Prince Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, say they ‘REFUSE to retire’ and ‘think people should carry on working for as long as they are happy to do so’ during chat with Asda warehouse operator
- Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall revealed they have no plans to retire
- Charles and Camilla were chatting with staff at an Asda warehouse in Bristol
- The duchess, 72, made the rare comment about retirement plans yesterday
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall revealed they have no plans to retire from their royal duties any time soon.
Prince Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, were chatting with some of the 700 workers at an Asda distribution centre in Bristol, when the duchess made the rare comment about stepping away from public life.
During the socially-distanced visit yesterday, which took place in a marquee outside the main building, the couple spoke with Richard Sigward, 74, a warehouse operator who has been working at Asda for 17 years and refuses to retire.
‘The duchess was saying to me she definitely agrees that if people can work and are happy to do it, they should carry on,’ Mr Sigward said. ‘She said she refuses to retire herself. The prince was the same.’
The comments seem to put paid to any suggestion that Prince Charles would consider stepping aside and to let Prince William become King, despite being the oldest heir apparent in the history of the British monarchy.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (pictured together in Bristol, yesterday) revealed they have no plans to retire from their royal duties any time soon
Prince Charles, 71, and Camilla (pictured at their Birkhall home in April), 72, were chatting with some of the 700 workers at an Asda distribution centre in Bristol, when the duchess made the rare comment about stepping away from public life
It comes after a royal biographer claimed last month that the Queen’s reign is ‘effectively over’ due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the virus ‘practically putting Charles on the throne’.
Andrew Morton, author of Diana, Her True Story, which exposed the failed marriage of Charles and the Princess of Wales in 1992, said coronavirus has ‘done more damage to the monarchy than Oliver Cromwell’.
The claim followed reports that Her Majesty, 94, may remain in self-isolation ‘for months’ and never return to regular frontline royal duties as the government continues to ease the coronavirus lockdown.
The Queen has put all her public engagements on hold while she resides with her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Morton claimed: ‘It’s terribly sad but I can’t see how the Queen can resume her job. The COVID-19 virus isn’t going away soon and will be with us for months if not years.’
It comes after a royal biographer claimed last month that the Queen’s reign is ‘effectively over’ due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the virus ‘practically putting Charles on the throne’. Pictured, the Queen with her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle
He added that it would be ‘far too risky for the Queen to start meeting people on a regular basis’.
‘The brutal truth is that her reign is effectively over. COVID-19 has done more damage to the monarchy than Oliver Cromwell. Corona has practically put Charles on the throne.’
Meanwhile, during their trip yesterday, Charles and Camilla heard how staff had returned from retirement, worked extra hours and different shift patterns, and had postponed holidays to cope with increased demand at supermarkets.
Chris Tilly, 48, general manager of the distribution centre, said work had been ‘really, really challenging’ and paid tribute to staff.
‘We’ve had a lot of support from colleagues right across the business working extra hours,’ Mr Tilly said. ‘I think it is fantastic that the prince and duchess have taken the time out to come to the distribution centre and meet colleagues.
The Duchess of Cornwall used her signature socially-distant greeting as she arrived alongside Prince Charles yesterday (pictured)
The Prince of Wales, President of Business in the Community, along with Camilla (pictured), thanked staff who have kept the country’s vital food supplies moving throughout the coronavirus pandemic
The royal couple unveiled a plaque to mark their visit to the distribution centre in Bristol, yesterday (pictured)
‘Every single colleague that they saw they thanked for what they had done during the last 14 weeks, which I was truly humbled by.
‘They were really interested in what the colleagues did within Asda, how long they had worked for us and just wanted to know how they had been doing while working through the pandemic.’
After the couple arrived at the site, they were greeted by Peaches Golding, the Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol.
They were told of the work Asda has been undertaking with Business in the Community, a business-led membership organisation, as well as charity partners FareShare and the Trussell Trust.
At the end of the visit, Charles and Camilla unveiled a plaque marking the day.
Charles told staff: ‘Thank you, thank you very much everybody. You deserve a stiff drink after all this.’
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