Happy birthday, Camilla! Duchess of Cornwall mingles with Joanna Lumley and Mario Testino as she celebrates her 70th birthday with a VERY star-studded reception at Clarence House

  • Camilla, 69, has been enjoying a string of celebrations in the run-up to birthday
  • Duchess of Cornwall turns 70 on Monday and hosted reception today
  • Joanna Lumley, Mario Testino and Darcey Bussell were among the famous faces
  • Yesterday she and Prince Charles hosted Spanish royals in London 

She's getting set to celebrate her 70th birthday at the start of next week and the Duchess of Cornwall is certainly getting into the party spirit.

Camilla, 69, has been enjoying a string of celebrations in the run-up to her big day and invited some of her most famous friends to her home on Thursday.

Joanna Lumley, Mario Testino and Darcey Bussell were among the famous faces at an afternoon drinks reception at Clarence House held in the Duchess of Cornwall's honour.

The Duchess of Cornwall mingled with Joanna Lumley and Mario Testino as she celebrated her 70th birthday with a very star-studded reception at Clarence House on Thursday

The Duchess of Cornwall mingled with Joanna Lumley and Mario Testino as she celebrated her 70th birthday with a very star-studded reception at Clarence House on Thursday

Camilla was seen joking with Esther Rantzen (l) and Gyles Brandreth and another guest at a reception to mark her 70th birthday at Clarence House 

Camilla was seen joking with Esther Rantzen (l) and Gyles Brandreth and another guest at a reception to mark her 70th birthday at Clarence House 

Resplendent in a blue printed dress, Camilla looked radiant as she mingled with her friends at the event.

She laughed and joked with guests, while husband Prince Charles worked the crowd, too. 

Despite a late night at the state banquet held in honour of the King and Queen of Spain's first official visit to the UK, Camilla looked radiant today.

Last night, the Spanish royals were hosted by the Queen and Prince Philip along with Duchess of Cambridge, Princes William and Harry , Prince Charles and Camilla, with Britain treating them to the full pomp and pageantry traditionally rolled out for visiting heads of state.

The Queen donned her Brazilian Aquamarine tiara, which is a favourite of the Queen's dresser, Angela Kelly, who describes it as 'majestic in appearance but cool and calming'. 

It was commissioned by the Queen from the then Crown jeweller Garrard in 1957, to match a necklace and earrings given by the President of Brazil to mark her coronation in 1953. She was so fond of the set that she wanted a matching tiara.

Resplendent in a blue printed dress, Camilla looked radiant as she mingled with her friends at the event

Resplendent in a blue printed dress, Camilla looked radiant as she mingled with her friends at the event

Camilla, 69, has been enjoying a string of celebrations in the run-up to her big day and invited some of her most famous friends to her home on Thursday

Camilla, 69, has been enjoying a string of celebrations in the run-up to her big day and invited some of her most famous friends to her home on Thursday

Camilla received a gift from royal photographer Arthur Edwards as she invited her famous friends to her house

Camilla received a gift from royal photographer Arthur Edwards as she invited her famous friends to her house

As for Camilla, the stand-out part of her outfit was the glittering Greville tiara, on loan from the Queen who was left the tiara by her late mother.

The Queen Mother was left the diamond tiara by the Hon. Mrs Greville from Boucheron, a well-known society maven.

The honeycomb-patterned jewellery piece was made by Boucheron jewellers for the Hon. Mrs. Greville in 1921 out of stones salvaged from another tiara. Having no heirs of her own, she left her considerable jewellery collection to Queen Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother) when she died in 1942.

In 1953 the Queen Mother asked for the height of the tiara to be increased by adding a number of brilliant cut diamonds and a single marquise cut diamond in 1953.

The Prince of Wales talks to Darcey Bussell (centre) and Esther Rantzen during a reception to mark the Duchess of Cornwall's 70th birthday

The Prince of Wales talks to Darcey Bussell (centre) and Esther Rantzen during a reception to mark the Duchess of Cornwall's 70th birthday

Despite a late night at the state banquet held in honour of the King and Queen of Spain's first official visit to the UK, Camilla looked radiant today

Despite a late night at the state banquet held in honour of the King and Queen of Spain's first official visit to the UK, Camilla looked radiant today

Iconic royal photographer Mario Testino, left, also put in an appearance
Prince Charles was on fine form at the event and laughed and joked with guests

Iconic royal photographer Mario Testino, left, also put in an appearance. Prince Charles was on fine form at the event and laughed and joked with guests, right

Guests at the Spanish state banquet dined on medallion of Scottish beef and truffles in a Madeira sauce as they gathered in the opulently decorated Buckingham Palace ballroom as the Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra provided the musical entertainment - including curious tunes such as the theme from the Bond film Skyfall and Coldplay's Viva La Vida.

While it's understood to be Prince Philip's last-ever state banquet before he retires this Autumn, it was Prince Harry's first as he moves into a more full-time royal position. 

The Duke of Cambridge attended his first Palace banquet last year, while Prince Charles was 20 at his first state banquet in the London residence.

