King Charles chats to ballet dancers about their ‘demanding’ schedules as he and Queen Camilla meet the cast of Don Quixote at the Royal Opera House

• The King, 74, and Queen, 76, watched the ballet in Covent Garden, London 
• READ MORE: The King’s protector: Princess Anne carries out her duty as Charles’s ‘bodyguard’ and Gold Stick-in-waiting at the State Opening of Parliament 

King Charles and Queen Camilla ditched their robes and got into their evening wear last night to take a trip to the ballet following the State Opening of Parliament.

The King, 74, and Queen, 76, visited the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, to watch a performance of Don Quixote.

Following the performance, they walked backstage to meet the cast and ask them about their gruelling routines.

While Camilla dazzled in a mauve lace floor-length gown, the King looked sharp in a suit and tie.

Their Royal Highnesses shook hands with cast members and heard about their rehearsal schedules – prompting the King to tell one ballet dancer her schedule was ‘quite demanding, isn’t it?’

The production of Don Quixote has been put on in celebration of the schools and groups around the UK that work with the Royal Opera House.

Also in the audience were hundreds of NHS workers and a chorus group of Ukrainian singers. 

As they met cast members, the King and Queen were also introduced to the show’s producer Carlos Acosta and Sir Lloyd Dorfman, chair of the Royal House of Opera. 

The trip to the ballet followed a busy day for Charles and Camilla, who had carried out the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords on Tuesday morning.

Charles addressed MPs and peers in the first King’s Speech for more than 70 years and his first as monarch.

King Charles and Queen Camilla chatted to the ballet dancers in the production of Don Quixote at the Royal Opera House

The King had a chat with some of the performers after the show and discussed their demanding schedules

The King chatted to cast members at Don Quixote at the Royal Opera House last night 

Following the performance, the King and Queen went backstage to have a chat with the cast members 

As Their Royal Highnesses met with the cast of the ballet production they asked how many more performances were to go before the end of its run

The King looked sharp in a suit and tie with a pocket square and a poppy on his lapel

King Charles shook hands with the cast members who were dressed in their on-stage costumes

The King and Queen’s visit to the ballet production followed the State Opening of Parliament earlier in the day

He was joined by Queen Camilla and his sister Princess Anne, 73, who reprised her role as Gold Stick-in-waiting which she performed at the Coronation in May.

As he walked into the House, the King was flanked by several Pages of Honour who helped arrange his robes while he sat on the throne.

Meanwhile, The Queen looked elegant in her Bruce Oldfield couture gown which she paired with her late mother-in-law’s George IV State Diadem crown and necklace.

The crown, which Queen Elizabeth also wore to her first state opening of parliament,  has been passed down from monarch to monarch since George IV’s coronation in 1821 and is worn only for official occasions.

It is worn only for official occasions, such as this State Opening of Parliament.

While paying respect to her mother-in-law, Camilla also paid a subtle tribute to her loved ones on her show-stopping gown.

The bespoke dress has the names of her two children, Tom and Laura, along with those of her grandchildren, Gus, Freddy, Louis, Eliza and Lola embroidered in.

There were also two gold terrier pups embroidered onto the gown to represent Charles and Camilla’s rescue dogs Beth and Bluebell.

The royals rescued the pooches from Battersea Dogs’ and Cats’ Home in 2017. The two adorable dogs have even made Buckingham Palace their new home.

Camilla’s ivory dress which was designed by Couturier and close friend Bruce Oldfield, who also worked closely with Diana during her time as a working Royal, was made from Peau de Soie, a silk fabric.

The gown was embellished with silver embroidery which was woven by Stephen Walters in Suffolk.

With an ivory, silver and gold colour palette, bracelet length sleeves, a strong shoulder and a wide V-neck neckline, the gown was in Camilla’s signature silhouette, a modest neckline, and an elongated waist.

Camilla also donned a Robe of State, decorated with the King’s favourite flowers, delphiniums, and lily of the valley, a favourite bloom of the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

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