at sea and raising funds and awareness for girls' education.

Thanking them for coming, Her Majesty said: 'I think you are doing a brilliant job. Keep on doing it, it's really important.'

She told sailing legend Tracy Edwards, who founded The Maiden Factor, which promotes girls' education through the Yacht: 'You've brought the warm weather with you. It's rather warmer than Scotland, where I've just come from, which was absolutely freezing!'

The King and Queen were away in Aberdeen for a romantic break at their beloved Highland retreat to celebrate 19 years of marriage.

Before the crew set sail last year, the Queen sent a message to say: 'You are all much in my thoughts today, as you cross the start line of the Ocean Globe Race for Maiden's final race.

'I do hope that each one of you is proud to be part of such a special crew, bringing Messages of Hope to girls across the world. I wish you fair winds and following seas! - Camilla R.'

Over tea, sandwiches, cake and Champagne, the crew were introduced to Her Majesty, who joked that 'everybody looks younger and younger.'

Hailing the winning crew's skipper Heather Thomas, Tracy told the Queen: 'She's happy, she has a glass of Champagne in her hand. 'Quite right!' replied Camilla.

Camilla hosted a reception at Clarence House for The Maiden yachting crew 

Camilla welcomed skipper Tracey Edwards MBE and her all-female crew to Clarence House 

This year's crew, pictured here with Camilla, was the most diverse professional sailing crew ever to sail the world

Turning to Heather, 27, Camilla said: 'You are a very young skipper!'

'I'm the same age that Tracy was when she did the race.'

Tracy and her all-female crew finished second in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race aboard the 58ft Maiden, becoming the first all-female team to take part in an around-the-world race.

Asked by the Queen how she became a sailor, Heather replied: 'I used to sail dinghies with my dad and then..'

'A bit of a bigger Dinghy!' joked the Queen

The 2023-24 retro-style race, which took place 50 years after the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, saw the crew ditch computers, GPS, and other high-tech tools for sextants and paper charts.

READ MORE: Queen Camilla appears in high spirits as she hosts the first female crew to win an around-the-world yacht race - after it was announced King Charles will return to public duties

Sailors on board 14 boats raced over four legs across 27,000 nautical miles, taking in stops in South Africa, New Zealand and Uruguay.

The Queen giggled as she was told how crew members were allowed to play cassette tapes during the voyage and had to be shown how to re-spool tape using a pencil.

'You learned a lot of new skills!' she laughed.

This year's crew was the most diverse professional sailing crew ever to sail the world.

Members come from the UK, Antigua, USA, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Italy, France and Afghanistan and include the first Black and Middle Eastern female crew members to take part in such a race.

The Queen was introduced to Najiba Noori, a former AFP camerawoman who fled Afghanistan nearly three years ago and was recruited to film aboard the Maiden during the race.

She told Camilla: 'I grew up in the mountains, I had never been at sea.'

Speaking afterwards, she said: 'It was a little bit scary, especially when there were big waves and wind, but slowly, slowly, it was okay.'

She said of her escape from the Taliban: 'The day I left Afghanistan, that was the toughest day of my life and the toughest decision I've made. I had just five minutes to decide should I leave or stay. But I knew that if I stayed I would be a prisoner.'

Najiba, who now lives in France, said of her meeting with the Queen: 'I would never imagine to sail around the world and.. win the race and after that to meet the Queen.

'It was very nice to talk to her and tell her a little bit of my story.

'She told me 'It's very important that you were part of this race', sailing on Maiden, which has a very important message for the world about girls' education. That was the reason that I decided that I wanted to do this race for the women and girls of Afghanistan.'

Maiden became the first ever all-female crew to win an around-the-world yacht race, setting sail last September and crossing the finish line on April 16 after spending 153 days at sea and raising funds and awareness for girls' education

The Queen has been involved in the team's efforts from the start, sending them a message of good luck before they embarked on their trip

The Daily Mail has already revealed that Charles will have a busy summer schedule with plans under way for him to attend his own birthday celebrations, Trooping the Colour, as well as Royal Ascot.

In addition to visiting the cancer treatment centre, the King will host The Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit in June.

A spokesperson said: 'Planning continues for ways in which Their Majesties may attend such summer and autumn engagements, though nothing can be confirmed or guaranteed at this stage.

'All future plans remain subject to doctors' advice nearer the time, with appropriate adaptations made where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty's continued recovery.

'The pacing of the King's programme will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team.'

The Palace also released a photograph of King Charles and Queen Camilla strolling through the gardens of Buckingham Palace on April 10, the day after their 19th wedding anniversary.

The Palace also released a photograph of King Charles and Queen Camilla strolling through the gardens of Buckingham Palace on April 10, the day after their 19th wedding anniversary

The King and Queen will celebrate the anniversary of their coronation on May 6

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako welcome Charles prior to a court banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. October 22, 2019. In addition to visiting the cancer treatment centre, the King will host the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit in June. 

In a statement Buckingham Palace said yesterday: 'As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year.'

The anniversary of the coronation will take place on May 6.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on X that the King's return to public duties was 'brilliant news to end the week!'

Last month the Princess of Wales revealed she had also been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing 'planned abdominal surgery' in January.

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