Queen Camilla visits primary school in solo engagement after glitzy State Banquet
Camilla encouraged children at Christ Church School to read "forever and ever"
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Queen Camilla visited a London primary school today to meet pupils amid a literary festival encouraging children to celebrate the joy of reading.
Camilla, 76, dropped into classrooms at Christ Church School in Chelsea in the west of the capital, and embarked on a tour of the school in which she saw the range of ways students are being pushed to read more.
After her tour, the Queen gifted of a selection of books to the library, and delivered an uplifting address to more than 200 pupils at a special assembly, in which she told children to keep on reading "forever and ever".
She said: "It is going to take you off on millions of adventures all over the world.
Camilla encouraged children at Christ Church School to read "forever and ever"
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Queen Camilla dropped in on classrooms at the primary school in leafy West London
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"The more you read as you grow up, it's going to be bigger and better for all of you.
"Keep on reading - and by the time you are grown up, you are all going to be stars."
Camilla was shown a mosaic portrait of the King which was created by the children in conjunction with an artist for Charles III's 2023 coronation.
The Queen walked up to the portrait and said: "My goodness, that's really good. How's my husband?"
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The floral dress-clad Queen was gifted a bouquet of flowers upon her departure
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Camilla was told what the children were reading as she toured the school
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Then two Year Four children, Leo and Hannah, both aged nine, told her how they had helped to make the artwork, showing her which tiles they put into the mosaic, and Camilla posed for photographs with them.
The Queen was told that some of the children are being sponsored by family and friends to read as many books as possible during the festival.
She also visited a reception class where she heard about the school’s "Shepherd and Sheep" reading scheme, which involves new starters being matched with a Year Six pupil who acts as their "shepherd" - a friend and role model throughout the first year.
She also dropped in on a felt-making workshop, where one girl told her "my name is Kamilla too" - though the Queen politely declined to point out its different spelling.
Camilla spoke to schoolchildren at Christ Church School
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The visit followed Tuesday night's State banquet alongside the Japanese Imperial Family
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In the school's garden, Camilla, wearing a gorgeous monochrome floral dress, was gifted a bouquet of flowers - and was greeted by one girl who asked: "Are you the Queen?", to which she, smiling, replied: "That's me."
After the visit, head Avis Hawkins said: "She will have really encouraged the children to keep valuing their opportunities to read and it is amazing that she has given us a selection of her own favourite books that we will treasure.
"I know she has a passion for children and for reading, and it has been such a wonderful opportunity to have her come here and see how our children are reading."
The trip to West London followed Tuesday night's State banquet alongside the Japanese Imperial Family, which played host to members of the Royal Family as well as political figures including the Prime Minister and Sir Keir Starmer - the leader of the opposition prior to Parliament's dissolution in the wake of the PM's snap General Election announcement.
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