On a trip to Northern Ireland today, Queen Camilla was shown some of Belfast’s best artisan produce in several local shops – but seemed to be upstaged by a young boy, who has a very famous mum
Queen Camilla joked she had her ‘thunder stolen’ by a young toddler on a trip to Belfast – and he has a very famous mum.
Camilla has been in Northern Ireland today where she was shown some of the region’s favourite food during a visit to the Lisburn Road in South Belfast. She received goodies from Coffey’s Butchers, The Arcadia Deli and Knotts Bakery, which included Irish black butter, vegetable rolls, beef sausages, Belfast pickle, fruit loaf and an iced Madeira cake. Camilla said King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, was disappointed not to be there as she received a get-well card and well-wishes for him, adding “he is doing very well”.
At traditional home bakery Knotts, she met 23-month-old Fitz Corrie-Salmon who was dressed to impress in a tuxedo. Fitz, the son of bakery owner William Corrie and his wife Zoe Salmon – who is a former Miss Northern Ireland, a Blue Peter presenter and a star of Dancing on Ice – beamed at Camilla as she entered the shop.
Camilla was tempted by some of the shop’s favourites, including a fruit loaf and iced Madeira cake, but Fitz also caught her eye as he inspected nearby photographers, intrigued by the clicking cameras.
She chuckled as it was joked that he had stolen her thunder, smiling down at the young boy. “We have a natural for the cameras,” she said. She added about the bakery: “There’s something so wonderful about this kind of place.” Mr Corrie described Camilla as a ‘lovely lady’, adding he talked her through the baked goods.
He added: Fitz made quite the show, he made an effort and picked the tux out himself. Photographers were taking pictures of him as well as her at one point which was very funny, we did joke Fitz had stolen her thunder for a minute, she was great. It’ll be quite the story for him when he gets older.”
Ms Salmon, who has met several members of the royal family over her career, including Prince William and Prince Harry, said she was delighted her son was meeting a royal at such a young age. “Fitz loved getting dressed up for this very special day, he definitely had fun in there – you never know what to expect when you have a 23-month-old,” she said.
On Camilla, she added: “She was everything I thought she would be, very warm, very charming, lovely. I’m sure she’s had a great day in Northern Ireland, the crowds and the atmosphere here on the Lisburn Road has been fabulous, a very memorable day.”
Camilla also took the time to greet gathered well-wishers on the street, who had managed to find out about the visit despite it not being announced in advance. She was given an envelope of cards made for the King by the children of Fane Street Primary School and also met Anne-Marie Wallace and her 12-year-old son Oscar Dalzell, who has a collection of 15 letters from members of the royal family he brought in a folder to show her.
One recent letter, hand-signed “with best wishes Camilla R”, thanks him for his letter and the “beautiful picture of a crown”. The Queen told him it was “lovely to put a face to the name of a correspondent”, saying he writes “lovely letters”.
