After announcing his cancer diagnosis on February 5, King Charles III, 75, canceled all official public engagements and attended only a few official functions and small gatherings. Accompanied by Queen Camilla, he at last reappeared in public at Windsor Castle to take part in the Easter Sunday service. He was all smiles as he greeted and shook hands among the crowd of his delighted subjects. Is Charles back in form? It looks like it.
For the occasion, Charles III was dressed with his customary elegance – a combination of dull classicism and refined patina. On his back was one of his wardrobe's classics, a polo coat by the tailor Anderson & Sheppard, which featured the required double-breasted cut and sleeve cuffs. Traditionalists might object that, in the 1920s, the authentic style of polo coats worn by players after their matches would have been fitted with large bellows pockets sometimes known as "envelope pockets" rather than the simple patch pocket and flap.
Queen Camilla also went the extra mile for the occasion. Her spectacular green hat seemed to evoke the biblical rule that, in church, men must uncover their heads (1 Corinthians 11:7: "A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God"). But why? Because nothing is specified on the subject. And because putting a hat on a woman's hair is far too cumbersome an exercise to be repeated over and over again...
Camilla also sported a little Chanel bag – the classic navy, quilted lambskin flap bag – equipped with Coco Chanel's signature shoulder strap, which although designed to free women's hands and to facilitate an active lifestyle, Camilla reversed the concept by removing the shoulder strap and carrying the bag by its handle, thereby forcing herself into a representative role. After all, it's not inconsistent.
And finally, how can we not mention the royal couple's companions in the picture? On the king's right is an Anglican bishop, now dean of Windsor, Christopher Cocksworth, dressed in dazzling ornate vestments. But don't be deceived by appearances – times are hard even for the Anglican Church. In 2023, Justin Welby, its spiritual leader, even had to ask his counterparts in the Catholic Church in England and Wales to lend him the liturgical garments needed for the coronation of Charles III, for lack of funds to have them made.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.