On November 11, a significant gathering took place as King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day).
The event, which honored veterans of the Second World War, saw a royal portrait featuring the monarch, his wife, Prince Edward, and Prince William alongside several individuals who were recognized for their dedicated service in the Pacific theater.
However, amidst the celebrations, a noticeable absence was causing quite a buzz online—Princess Kate was nowhere to be seen, and fans were curious to know why.
As social media users shared photos from the Windsor reception, many expressed their bewilderment at Kate’s absence, while some even questioned the appropriateness of Queen Camilla’s presence in the lineup.
A royal enthusiast on Facebook noted, “I don’t think the Princess of Wales was there…?” This sparked a flurry of responses, with one person suggesting, “Maybe it’s just the King, the Queen, and those who’ve served?” Another chimed in, “Honestly, it’s Camilla who seems out of place.” Others highlighted the fact that Camilla has not served in the armed forces herself, despite her various honorary military titles.
Speaking of titles, Camilla does hold a few key positions that reflect her standing.
She serves as the Colonel of the Grenadier Guards and occupies several roles within different regiments and naval services.
On her recent 78th birthday, King Charles bestowed upon her the honorary title of Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom, a remarkable first for a woman.
Meanwhile, Kate made history earlier in 2024 when she was appointed as a Royal Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honor, marking her as the first royal family member to earn such a distinction.
With all this in mind, why was she absent from the royal portrait?
Kate had a rather compelling reason for missing out on the Windsor event.
Instead, she was engaged in representing the royal family at the Armistice Day Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on the same day.
This marked her debut at the annual event, traditionally attended by senior royals, and she took on this responsibility solo.
At the memorial, she participated in a two-minute silence to honor service members and laid a wreath in tribute to those who lost their lives while serving their country.
After the solemn ceremony, Kate took the time to view the newly unveiled names on the memorial collection, engaging with veterans and their families.
She even had an animated conversation with a veteran named Geoffrey Spencer, discussing her son Prince George’s interest in Lancaster Bombers and his hobby of building Airfix models.
With a twinkle in her eye, she remarked, “He knows more about aircraft than I do.” Given her important commitments that day, it’s clear that Kate’s absence in the Windsor portrait was justifiable.
However, the undercurrent of wishful thinking among royal observers who prefer Princess Kate over Camilla could further strain the already fraught relationship between the