Camilla and Esther Rantzen and Gyles Brandreth seemed to be getting on famously as they shared jokes

Camilla and Esther Rantzen and Gyles Brandreth seemed to be getting on famously as they shared jokes

The Prince of Wales cosied up to esteemed author Kathy Lette as he enjoyed a refreshing glass of Pimm's

The Prince of Wales cosied up to esteemed author Kathy Lette as he enjoyed a refreshing glass of Pimm's

Famous faces included Joanna Lumley (left) and Kathy Lette who chatted away in the gardens of Clarence House

Famous faces included Joanna Lumley (left) and Kathy Lette who chatted away in the gardens of Clarence House

Dame Patricia Routledge looked chic in a vibrant blue outfit 

Dame Patricia Routledge looked chic in a vibrant blue outfit 

The white tie Diplomatic Reception is the main social event of the year in London for the diplomatic community and reflects the Queen's importance in terms of the UK's international relations. 

Earlier in the day, Charles and Camilla hosted the King and Queen of Spain at a tea party at Clarence House. 

Earlier this week the Duchess of Cornwall hosted a tea party at Clarence House attended by schoolchildren and authors Malorie Blackman, Jacqueline Wilson, David Walliams, Charlie Higson and Lauren Child, as they revealed the 70 must-read children's titles.

The must-reads were voted by thousands of primary schoolchildren across the country in honour of the Duchess of Cornwall's upcoming 70th birthday.

Last night, the Spanish royals were hosted by the Queen and Prince Philip along with Duchess of Cambridge, Princes William and Harry , Prince Charles and Camilla, with Britain treating them to the full pomp and pageantry traditionally rolled out for visiting heads of state

Last night, the Spanish royals were hosted by the Queen and Prince Philip along with Duchess of Cambridge, Princes William and Harry , Prince Charles and Camilla, with Britain treating them to the full pomp and pageantry traditionally rolled out for visiting heads of state

Spanish King Felipe VI (2nd L) and Queen Letizia (L) were hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House in central London

Spanish King Felipe VI (2nd L) and Queen Letizia (L) were hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House in central London

The Duchess of Cornwall, centre, hosted a tea party at Clarence House attended by schoolchildren and authors (back, left to right) Malorie Blackman, Jacqueline Wilson, David Walliams, Charlie Higson and Lauren Child, as they revealed the 70 must-read children's titles

The Duchess of Cornwall, centre, hosted a tea party at Clarence House attended by schoolchildren and authors (back, left to right) Malorie Blackman, Jacqueline Wilson, David Walliams, Charlie Higson and Lauren Child, as they revealed the 70 must-read children's titles

Final stop: Comedian David Walliams dressed up as a bus conductor as he joined schoolchildren at a tea party hosted by the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House today 

Final stop: Comedian David Walliams dressed up as a bus conductor as he joined schoolchildren at a tea party hosted by the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House today 

Plenty to celebrate: The tea party celebrated the Duchess's Bookshelves Project - an initiative to find the UK's 70 favourite children's books to mark Camilla's 70th birthday next week

Plenty to celebrate: The tea party celebrated the Duchess's Bookshelves Project - an initiative to find the UK's 70 favourite children's books to mark Camilla's 70th birthday next week

Star-studded event: Authors Jacqueline Wilson, left, and Malorie Blackman, second from left, joined the Duchess of Cornwall, David Walliams, centre, and schoolchildren at the tea party

Star-studded event: Authors Jacqueline Wilson, left, and Malorie Blackman, second from left, joined the Duchess of Cornwall, David Walliams, centre, and schoolchildren at the tea party

The top 20 reading books for primary school pupils in the UK featuring Harry Potter at No. 1

The top 20 reading books for primary school pupils in the UK featuring Harry Potter at No. 1

Camilla was presented with a set of the books as an early birthday gift at the garden reception this afternoon, where she met authors including Malorie Blackman, Lauren Child and Jacqueline Wilson, whose works all appear on the list.

Accepting the present, Camilla said: 'Can I just say that am thrilled to be patron of so many literacy charities. It's something I love. It's no hardship for me, I just adore it. 

'I know most of the books backwards because I read them to my grandchildren. I will have a terrible time with them fighting over this bookshelf. I am going to plonk it somewhere in the middle and let them borrow them.'

She added jokingly: 'I would also like to stress that it isn't quite my birthday yet. I am hanging onto the last few days!' 

As part of the Duchess's Bookshelves Project, 70 schools will also be presented with the books, with many of them going to pupils in disadvantaged parts of the UK. 

The list includes classics like A Bear Called Paddington and Matilda to new titles including Walliams' Gangsta Granny and Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. 

Fun loving: Children's book author David Walliams joined a bus conductor's cap for the event

Fun loving: Children's book author David Walliams joined a bus conductor's cap for the event

Special route: David Walliams and schoolchildren on board the single-decker bus

Special route: David Walliams and schoolchildren on board the single-decker bus

Young readers: Children from two schools were invited to attend the royal event today 

Young readers: Children from two schools were invited to attend the royal event today 

Schoolchildren from Hemlington Hall Academy, in Middlesbrough, and Berkeley Primary School in Hounslow, London, were invited to take part in the celebrations. 

The schoolchildren arrived in a vintage bus with Walliams acting as the conductor and the Duchess greeted them as they stepped off the red single-decker.

Walliams said: 'It's really important kids have access to books and what I like about this list is it's a fun list chosen by the kids, it's not a list we think they should read, it's a list of books they like reading and want to share with other kids.'

The actor, who is an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust, said: 'You never forget the book you find and read for your own pleasure, for me it was Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.'

Camilla is patron or has had a close association with six organisations involved in the 70 books for schools project - the National Literacy Trust, Beanstalk, BookTrust, First Story, Roald Dahl Literary Estate and the Wicked Young Writer Awards. 

 

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