Britain's Duchess of Cornwall has described herself and the Prince of Wales as still having “a snap in our celery” as she stressed their foreign tours were working trips and not holidays.
Camilla's comments were made on the flight home from the Middle East where the royal couple spent four days celebrating the culture, heritage and achievements of Jordan and Egypt .
British royal tours are conducted on behalf of the government and usually feature busy schedules, covering thousands of miles. The duchess described this week's trip as “quite tough” but said diplomats over the years have assured her that royal visits open doors.
Prince Charles and Camilla visit Egypt — in pictures Britain's Prince Charles the Prince of Wales meets with Pope Tawadros II, head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, in Cairo. EPA
Prince Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are greeted by officials and a children's quartet as they arrive at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt's northern Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria. AFP
Prince Charles stands next to the 'mahmal', the palanquin formerly used to transport the 'kiswa' protective cover that engulfs Islam's holiest shrine the Kaaba from Egypt to Mecca, during his visit to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. AFP
Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, accompanied by his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, sign the guestbook during their visit to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. AFP
Prince Charles visits the Jesuit Cultural Centre in Alexandria. Reuters
Camilla visits the Brooke Hospital for Animals in Cairo. EPA
Prince Charles poses for a photo with chairman of The Greek Campus Ahmed El Alfi, Egypt's Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad and other attendees, as he visits the GrEEK Campus workspace for the Sustainable Markets Initiative event in Tahrir Square. Getty Images
The Prince of Wales and his wife arrive at Cairo airport in Egypt from Jordan, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East.
Camilla leaves the royal flight at Cairo airport.
Prince Charles and Camilla were met at Cairo airport by Gareth Bayley, the UK ambassador to Egypt, and his wife, Sara Fawcett.
Prince Charles with Gareth Bayley, the UK ambassador to Egypt, after his arrival in Egypt.
Camilla, left, is welcomed by Entissar Amer, the wife of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, at the presidential palace in Cairo. Reuters
Prince Charles and Camilla meet President El Sisi and Ms Amer at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo.
Camila arrives to meet President El Sisi and his wife at Al-Ittahadiya Palace.
Prince Charles and President El Sisi at Al-Ittahadiya Palace.
Charles and Camilla arriving at Al-Ittahadiya Palace.
Prince Charles and Camilla on the third day of their tour of the Middle East.
Camilla in the courtyard of Al Azhar Mosque. EPA
Camilla arrives at Al-Ittihadiya Palace. Reuters
Prince Charles meets Egypt's Antiquities and Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anany. Reuters
Egyptian Islamic scholar and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, right, meets Prince Charles, left, at the mosque in Cairo. AFP
The Grand Imam, centre left, receives Prince Charles, centre-right, and Camilla, centre, upon their arrival at the mosque. AFP
The Grand Imam invites Prince Charles and his wife Camilla to the courtyard of the mosque. EPA
Charles and Camilla visit the Giza Pyramids plateau on the western outskirts of Cairo. AFP
Prince Charles surrounded by students during his visit to Al Azhar Mosque. AFP
The Grand Imam of Al Azhar Mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, right, meets Prince Charles. left. AFP
Prince Charles and Camilla at Al Azhar Mosque, the oldest Sunni institution in the Muslim world, with the Grand Imam, left, and the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Alexandria Samy Fawzy, right. AP
Prince Charles and Camilla, left, at the Al Azhar Mosque. AFP
Charles and Camilla at the Giza Pyramids plateau. AFP
Charles and Camilla pass the Sphinx at the Giza Pyramids plateau. AFP
Charles and Camilla in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza. Reuters
Charles and Camilla next to the Great Sphinx of Giza on the third day of their tour of the Middle East. Getty Images
The royal couple are on an official visit to Egypt as part of their first royal tour since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. EPA
Prince Charles and Camilla with Egypt's Antiquities and Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anany near the Pyramids of Giza. Getty Images
Prince Charles surrounded by students on a visit to Al Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. AFP
Prince Charles is greeted by Egypt's Environment Minister, Dr Yasmine Fouad, on a visit to a Sustainable Markets Initiative event in Tahrir Square, downtown Cairo. Reuters
Prince Charles in Tahrir Square, downtown Cairo, during his visit to the Middle East. Reuters
Prince Charles at a round table meeting on a visit to the GrEEK Campus workspace for the Sustainable Markets Initiative in Tahrir Square, Cairo. Reuters
The Prince of Wales at the Sustainable Markets Initiative in Tahrir Square. Reuters
The highlight of her time in the Middle East was the royal couple's trip to the site near the River Jordan where John the Baptist was said to have baptised Jesus. She described their visit as a “spiritual” moment.
Speaking on Voyager, the ministerial jet, before it landed on Friday, the duchess said the Middle East tour was “quite tough, we were driving a lot and it was pretty bumpy".
