The Great British Book Off! Duchess of Cornwall rubs shoulders with Prue Leith as she joins the literary set for a glittering reception in London
- Duchess of Cornwall attended a National Literacy Trust reception in London
- Camilla, 70, wore embroidered jacket and silk pleated skirt by Anna Valentine
- Was joined by stars including Tom Fletcher, Prue Leith and Jilly Copper
If she she was looking for recommendations for her trip to Australia next month then she was in the right place.
The Duchess of Cornwall tonight attended a reception to mark the 25th anniversary of the National Literacy Trust, of which she is patron, and was surrounded by literary luminaries such as Jilly Cooper, Prue Leith, Victoria Hislop, Joanna Trollope and Joanne Harris.
Looking elegant in a black embroidered Anna Valentine top and pleated skirt, Camilla, a voracious reader and advocate of installing a love of it in the young, chatted with the writers who she called ‘my heroes’.
Among them were several childrens’ authors including former boy band stat Tom Fletcher and his wife, Giovanna, who told the duchess about their passion for installing a love of reading in their two young children, Buddy and Buzz.
‘We are passionate about reading and what is so much fun is now encouraging our children to enjoy the books we grew up on,’ Tom said.
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Camilla looked deep in conversation with cookery writer and Bake Off star Prue Leith tonight as she attended a National Literacy Trust reception in London
There he is! The Duchess poses for a photo with a participant from the recent NLT 'Where's Wally' fun run
Illustrator Axel Scheffler, who created the multi-million selling Gruffalo, bemoaned the fact that some parents tended to put their children in front of a tablet rather than read to them.
‘Picture books still have their place, I believe, but it’s important for parents to remember its not just about what you read but those moments you are spending together, ‘ he said.
Jilly Cooper and Pru Leith talked endlessly about what they had enjoyed reading to their children and recalled what they had themselves loved.
‘Wind In the Willows,’ declared Jilly, without hesitation. ‘What you have to remember is that you are never alone with a book.
Colour coordination The Duchess greets novelist Joanna Trollope, also wearing head to toe black, at the event at Plaisterers' Hall on Wednesday night
Camilla also met with author Judith Kerr at the reception at Plaisterers' Hall this eveninng
The Duchess of Cornwall was surrounded by literary luminaries such as Jilly Cooper (centre), Prue Leith (right), Victoria Hislop, Joanna Trollope and Joanne Harris
The Duchess was seen sharing a joke with McFly's Tom Fletcher and his wife Giovanna
‘I couldn’t beg more for parents to encourage their children to read.
‘I used to creep downstairs after my mother had stopped to find out what happened next and then pretended I didn’t know.’
She added: ‘I also loved Enid Blyton and went out boarding school because of her Mallory Towers books I only realised how hellish it actually was when I got there. I hated it!’
Prue Leith recalled reading the Grimm fairy tales to her children, as well as Bluebeard - and only found out years later how much it terrified them.
She also revealed how her friends in South Africa who adored Enid Blyton thought she just have been related to her because she lived in England, so she forged her signature and gave it to them.
Prue Leith (pictured) recalled reading the Grimm fairy tales to her children, as well as Bluebeard - and only found out years later how much it terrified them
Camilla looked animated as she chatted to Prue Leith and Jilly Cooper at the reception
The trio appeared to be deep in conversation as they shared a joke at the reception
The Duchess was seen enjoying a glass of wine as she spoke to Labour MP Alan Johnson
Famous faces: Camilla shares a joke with pop star turned children's author Tom Fletcher and his wife, Giovanna, who is also an author
Camilla chatted to author Cressida Cowell and another guest at the reception
But she said she was thrilled by her six-year-old granddaughter’s love already of literature - including The Diary of Anne Frank. ‘I was rather shocked at first that she was given it but she devoured it and now lectures me about what happened. It’s fantastic.’
The National Literacy Trust was launched in October 1993.
For 25 years, it has campaigned to transform the future of the UK’s most disadvantaged young people by improving their literacy levels.
The Duchess of Cornwall has been the Trust's Patron since 2010 and is also Patron of a number of other charities which promote literacy, including Beanstalk, BookTrust, First Story and The Wicked Young Writers Award.
Camilla gave a speech at the reception held to mark The National Literacy Trust's 25th anniversary
The Duchess of Cornwall has been patron of the National Literacy Trust since 2010
Camilla also met with journalist and broadcaster Ian Hislop during the reception, along with Alan Johnson
Camilla was seen meeting an array of guests from the literary world at the event this evening
The royal looked in high spirits as she attended the National Literacy Trust reception
She was seen speaking to author Judith Kerr, who wrote The Tiger Who Came to Tea
The Duchess first attended the final of the competition in 2015, has been an honorary judge since 2016 and has also been cast as the 500 Words 'Fairy Godmother', appearing in animated form in the video launching the competition.
In 2016, Camilla was announced as the Patron of Roald Dahl 100 for the centenary year during a visit to the Southbank Centre's interactive experience, The Wondercrump World of Roald Dahl.
She continued this support throughout the year – attending a creative-writing workshop organised by Literature Wales during Wales Week, and taking part in the Big Friendly Giant Dream Jar Trail – a unique installation that took place across London in the summer of 2016 to raise money for children's charities.
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