Queen Camilla Faces Backlash Over Comment to Ruth Jones During Welsh Visit

Queen Camilla has come under fire after making a comment about Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones’ weight during a recent royal engagement in South Wales. While Ruth appeared to laugh it off, the remark has sparked considerable debate among royal watchers and social media users.

What Actually Happened Between Camilla and Ruth Jones

On Saturday, November 15, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Cyfarthfa Castle near Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. The event was attended by a number of Welsh celebrities, including TV personalities like Love Island star Liam Reardon, designer Julien Macdonald, and, notably, Ruth Jones. When the queen greeted Ruth, she paused, then apparently realised who she was, and said, “Haven’t you lost masses of weight?” (Daily Mail).

Ruth responded with grace, smiling and taking the queen’s hand: “Yes, I have, thank you! I’ve lost a bit of weight.” The actress has been openly sharing her weight loss journey in recent years—at one point she revealed she'd lost around 4.5 stone over 22 months. Her honesty has won her praise before, but Camilla’s comment nonetheless set off a wave of reactions online (The Guardian, Daily Mail).

Why Some Viewers Think Camilla’s Remark Was Inappropriate

A number of royal fans were quick to condemn Camilla’s remark as rude and tone-deaf. On social media platform X, one user wrote, “How rude of Camilla to discuss a celebrity’s weight issue in the public domain! Rude!” Another added, “You don’t ask a stranger if they’ve lost masses of weight – it shows her detachment from normal everyday conversation.” A third commented, “That’s a rude comment, you don’t say that.”

Critics argue that for someone in her position, bringing up a person’s body transformation in public is awkward and unnecessary, particularly in front of others. Some felt she stepped over a personal boundary that should not be breached, even for small talk.

A Defense From Other Royal Fans

Not everyone was critical, though. Several royal watchers leapt to Camilla’s defense, suggesting her remark was innocent and made in a genuinely complimentary spirit. One fan wrote, “I have to admit I wouldn’t have recognised Ruth Jones either. She looks entirely different than her Nessa character. Queen Camilla probably didn’t mean anything bad by it — she often says what she thinks, like many of us.” The commenter even compared her to the late Prince Philip, known for similarly blunt but well-intentioned remarks (The Telegraph).

Meanwhile: A Royal Reception at Windsor Castle

Just days after the controversy, Camilla and King Charles hosted 900 guests at Windsor Castle for their annual Diplomatic Reception, a glittering, white-tie event attended by international dignitaries (BBC News). Camilla wore the iconic Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, a show-stopping piece first owned by Dame Margaret Greville and later inherited by Queen Elizabeth II (Daily Mail).

The reception was particularly notable for the absence of Princess Kate, The Princess of Wales, who skipped the event for the second year in a row — following her cancer diagnosis earlier in 2024 (Telegraph Royal Coverage).

What This Moment Reveals

Camilla’s comment to Ruth Jones has reignited discussion about how members of the royal family engage in public small talk and how their personal remarks are perceived in today’s media environment. While some saw it as a harmless compliment, others viewed it as a breach of privacy and decorum.

For Ruth, who has been so candid about her weight loss journey, the comment could be seen as "well-intentioned but misplaced." For Camilla, it’s a reminder of how easily a seemingly innocent observation can be interpreted in very different ways by a modern audience.