Camilla Parker Bowles Showed Off Her Killer Ping-Pong Skills Today

Published Jul 11, 2019

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4:28pm

Some royals have all the fun. Prince William has his motorcycles, Kate Middleton has her photography, Prince Harry has his polo, Queen Elizabeth has her horseback riding and now, Camilla Parker Bowles has finally revealed her surprising secret talent.

The 71-year-old Duchess of Cornwall visited the Royal Air Force’s Halton barracks in Aylesbury, England, today to celebrate their centenary year. As Honorary Air Commodore (what a title!), Parker Bowles has certain duties, which apparently include being down to play a game of Ping-Pong at a moment’s notice.

After touring the facility and unveiling a plaque that marked the opening of the new Youth Activities Center on base, the duchess faced off against a young person for a spirited game of table tennis.

camilla parker bowles lobbing a ping pong serve

Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Given the fact that she wore a navy and white polka-dot shift dress, pearls and Sole Bliss Ingrid block heels ($195), you might expect that Parker Bowles’s Ping-Pong game would be demure. That’s where you’d be wrong.

The Duchess of Cornwall was surprisingly invested in her impromptu game, which leads us to wonder if she and Prince Charles partake in table tennis matches on the reg.

camilla parker bowles diving for ping pong ball

Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Just look at the determination with which she lobs that Ping-Pong ball back over the table. It’s really a sight to behold.

The match couldn’t have come at a better time, as the 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Championships are currently taking place in London. Judging from Parker Bowles’s skill, it seems she could really be a contender.

Royals: They’re full of funny surprises.

Lex Goodman

Cat mom, yogi, brunch enthusiast

Lex is an LA native who's deeply obsessed with picnics, Slim Aarons, rosé, Hollywood history and Joan Didion. She joined PureWow in early 2017.

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