Queen Camilla admitted to being “nervous” as she poured a jug of brandy over a Christmas pudding on Wednesday.
The Queen, 77, joined a “Festive Spread” lunch at The Amadeus in London.
During the event, the royal, who donned a cream shirt and elegant green jacket from Anna Valentine, warned Christmas dinner guests to “hold onto their hair” as she helped flambé a giant 22lb figgy pudding.
Her Majesty admitted she was a “bit nervous” as she poured an entire jug of brandy over the 14-inch desert at a lunch for the Royal Voluntary Service, watching it go up in flames.
Queen Camilla admits being ‘nervous’ as she pours jug of brandy over Christmas pudding
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She told volunteers, who gathered for the launch of the “Festive Spread,” a community lunch aimed at making sure no one spends the Christmas season alone, that she was “eternally grateful for everything you do”.
She added: “As I always say, this country would collapse without you.”
The RVS will host 70 events of this kind across the country.
The Queen was joined by the charity’s ambassadors, Felicity Kendal and Elaine Paige, with Camilla spending half an hour meeting guests and volunteers.
Queen Camilla joined a ‘Festive Spread’ lunch at The Amadeus in London
PA
Catherine Johnstone, the CEO, told assembled guests that the Queen would be joining them shortly before she arrived, saying that Her Majesty would rather they did not worry about curtsying or what to call her and concentrate on enjoying themselves.
Laughing, she described her role in lighting the Christmas pudding as a “career-limiting moment”.
Lunch was made with the help of students at West London College, who were the first people to meet the Queen as she arrived.
Asking them how long they had been cooking and what they particularly liked to make, she told them it was “so nice” and “so lovely” of them to use their new skills to help others with the RVS.
Charles and Camilla later watched a performance by the Military Wives Choirs
PA
Queen Camilla was in good spirits during her outing
PA
The Queen was asked about her health after a bout of pneumonia, replying: “I’m still standing.”
Joining the lunch, she sat down at a succession of round tables, shaking hands with the volunteers and guests who were wearing Christmas hats and hairbands.
The topic of the Christmas pudding came up multiple times, with the Queen saying: “I’m a bit nervous.”
Making the gesture of a fire roaring upwards, she said: “I can just see it! You’re making me nervous now.”
