A slimmed-down monarchy, she has said “doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing”. Prince Harry, who would once have supported his father and brother in a practical sense by picking up some of the slack, has jetted in and out of Britain and will next week spend three days in Canada with Meghan promoting his Invictus Games with all the publicity that entails.

Queen Camilla meets members of the parachute display team. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty

Queen Camilla is off to the races this weekend in a surprise end-of-summer engagement.

On Aug. 24, the Queen, 77, visited the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse in York, England to open the new Bustardthorpe Development complex. King Charles’ wife was announced as patron of the York Racecourse in May and made her first public appearance in the new royal role on the fourth and final day of the horse racing festival.

It’s somewhat unusual for a working royal like Queen Camilla to make a working engagement in late August, as Queen Elizabeth traditionally cleared that period on her calendar for summer respites at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The King, 75, also stepped away from his Balmoral holiday to undertake an important engagement, visiting Southport earlier this week, where three children were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in late July. He also privately spent time with their families at Clarence House, his London home, the following day.

The state-of-the-art complex is one of the latest ways that the York Racecourse is improving facilities for guests, participants and horses, aligning with its Green Knavesmire 300 environmental commitment to target NetZero by 2040. Prince Andrew previously served as patron of York Racecourse, which is the first independent racecourse to sign on for the UNFCCC Sport for Climate Action – Race to Zero.

Environmental issues are a key interest of several members of the royal family, including King Charles and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

After cutting the ribbon, Queen Camilla moved to tour more of the new site.  Later in the day, Queen Camilla is due to present the trophy at the Ebor Handicap, the track’s most famous race. The handicap takes its name from Eboracum, the Roman city known today as York, and is the oldest race run at York Racecourse, dating back to 1843.

Like the late Queen Elizabeth, Queen Camilla and King Charles are known to socially attend horse races and inherited her portfolio of racehorses when she died. Queen Elizabeth was a passionate racehorse owner, breeder and spectator throughout her record reign, and her eldest son and his wife got to see a horse she bred named Treasure compete at the Epsom Derby Festival in May.

It was announced the same month that Queen Camilla had taken on the patronage of York Racecourse. The role had been left vacant since Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 amid backlash around his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, local paper The Press reported. The Duke of York, 64, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and Queen Elizabeth stripped her second son of his military titles and royal patronages in January 2022.

Commenting on Queen Camilla’s new post at the track, York Racecourse Chairman Bridget Guerin said, “We are both honored and thrilled that Her Majesty has agreed to be the Royal Patron of York. Her well-known support of equestrian sports over many years is so very much appreciated by everyone involved,” the Press reported.

“We have been privileged to host Royal visits in the past and very much look forward to welcoming Her Majesty back to York,” added Guerin, who was one of the officials who greeted the Queen on Aug. 24.

Queen Camilla had previously attended equestrian events at York Racecourse in years past, when she was known as the Duchess of Cornwall.