Queen Camilla gave royal watchers an unusual glimpse into a practical detail of palace life during the final day of Royal Ascot. The Queen, 78, was seen handling a £20 note while balancing gloves and her trademark Lady Dior handbag from the royal box. According to Hello!, the note appeared to feature Queen Elizabeth II rather than King Charles, a detail that quickly stood out. The moment was brief, but it echoed a long-running point of fascination around whether senior royals actually carry cash during public outings.
Queen Camilla Handles £20 Note in Royal Box
The scene felt especially notable because Queen Elizabeth II was said to avoid carrying money, aside from a folded note for church collections on Sundays. Camilla’s appearance with cash offered a clear contrast. She seemed to fumble slightly as she managed the note, her gloves and her bag at once. There was also room for speculation about why she had it in hand at that moment. With racing fortunes shifting across the week, the money may simply have been ready to put away after a bet, a purchase or a small transaction during the occasion.
King Charles and Camilla Face Tough Week on Track
The racing itself brought mixed fortunes for the King and Queen. Earlier in the week, their horse Reaching High went into Tuesday’s race as the favourite but finished last. Then on Friday, Warrant Holder came close to giving the royal couple a better result, only to be beaten into second place by Opportunity. Those results added tension to a week when expectations were high. Camilla’s expressions in the royal box reflected that pressure, with every race carrying the possibility of either disappointment or a late turnaround.
Prince Harry Joked About Royals and Money
The question of royals carrying cash has come up before, including in one of Prince Harry’s lighter public moments. During a television sketch in Los Angeles with James Corden, the Duke of Sussex joked about the subject when payment came up. “You know, us royals, we don’t carry cash," said Prince Harry according to Hello!. The line played into a familiar public image of royal life. Still, that image is not absolute. King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have both been reported to carry money at times, including for informal gestures such as leaving extra funds behind a bar.
Queen Camilla’s Nail-Biting Moment Draws Notice
Camilla also drew attention for another fleeting moment during the races when nerves appeared to get the better of her. As she watched one contest unfold, she seemed to bite her nails before quickly returning to her binoculars. It was a small but very human gesture, and not one often seen from the Queen in public. Nail-biting has appeared elsewhere in royal circles over the years, with Princess Diana and Prince William both associated with the habit. Meghan Markle also once wrote about wanting to stop biting her nails on her former blog, The Tig.
