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When Kathy met Camilla: Author Ms Lette hails the Duchess of Cornwall as a feminist who 'takes no prisoners' for her work to help victims of sexual violence

The Duchess of Cornwall was called a feminist by author Kathy Lette
The royal has championed organisations that help women
Camilla held a reception in her role as President of the WOW Festival

Published: 18:13 GMT, 9 March 2016 | Updated: 20:20 GMT, 9 March 2016

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The Duchess of Cornwall was hailed as a feminist at a gathering of some of the most influential women in the country today.

Camilla, 68, who smiled bashfully at the compliment, was lauded as a woman ‘who takes no prisoners’ for championing organisations which work to combat issues such as sexual violence against women.

Author Kathy Lette was attending a reception in the royal's London home, Clarence House, when she said: ‘Camilla is a feminist, you can tell by the causes she supports.

Camilla threw the event for influential women in her role as president of Women Of The World (WOW), it's the largest women's festival in the world with events involving one million people across five continents

Camilla was deep in conversation with journalist Jenni Murray, right, and author Kathy Lette, centre, who hailed the royal as a feminist

'She surrounds herself with strong women, strong female friends. She’s earthy, she’s witty, she’s wise and deliciously self-deprecating.

‘I don’t know that she calls herself a feminist, but her behaviour is certainly of one. I would say she is a feminist, for sure.

‘Look at this event she is holding for a group of diverse, outspoken women.’

Miss Lette added: ‘It’s still a man’s world, clearly. We still don’t get equal pay, we are still getting concussion from hitting our head on the glass ceiling and being asked to clean it while we are up there.

Camilla spoke to Home Secretary Theresa May at the event which was held for diverse and outspoken women

Presenter Clare Balding amused the royal with a story. Camilla has become more involved in causes since marrying Prince Charles in 2005

Camilla spoke to former Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson at the reception she held in her London home Clarence House

'And if we work we are still bearing the brunt of the work at home. I always say that women are each other’s human Wonderbras – uplifting, supporting and making each other bigger and better – and this is a room full of human Wonderbras.'

Camilla was seen in conversation with influential women from Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May to presented Clare Balding.

Whether Camilla considers herself as a feminist is open to debate.

She spent most of her life enjoying the role of a country housewife, bringing up her two children by her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles.

But since marrying Prince Charles in 2005 and taking on full time royal duties, she has begun to develop a varied portfolio of charitable causes to champion, many of which support women in areas as diverse as managing their money through Credit Unions to health issues such as osteoporosis and the difficult issue of rape, which she wrote about movingly in the Daily Mail last year.

Designer Amanda Wakeley attended the reception and spoke to Camilla, who was championed for her support of causes including organisations which help survivors of sexual abuse

The Duchess looked deep in conversation with former Lord Justice of Appeal Baroness Butler-Sloss, left

Journalist Rachel Johnson, mother of London mayor Boris Johnson, spoke to Camilla at the celebration

And today the Duchess threw a reception in London in her role as President of the Women of the World (WOW) Festival.

Held at London’s Southbank Centre, WOW, now in its sixth year, is the largest women's festival in the world with events involving one million people across five continents

The festival, champions gender equality, celebrating the achievements of women and girls worldwide and examining the obstacles which stop them from fulfilling their potential.

Guests included presenters Clare Balding and Dame Jenni Murray, athlete Christine Ohuruogu, designer Amanda Wakeley, Home Secretary Theresa May and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury.

WOW founder Jude Kelly, artistic director of the South Bank Centre, said of Camilla: ‘We know that it’s not been easy for women in the public domain, particularly, with the ferocious spotlight on them, to talk about subjects frankly.

'But look at our president, look at what she speaks about and how she speaks about it. She takes no prisoners. ‘