Duchess Camilla was given an early birthday present as she hosted a garden party at Clarence House.

Duchess Camilla

Duchess Camilla

The Duchess of Cornwall was celebrating a competition, where kids chose their favourite books, with 70 of those books being presented to 70 schools.

And Camilla was presented with a copy of each of the 70 books by two of the schools involved so she could pass them on to her five grandchildren to read.

Thanking them for their gifts, she said: "I'm thrilled to be patron of so many literacy charities. It's something I love more than anything. People always say thank you but its no hardship for me. I love meeting all the children.

"I know most of the books backwards because I read them to my grandchildren, and we're going to have a terrible time because they're [going to be] fighting over these bookshelves - if I can plonk it somewhere in the middle they can come and borrow books ...

"An early birthday present - I'd like to point out my birthday isn't quite yet, I'm hanging on to the last years of my seventh decade, so not quite yet."

Two schools who took part in the competition were invited to the royal abode to celebrate the initiative.

Meanwhile, Prince Charles is reportedly planning a birthday party for his wife when she turns 70 on July 17.

A source said: "It's going to be a wonderful evening and Michael is brilliant at organising these events. Charles wants his loyal friends to know how much he loves Camilla and how he would be lost without her.

"Although no-one will admit it publicly, she will be queen when Charles becomes king, and the feeling is that the dark days are very much behind her, so there is a lot to celebrate. He threw amazing parties at Highgrove for her 50th and 60th birthdays and I'm sure this one will be fantastic as well."


Tagged in