Queen Camilla cuts a cake with a sword during visit to homeless charity in Bristol echoing her late mother-in-law

• The Queen has been patron of homelessness charity Emmaus UK since 2006 
• READ MORE: Queen Camilla comforts tearful victim of domestic violence who had been brought to the UK through a forced marriage as she visits a women’s refuge

Queen Camilla paid tribute to her mother-in-law today as she cheekily cut a cake with a sword.

The royal, 76, used the device as she joined staff and community members at homelessness charity Emmaus Bristol.    

Dressed in a smart navy coat, belted at the waist, and black boots as she visited the charity she’s been patron of since 2006 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. 

The late Queen famously insisted on using a ceremonial sword to cut a cake during a royal engagement in 2021.

Then 95, the monarch carried out a rare joint engagement with Camilla and Kate Middleton at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

Queen Camilla paid tribute to her mother-in-law today as she cheekily cut a cake with a sword 

The late Queen famously insisted on using a ceremonial sword to cut a cake during a royal engagement in 2021 (pictured)

The Queen was presented with a large cake and was handed a sword by Edward Bolitho, the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall, to cut it. 

When told by an aide that there was a conventional knife available, the Queen replied: ‘I know there is, this is more unusual’.

Today, Camilla embraced the party spirit, pulling a Christmas cracker with humanitarian and author Sir Terry Waite, President of Emmaus UK. 

Camilla was invited by the humanitarian campaigner and former hostage to mark 25 years of Emmaus Bristol by indulging in a festive tradition,

Her Majesty asked him: ‘You won’t cheat?’

‘I won’t cheat,’ he laughed.

Sir Terry, who was knighted by the king last week, is President of Emmaus UK, which tackles homelessness by providing people with a home and a purpose.

In return for bed and board, clients – known as companions – work to support the charity in its shops and warehouses.

The Queen was also handed a ceremonial sword by Peaches Golding, Lord Lieutenant of Bristol, to cut a birthday cake.

Queen Camilla purchased a Christmas plate from the gift shop at Emmaus Bristol, which is run by companions of the organisation 

The Queen looked radiant wearing a navy coat, belted at the waist, and black boots when she arrived at Emmaus Bristol to join in the 25th anniversary celebrations today

She told the queen that she had celebrated her own 70th birthday the day before: ‘I tested it last night, just to make sure,’ she smiled.

‘There we are, that’s a very good slice,’ said Camilla, lifting the sword from the sponge. ‘We’ll get another one there, not a very elegant slice,’ she said to laughter and applause.

Her Majesty had arrived slightly late for the engagement after signalling issues delayed her train from London.

Emerging from her car, she was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant, deputy Lord Lieutenant Dom Wood, Lord Mayor of Bristol Steve Pearce and Sharon Foster, the city’s High Sheriff.

She then joined Emmaus UK’s chair of trustees Jill Garner and Jessica Hodge, chief executive of Emmaus Bristol for a tour of the centre’s warehouse and offices.

The community – one of 30 in the country – is home to 24 people who have experienced homelessness, poverty, and social exclusion, and provides support to them for as long as it is needed. As well as a 21-bedroom house for companions, it has four terraced houses providing affordable housing for families.

Dressed in a smart navy coat, belted at the waist, and black boots as she visited the charity she’s been patron of since 2006 to celebrate its 25th anniversary

Camilla talks to a former companion during a visit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Emmaus Bristol

Camilla  meets Chair of Trustees Jill Garner during a visit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Emmaus Bristol

In the warehouse, the Queen was shown where donated items are stored, repurposed or upcycled and watched companions Kevin and Michael at work, sanding and re-painting furniture with recycled paint to be sold in the shop.

Michael told her had joined the community in August.

‘They’re good places, aren’t they?’ she said.

‘Yes, to chill out and get yourself back together,’ he agreed.

Camilla told him the Bristol hub was the first Emmaus UK centre she visited when she became the charity’s royal patron in 2006.

Another companion, Adrian, showed the Queen how to PAT test donated electrical items to check they are suitable for resale

She also met volunteers and staff helping to manage Emmaus Bristol’s three shops, eBay store, house clearance service and two eco treehouse pods which are rented out to holidaymakers visiting Bristol.

Camilla told him the Bristol hub was the first Emmaus UK centre she visited when she became the charity’s royal patron in 2006

Queen Camilla signs an artwork created by children being treated at the hospice

‘It’s a busy period, as you can imagine,’ said Katie Atherton, online retail assistant, explaining how they had sold 13 items overnight.

‘It’s amazing how quickly it goes,’ said the Queen.

Outside in the car park, she was shown two eco treehouse pods which are rented out to holidaymakers visiting Bristol, adding to the charity’s income.

Inside the main office, Her Majesty was reunited with David Watkinson, a former companion who moved into his own flat earlier this year but has stayed on as a volunteer.

‘You came to Clarence House,’ she said, recalling a lunch she hosted to mark Emmaus UK’s 30th anniversary in 2021.

Upstairs in the furniture shop, the Queen greeted Sir Terry with a kiss, saying: ‘Very nice to see you, it’s absolutely lovely. It’s nice to come back again.’

Queen Camilla during a visit to meet children, families and staff at Childrens Hospice

Queen Camilla and a young patient turn on the lights for the Christmas tree during a visit to meet children

‘Thank you so much for all your support,’ he replied. ‘When I got my recent honour I mentioned to your husband that you were still supporting us and he said, ‘I know, I know’.

‘You look extremely well,’ he told her, to which she replied, with a smile, ‘Well, I’m surviving.’

Sir Terry said afterwards: ‘I said to her, we’re so grateful to you for continuing this now that you’re Queen. And she said, ‘I don’t give up easily’.

‘She doesn’t give up easily, she’s had a lot of difficulties to fight and she’s done well.’

After cutting the cake, Her Majesty handed a goody bag from the Buckingham Palace shop to Pawel, one of the companions, telling him: ‘This is for all of you at Christmas. You’ve got a few little treats in here. Don’t eat them all! I hope you enjoy them.’

The Queen was then presented with a gift of her own, personalised dog bowls for her Jack Russell rescue pets Beth and Bluebell. The wooden bases, each engraved with their names, were fitted with metal bowls and embroidered fabric collars and were made by companions at Emmaus Merseyside.

‘Goodness, they’ve never had such smart [bowls], they won’t know what to do with them! Thank you very much.’

She also spent time chatting to many of the companions, including Pawel, 42, who became emotional as he told her how he had been accepted into the Emmaus Bristol community after living on the streets of Scunthorpe for several years.

On her way out, the Queen walked through the centre’s ground floor shop, commenting on the ‘treasure trove’ of donated goods on display before a china plate featuring a Christmas tree design caught her eye.

Taking out a crisp £10 note featuring the late Queen’s image, she waited at the counter as Xanne Carey, head of impact at Emmaus Bristol, took her payment.

There was just time for a group photograph outside before she was waved off on her way to her next engagement.

Speaking afterwards, Sir Terry said: ‘We have 30 communities now. We started in a portacabin in a windswept field in Cambridge with nothing and gradually developed. But we still need more.

The great thing about Emmaus is.. that when a homeless person comes here they agree to work according to their capacity, so it’s not just receiving charity. They get an allowance, they get a good standard of accommodation, they get physical or psychological help and they get back on their feet.’

He went on: ‘They have a real purpose in life.’

He said that by working in a shop, companions regain a ‘sense of dignity’ and are able to interact with society again, sometimes after many years of living on the streets.’

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