Queen suggests Charles artwork for the Royal Scottish Academy
She joked that she “didn’t have the talent” of her husband Charles
The King could bring some of his personal paintings to Edinburgh, the Queen has said, as she hailed her first visit to Scotland’s national academy of art as the “first of many”.
Camilla said she was “proud” to have visited the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) during the start of Royal Week.
She joked that she “didn’t have the talent” of her husband Charles or late father-in-law, Prince Philip, to paint but said she “did try very badly”.
During her visit, she was shown artworks from a number of Scottish artists as part of the Chaos and Control: Printmaking in Scotland Now exhibition.
To celebrate the RSA’s 200th anniversary, the Queen cut what she described as a “beautiful” cake to mark the occasion, before signing the visitors’ book.
She said: “I want to say before I leave how proud I am to be patron of the Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy.
“I hope this will be the first of many visits. I know you’ve got wonderful collections here that I would absolutely come and have a look at.
“Sadly, I don’t have the talent of my husband, or my late father-in-law, but I do try to paint very badly, but sadly don’t have the time.
“But nothing I enjoy more is looking around other people’s (collections).”
She added: “I hope one of these days perhaps we could bring a few of his (The King’s) paintings here”.
Gareth Fisher, president of the RSA, said the gallery would “love to” have one of the King’s landscapes of Scotland.
“I shall mention it to him,” the Queen replied. “I’m very proud to be part of this and I hope I should be coming back.”
Aoife Cawley, one of the exhibiting artists, said it was “surreal” and “a bit mad” to meet the Queen.
She said: “She was real sound, she was real nice, really interested in the work, and she was nice to chat to.”
Ms Cawley’s work, which involves screen printing, was inspired by her time in Florence, which she attended through a scholarship by the RSA.
She said the Queen had told her that Florence was a “lovely place”.
Kate Downie, the artist commissioned to create the commemorative etching of the building for the anniversary, was given the slice cut by Camilla.
She said it was a “really special” moment.
“I got the slice that was cut by the Queen,” she said, “and it tastes delicious”.
Colin Greenslade, director of the RSA, said the organisation has “always had a close connection with the royal household”.
Asked if she liked the artwork, he said: “She did. She had lots of interesting questions and she was really interested in the different levels of which people were at in their career.
“It was interesting today because there were artists that were established here and artists who were newly out of art school and she got the opportunity to talk to them about their work.”
Mr Greenslade said he hoped the visit would be the “first of many”.
Royal Week had kicked off earlier in the morning with the traditional Ceremony of the Keys taking place in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The King attended the ceremony and was presented with the keys to Edinburgh, which he returned for safe keeping.
After Charles arrived by helicopter, a guard of honour was provided by Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Also on parade were the King’s bodyguard for Scotland – the Royal Company of Archers.
Music was provided by the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Pipes and Drums of 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Charles met senior military figures and received a royal salute during the ceremony.
Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge presented the keys to the King, holding them on a red cushion.
Mr Aldridge said: “We, the Lord Provost and members of the City of Edinburgh Council, welcome Your Majesty to the capital city of your ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland, and offer for your gracious acceptance the keys of Your Majesty’s good city of Edinburgh.”
In return, Charles gave the traditional reply: “I return these keys perfectly convinced that they cannot be placed in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and councillors of my good city of Edinburgh.”
The King traditionally spends a week based at the Palace of Holyroodhouse each year for what is known as Holyrood Week, or Royal Week, in Scotland.