I’ve scrubbed and scrubbed but it won’t come off!’ Camilla’s anguish over Henna tattoo given to her on Tanzania trip ahead of state banquet

By Rebecca English


The Duchess of Cornwall, pictured at Clarence House today, has been desperate to get rid of her henna tattoo as she has several public engagements coming up


When she agreed to be inked with a henna tattoo on an official visit to Tanzania last week, the Duchess of Cornwall was assured that it would only last a day or two.

Unfortunately nine days later she is still trying to scrub the thing off.

On an engagement at Clarence House on behalf of the Unicorn children’s theatre, the elaborately swirled inking could still clearly be seen on her left hand.

Asked about it by the Mail, Prince Charles’s wife exclaimed: ‘The less said about that the better!

‘I didn’t feel that I could refuse and it was rather beautiful but then, after I had it done, this lady put her hand on mine and splodged it everywhere.

'I just can’t get it off. I have tried scrubbing and everything…nailbrushes, you name it. I just don’t know what to do.’

The Duchess said she was particularly keen to rid her hand of the marking as she has a series of very public engagements coming up, including a lavish state banquet at Buckingham Palace thrown by the Queen in honour of the Turkish President where tiaras are a more traditional form of adornment.

Henna is a traditional dye made from the leaves of the mignonette tree that binds with keratin in the skin to form a semi-permanent marking.

As the dye bonds with several layers of skin, the only way to remove it is to remove it by careful but prolonged exfoliation.

Others suggest going for a swim as the chlorine can help lighten it or rubbing at it with alcohol or a whitening toothpaste.

Otherwise, you have no choice but to wait for it to fade.

Camilla, pictured with the Duchess of Cambridge, wore gloves to watch proceedings during the Remembrance Sunday service last week


The Duchess received her tattoo on a whistle-stop tour to the paradise island of Zanzibar.

She agreed to be inked during a visit to Old Fort in Stone Town, the capital of the spice island.

She threw a reception for the Unicorn children’s theatre in London today, of which she is patron, at her London residence.


The Duchess received her tattoo nine days ago on a whistle-stop tour to the paradise island of Zanzibar with Prince Charles

The Unicorn is the UK’s leading theatre for young audiences and has launched an award in the name of one of its staunchest supporters, the actress Joanna David, an old friend of the Duchess.

Camilla revealed that she regularly takes her children and now grand-children to watch their productions.

‘I took all five of my grandchildren to see the Mole In The Hole last year and despite temporarily losing Lola [her son Tom’s four-year-old daughter], it was an absolute joy. They sat absolutely spellbound. It really is the best children’s theatre in the world. And if it wasn’t for Joanna the Unicorn probably wouldn’t be here today,’ she said.

Miss David was accompanied by her actor husband, Edward Fox, and children Emilia and Freddie, who are also in the business.

Silent Witness star Emilia said: ‘It is so wonderful that mum is getting some recognition for what she has done. She is the most modest person I know but has worked her socks off for the Unicorn.’


source:dailymail