She referred to her previous visit to Egypt with Prince Charles 16 years ago, soon after they married, and said “I'm a lot older now, well into my 70s, but, to quote [journalist] Richard Ingrams, 'we've still got a snap in our celery'."
Since marrying Charles in 2005, the duchess has travelled the world, visiting everywhere from Colombia and the Galapagos Islands to Jamaica, Mexico and New Zealand in support of the UK.
“I've been on so many trips and I can understand why people can be cynical about this 'why they're doing this, what they're getting out of this?'," she said.
“But I've heard so many diplomats over the years say, 'we've been trying to open this door for weeks, months, years, then suddenly a member of the royal family comes along and, bang, this works for us — doors are open and things get done'."
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On Thursday, Prince Charles and Camilla toured the Pyramids at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, and also posed for pictures in front of the Sphinx.
The duchess added: “We are not on holiday, we might be dressed up and photographed against the pyramids like tourists but we are not on holiday. We are working for the government and country and we are trying to make difference.”
Camilla said their visit to the baptism site of Christ in Jordan was the highlight of the trip for her: “It was extraordinary, something you read about. To actually go down there and experience it — it was really quite spiritual.”
Royal couple visit Jordan - In pictures Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, leave Jordan to fly to Egypt on the third day of their tour of the Middle East. Reuters
The Prince of Wales and the duchess flew from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman. Reuters
Prince Charles and Camilla attend a centenary celebration of the founding of the Jordanian state at the Jordan Museum in Amman. AFP
The royal couple arrive at the celebration. AFP
Prince Charles and Camilla are on a three-day visit to the country. EPA
Prince Charles and Camilla are welcomed to the centenary celebration. Reuters
Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, talks with a Jordanian army member. Reuters
Prince Charles addresses the crowds. Reuters
Prince Charles and Camilla arrive with British Ambassador to Jordan, Bridget Brind, and British Council Director in Jordan, Summer Xia. Reuters
Prince Charles and Camilla with British Ambassador to Jordan Bridget Brind and Jordanian Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad. Reuters
Prince Charles chuckles as a woman shows a portrait of him, during a visit to the UNHCR Community Support Centre in Al Nuzha, Jordan. Reuters
Prince Charles visits the Royal Scientific Society in Amman, Jordan. Reuters
Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and president of the Women of the World Foundation, holds a tap given to her by plumber Khawla Al-Sheikh, during a foundation event at Manara Arts and Culture gallery in Amman. Getty Images
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and president of the Women of the World Foundation, holds Sarah Abu Ameerah as she attends an event at Manara Arts and Culture gallery in Amman. Getty Images
Camilla visits Princess Taghreed Secondary Girls School in Amman. Getty Images
Prince Charles plants a tree in Umm Qais, Jordan. Reuters
Prince Charles visits the ancient Roman Decapolis city of Gadara, Umm Qais. EPA
Prince Charles and Camilla pose for a photo as they visit the ancient Roman Decapolis city of Gadara, Umm Qais, 110km north of Amman. EPA
Prince Charles and Camilla tour the ancient site of Umm Qais in Jordan. AP
Prince Charles and Camilla during a walking tour of the ancient Roman city of Gadara. Getty Images
The royal couple, pictured at Umm Qais, are on the first leg of a tour of the Middle East. Getty Images
Charles and Camilla are accompanied by Jordan's Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad on a visit to Gadara, Umm Qais. AFP
‘It was particularly special to visit such a significant place,’ said Prince Charles of the visit. Getty Images
Prince Charles and Camilla visit Elijah's Hill, near the baptism site along the Jordan River in Amman. Getty Images
The royals visit the baptism site of Al Maghtas, where Jesus is believed by Christians to have been baptised by John the Baptist, on the Jordan River. EPA
The royals listen to a tour guide during their visit to Al Maghtas. EPA
The royals meet Jordan's King Abdullah II, centre, and Queen Rania. Photo: RHCJO Twitter
The Prince of Wales at the Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman. PA
The British royals visit Al Maghtas, the site where Christians believe Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, on the Jordan River. AP
Prince Charles writes in a visitor book during his visit to Al Maghtas as the Duchess of Cornwall looks on. AFP
The Duchess of Cornwall and Jordan's Queen Rania travel to their next engagement, in Amman. Reuters
The trip comes as Jordan celebrates the centenary of its founding. Photo: @RHCJO via Twitter
Prince Charles with Camilla, King Abdullah and Queen Rania. Photo: @RHCJO via Twitter
Prince Charles and Camilla are received by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, King Abdullah's cousin and adviser, at Queen Alia International Airport. Reuters
Prince Charles is introduced to senior officials. Reuters
The British royals are in Jordan on a three-day trip. Reuters
The plane carrying Prince Charles and Camilla arrives at the international airport in Amman on Tuesday. Reuters
Updated: November 20, 2021, 3:10 PM