Queen Camilla sought relief from the heat at Wimbledon by using a surprisingly affordable electric handheld fan. As temperatures soared to 32C (89.6F) on day 10 of the championship, the 78-year-old royal was observed utilizing the portable device while seated in the Royal Box.
Camilla, dressed in a cerulean Anna Valentine dress, attended the event with her sister Annabel Elliot and newlyweds Peter and Harriet Phillips. During the day's play, she was seen greeting former British number one Heather Watson. Amidst the heat, the Queen turned to the electric fan after initially using a traditional one.
The fan, identified as a Tecknet Hand Held fan purchased from Amazon, costs approximately £14.24. It is available in white, khaki, and pink and features five speed settings. Royal fans on social media noted the practicality of the device, with some expressing sympathy for Camilla's struggle with the heat and others relating to the desire for cooling in warmer weather. Some observers pointed out that Wimbledon's dress code for women does not permit hats, potentially exacerbating the discomfort from the sun.
This is not the first instance of a senior royal employing a portable fan this summer. Earlier in June, an aide was seen holding a similar electric fan for King Charles during a reception at St. James's Palace. The palace lacks air conditioning, and the King was dressed in a suit, making the heat a significant factor during the event, where temperatures reached 35C (95F).
Camilla also recently visited Ashdown Forest to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Winnie the Pooh book. The forest served as the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Hundred Acre Wood. During her visit, the Queen, who is Patron of the Royal Literary Fund, spoke with wellwishers and schoolchildren and was accompanied by Gyles Brandreth for a reading.
Later that week, she visited The Half Moon Pub in Plumpton, East Sussex, a village where she grew up. The pub, which offers British classics and camping, posted on Facebook about her visit, describing her as "a real character and lovely to welcome her. Such a lovely lady!" The 78-year-old royal was pictured smiling with staff members during her visit.