King Charles and Queen Camilla Return to Their Earliest Passions: Renewables and Dance

Though King Charles and Queen Camilla have spent much of their recent time carrying out diplomatic engagements, they do still find some time to remind the world of their true passions. On Tuesday, the king visited a sawmill to learn more about the use of timber as a renewable and recyclable building project, and while he was there, he donned a hard hat and high-visibility vest so he could see the process up close.

Along with Alexander Manson, the Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Charles toured the James Jones & Sons sawmill in Aboyne, Scotland, near Balmoral Castle, where he and the queen have been in residence since August. According to People, the tour was led by Tom R. Bruce-Jones, the company’s chairman, and included a look at the mill’s main operating room along with an inspection of its log sorting and flood defense systems. 

Along with photos from the day’s engagement, the royal family’s social media accounts also featured a throwback image showing then-Prince Charles receiving his first sawmill lesson back in 1958. During his years as the Prince of Wales, Charles was passionate about architecture and building, even helping to create Poundbury, a planned community in the Duchy of Cornwall. In 1999, he made his first visit to the James Jones sawmill, which has been family owned for five generations.

Over the weekend, the queen had a chance to talk about her long-held enthusiasm for dance. To mark the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons, she shared a photograph of a March 2022 visit to the Royal Academy of Dance along with a message referencing her experiences in a “Silver Swan” ballet class for dancers aged 55 and up.