Queen Camilla meets with the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, at Clarence House on February 29 in London.Photo:Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty
Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty
First lady of UkraineOlena Zelenskais giving a glimpse of her meeting withQueen Camillaat Clarence House — and a look at the pictures displayed there.
On Thursday, Zelenska’s team posted an upbeat recap of her time with the Queen, 76, at theprivate royal residencewhere she lives withKing Charlesin London. The video shared toXshowed the Ukrainian first lady making her way into Clarence House, where she and Queen Camilla greeted each other with a hug and kisses on the cheek.
The footage also gave a close look at two tables full of royal family photos taken throughout the years.
The first collection was packed with pictures, including three featuring King Charles. It included aformal portraitof the monarch and his mother,Queen Elizabeth, taken to commemorate her 90th birthday in 2016, what looked like an outtake from Charles and Camilla’s2018 Christmas cardphoto shoot, where they sat on a bench in the Clarence House garden, and a picture of the King appearing to holdPrince Georgeon his baptism day in 2013. A close look also appeared to show two framed, undated pictures ofPrince Harry.
The next set featured three photos with plenty of poignancy. Framed and displayed was a shot from the unforgettableChristmas pudding-preparing sessionwhere Queen Elizabeth and her three heirs, then-Prince Charles,Prince Williamand a 6-year-old Prince George whipped up the dish in 2019, a portrait ofQueen Motherand a shot of the future King Charles and Queen Camilla after church on their April 2005 wedding day.
While royal watchers have gotten glimpses of theroyal family photosdisplayed around Buckingham Palace since King Charles’ accession, the latest update offers a rare look into the pictures at Clarence House. While Buckingham Palace is synonymous with the British royal family and serves as the hub of the monarchy’s operations, King Charles and Queen Camilla don’t actually live there. Though the King and Queen host many meetings and audiences at the palace, they have called Clarence House their London home for years and even broke a 900-year tradition when theyslept therethe night before their May coronation.
Queen Camilla met with Zelenska a few days after thesecond anniversaryof the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Feb. 24, the day of the anniversary, King Charles sent words of support to Ukraine.
“The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year,” themessagebegan.
“Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely. Theirs is true valor, in the face of indescribable aggression. I have felt this personally in the many meetings I have had with Ukrainians since the start of the war, from President Zelenskyy and Mrs Zelenska, to new army recruits training here in the United Kingdom,” he continued.
“I continue to be greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine at this time of such great suffering and need. My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers,” King Charles concluded, signing with his regnal signature, Charles R.
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While members of the British royal family traditionally do not comment on political matters, King Charles, Queen Camilla,Prince WilliamandKate Middletonhave all shown support for Ukraine amid the conflict. King Charles hosted PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyduring the Ukrainian leader’s surprise visit to the U.K. in February 2023, and Prince Williamtraveled to Polandweeks later to meet troops helping to train Ukrainian forces. Queen Camilla and Princess Kate, 42, have also both previously met with First Lady Zelenska at Buckingham Palace since the conflict began, in addition to learning more about the crisis at community centers.
“I was happy to personally thank Her Majesty Queen Camilla, and in her person all @RoyalFamily and the people of Great Britain for the consistent support of Ukraine and our forced migrants,” Zelenska wrote below the Thursday video on X, per a translation. “Our values are shared. This is life, freedom, democracy. Thank you for standing up for them together today.”
Queen Camilla meets with the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, at Clarence House on February 29 in London.Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty
source: people.com
