When you think of royaltytraveling, you picture luxury cars or even a horse and carriage. But Prince Charles and wife Camilla showed they're into trying new forms of transportationby riding in a tuk tuk Thursday around the gardens of Clarence House for acharity rickshaw race.
The Duke and Duchessviewed a fleet of rickshaws decorated by artists and fashion designers, including Diane Von Furstenberg, that will eventually be auctioned off for charity. Not only did the royal couple view the small contraptions, they madean impromptu decision to give one a spin.
Camilla's nephew BenElliott was the driver, albeit not the greatest because he kept stalling, sending the royals flying forward and backwards. Camilla look nervous at thejerking motion, but managed to laugh it off after taking a drive around thegrounds. "They aren't easy to drive those things," Elliot, 39, jokedat the event. "Fortunately I have got broad shoulders and so havethey."
The "Travels To My Elephant" fundraising event is a rickshaw race that will take place in November 2015 toraise money to protect the Asian elephant from extinction. It has been created in memory of Camilla's latebrother Mark Shand, who died in a freak accident last April, after tripping overon a pavement in New York and suffering a head injury. The 62-year-old was in the city to raise funds for his charity, ElephantFamily, something his family is clearly continuing in his memory.
Before taking her wildride, Camilla teared up as speakers, including the Prince, paid tribute to herbrother. "I just want to say that when this terrible tragedy occurred lastyear and we lost Mark, my wife and I decided that wemust keep his legacy going," Charles said.