Queen Camilla and King Charles have enjoyed another jam-packed day in Kenya on the second day of their royal tour, with the Queen taking a trip to the Brooke Donkey Sanctuary.
On her day out Camilla visited a temporary Kenyan market set up at the sanctuary to peruse for possible gifts, picking up a basket, a blanket, some jewellery and cashew butter, but quickly realised she had unfortunately run out of cash.
She initially paid 4,000 Kenyan shillings for a sisal basket made by Grace Maina, as Her Majesty exclaimed: “It’s beautiful! I think I should buy one.”
But as she then went to purchase a blanket it became clear she only had half the money she needed, and for the rest of her trip Camilla had to take the details of the stall holders so she could arrange to pay them later.
At a stall run by Shininah Dajom, the Queen praised the cashew butter on offer, saying: “That’s one up on peanut butter!”
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Ms Dajom seemed unphased at learning she would not be paid the 3,000 shillings upfront, saying: “What that means is that the money is in the bank, not in the hand. Her Majesty’s credit is very good!”
Camilla’s aides were on hand to help her carry her wares, as she also stopped off at a jewellery stall to buy three bracelets and one pair of earrings.
Sam Semat, who sold the jewellery, said: “She asked me what materials they are made from. She also asked what impact it would have on me if she buys. I told her it is good for employment. She said she was doing her Christmas shopping.”
The Brooke Donkey Sanctuary visited by Camilla is run by Kenya Society for the Protection and Care for Animals (KSPCA) in partnership with the equine charity Brooke East Africa, which the Queen is president of.
Upon arriving at the sanctuary, Queen Camilla was introduced to their dog Sifu, who is also nicknamed Her Royal Highness, with Emma Ngugi of KSPCA explaining of their encounter: “I introduced my human colleague first, because it seems polite.
“Then I said to the Queen, ‘protocol dictates that I also have to introduce you to Her Royal Highness, Queen of the KSPCA Sifup. At that point Sifu obligingly presented for a tummy rub, and the Queen had a little cuddle.”
At the centre’s clinic the Queen also met former horse racing champion Pardon Me Nicely, who was rescued after sadly being abused, and a donkey named Olekisasi who was too busy munching on some carrots to pay much attention to the royal visitor.
As the engagement ended Camilla was presented with a ceremonial red cloak by a group of Maasai women, with Margaret Mpatiany putting the cloak around the Queen.
Ms Mpatiany is a member of the Nkareta Donkey welfare group, and has been taught how to take care of her own animals thanks to the charity.