Queen Camilla was shown a mosaic of King Charles (Image: Getty)
Queen Camilla, 76, marvelled at the large wall portrait that showed the King wearing a crown, his velvet robes and holding the orb and sceptre while visiting Christ Church CofE Primary School in Chelsea.
Responding with a brilliant six-word quip, she said: “Oh my goodness, that’s my husband”, as she admired the children’s work.
The mosaic was titled “King Charles III” with the May 6, 2023 date of the Coronation below.
“It looks pretty good to me,” the Queen said, as two Year 4 pupils, Leo and Hannah, both nine, told her all about it.
“Did you do bits of this?” she asked. “It’s very clever. I think that’s brilliant.”
The mosaic of King Charles (Image: Getty)
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The mosaic was designed from sketches drawn by the children, which were combined by the school’s visiting mosaic artist.
Her Majesty was in high spirits for the morning visit, as she was excitedly asked by a seven-year-old pupil if she was the Queen and came face to face with children named Charles and Kamilla.
The Queen, who wore a floral black and white Fiona Clare dress, was visiting the school to hear about its literary festival, where pupils are sponsored to read books.
Camilla, a passionate reader who is patron of several literary charities, told the children they “must keep on reading forever and ever” and that if they did so, by the time they were grown up they would be “stars.”
The Queen was met on arrival by two Year 4 pupils, Marina, nine, and Lexi, eight, who sweetly curtsied to Camilla before showing her around the school.
Queen Camilla visited a primary school in Chelsea today (Image: Getty)
She was in the playground chatting to pupils about the book The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch when Yemariam, seven, called out: “Are you the Queen?”
Camilla appeared amused as she confirmed that yes, she was indeed.
In the reception classroom, she heard about the school’s “Shepherd and Sheep” reading scheme.
It involves new starters being matched with a Year 6 pupil who acts as their “shepherd” – a friend and role model throughout the first year.
As she waved goodbye to the children, one boy declared: “I’m Charles!”
“Are you? That’s what my husband is called,” she said.
Queen Camilla appeared in high spirits (Image: Getty)
Later in the Year 4 felt-making workshop, one girl told her “my name is Kamilla too”.
The school’s literary festival, which began on June 10 and runs until July 5, encourages children to be sponsored by family and friends to read as many books as possible.
Marina, one of the girls showing the Queen around, told her that her father was sponsoring her £4 a book.
“Is he? That’s pretty good,” she replied. “So how many books have you read?”
Told it was 10, Camilla exclaimed: “That’s a lot of money!”
The Queen watched some children recite passages from their favourite books before being offered a slice of cake, which was decorated with the names of books.
Queen Camilla wore a Fiona Clare dress (Image: Getty)
The end of her visit was marked by the school choir singing The Secret Owl Society and Hallelujah in the hall before presenting the school with a selection of books, including The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Swallows and Amazons and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Speaking briefly, the Queen said: “I’d just like to say to you all that I think it’s a brilliant idea to have a literary festival. I’m so impressed by your reading and just remember you must keep on reading forever and ever.
“It’s going to take you off on millions of adventures all over the world and the more you read as you grow up it will be bigger and better for all of you. So keep on reading and by the time you are grown up you are all going to be stars. So well done and thank you very much for having me.”
Camilla was presented with a posy of flowers from the school garden and posed for photographs with the whole school before leaving.