Queen Camilla welcomed an unusual set of guests at Buckingham Palace as she hosted the BBC 500 Words competition on February 26. Among the attendees were Gladiators stars “Nitro” (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey) and “Fire” (Montell Douglas), who greeted the Queen in their revealing singlets.
The duo struggled to keep their composure while bowing and curtsying in their signature competition attire, as reported by PEOPLE.
For Gladiators star Aikines-Aryeetey, the Buckingham Palace visit was a return trip. The former Team Great Britain sprinter had previously been honored by the late Queen Elizabeth for his athletic achievements.
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“I met the late Queen as Harry here in this room,” he said, according to The Mirror. “I was invited here in 2010-ish to highlight my achievements on behalf of the ethnic minorities.”
The athlete highlighted a key difference between his first visit to Buckingham Palace and his latest appearance.
“I was dressed well,” he quipped. “To be fair, I did come [this time] dressed correctly and once I got here they told me [to put on his shorts and singlet],” he added. “I thought gosh, surely I must be the least dressed man in this room. I’ve added to the history.”
Following the royal greeting, Aikines-Aryeetey also remarked on the Queen’s reaction to their costumes, noting that Camilla didn’t “even blink.”
“She wasn’t surprised,” he added. “I guess it’s 2025 and we are welcoming all sorts into the house!”
The Gladiators stars shared a lighthearted moment with Queen Camilla before expressing their honor in supporting the young authors, who were thrilled to meet their TV heroes.
“We seem to have such a rapport with these young children, which is amazing,” Aikines-Aryeetey mused.
Queen Camilla’s eventful day continued with a visit to The Darjeeling Express in London, where she and King Charles joined chef Asma Khan in packing dates for Ramadan.
The dates, traditionally eaten to break the fast, were sent to local hospitals for Muslim patients. King Charles, 76, impressed with his packing skills, even sharing a laugh when praised for his efforts.
“I didn’t realize the King would be so fast!” Khan marveled in a video posted to Instagram. “You are packing dates faster than I can seal them!”
Khan added, “I never realized this is a speedy couple,” bringing about another chuckle from those gathered.
