King Charles and Queen Camilla attend memorial service for former Arsenal chairman friend
Charles and Camilla attend a memorial service at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge
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King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a memorial service for their former Arsenal chairman friend.
The royal couple were joined by former captains Tony Adams and David O’Leary at the service for Sir ‘Chips’ Keswick who died aged 84.
Andrew Parker-Bowles, the Queen’s former husband, was also in attendance alongside the grandson of Winston Churchill, Sir Nicholas Soames.
Sir Chips - full name John Chippendale Lindley Keswick - descended from the family which controls the Far Eastern trading empire of Jardine Matheson.
Charles and Camilla attend a memorial service at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge
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Keswick built his own career path to become chairman of Hambros Bank and Arsenal Football Club.
In November 2005, Keswick joined Arsenal’s board and stepped down as chairman in May 2020 having previously been a vice-chairman of Hambros bank between 1986 and 1998.
The businessman was previously knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II for his service to banking in 1993.
The King and Queen wore elegant black outfits for the service at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge on Thursday afternoon.
Charles and Camilla were friends with Sir Chips and his wife Lady Sarah
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Queen Camilla opted for a long black dress with white detailing down the front of the gown and on the sleeves.
She paired the outfit with black leather gloves, a wide-brimmed hat and kitten heels.
The King and Queen entered St Paul’s separately from the Queen’s former husband who wore a blue suit with a light grey tie.
Sir Chips and his wife, Lady Sarah, married in 1966 and were good friends of Charles and Camilla.
Sir Chips Keswick died aged 84
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Charles and Camilla appeared publicly together for the first time at Lady Sarah’s 50th birthday party held at the Ritz in 1995.
Camilla regularly stayed at the Keswick’s Sutherland estate and co-owned one of the horses bred by Queen Elizabeth called And Reach For The Moon with Chips.
Former MP Nicholas Soames gave the address at the memorial service reminiscing: “While Chips was a racing, shooting and fishing enthusiast he was not a tolerant Bridge player.
“When the chips were down so was Chips.”