Queen Camilla visited a Silver Swans dance group at the Royal Academy of Dance in London in March 2022.Photo:RoyalFamily/X
RoyalFamily/X
On Sunday, the Queen called herself a “slightly creaky” Silver Swan in a nod to the Royal Academy of Dance. The royal family prefaced the Queen’s personal note on International Day of Older Persons with context around her cheeky comment. (Queen Camilla is known for her warmth andwry humor, making her latest statement no surprise!)
“As a devoted, if slightly creaky, Silver Swan myself, I very much wanted to send you my warmest wishes for a wonderful day of fellowship and fun, celebrating the huge benefits that ballet has brought to our lives,” she continued.
“To borrow a quote…. Keep Dancing!” the post concluded, from “Her Majesty The Queen.” Members of the British royal family traditionally hint when they directly write a social media message through their signatures. King Charles will sign off “Charles R” for “Charles Rex,” the historic regnal signature for the King, whilePrince WilliamandKate Middletonclose posts with “W &C” for William and Catherine.
Courtiers shared the Queen’s message on X, captioning the post, “The Queen has sent a special message to the@RADheadquartersSilver Swans, who today are hosting a special celebration in honour of United Nation’s Day of Older Persons. RAD developed the programme in response to the growing demand for ballet classes for older learners."
Queen Camilla meets students at Elmhurst Ballet School in March 2023.WPA Pool/Getty
WPA Pool/Getty
Queen Camilla had a dance-related engagement this spring when she visited Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham to mark the school’s centenary in March. The anniversary was extra special for the Queen, who has served as patron of the dance academy since 2006.
Dance was also thekey themeof Camilla’s first solo reception at Buckingham Palace following the death ofQueen Elizabethlast September. In November 2022, Queen Camilla welcomed legendary ballet dancer and choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov to the palace to present him with the RAD’s highest accolade, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award.
As Camilla, who wore a ballerina brooch on her teal coat, greeted her guests, she told Baryshnikov, “It’s a great honor to be able to give you the award. Nobody deserves it more.”
“It is a stupendous experience,” Baryshnikov told PEOPLE at the time. “For years I have looked at this from afar and suddenly I am inside for this poignant moment at this important time for a new administration of King Charles. It is an honor to meet Her Majesty.”
Queen Camilla presents dancer and choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov with the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award, Royal Academy of Dance’s highest honor, in November 2022.PAUL GROVER/POOL/AFP via Getty
PAUL GROVER/POOL/AFP via Getty
“She is a fellow dancer, I understand,” he added of Camilla.
In April 2020, Camilla opened up about picking up dance with friends and taking the RAD’sSilver Swans classes. The fundamental ballet lessons designed for older learners were made available online when the coronavirus pandemic began.
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“I got a group of ancient friends together and the four of us sort of clatter around, and when we’re in London, we do it once a week and it makes all the difference,” Camilla said during avideo chatwith dancer Dame Darcey Bussell and broadcaster Angela Rippon.
The royal added that she was inspired to try the Silver Swans ballet classes after she learned about them in 2018.
“I thought it was going to be very funny and I was going to laugh at everybody toppling over next door to me, but I think we concentrate so hard we don’t even know what our friend next door is doing,” she explained.
“When I stand there I think to myself, ‘Drop your shoulders, breathe deeply, don’t hunch.' It’s those sorts of things which you have ingrained in your memory,” she added.
Kate Middleton talks to Emily May Catto on Sept. 26, 2023.Dominic Lipinski-WPA Pool/Getty
Dominic Lipinski-WPA Pool/Getty
Princess Kate brought up her only daughter’slove of dancewhilevisiting a textile mill with a family tiein Leeds last week.
While accepting a drawing and a bouquet from 7-year-old Emily May Catto, the granddaughter of Pete Ellison, the company’s longest-serving worker, the Princess of Wales asked what she liked to do. When Emily said she liked dancing, Kate shared that Charlotte is also an enthusiastic dancer.
“My daughter Charlotte likes dancing. She loves ballet and tap,” Princess Kate said, according toHello!magazine. “Keep up the dancing.”
source: people.com
