Camilla celebrates record-breaking female rowing trio

Team ExtraOARdinary arrived in Antigua after rowing at sea for 42 days, seven hours and 17 minutes, beating the previous record by seven days.

The Duchess of Cornwall, hosts Kat Cordiner, Abby Johnston and Charlotte Irving, members of rowing ‘Team ExtraOARdinary’, at Clarence House, London, after they rowed for 42 days, seven hours and 17 minutes at sea: a full seven days faster than the previous world record for a female trio in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Picture date: Tuesday March 8, 2022. (PA Wire)

The Duchess of Cornwall said she is still living with the aftereffects of Covid, which appears to have left her with a slight cough.

Camilla discussed her recent illness as she celebrated the achievements of three female rowers, who crossed the Atlantic in record time, to mark International Women’s Day.

Kat Cordiner, who has cancer, Abby Johnston and Charlotte Irving, all part of Team ExtraOARdinary, arrived in Antigua in January after rowing at sea for 42 days, seven hours and 17 minutes.

They beat the previous record set by a female trio in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge by seven days.

Camilla, hosts (L-R) Charlotte Irving, Abby Johnston and Kat Cordiner at Clarence House. Chris Jackson/PA (PA Wire)

The duchess invited the trio to Clarence House and, as they sat down to chat about their experiences, she said of her illness: “Well, it’s taken me three weeks and I still can’t get shot of it.

“Probably my voice might suddenly go coughing and spluttering.”

Camilla was not troubled by coughing as she quizzed the women about their feat and heard stories about hallucinations from lack of sleep, battling cramp in their legs, and finding ways to cool off from blistering temperatures.

She told them: “I’ve just been reading about your story. It’s absolutely incredible.”