Queen Camilla Unveils King Charles III Sacristy Foundation Stone Westminster Abbey

Queen Camilla unveiled the foundation stone for the King Charles III Sacristy at Westminster Abbey, expressing emotion and pride in taking on this new royal duty. The sacristy, built on the footprint of a medieval structure, will provide state-of-the-art welcome, ticketing, and security facilities to preserve the Abbey as a sacred space while managing millions of visitors annually. The project, designed by architect Ptolemy Dean, involves the use of traditional materials such as English stone, oak, and lead, and aims to allow visitors to enter through the historic great west door. During the ceremony, Camilla reminisced about previous visits when archaeological excavations uncovered skeletons, briefly halting construction. The sacristy is expected to be completed by 2026, with hopes that King Charles and Queen Camilla will return to open it. The project reflects the Abbey's ongoing significance to the royal family and its role in major national events like coronations and royal weddings.