Royal Birthday Celebrations Take Amusing Turn
Queen Camilla created an unexpectedly humorous moment during a royal engagement in South Wales when she remarked on actress Ruth Jones's significant weight loss. The Gavin and Stacey star burst into laughter after the Queen, seemingly not recognising her immediately, exclaimed: 'Haven't you lost masses of weight?' during the line-up at Cyfarthfa Castle.
Weight Loss Journey and Royal Reaction
Jones, who has been open about her lifelong struggle with weight and recently shed 4.5 stone through a new health regime, appeared both surprised and delighted by the royal comment. The writer and actress, who first found fame in 'Fat Friends', responded with laughter, saying: 'Yes I have, thank you! I've lost a bit of weight.'
The 57-year-old has previously discussed undergoing aversion therapy to change her mindset toward chocolate and explained it took her 22 months to reach her current weight after feeling demoralised by photoshoots that made her self-conscious.
King Charles's 77th Birthday Festivities
The amusing exchange occurred during celebrations marking King Charles's 77th birthday at the 200-year-old Cyfarthfa Castle near Merthyr Tydfil. Despite torrential rain from Storm Claudia, the monarch appeared in high spirits as he cut a giant Victoria sponge and buttercream cake shaped like the castle itself.
Guests including Ruth Jones and fashion designer Julien Macdonald sang Happy Birthday while watching the King slice into the elaborate creation. The event featured several local celebrities including:
- Actors Steve Speirs and Richard Harrington
- TikTok creator Lewis Leigh
- Love Island star Liam Reardon
In an unusual birthday offer, fitness coach Reardon invited the King to his gym, saying: 'If you'd like to come for a session together, let me know, that would be great.'
Royal Patronages and Community Engagement
The King and Queen spent considerable time engaging with representatives from their various patronages, including The King's Trust and the Royal Osteoporosis Society. The monarch was presented with a special coin marking the Trust's 50th anniversary next year, designed by alumna Jessica Gregorio and produced at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant.
Fashion designer Julien Macdonald showcased a stunning yellow Italian silk georgette gown he designed for Dame Shirley Bassey, embellished with 20,000 Swarovski crystals and upcycled ostrich feathers. The Queen has long supported the Royal Osteoporosis Society as its President since 2001, following the deaths of her mother and grandmother from the disease.
Tram-Train Driving Experience
Later in the day, King Charles received what staff described as a 'money-can't-buy' birthday gift - the opportunity to drive a tram-train during the official opening of the £100 million South Wales Metro Depot. The monarch eagerly took the driver's seat of the tram-train officially named Myddfai, operating the windscreen wipers and driving approximately 125 metres within the depot.
Bev Hannible, who instructed the King during his driving experience, commented: 'He was quite keen to just get going. He said, 'This is wonderful'. I did ask if him he'd driven a train before and he said, 'Of course'.' She added that his driving skills were 'better than some' trainees she had taught over her 21-year railway career.
Community Connections and Lasting Impressions
Despite running over schedule, both royals made time to greet well-wishers who had waited up to three hours in the pouring rain. The King accepted gifts of cuddly toys and homemade cards while the Queen received bouquets of flowers, with one schoolgirl presenting the monarch with a teddy bear.
Jones later praised the royal couple's charitable work, specifically highlighting Camilla's efforts to improve literacy and the King's environmental advocacy. She stated: 'I think they do so much great charity work and I love what the Queen does for literacy and encouraging people to read and the King's amazing work on environmental issues and his support of the Arts.'
The South Wales Metro project represents a significant £800 million investment to electrify 170km of existing railway and upgrade the majority of stations, bringing faster and more frequent journeys to the area with a tap-on, tap-off ticketing system that has already enabled over 1.8 million journeys across 95 stations.
