- Camila, 76, hosted reception as President of the foundation Women of the World
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Queen Camilla couldn't contain her laughter as she was presented with her own lookalike Barbie doll this afternoon and joked that the designers had 'taken about 50 years off her life'.
The royal, 76, hosted an International Women's Day reception at Buckingham Palace, which was attended by Dame Helen Mirren, in her role as President of the organisation WOW (Women of the World).
On International Day of the Girl in October 2023, the foundation launched their WOW Girls Festival Bus Tour of the UK. After travelling across the UK, the Bus Tour made its final stop at Buckingham Palace today - where the team were greeted by Queen Camilla.
The Queen looked effortlessly elegant in blue midi dress with zip-down detail by Fiona Clare and an Amanda Wakeley black cape. The Queen completed her ensemble with a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet, diamond and pearl earrings and black boots from Eliot Zed.
Ahead of the engagement, WOW Global were given a breakdown of Camilla's outfit so they could accurately recreate it for her Barbie.
Queen Camilla poses with her lookalike Barbie doll at the Buckingham Palace reception this afternoon
Camilla, who has been President of WOW since 2015, was joined by the Mathilde, Queen of the Belgians, and the Duchess of Gloucester as she was shown around the WOW Girls Festival Bus, sponsored by Barbie manufacturer, Mattel. The converted bus, which features a recording studio and a library, has been touring the country to promote gender equality among young people at schools and community groups.
The doll's designers expertly recreated Camilla's signature hair-do and added a WOW Global brooch to her cape.
After being presented with the doll, Camilla said it was 'brilliant' and chuckled.
She said: 'Thank you very very much indeed. It's brilliant and they've taken about 50 years off my life.
'I'm very very grateful. Thank you very much for doing that, it's wonderful.'
Addressing her other guests, Camilla added: 'You should all have a Barbie!'
Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Global head of dolls, had flown from Los Angeles to present the Barbie to Camilla, saying afterwards: ‘We were just tickled that the Queen wanted to play Barbie.’
The Queen was presented with the lookalike doll in her role as President of the foundation Women of the World
Queen Camilla pictured being presented with her own Barbie doll at Buckingham Palace at a reception this afternoon
Pictured: Queen Camilla during a reception to celebrate International Women's Day at Buckingham Palace
In her speech, Camilla said: 'As I have followed the progress of the WOW bus across all four corners of the country, I have been enormously impressed to hear of the mentorship that has been offered, the panel discussions that have challenged and strengthened those present, and the partnerships that have been forged with organisations that are, year round, doing incredible work with young people'
Stones thrown at Buckingham Palace windows by the Suffragettes on display during a reception attended by Queen Camilla
Queen Camilla, President of Women of the World (WOW), speaks to Dame Helen Mirren (right) during a reception to celebrate International Women's Day
Pictured: Dame Helen Mirren speaks to schoolgirls at the WOW reception at Buckingham Palace
Sarah Allen, PR manager for UK Mattel, said: ‘We spoke to her office first to check she was happy to receive it and worked with her team on what she would like the doll to wear.’
During the engagement, Camilla delivered a speech where she referenced two stones that were thrown at the Palace during a Suffragette protest in May 1914, which were on display at Buckingham Palace.
The blue dress was the same one worn by Her Majesty for the King’s official accession pictures.
The Queen afterwards met primary school children in the Billiards Room of the palace who were taking part in a session on ‘identity and leadership’.
She then met celebrity guests in the Bow Room including Dame Helen Mirren, the former Spice Girl and now domestic abuse campaigner, Melanie Brown, accompanied by her daughter Phoenix Brown, Dame Kelly Holmes, Emma Barnett, Dame Maggie Aderin, Natasha Kaplinsky, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and Rachel Riley.
Giving a speech to mark the recent International Women’s Day on 8 March, Camilla was accompanied by a red pillow on which rested two stones - thrown through the windows of the palace by suffragettes in 1914.
Remarkably, they were picked up by Queen Mary who sent them to the royal archive at Windsor where they have remained ever since. Today was the first time they have ever been displayed in public.
