Queen Consort Camilla's Page of Honour Injured Ahead of Coronation
Queen Consort Camilla's grandson, Gus Lopes, may need to wear a sling while serving as Page of Honour during the coronation service at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6.
Royal commentator Richard Eden of the Daily Mail reported that a friend disclosed the 13-year-old "broke his arm in a bike accident while on holiday." Though his cast has been removed, Gus has been advised to use a sling during the coronation.
Gus and his twin brother Louis, sons of Camilla's daughter Laura Lopes and husband Harry Lopes, will be Pages of Honour for their grandmother during the ceremony. Freddy Parker Bowles, Camilla's other grandchild from her son Tom Parker Bowles, and her great-nephew Arthur Elliot will also serve as Pages of Honour, carrying her robes through Westminster Abbey.
Despite the injury, Gus is expected to fulfill his role at the coronation using one hand. He was spotted wearing a sling at a rehearsal on Wednesday. The Duchess of Cornwall was seen leaving the practice with her grandsons in her car. Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte, also attended the rehearsal.
Regarding his son's role at the coronation, Tom said, "I don't think he knows quite how big it's going to be, I don't think he has a sense of the occasion. He's a 13-year-old boy who loves football. We're just there to support our mother. I'm no expert on this."
Tom, a 48-year-old food critic, and his sister Laura will support their mother and King Charles III at the coronation. Asked during an interview on the Apple News podcast "The News Agents" if it feels odd to call her "Queen," he responded, "not really," as she remains their mother.
"She's our mother. Change happens, but I don't care what anyone says — this wasn't any sort of end game. She married the person she loved, and this is what happened."
As the coronation approaches, Tom commends his mother and King Charles III for "doing amazingly." He noted Queen Consort Camilla's resilience, saying, "She's 75, but you know, it's tough to do it. But she's never complained. You just do it. Get on with it."
The Queen's stylist, Jo Hansford, acknowledged that the royal "is nervous like any other person would be nervous." She expressed concern about the challenge of placing the crown without altering the hairstyle.
Having worked with the Duchess of Cornwall for 35 years, Hansford understands that Camilla's short hair must be styled to accommodate a crown. However, she will not be present to assist, as she will be watching the coronation on television.
Camilla's family has participated in significant royal events while maintaining a low profile. Tom and Laura attended their mother's wedding to Prince Charles in 2005, and Laura's daughter Eliza, 15, was the youngest bridesmaid at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011.
Most recently, Camilla's children and grandchildren attended Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in September 2022. According to Eden, Laura's children also joined the royals for Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk. He reported that Camilla's ex-husband, Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, is among the 2,200 guests invited to the coronation.