Queen Camilla walked through a public airport terminal this week. No red carpet or motorcade moment. Just Camilla, her entourage, and a few confused travellers who probably thought this old woman was being extradited.

She had just finished a four-day US state visit with King Charles, hosted by Donald Trump and Melania Trump. President Trump personally saw them off from Washington. But instead of joining Charles for the next leg of the royal tour in Bermuda, Camilla headed back to the UK alone. Charles, meanwhile, boarded the UK Government’s VIP Airbus and flew to Bermuda for his first official trip as monarch to a British Overseas Territory, complete with a ceremonial welcome, a Guard of Honour and a 21-gun salute.

The Express wrote up Camilla’s airport moment as “stunning onlookers.” Social media saw it differently. They saw a Queen looking remarkably ordinary. And they immediately pointed out the glaring double standard.

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A Pattern of Skipping the Hard Part

Back in 2018, the Daily Mail reported that Camilla would not accompany Prince Charles on a four-day tour around Australia. The reason? Aides admitted the tour would be too “gruelling” and that the Duchess “does not like flying.” She flew to Brisbane for the Commonwealth Games opening, stayed three days, then flew home commercial. Charles continued alone to Vanuatu, Cairns, Gove and Darwin, all requiring internal flights.

Clarence House insisted there were no health issues. Camilla was “as fit as a flea.” She just does not like flying. The press at the time treated it as a charming quirk. “Duchess Camilla is afraid of flying,” one outlet cooed. Another called it a “well-known fear” and said she should be applauded for going at all.

Fast forward to 2026, and it’s the same playbook. Camilla completes the big US visit, then she bails before the smaller, less media-friendly Bermuda portion. And it’s not lost on some folks that Bermuda is a predominantly Black country she chose to skip. So as Camilla goes home, commercial, the press once again shrugs.

Charles Continues the Grand Tour

Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles would continue to Bermuda solo. The Bermuda leg runs from April 30 to May 2 and focuses on celebrating the island’s culture, environment, youth programmes and public service. Charles’s itinerary includes the formal opening of a new coastguard facility, a ceremonial welcome with a 21-gun salute, and engagements with Commonwealth athletes. It is his first trip to a British Overseas Territory as monarch.

Some are accusing Camilla of being lazy, and that might not be far off. She has a pattern of skipping the less glamorous legs of royal tours, especially when they involve Commonwealth countries with predominantly Black populations. Or the problem could be Charles himself. He loves the spotlight. He does not want anyone stealing it. Remember the 1983 Australia tour with Diana? The crowds were so enchanted by her that Charles became an afterthought. People strained their necks to see her. They barely looked at him. Reports say he was deeply displeased. So maybe Camilla stays home because Charles prefers it that way. Either way, the optics are weird.

Final thoughts

Queen Camilla can travel however she wants. But let us not pretend the press treats everyone equally. A few weeks ago, Harry and Meghan flew commercial to Australia. They paid for their own business class tickets. And what did the media do? They mocked them and called it a fall from grace.

Now look at their beloved Queen. She walks through a public airport terminal like a confused commoner. How the mighty have fallen. Except the media is not mocking her. They are calling it relatable and praising her for being so normal. They are writing soft-focus pieces about her fear of flying as if that makes her endearing rather than selective.

So when Harry and Meghan pay for their own business class seats, it is a scandal. But when Camilla flies commercial, it is a charming quirk. Let’s even expand their hypocrisy. When the Sussexes split a tour, it is a marriage crisis. When Camilla leaves Charles to go solo, it is a scheduling decision.

The royal plane flew one way. Camilla went the other way. And suddenly the media discovered that flying commercial is actually fine. Funny how that lesson only arrives when Meghan is not in the frame. The double standard is always there. Camilla’s terminal stroll just made it impossible to ignore. And the next time a royal reporter mocks Harry and Meghan for flying commercial, someone should ask them where their outrage went when their Queen did the same thing.

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