Queen Camilla greets Dame Judi Dench at the end of The Queen’s Reading Room First Festival

Camilla heads to her literary festival in VERY royal blue as she greets Dame Judi Dench

  • Speakers included actor Dame Judi Dench who was pictured with Camilla
  • The festival follows the success of Camilla’s book club and was launched in 2021

The Queen made a glamorous jaunt to Hampton Court Palace today after nearly missing the opening of her inaugural literary festival.

Camilla was held up by highway traffic and missed a star-studded reception to mark the first Queen’s Reading Room Festival.

Fortunately, her understudy – the king – stepped into the breach and took her place in front of her greeting celebrities, including Sir Derek Jacobi, Richard E Grant and Dame Joanna Lumley.

But her official car arrived just in time to be greeted by the star of the evening, Dame Judi Dench – who spoke of her lifelong passion for Shakespeare – along with Dame Joanna and presenter Gyles Brandreth.

“Everything was closed,” the Queen – who looked stylish in a flowing blue Anna Valentine jumpsuit – told Dame Joanna.

The British Queen Camilla meets Lady Judi Dench today at a reception

King Charles and his wife Camilla hosted a royal reception at Hampton Court Palace today for The Queen's Reading Room's first festival

King Charles and his wife Camilla hosted a royal reception at Hampton Court Palace today for The Queen’s Reading Room’s first festival

The festival follows the success of Queen Camilla's book club which launched on Instagram in January 2021 and has amassed more than 160,000 followers

The festival follows the success of Queen Camilla’s book club which launched on Instagram in January 2021 and has amassed more than 160,000 followers

Charles was seen smiling as he greeted guests at a reception for the festival at Hampton Court Palace earlier today

Charles was seen smiling as he greeted guests at a reception for the festival at Hampton Court Palace earlier today

She kissed both ladies and their husbands warmly.

“We were gray with fear, but it’s all good now!” replied Lumley.

Buckingham Palace said Her Majesty had unfortunately been detained due to “weather-related transport issues.”

The Queen’s Reading Room started as a post-lockdown Instagram book club to share Camilla’s love of reading and reading.

Now turned into a charity, literary hub tans held its first one-day festival at historic Hampton Court this year.

King Charles and his wife Camilla hosted a royal reception at Hampton Court Palace today for The Queen’s Reading Room’s first festival.

The festival follows the success of Queen Camilla’s book club which launched on Instagram in January 2021 and has amassed more than 160,000 followers.

The Queen’s Reading Room is a charity that aims to increase the appreciation of literature among adults and children in the UK and around the world.

Charles was seen smiling as he greeted guests at a reception for the festival at Hampton Court Palace earlier today.

The Queen's Reading Room is a charity that aims to develop an appreciation of literature among adults and children in the UK and around the world

The Queen’s Reading Room is a charity that aims to develop an appreciation of literature among adults and children in the UK and around the world

Britain's King Charles III walks through the Communication Gallery at Hampton Court Palace

Britain’s King Charles III walks through the Communication Gallery at Hampton Court Palace

Dame Judi Dench at a reception with authors, actors and literature lovers tonight at the inaugural Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival

Dame Judi Dench at a reception with authors, actors and literature lovers tonight at the inaugural Queen’s Reading Room Literary Festival

Guests attend the inaugural Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace

Guests attend the inaugural Queen’s Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace

The king’s wife wore a royal blue jumpsuit that she paired with black shoes. Meanwhile, Charles looked good in a navy pinstripe suit.

The event involved various forms of entertainment, such as a screening of Austentatious, the award-winning hit comedy that was seen in the West End and heard on Radio 4.

The cast improvised a humorous new Jane Austen novel inspired by a title created by Queen Camilla.

The variety of novels in Camilla’s book club is sure to keep those reading along entertained as different genres and storytelling styles are explored.

Dame Judi Dench today showed her support for the Queen's book club by speaking at the event

Dame Judi Dench today showed her support for the Queen’s book club by speaking at the event

King Charles meeting British actors Derek Jacobi and Richard E. Grant at a reception for the inaugural Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival

King Charles meeting British actors Derek Jacobi and Richard E. Grant at a reception for the inaugural Queen’s Reading Room Literary Festival

Charles was photographed today with smiling guests as he attended the reception

Charles was photographed today with smiling guests as he attended the reception

Britain's Queen Camilla arrives to attend a reception for the festival

Britain’s Queen Camilla arrives to attend a reception for the festival