Pictured: Queen Camilla during a reception at Buckingham Palace for International Women's day
Queen Mathilde joined Queen Camilla at the Buckingham Palace reception in London this afternoon
Camilla said: ‘I would like to begin with a “show and tell,’ before holding up the two stones which were thrown through the Palace windows during a Suffragette protest on 27th May 1914.
‘The label on this one reads, “If a constitutional deputation is refused, we must present a stone message.” This one says, “Constitutional methods being ignored drive us to window smashing’. ‘
She went on: 'The Times reported two days afterwards: “Between 11 and 12 o’clock on Wednesday, two women succeeded in evading the sentries at Buckingham Palace and entered the quadrangle. They threw stone sat the windows and broke two panes of glass before the sentries intervened. The women were taken to the police station in the precincts of the Palace, but the Master of the Household refused to prosecute and they were released.
‘These stones were picked up and handed to Queen Mary, who decided to keep them for posterity. I thought today we might, to quote Shakespeare, find ‘sermons in stones’.’
The Queen went on to quote the daughter of Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, saying: ‘Let us recall these words of Christabel Pankhurst: “Remember the dignity of your womanhood. Do not appeal, do not beg, do not grovel. Take courage, join hands, stand besides us, fight with us.” To which I would only add: let your lives be the stones that will shatter glass ceilings everywhere and inspire generations to come’
Dame Helen Mirren, who played the late Elizabeth II in the 2006 film The Queen, was at Buckingham Palace with her film director husband Taylor Hackford. She said of the new Queen: 'I have always been a fan of Camilla, as she used to be known, and a supporter of hers in my very small, insignificant way but it was great to see her in this new role as Queen and to see that mantle falling on her shoulders, which must have been quite a surprise to her.
‘As a young girl in England I’m sure she never in a million years imagined that this would be where she would find herself and it looks to me as if she’s doing it beautifully well.’
The WOW Foundation was created by Jude Kelly in 2018 to run the global movement of the Women of the World Festivals, which began in the UK at the Southbank Centre in 2010. It now spans 45 locations on six continents.
Ms Kelly took to the lectern after the Queen to thank Camilla for her involvement, asking the assembled guests saying: “She’s quite a leader, isn’t she?”
Camilla seen with school children at Buckingham Palace where she was hosting a WOW reception
Pictured: Camilla appeared in high spirits as she caught up with Dame Helen Mirren at the event
Camilla met with the Director of WOW Jude Kelly - who set up the foundation in 2010 - as well as Executive Director Colette Bailey and Director of Festivals and Programmes Domino Pateman.
The WOW bus was designed to be an interactive space where the team could deliver workshops and activities to communities across the UK.
The bus has its own reading area as well as a video and recording studio.
After being given a tour of the bus, Camilla will meet with young people who have taken part in the festival and hear about their experiences.
The WOW Bus initiative was created after a 2022 Steer Education report found that girl's confidence dips significantly between the ages of 14 and 18.
It also found that girls as young as 11 are hiding signs of 'deep distress' from their parents and teachers, which can affect their teenage years.
Last night, Queen Camilla donned an elegant black dress as she hosted a Commonwealth Day celebration at Malborough House.
Pictured: Queen Camilla laughed and joked the Barbie designers had 'taken 50 years off her life' as she was presented with her lookalike doll
Queen Camilla opted for a black evening dress as she arrived at Marlborough House on Pall Mall in central London last night for a Commonwealth Day reception
Baroness Scotland of Asthal also opted for a black evening dress with a jacquard effect and a glitzy belt at the waist
As Camilla arrived, she was pictured meeting guests and delegates from Commonwealth countries including a Samoan band.
Her appearance followed an earlier service at Westminster Abbey, at which Camilla and Prince William led the royal family for the annual celebration.
It came as Kensington Palace came under increasing pressure to release the original Mother's Day photograph after the Princess of Wales apologised after she admitted she had edited the family portrait of herself sitting with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Experts told MailOnline it was changed using Photoshop and related AI tools.
