The Duchess of Cornwall hosted a pre-birthday bash at Clarence House on Thursday (13.07.17).
The British royal – who officially turns 70 on July 17 – was joined by a star-studded list of guests that included the likes of Joanna Lumley, Paul O’Grady and Darcey Bussell, as she hosted a garden party at the royal residence.
The Duchess and Prince Charles are poised to spend the weekend at their home in Gloucestershire, Highgrove, and are planning to have a private party at the house.
But before then, though, the Duchess was joined by some familiar faces in the grounds of Clarence House, where Prince Charles was also seen mingling with guests.
The Duchess has proven to be a divisive figure among Brits over the years – but she recently insisted she’s learned to laugh off the criticism.
Speaking in May, she said: "You’ve got to laugh through most things, and sometimes I do laugh a bit too much.
"There are situations where it’s very difficult not to lose it completely, especially, you know, if something goes terribly wrong and everybody sits there for a split second [not sure how to react]. You do have to swallow and pinch yourself very hard to not laugh."
The Duchess also said that, contrary to popular perception, she actually loves getting to meet and socialise with different people.
She explained: "I genuinely like people and I’m so curious about them. Other people’s lives are so much more interesting than one’s own. It’s like going to a dinner where I almost feel like I am a psychiatrist.
"When I sit down with my team before an engagement, sometimes they are horrified as I say I don’t want to read the biographical brief because I prefer to prise information out of people. It becomes like a game … the stories that come out, I could write a book about."
Duchess of Cornwall hosts pre-birthday bash
