Touching moment King Charles reminisces over photograph of Treetops – the iconic Kenyan hideaway where his late mother went up a princess and came down a Queen

• King Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 76, were looking at the Royal Collection
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King Charles has been seen sweetly reminiscing over a photograph of Treetops – where the then-Princess Elizabeth was when King George VI died in his sleep in the early hours of February 6, 1952. 

It was here, in this Kenyan location, that she began her historic 70-year reign.

The King, 74, was accompanied by Queen Camilla, 76, as they viewed part of the Royal Collection at a reception for the Kenyan diaspora in the UK today, as was filmed looking at the photograph and appearing to say it was ‘extraordinary’.

Hosted at Buckingham Palace, the event highlighted the Royal Family’s long standing connection to the Kenyan nation.

The event was held to celebrate the warm relationship between the two countries and the strong and dynamic partnership they continue to forge ahead of their Majesties state visit to Kenya.

King Charles reminisces over a photo of Treetops – the Kenyan location where the late Queen Elizabeth II started her reign

The late monarch pictured in Kenya, where she became Queen after her father King George VI died

Treetops – Kenya’s oldest safari lodge – was an elaborate treehouse on the edge of a watering hole in Aberdare National Park.

The property was rebuilt after being burned down by guerillas a few years later, but when the Queen and Prince Philip stayed, their accommodation was a comfortable three-bedroom shack, with a small servants quarter, built in the upper branches of a giant fig tree.

However, in 2021, it was forced to close after nearly 90 years of welcoming royalty. 

Elizabeth was not originally destined to become Queen. However, she became heir presumptive after her father, King George VI, ascended to the throne following the abdication of his older brother, King Edward VIII.

Edward had given up the throne to wed American divorcee Wallis Simpson, as marrying a woman who had separated from her husband was deemed incompatible with his role as head of the Church of England.

During the afternoon before hearing the news of King George VI’s death, Princess Elizabeth spent the day with her camera snapping charging rhinos and a waterbuck goring a rival to death from her elevated vantage point.

Jim Corbett – her armed escort and after whom the Corbett National Park in India is named – later told that when she was invited to come for tea, the princess requested taking it on the balcony, saying: ‘I don’t want to miss one moment of this.’

In the Treetops logbook, Corbett penned: ‘For the first time in the history of the world, a young girl climbed into the tree as a princess and climbed down as a queen.’

The royal couple appeared engaged as they viewed artefacts from the Royal Collection during the London reception

Today’s reception ‘celebrated the warm relationship between’ the UK and Kenya, ahead of  their Majesties state visit to Kenya

The king appeared to reminisce sweetly over the image of Treetops – which became the world’s most famous treehouse after the late Queen’s stay in 1952

ROYAL COLLECTION: The pieces on show at the reception ‘relate to the Royal family’s long standing connection’ to Kenya

Following the royal visit to Treetops, the lodge quickly became the world’s most famous treehouse – and it wasn’t long before the couple returned in 1959 and 1983.

It was made further appealing to royalty – including Princess Anne – thanks to the strict rules Walker had laid down, such as no journalists because too many guests would scare the wildlife, or cameras to ensure the princess was given privacy.

Treetops, which has not had a visitor in a year, was also used by British colonial soldiers as the base for their snipers, but it was burnt down by Mau Mau guerrillas in 1954.

A new Treetops then took shape on the other side of the watering hole where it has remained, with guests even able to retrace (as long as they have an armed guide) the jungle walk which Princess Elizabeth made in 1952.

However, it has since become one of three historical hotels in Kenya’s Nyeri county being forced to close due to the Covid pandemic.

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