Prince Charles gatecrashes 50th birthday at The Ritz and elbow-bumps partygoers before thanking staff for their ‘tireless’ efforts amid the pandemic
- Prince Charles, 72, surprised hotel guests during a trip to The Ritz earlier today
- The Prince of Wales made the journey to show support for the hospitality sector
- He wore a face mask as he surprised a group of women at a 50th birthday bash
The Prince of Wales surprised a group of women celebrating a 50th birthday when he visited The Ritz to thank staff for their ‘tireless’ efforts.
Charles, 72, who wore a mask, elbow-bumped the partygoers during a tour of the famous London hotel synonymous with afternoon teas and evening cocktails.
The Ritz was also the venue where the prince and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, then Camilla Parker Bowles, stepped out in public for the first time as a couple in 1999.
During his visit Charles met members of the housemaids, concierge and restaurant teams and other staff under a large Christmas tree in the lobby.
Hotel guests at The Ritz were shocked after their 50th birthday celebrations were gatecrashed by Prince Charles, 72, who was being given a tour of the hotel
The Prince of Wales was visiting the hotel as a show of solidarity with the hospitality sector during the coronavirus pandemic
During his visit to the hotel, Charles chatted with some of the members of staff to discuss how the hospitality industry was faring
During his tour of The Ritz, the royal met members of the housemaids, concierge and restaurant teams and other staff. Pictured: Charles in discussion with The Ritz’s Executive Chef John Williams
He chatted to them for ten minutes about how the hospitality industry was faring, and thanked them for their ‘tireless efforts, especially at this time of year’.
As Charles walked through the hotel towards the kitchens he met the 50th birthday group and they each received a celebratory elbow-bump from the heir to the throne.
His visit followed a trip to London’s 100 Club and the Soho Theatre last week, when Charles heard how the entertainment industry was coping during the pandemic.
The Ritz’s executive chef John Williams, who has prepared many meals for the royal family, introduced the prince to a range of staff including a large number of Italian workers.
Prince Charles greeted some members of staff by bumping elbows with them to maintain social distancing measures
The Prince’s visit to The Ritz followed appearances at London’s 100 Club and the Soho Theatre last week
The Ritz is the location at which Charles was first seen in public with Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall in 1999
The Ritz’s executive chef John Williams introduced the prince to a range of staff including a large number of Italian workers, to which the prince responded: ‘We love Italy!’
Some of the discussions Charles had with members of staff also revolved around how they managed to keep operating during the pandemic
Charles responded to meeting the Italian workers by saying: ‘We love Italy!’
When he was shown a fish dish being prepared he commented on the importance of the produce being sustainably sourced and was told it was.
Charles also talked to the teams about how they had managed during lockdown and discussed the impact Covid was having on the whole of the hospitality industry.
‘We couldn’t manage without you!’ he said to a group of kitchen porters who had been invited to meet him.
Charles added: ‘I have been so worried about the devastation being caused by this pandemic – we really are so glad you are getting back to business.’
Before leaving the prince was given a gift of a Christmas pudding from the hotel and wished everybody a ‘Happy Christmas and a better New Year’.