Queen Camilla Just Received an Early Birthday Gift Only King Charles Could Pull Off

The Queen is ringing in the festivities with a new honor

Queen Camilla has been appointed to a historic royal role on the eve of her 78th birthday.

On July 16, the Royal Navy announced Queen Camilla, 77, as the new Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom. The honorary appointment was created by King Henry VIII in 1513. The Queen’s role was commemorated in a ceremony she attended on the HMS Astute, a submarine that she sponsors, in Plymouth.

King Charles’ wife makes history as the first woman to serve as Vice Admiral of the U.K. and the first royal ever appointed to the role. The new title, formally bestowed by the King, could be seen as an early birthday gift ahead of her 78th celebration.

The Queen was all smiles as she arrived at the HMS Astute, appearing at the ceremony marking the end of the ship’s first commission. A statement from the Royal Navy said that the submarine is set to undergo a major overhaul at Devonport Naval Base, and the royal joined the crew in celebrating the Astute’s achievements over the past 15 years — “the longest first commission of any Royal Navy submarine in history.”

Queen Camilla’s appointment pageantry included the presentation of a burgee (or pennant) by Rear Admiral Andy Perks, Head of the Submarine Service, as a gesture recognizing her support for the Royal Navy. Camilla had the honor of naming the HMS Astute in 2007 and has been affiliated with the submarine ever since as sponsor. She also serves as sponsor for the U.K.’s flagship HMS Wales, currently deployed in the Pacific, as well as Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Medical Service and Naval Chaplaincy Services.

In a statement, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins RM, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, said Queen Camilla’s Vice Admiral role would “further enhance Her Majesty’s relationship with the Service,” deepening a longstanding relationship.

“We are honored to welcome Her Majesty The Queen to HM Naval Base Devonport. Her Majesty’s visit has been a tremendous boost to morale, and the honorary appointment reflects the high regard in which Her Majesty is held by all of us,” Jenkins said.

At the naval base on Wednesday, the Queen inspected a Guard of Honor and attended the ceremony officially ending the boat’s first commission, in which the Ensign and Union flags were lowered and the national anthem was played.

She then accepted a “Cheer Ship,” or special Royal Navy salute, as Lady Sponsor and posed for a photo with the ship’s current and former commanding officers.

Queen Camilla then moved to a garden party with the HMS Astute crew and their families, where she spoke with guests and addressed those present.

“Eighteen years ago, I was enormously proud to visit Barrow-in-Furness as your newly appointed Lady Sponsor. Eleven careful owners, 307 million nautical miles, and 357 harbor entries later, it is such a pleasure to bring together the entire Ship’s Company to celebrate HMS Astute’s first commission,” the Queen began her heartfelt remarks.

“During the course of my role as your Lady Sponsor, I have had quite the education into the life of a submariner. With this being the U.K.’s first submarine to embrace the digital world, perhaps these experiences of the unknown were shared across the ship’s company. Indeed, her warfare trials on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. were so successful, proving virtually impossible to detect, that the U.S. Navy had to update their own exercises to match her. As for the crew, I suspect that the novelty of having one’s own bunk was enough to make her ‘first of class, and second to none,’ ” she continued.

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“It is those of you serving in her who ensure that she is much more than the steel of her pressure hull and greater than the sum of her electronic parts…It is this inquisitive spirit and razor-sharp professionalism that has steered you all through dangerous waters and, thanks to your efforts, ensured the safety of this nation and our allies,” the Queen said.

The royal voiced her confidence that the HMS Astute would emerge for its second commission more ready than ever to meet the needs of today’s world. She then gave the crew “one final order of the day: Splice the Mainbrace,” which is nautical parlance for celebrating with a drink!

Queen Camilla attended the events in Devonport after appearing at the Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Bridge House to mark its 30th anniversary. The royal is patron of the hospice, and spent time with staff, volunteers and families there.

Tomorrow, the Queen will ring in her birthday, blowing out her candles as she turns 78.

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Last week, the royal had a tiara moment at the glam state banquet honoring France, where she slipped on the Belgian Sapphire Tiara that previously belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth.