Queen Camilla dons a patterned blue dress as she welcomes Frank Cottrell-Boyce to Clarence House for…see more

Queen Camilla looked in high spirits as she met the new Children’s Laureate for Waterstones at Clarence House today.

The royal, 77, dressed in a colourful, vibrant ensemble, despite the cloudy, grey weather in London.

She put her best fashion foot forward in a blue and white patterned dress which she paired with a simple black cardigan to wrap up warm as the autumn season approaches.

The role – which he will hold until – is aimed at advocating for children’s right to read, write and access books.

Camilla wore her short blonde tresses down in a wavy blow-dry along and opted for minimal, natural makeup.

She was snapped sporting her blue Van Cleef and Arpels bracelet, which is made of 18k yellow gold and is believed to cost around £4,500.

The Queen matched the statement piece with silver hoop earrings and a gold diamond necklace.

Frank looked dapper in a matching light blue suit paired with a crisp white shirt and polished brown shoes.

He is the 13th Children’s Laureate for the bookshop and he has written books for younger readers such as Millions, Framed, Cosmic and The Wonder Brothers.

He said: ‘I write children’s books because I think they help build the apparatus of happiness inside us.

‘I’m going to do everything in my power to get reading as a right for all into the national conversation. Because it’s about time.’

Also at the meeting was Diana Gerald, CEO of BookTrust, a UK children’s charity dedicated to getting kids reading.

Diana donned a purple V-neck top along with a black blazer, smart suit trousers and a sizable silver necklace featuring a large blue bead.

Camilla is a patron for the charity after taking over from the late Duke of Edinburgh in 2011, who stood down after many years in the role.

In 2021, Camilla announced she would be extending her patronage of the charity.

She said at the time: ‘I firmly believe in the importance of igniting a passion for reading in the next generation…The power of a captivating story, a well-honed sentence or a beautifully crafted character is immense, not only taking the reader – or listener – to different worlds, but broadening and stimulating the mind, too.’

This comes as Queen Camilla and King Charles announced that they going on a Royal Tour in October.

They will travel to Australia and Samoa for a state visit, and attend a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The couple will be making their journey to the countries between October 18 to 26, according to Buckingham Palace.

This will be Charles’ first trip to Australia as the King, as he has previously visited 15 times as the Prince of Wales.

They last travelled Down Under to open the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018.

The royal pair will attend engagements together but also split off and undertake their own visits.

Camilla will meet children participating in a Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition workshop in a library in Sydney, which links up with her passion for all children to learn how to read and write.