Queen Camilla has recounted that two stones were thrown at the windows of Buckingham Palace over a century ago during a protest by the suffragettes. These stones were kept as a symbol of hope for the women who took part in the protest, according to the Queen.
Although some of the suffragette’s more destructive methods may not be acceptable in modern times, Camilla stated that there is a lesson to be learned from the stones that cracked two window panes and were preserved by the royal family.
As the president of the Wow festival, she delivered a speech to distinguished guests, including Dame Helen Mirren, Doreen Lawrence, Spice Girl Mel B, and Dame Kelly Holmes. In her speech, she started with a “show and tell” activity.
“On May 27, 1914, two stones were hurled at the palace during a suffragette demonstration. The label on one of the stones stated: ‘If our request for a constitutional delegation is denied, we will send a message with a stone.’ The other stone declared: ‘When constitutional methods are disregarded, we resort to breaking windows.’
“According to The Times, two women managed to bypass the guards at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday between 11 and 12 o’clock. They then proceeded to throw stones at the windows, resulting in two panes of glass being broken before the guards were able to intervene.”
Camilla stated that although the women were taken into custody, the head of the palace household declined to pursue charges. Queen Mary, who was married to King George V, ultimately kept possession of the jewels.
“I had the idea that today, as Shakespeare wrote, we could see “lessons in rocks”, she mentioned. Although she did not advocate for her audience to do the same, she explained, “I wanted to share these stones with you because of their symbolism, even though we do not condone the more destructive actions of the suffragettes in today’s society.”
“I think that in 1914, these objects symbolized hope for the women who threw them. It was hope that they would not continue to be oppressed by their past and the societal and economic obstacles that fought against equality. Most importantly, they held the hope that, as expressed by Christabel Pankhurst, it was achievable to create a better world for women.”
She addressed the audience at Buckingham Palace, which also included several schoolgirls, and expressed that 110 years later, they were invited to represent hope for women in both the present and the future.
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During the event celebrating Wow and International Women’s Day, Camilla received a Barbie doll customized specifically for her. In jest, she commented that it made her appear significantly younger. She held the doll, which was a replica of herself, and stated, “You’ve managed to knock off about 50 years from my age – every woman should have her own Barbie.”
The unique Barbie doll was outfitted in a smaller version of an ensemble worn by Camilla on multiple occasions: a blue Fiona Clare dress, black Amanda Wakeley cape, and black Eliot Zed boots. The doll’s hair was styled to resemble Camilla’s signature curls, and the jewelry worn by the toy included a Wow badge similar to the one worn by Camilla.
The presentation was made on board the Wow Girls festival bus, which has toured the country promoting gender equality and made a final stop at the palace where Camilla toured it with Queen Mathilde of Belgium and the Duchess of Gloucester.
Source: theguardian.com
