Queen Camilla recently surprised royal enthusiasts by breaking a long-standing tradition during her tour of Australia and Samoa with her husband, King Charles. The Queen Consort, 77, was spotted taking selfies with the crowd during their visit to St. Thomas’s Anglican Church in Sydney on October 20, 2024. This casual and modern interaction with fans has left many wondering if the monarchy is finally embracing a more relaxed approach to royal engagements.
While there are no official rules about meeting a member of the royal family, traditions still hold strong. Men are expected to bow their heads, while women may offer a small curtsy, and others may opt for a handshake. However, selfies have long been discouraged by the royal family. Royals prefer personal interactions with people rather than being bombarded with requests for selfies. Security concerns and overwhelming demands also come into play.
Interestingly, Queen Camilla is not the only one who has veered away from these protocols. Prince William has also embraced the evolving attitude towards selfies. During an official duty back in March 2024, Prince William paused to take a selfie with a fan. The prince and his children even posed for a selfie with Taylor Swift and her boyfriend during her Eras Tour stop in London in June.
These instances highlight a shift in how some members of the royal family are adapting to modern fan interactions. Queen Camilla’s decision to take selfies during her recent tour of Australia, which marked their first visit to the region since King Charles ascended the throne, shows that the royal family is open to evolving and connecting with the public in new ways.
In addition to breaking protocol with selfies, King Charles and Queen Camilla also had official duties to uphold. Among these duties was the historic task of signing Australia’s first Bible and book of common prayer. This tradition holds immense historical significance, as Queen Elizabeth II signed it during her groundbreaking visit in 1954, which was the first-ever visit by a reigning monarch to the nation. King Charles followed in her footsteps, adding his signature beneath the late Princess of Wales’ name from her visit in 1983.
Despite their separate travel arrangements, with Queen Camilla opting for a more leisurely route, the couple presented a unified image upon arriving in Australia. Queen Camilla, who has a fear of flying, often splits long-haul flights with spa visits to ease the travel burden. Their arrival was met with a warm, formal welcome to kick off their royal duties in the country.
This tour not only marked King Charles’s first visit to Australia as a monarch but also his debut as Head of the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa. The couple’s engagements in both countries centered on celebrating the best of Australia and Samoa while also reflecting the work of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Overall, Queen Camilla’s willingness to break royal protocol and engage with fans through selfies signals a shift in the royal family’s approach to modern public interactions. As the monarchy adapts to a changing world, it continues to find ways to connect with the people it serves.
