Duty calls as Camilla celebrates her 77th birthday

Queen Camilla is celebrating her 77th birthday but the milestone will be overshadowed by the pomp and pageantry of the UK's opening of parliament. Camilla's big day coincides with the grand ceremony that will see the King and Queen travel in a carriage procession to London's House of Lords, where Charles will deliver the second King's speech of his reign. Camilla was spotted with a bandage on her right foot while visiting the island of Guernsey on Tuesday during a whirlwind tour with King Charles to the Channel Islands. She was also holding a closed umbrella, despite the sunshine, and appeared to be using it for a little extra support. The Queen was said to have suffered a slight ankle sprain at some stage on Monday when she was carrying out engagements on the island of Jersey. But it is understood she still plans to attend the opening of parliament on Wednesday. It will require Camilla to scale the 26 steps of the royal staircase at the sovereign's entrance to the House of Lords before moving into the robing room and then proceeding at the King's side through the royal gallery and the Lords Chamber and taking their seats on thrones. Camilla could, however, opt to take the lift like the late Queen Elizabeth - skipping the royal staircase. Gun salutes will be fired in celebration of Camilla's anniversary, as is the tradition. But this year they will follow those marking the King's arrival at the sovereign's entrance of the Lords which signals the opening of parliament has begun. The second 41-gun salute for Camilla will be staged shortly after the first batch, following a brief pause. There will also be rounds fired at the Tower of London. King Charles and Camilla have faced a difficult year with the King being diagnosed with cancer after surgery on his prostate in January, and Kate, Princess of Wales, also being treated for the disease. The Queen was dubbed the monarchy's "saviour" and praised for keeping "the show on the road" in the King's absence while he was away from public-facing duties until April. Camilla has carved out her own royal role through charity work, championing literacy, and highlighting the problem of domestic abuse and sexual violence. She became Queen when Charles acceded to the throne in 2022, and she was secretly nursing a broken toe when she carried out her first duties as the new Queen consort. She was crowned at her husband's side during their coronation in 2023.