Back home: The duchess was stuck in Scotland for almost a week after the volcanic ash chaos, but travelled down to London on the Royal Train on Tuesday
It's only a fortnight since she broke her left leg in a hill-walking accident.
But things have got worse for the Duchess of Cornwall who has now strained a tendon in her right shoulder.
The second injury means Camilla is struggling to use her crutches and has taken to a wheelchair.
Yesterday she made light of her plight, explaining: 'I've got no leg and an arm on one side and no arm and a leg on the other.'
On her first official engagement since the fracture, the 62-year-old duchess told how she had received a letter asking about her health from a soldier who had a double amputation because of injuries he received in Afghanistan.
Although doctors expect the duchess to make a full recovery, the accident at Birkhall has raised concerns that she may have developed osteoporosis.
Brave face: Camilla at yesterday's reception at Clarence House for the Ebony Horse Club
Guest: Camilla, in her wheelchair, chats to BBC sports presenter Claire Balding about the benefits of horse-riding
Doughty: Camilla, who has broken her left leg and strained a tendon in her right shoulder, made light of her injuries, joking: 'I've got no leg and an arm on one side, and no arm and a leg on the other'.Brave face: Camilla at yesterday's reception at Clarence House for the Ebony Horse Club
The soldier, a member of 4th Battalion the Rifles of which Camilla is royal patron, wrote to her at Clarence House to enquire after her health.
'It really does put things in perspective,' she added.
Camilla broke her leg after catching her foot in a rabbit hole while walking near Birkhall, Prince Charles's Scottish home, on April 7.
She limped back to her car believing it was nothing more than a minor sprain but an x-ray the following day revealed that she had suffered a fracture of the fibula, caused by the leg twisting awkwardly underneath her.
After being stuck in Scotland for almost a week due to the volcanic ash chaos, she and Prince Charles travelled down to London overnight on Tuesday on the Royal Train.
The doughty Duchess, who was wearing a paisley-patterned dress from leader designer Anna Valentine - and a thick black sock on her injured leg to keep her toes warm - insisted that there was no point in sitting around feeling sorry for herself.
Yesterday, the duchess was holding a reception at Clarence House to publicise the work of the Ebony Horse Club, a charity which helps children from disadvantaged and ethnic minority backgrounds in Brixton, South London, learn to ride and is hoping to raise £1.7million to build its own riding centre.
Camilla is patron of the organisation which helps dozens of youngsters, many of whom who have never even seen a horse before, develop their social skills through interaction with the animals and even go on to ride competitively.
Mussei Kidane, 20, says he was saved from a life of crime by the charity, adding: 'We used to go to all these gymkhanas and when the other riders heard we were a bunch of kids of Brixton, they assumed we would be no good. We proved them wrong.'
Among the guests at today's reception was sports presenter Clare Balding who said: 'Even when I was undergoing treatment for cancer last year, riding kept me sane.
'The effect it can have on children is remarkable and it is important to show that you don't need to come from a privileged background to benefit from it. '
Miss Balding chatted at length with Camilla, whom she has met several times before, adding: 'I think she's a bit upset it's not a more glamorous accident.'
Although doctors expect the duchess to make a full recovery, the accident at Birkhall has raised concerns that she may have developed osteoporosis.
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