King Charles & Queen Camilla Honored the Late Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Sparking Buzz

In a season marked by solemn remembrance and royal milestones, King Charles and Queen Camilla stepped into the spotlight twice — once to honor a beloved monarch of the past, and again to cement their legacy — yet it wasn't just the ceremonies that had people talking.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday, July 2, 2025, by unveiling a memorial stone in her honor at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, the same place where thousands had once gathered to pay their final respects to the beloved monarch.

The memorial service at the historic Scottish cathedral was a deeply symbolic gesture, reflecting Queen Elizabeth II's well-known affection for Scotland, particularly the Highlands. The location was a poignant choice for the tribute as it served as her final resting place following her death.

Before the unveiling, a brief and slightly awkward moment unfolded as King Charles III and Queen Camilla appeared confused over their positions before revealing the stone. Though swiftly resolved, the mix-up did not go unnoticed by royal watchers, many of whom took to social media to comment on the moment.

On a post shared by Hello Magazine on Instagram, one fan wrote, "I love The Queen's little smile at the end! She knew how funny the situation was and wasn't at all bothered about it!" Others were more critical, with one comment reading, "What is she doing? She doesn't obey the king?😵‍💫"

Another chimed in, "Awkward. 😬" More commentary focused on Queen Camilla's perceived breach of royal protocol, with one Instagrammer noting, "He's running out of patience i see...she's totally lost [sic]."

On Facebook, reactions were equally divided. One person commented on the Hello Magazine post, "She should of walk behind him. He's the king . She has no respect for him [sic]." Another simply asked, "How embarrassing?"

A third Facebooker wrote, "OMG! Should have sorted that out beforehand! And she walked in front of him not behind as she is supposed to. They are not at home now!"

Despite the online chatter surrounding the brief protocol misstep, the overall tone of the event remained respectful and commemorative. On GB News' Facebook post, one commenter reminded everyone of the significance, stating, "We should recognise Queen Elizabeth. She was an amazing monarch."

Others shared words of encouragement for the royal couple, with one writing, "God Bless the King and Queen," and another simply said, “How marvelous”

The ceremony, though not without its viral moment, ultimately served to honor Queen Elizabeth II's lasting legacy in Scotland and her enduring place in the hearts of the British public.

On May 6, 2025, just months before their appearance at St Giles' Cathedral, King Charles and Queen Camilla found themselves in the spotlight — this time for the unveiling of their official coronation state portraits, which stirred a fresh wave of public reaction.

The official coronation state portraits of King Charles III and Queen Camilla were revealed at the National Gallery in London, marking the second anniversary of Their Majesties' coronation in 2023. Commissioned to celebrate the historic event, the paintings continue a long-standing royal custom and stirred diverse reactions online following their public debut.

The King and Queen each selected their own artist — King Charles chose Peter Kuhfeld, while Queen Camilla selected Paul S. Benney. Both artists have previously completed royal commissions and are familiar figures to Their Majesties. Displayed for the first time in the Central Hall at the National Gallery, the paintings were revealed by the King and Queen together.

According to sources, the portraits were displayed at the gallery from May 6 through June 5, 2025, before being relocated to their permanent residence in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. They will then be available for public viewing during the Summer Opening of the State Rooms from July 10 to September 28, 2025.

In the portrait by Kuhfeld, King Charles stands in ceremonial regalia beside the Imperial State Crown. He is depicted in formal attire, complete with honors and decorations, against a rich red and gold interior, including a background with open doors and textured curtains.

Queen Camilla's portrait by Benney portrays her in a white gown adorned with subtle gold embroidery. She is seen standing beside a richly detailed table and the Queen Mary Crown, with a dark green backdrop contrasting with the lighter tones of her ensemble. A necklace and bracelet completed the refined composition.

The portraits prompted mixed reactions online, particularly on Instagram, where the royal family shared images of the artworks. While many praised Queen Camilla's depiction, King Charles' portrait received more critical feedback.

One person wrote, "Queen Camilla's portrait is stunning. However maybe the photo isn't doing justice to The King's portrait...but...erm..I can't say I'm a fan of it [sic]."

Others commented on the stylized nature of both paintings. "The painter gave Camilla some serious weight loss and plastic surgery," someone remarked.

Another echoed that thought, "Camilla's is nice but it looks like an instagram filter applied to a photo. His looks cartoonish [sic]." A different viewer bluntly stated, "He needs to ask for his money back!" while another suggested, "Re do for the King I think. He certainly looks far better that that [sic]."

There were also observations on the realism of the portrayals. "Camila's had a face lift here [sic]…" one person said. Another offered, "Camilla's painting seems filtered. She looks much younger than she is. Should be truer like Churchill's was. Just my opinion [sic]."

Despite the varied responses, the unveiling continues a long-standing tradition of coronation state portraits in the British monarchy. These official representations commemorate the sovereign's role and serve as enduring artifacts within royal history.

The memorial for Queen Elizabeth II and the unveiling of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s portraits show a royal couple balancing tradition and the future, while facing the spotlight and a mix of praise and criticism from the public.