Queen Camilla has tonight been awarded a very special educational honour – by her sister-in-law, Princess Anne.
Her Majesty, 77, was given an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by the University of London, whose Chancellor is the Princess Royal.
The two women arrived at the Senate House building in Bloomsbury, central London, together by car having travelled from St James’s Palace for a rare joint engagement.
In a sweet moment between the sisters-in-law, Queen Camilla instinctively invited Princess Anne to enter into the room, where they were due to greet fellow recipients of honorary doctorates and their families, before her.
Smiling Anne, no doubt with an eye on precedence, demurred and invited the Queen to enter first.
The two women then took one end each of the small line-up before Queen Camilla was invited to sit down and sign a visitor’s book.
Today is the University of London’s Foundation Day, marking the University of London’s establishment by Royal Charter in 1836.
Honorary degrees have been conferred as part of the annual ceremony since 1903, with recipients including King George V and Queen Mary (then The Prince and Princess of Wales), Sir Winston Churchill, T S Eliot and Dame Judi Dench.
Queen Camilla has tonight been awarded a very special educational honour – by her sister-in-law, Princess Anne (pictured)
Her Majesty (pictured), 77, was given an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by the University of London , whose Chancellor is the Princess Royal
Her Majesty was awarded her shred in recognition of almost two decades championing literacy and literature as part of her royal duties.
As well as being patron of a number of charities in the field, Camilla also set up her own online book club, The Queen’s Reading Room.
Inviting the princess to present the Queen with her doctorate, Sir Mark Lowcock highlighted her ties with the University of London which, he said, ‘date back to her formative years’ when she attended its institute in Paris, then known as the British Institute in Paris, where she studied French and French literature.
‘It was there at the institute that Her Majesty experienced first hand the rigour, the intellectual exploration and cultural exchange that have always been at the heart of the University of London’s ethos,’ he said.
He praised her for the way she has ‘embraced her role and a committed public servant with grace, compassion and tireless energy’ since her marriage to the King, pointing out that she is patron or president of more than 100 charities.
‘Her commitment to the promotion of literacy and literature stands out as testament to her personal passion and belief in the transformative power of books,’ he continued.
‘It is only fitting that this Honorary Doctorate of Literature recognises Her Majesty’s exceptional efforts to advance literacy and education not simply as a public duty but as a personal mission inspired by a lifelong love of reading.
‘Her Majesty’s work has touched countless lives and will continue to inspire future generations of readers and writers.‘
The Queen was invited to come up and kneel on a stool as the Princess Royal placed a hood over her shoulders before inviting her to stand and shake hands. The pair chatted animatedly as Anne then handed her a scroll
Her Majesty was awarded her shred in recognition of almost two decades championing literacy and literature as part of her royal duties
As well as being patron of a number of charities in the field, Camilla also set up her own online book club, The Queen’s Reading Room
Queen Camilla is the seventh member of the Royal Family to receive an Honorary Doctorate since 1903
She was then invited to come up and kneel on a stool as the Princess Royal placed a hood over her shoulders before inviting her to stand and shake hands. The pair chatted animatedly as Anne then handed her a scroll.
Queen Camilla is the seventh member of the Royal Family to receive an Honorary Doctorate since 1903.
She joined four other eminent awardees this evening in receiving a doctorate for their exceptional contributions to society: Dr Nahim Ahmed MBE – Honorary Doctorate of Science (Social Sciences); Professor Sir Michael Arthur – Honorary Doctorate of Science (Medicine); Anthony Neoh – Honorary Doctorate of Laws; and Abdul Fazal Bhanji OBE – Honorary Fellow.
The Queen and Princess were welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Sir Mark Lowcock.
The Princess Royal was then invited to inspect a Guard of Honour consisting of members of the University’s Officer Training Corps, Air Squadron and Royal Naval Unit.
After greeting Honorary Graduates, Honorary Fellows and University of London Board Members, they privately donned their ceremonial robes before proceeding into the hall for the ceremony.
The Princess Royal was invited to give the Chancellor’s Welcome before the presentation of diplomas.
She has served as Chancellor of the University of London since 1981 and is the 10th person to hold the post since the foundation of the University.
