The Queen was given a warm welcome on the Isle of Man on Wednesday as she gave city status to the capital Douglas.
Queen Camilla was there in place of The King, who is being treated for cancer, to present the Letters Patent conferring city status on the Borough of Douglas.
Cheering crowds lined the streets as she arrived.
Residents hung out of nearby windows as Camilla headed inside to the council chamber to present the Letters Patent.
Douglas, the island’s biggest settlement, was granted city status in May 2022 as part of the celebrations for the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
Queen Camilla arrived at Ronaldsway Airport around noon and was welcomed by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, Sir John Lorimer, who represents the Crown on the island, and his wife Lady Lorimer.
She arrived at Douglas Borough Council around 12.30pm and was met by the city’s Mayor, Natalie Byron-Teare.
She was dressed in a blue Anna Valentine coat and dress with navy fringe details adorned with a hefty diamond and sapphire broach, a gift to Queen Victoria from Prince Albert.
The Mayor’s Chaplain, Monsignor John Devine, led a prayer for the King and said he hoped he would have “many fruitful years in the nation’s service”.
Camilla then stood to address the chamber, saying: “My husband is so sorry that he cannot be here today on this extremely special occasion. He sent me here armed with a speech to read out today.”
The speech began: “I am desperately disappointed not to be able to join you today as we celebrate the conferral of the city status of Douglas here on the Isle of Man.”
“The granting of City status is particularly special to me as the Letters Patent are the only ones in existence that hold my signature and that of my late mother”
The King’s speech added that he was ‘grateful’ to the Queen for stepping in.
The Mayor then thanked Queen Camilla and asked her to convey her best wishes to the King.
Her Majesty signed the visitor’s book before heading out to greet the cheering crowds, many of whom gifted her bouquets of flowers.
Among them were 38-year-old mother Rachael Hughes and her 15-week old twins, Louie and Oliver, who caught Camilla’s eye in their matching blue outfits.
“Camilla came over to admire the boys, asked their names and said it gets easier when they are two! It was so lovely to see her. She is doing a great job and she looks fabulous,” said Rachael.
Another admirer was 8-year-old local schoolgirl Ella Ramshaw, who asked Queen Camilla if she could be her “best friend”.
“She said ‘yes, of course I can’ and I just burst out with excitement. I’m a big fan of her and I am sad the King could not be here.”
Adrian Beacham, a 72-year-old retired resident, gifted Her Majesty a model steam train, which are still used on the island. Camilla told him that she was ‘delighted’ the island was keeping their heritage alive.
After meeting members of the public Camilla was whisked away to Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor and his family, to meet the Isle of Man’s Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan, and community groups including representatives from the RNLI and the Manx Bluetits swimming club.
The Mayor of Douglas, Natalie Byron-Teare, said: “It’s been sensational to have Camilla here. Hopefully the King will get the chance to come again and we would welcome him back any time. It’s great to finally have city status.”
Douglas has been the capital of the Isle of Man since 1896 and is home to the Manx Parliament, Tynwald, which is the oldest continuous parliament in the world.
His Majesty The King has visited the Island on three occasions, most recently in 2012, when he was accompanied by Camilla, who was then Duchess of Cornwall.
It was the birthplace of the RNLI and of the three brothers who formed the popular pop group the Bee Gees.
The Island was also home to the founder of Thomas the Tank Engine, Reverend Wilbert Awdry, who created the much-loved stories based on the Island’s Steam Railway.
Had the King been able to visit, it would have been the island’s first royal visit from a monarch since 2003.
Douglas was one of eight towns to be given the civic honour to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne in 2022.
The move meant the island became the only Crown Dependency with a capital city.
