Adorable second Camilla listens to kids singing at college
Queen Camilla praised the importance of libraries on a school visit in Wiltshire today and surprised the pupils by gifting five of her favourite children’s books.
Her Majesty, who had travelled from an engagement at the Welsh Senedd, visited Lacock Primary School to celebrate its 200th anniversary, where she was treated to the children singing their hearts out.
Years 2 and 3 at the school performed the song ‘I’ve Got the Power in Me’ by Rebecca Lawrence, putting in a lot of effort for their very royal audience.
They even included dance moves and air guitars, earning a chuckle from Her Majesty.
Queen Camilla, 76, has strong links to Lacock as she owns her private home Ray Mill in the picturesque village and her daughter Laura Lopes got married at the local church in 2006.
She last visited the village in January 2023 and made good on her promise to visit for the school’s anniversary, which educates 68 children across the local area.
Queen Camilla praised the importance of libraries on a school visit in Wiltshire today
Camilla poses for a picture with students during a visit to Lacock C of E Primary School
Queen Camilla was greeted on arrival by her old friend Sarah Troughton, Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Dr Olivia Chapple, the High Sheriff of Wiltshire and the area’s new Lib Dem MP, Sarah Gibson.
Camilla was wearing a green polka dot chiffon dress from Samantha Sung and a favourite Van Cleef bracelet, having completed a swift outfit change from her earlier engagement.
Accompanied by Headteacher Caroline Jackson, the Queen then met school children in different classrooms.
First she visited ‘Oak Class’, which contains years 4, 5 and 6, who were studying poetry and read some out loud to Queen Camilla.
‘I hope you will keep up with writing poetry,’ she told the class. ‘Lacock is one of my favourite places and you’re very lucky to be at school here.’
Queen Camilla then visited ‘Willow Class’, Reception and Year 1, who were decorating frames with dried pasta, before joining ‘Beech Class’, Years 2 and 3, who performed the song ‘I’ve Got the Power in Me’ by Rebecca Lawrence.
Her Majesty smiled at their choreographed dance moves and chuckled with amusement when the children enthusiastically started strumming air guitars.
She was then shown a photographic artwork installed in honour of the photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot, who built the school in 1824 to mark his 21st birthday.
Years 2 and 3 at the school performed the song ‘I’ve Got the Power in Me’ by Rebecca Lawrence, putting in a lot of effort for their very royal audience
Queen Camilla departs after a visit to Lacock Church of England Primary School
Camilla was wearing a green polka dot chiffon dress from Samantha Sung and a favourite Van Cleef bracelet
The royal, 76, even observed lessons and spoke to children in art class
The royal waved to the schoolchildren, who are marking the school’s 200th anniversary
Camilla was gifted flowers, as the Wiltshire school received their very royal guest
As usual, the Queen took a great interest in all the children – and called the library ‘the most important room in the school’
The children react as Queen Camilla is introduced during school time
Queen Camilla then visited the school’s library, exclaiming: ‘I’m so glad you’ve got a library, it’s the most important room in the school.’
A few moments later her private secretary Sophie Densham nipped out of the school and quietly returned with what appeared to be a pile of books wrapped in a green ribbon tucked under her arm.
The visit continued, with Queen Camilla receiving a posy and unveiling a plaque to mark the school’s anniversary.
But before joining a group photograph with the pupils and teachers, Camilla wandered over to Ms Densham and grabbed the pile of books.
They included five classics: Moorland Mousie, one of Camilla’s favourite children’s books, Swallows and Amazons, The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Paddington at the Palace, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The village has a personal connection to the Harry Potter series as it was used as a set for several of the films.
Queen Camilla handed the books to the headteacher and said: ‘Thank you for inviting me to your wonderful 200th birthday and this lovely school.
‘Before I go I just wanted to give you something for your own library, there’s a selection for everyone so I hope they’ll enjoy it.’
Camilla posed for a picture with students – and even gifted them five of her favourite books
The schoolchildren looked delighted as Camilla went through their work with them
Britain’s Queen Camilla meets pupils and staff during an art lesson whilst visiting Lacock C of E Primary School
Afterwards, Camilla met and spoke with members of the public who had gathered outside
After posing for the picture Queen Camilla then did a spontaneous walkabout to shake hands with the large crowd of around one hundred villagers had gathered outside the school.
Headteacher Caroline Jackson said later: ‘When Queen Camilla visited last year I said that I would love to invite her back for the school’s bicentenary year and she remembered, bless her. She just told me inside: ‘I did remember, I told you I’d be back!’
‘We are so proud and privileged that she was able to come. It’s been a bit nerve wracking, we’ve been planning it since February, but Queen Camilla is really natural with the children and they were really relaxed. Such a fantastic experience for us all.’
On Wednesday the Queen had enjoyed a trip to Wimbledon tennis, where she was joined in the royal box by her sister Annabel.
The royal, 76, and Annabel Elliot, 75, thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company as they took in the action from the courtside.
The pair looked animated during the sporting event, leaning into one another and chuckling as they watched tennis.
Camilla was channelling Wimbledon whites with her look, looking the part as a tennis spectator.