Queen Camilla, Patron of The Big Lunch, meets two people dressed as bushes during a visit to a Big L (Image: PA)
The Queen hedged her bets on the British weather this afternoon as she celebrated nature and social connection at Canary Wharf’s waterfront oasis. Camilla, who attended her first Big Lunch as Queen, met moss people, admired some incredible cakes and joked about the blustery weather as she visited the new Eden Dock at the heart of London’s financial district.
Marvelling at the vibrant, biodiverse space, which features floating islands and humanoid mossy sculptures, the Queen said: “It’s such an incredible space, it’s the first time I’ve seen it, it’s extraordinary.” Eden Dock opened last October and was developed by the Eden Project charity and Canary Wharf Group (CWG).
Arriving to songs from musicals performed by the London Docklands Singers, Camila was met by a small line-up, which included Peter Stewart, the Chief Purpose Officer at the Eden Project, and Lindsey Brummitt, the Programme Director responsible for delivering The Big Lunch.
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Queen Camilla asked if they could see out of the costume (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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British Businessman Sir Nigel Wilson, the Chairman of CWG, told the Queen that he had recently visited the National Gallery, where the Coronation State portraits, which were recently unveiled, are on display.
“I saw your portrait the other day,” he said. “It is fantastic, much better than Charles.”
Camilla then warmly greeted Angela Rippon, charity ambassador for the Big Lunch, before walking over to listen to the choir perform America from the musical West Side Story. “Thank you so much,” she told them afterwards.
The Queen thought a huge cake, adorned with vibrant summer flowers, was “fantastic” as she heard that it was made out of food that would have been wasted.
The courgette and lemon sponge was made by the Felix Project, London’s largest food redistribution centre, using lemon verbena, honey and dehydrated flowers from the Eden Project’s gardens in Cornwall.
Queen Camilla attended her first Big Lunch as Queen (Image: Getty)
Camilla then made her way down the steps to speak with some pupils from Mulberry Primary School who were taking part in nature-inspired crafts from the Eden Project’s education team.
“Did you do this?” she asked as she admired the bunting strung around the dock.
As the Queen made her way to chat to the guests enjoying afternoon tea on the beautifully decorated tables nestled close to the water, she was introduced to two moss people, who represented the sculptures at the site, which have been installed to increase biodiversity.
“Hello, can I shake your hand?” she said, before peering closer and asking: “Can you see out of them?”
The two figures shook their heads and covered their eyes with their leafy hands, prompting the Queen to laugh as she chatted to the two gardeners who look after the lush planting and wider green space.
Camilla then joined each of the three tables filled with members of the Tower Hamlets community as they participated in the Big Lunch.
The charity initiative, formed in 2009, has grown to become an annual UK celebration bringing millions of people together.
Queen Camilla admires the show-stopping cake (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
On the first table, she sat with Jane Byam Shaw, who founded the Felix Project in 2016 alongside her husband, Justin, in memory of their son Felix, who died of meningitis in 2014, aged 14.
The charity, which has a depot in nearby Poplar and Deptford, takes surplus food from supermarkets and redistributes it.
In December 2022, it received a £1million fund from King Charles III Charitable Fund which has helped the charity more than double the amount of frozen food they have been able to rescue.
“It’s an extraordinary idea,” the Queen told Jane, “so simple”. Jane told her that the concept was inspired by their son, who “always loved his food”.
As she moved onto the second group, the wind picked up and the grey clouds above threatened rain.
“I’ve come into a hurricane,” the Queen joked, before pointing to Andre Simon’s jacket and saying: “That’s very sensible, I would like to borrow your jacket.”
An aide then asked if she wanted a brew, and Camilla replied: “Oh, I would love a cup of tea.”
Britain’s Queen Camilla is greeted by charity ambassador Angela Rippon (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Reaching the final table, Camilla commented on the guests’ cold hands as she was introduced to the finalists of The Big Lunch Recipe Search – a competition to find shareable dishes to inspire the nation to cook and eat together.
“It is jolly cold,” she said, before admiring a show-stopping cake featuring depictions of the finalists’ dishes.
This included chilli bites, a strawberry and vanilla cheesecake, wild garlic pin wheels and butternut squash empanadas.
Camilla announced that Melanie Brooke, an SEN teacher from Westbury, Wiltshire, was the overall winner, prompting the former chef to break down in tears.
“I wasn’t expecting that at all,” she said. “I thought my student Ben’s entry was better.”
Ms Brooke encouraged Ben, 15, to enter the competition and was overjoyed that he was a finalist.
The Queen then posed for a photo before leaving, narrowly avoiding a brief rain spell.
Ten million people participated in the Big Lunch last year, and this year’s event takes place this coming weekend.