Princess Anne has served as Chancellor of the University of London since 1981 and is the 10th person to hold the post since the foundation of the University
The Queen and Princess were welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Sir Mark Lowcock
Today is the University of London’s Foundation Day, marking the University of London’s establishment by Royal Charter in 1836. Pictured, the Queen during the event
The role was previously held by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother who served as Chancellor from 1955 to 1980.
On Tuesday evening, the King and Queen hosted a glittering diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace, with Camilla stepping out in the late Queen’s aquamarine and diamond tiara for the first time.
Prince William joined the monarch and his wife for the grand white-tie affair, but the Prince of Wales was without the Princess of Wales, who is often a regular attendee at such events, at his side.
Kate, who finished her chemotherapy treatment in the summer and is gradually returning to public duties as she recovers from cancer, is focusing on hosting her annual Christmas carol concert in Westminster Abbey in just over two weeks time.
Camilla was dressed in a blue velvet evening dress by Fiona Clare, and opted for Elizabeth II’s small aquamarine and diamond tiara as she gathered with some 900 guests at the Diplomatic Corps reception.
The delicate headwear – sometimes known as the aquamarine ribbon tiara – features five large aquamarines set in intricate ribbons of diamonds. It is the first time Camilla has worn the rarely seen jewellery.
The piece has been favoured in the past by the Duchess of Edinburgh who as the then-Countess of Wessex wore it to the gala dinner celebrating the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg’s wedding in 2012, and at the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden in 2013.
Camilla matched the stunning tiara with an aquamarine and diamond necklace and earrings from her own collection.
Princess Anne’s role was previously held by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother who served as Chancellor from 1955 to 1980
The Princess Royal was invited to give the Chancellor’s Welcome before the presentation of diplomas
Inviting the princess to present the Queen (pictured left) with her doctorate, Sir Mark Lowcock highlighted her ties with the University of London which, he said, ‘date back to her formative years’ when she attended its institute in Paris, then known as the British Institute in Paris, where she studied French and French literature
Queen Camilla was invited to sit down and sign a visitor’s book (pictured)
The Queen joined four other eminent awardees this evening in receiving a doctorate for their exceptional contributions to society: Dr Nahim Ahmed MBE – Honorary Doctorate of Science (Social Sciences); Professor Sir Michael Arthur – Honorary Doctorate of Science (Medicine); Anthony Neoh – Honorary Doctorate of Laws; and Abdul Fazal Bhanji OBE – Honorary Fellow
The Princess Royal and The Queen pose for photographs following the event this evening
The Queen poses with the Princess Royal, Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, (left to right back row) Abdul Fazal Bhanji OBE, Anthony Neoh, Dr Nahim Ahmed MBE, Sir Mark Lowcock, and Professor Sir Michael Arthur
Her Majesty also sported the King’s new ‘family order’, a symbolic portrait of the monarch given to female family members. King Charles’ is painted on poly in instead of traditional ivory.
It was the first time the Queen had been pictured since Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that her beloved rescue dog Beth had been put down. But she smiled widely as she made her way through the State Rooms.
The reception celebrates the presence in London of one of the largest Diplomatic Corps in the world and is one of the highlights of the royal calendar.
It saw the King and Queen welcome more than 500 members of the ‘Diplomatic Corps’ in all their finery to the State Rooms at the palace, highlighting the crucial role the monarch plays at the heart of British diplomacy.
The event is normally held on the first Tuesday in December but has been brought forward as it would have clashed with a State Visit of the Amir of Qatar this year.
All ambassadors to the UK are still officially accredited to the Court of St James’s, the official royal court of the sovereign.
St James’s was traditionally the most senior royal palace until the reign of Queen Victoria, when she moved her seat of power to Buckingham Palace.
The Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps serves as the liaison between the sovereign and foreign diplomatic missions and is still stationed permanently at St James’s Palace, however.
The current incumbent, Alistair Harrison, has curated the guest list with invitations sent to all ambassadors and High Commissioners at the foreign missions in London, former Prime Ministers, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and other leading public figures.
Spouses are also invited, meaning more than 1,500 guests are expected attend from around 130 different countries, making it the biggest reception held at the palace all year.