02 February 2024 , 16:24
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Queen Camilla made a surprise gesture after visiting a charity that has been caring for the elderly for 850 years.
On Thursday, she travelled to Bath to mark the anniversary of the St John’s Foundation, established in 1174 to tackle poverty and poor living conditions in Bath. And in a quiet courtyard in Bath city centre, where the foundation houses some of its residents in almshouses, Camilla chatted to a group housed by the charity over tea and cakes. However, as she approached one of the elderly residents, their name badge that had been pinned to their cardigan fell to the ground - and she needed a helping hand to retrieve it.
And without hesitation, the Queen got down on her knees to help the lady get the badge back - and after even remarked how it had been good exercise. Footage of the sweet moment was posted to X, formerly Twitter, by a photographer who had been covering the visit. And one replied to the footage saying: "I think she’s a genuinely kind person. I imagine that’s a quality The King loves about her", while another added: "She is such a jewel. But her main concern was that the lady didn’t feel bad that the Queen had put herself out."
Meanwhile, elsewhere during the visit, King Charles was praised for his decision to publicise his treatment for an enlarged prostate. Rita Willis, 86, spoke to Camilla and said afterwards: "I asked her to convey to the King how good it was he spoke about his prostate diagnosis, and she said she would."
The King underwent a corrective procedure for the benign condition last week and it has been reported that Charles could take up to a month off from public duties as he recuperates. Charles is understood to have wanted to share the news to encourage other men to get themselves checked.
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Queen Camilla meets wellwishers outside of Bath Abbey (PA)NHS England has said the "enlarged prostate" page on the NHS website received one visit every five seconds on the day the King's diagnosis was announced, with further huge boosts in visits in the days that followed. When Joanna Laurence, 77, a retired secretary, mentioned she was a keen gardener, Camilla spoke about her love of the activity. She said: "I find it the most relaxing thing in the world, you come in and everything starts stiffening up, it's worth it."
The Queen also commented about homegrown produce from the King's private Highgrove home in Gloucestershire, saying: "Eating your own vegetables is incredibly special." She also joked about the large display of cupcakes in the middle of the table: "Somebody has been doing a lot of baking around here, very smart buns."
Camilla has been the foundation’s patron since 2009 and she walked the short distance from the almshouses to Bath Abbey where a service celebrating the 850th anniversary of St John’s Foundation was held. Members of the public began lining the route and the Queen went on an impromptu walkabout, shaking hands and briefly chatting with well-wishers.
Today, the foundation provides sheltered housing in 94 almshouses to those aged over 65 without a property, and in 2020 it widened the scope of its work launching a Foundation Fund to ensure children have the best start in life.
The Queen’s final steps to the abbey's west door were lined by almost 900 children from seven primary schools supported by the fund. Ben Fletcher, chairman of St John's Foundation, said after the service: "Because we've been here for so long, St John’s is really woven into the city and I think what it ultimately gives, is a degree of comfort. If you really need help beyond what can be provided by the Government or the local authority – St John’s is there, we are the last line of defence for people in greatest need."