Queen Camilla has reassured well wishers that King Charles is "getting better".
Queen Camilla braved the rain in Rye
The 76-year-old royal made a solo visit to a garden party at Lamb House in Rye, East Sussex, on Thursday (16.05.24) and admitted her husband - who has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer but recently returned to public duties - was "quite cross" he couldn't join her because he was a big fan of author E.F. Benson, who used to live at the National Trust property.
Having expressed the king is "getting better", Camilla quipped: “Well, he would be if he behaved himself.”
During her visit, Camilla was treated to a performance by veteran actors Timothy West, 89, and Hayley Mills, 78, and had a tour of the property, which had also once been home to authors Henry James and Rumer Godden.
The queen was shown a first edition copy of Benson's 'Miss Mapp' and, noting it was "wonderfully battered", joked: “I might make off with that in my pocket."
But while she didn't get to keep that book, Camilla was presented with 'Fugitive Lyrics', a limited edition copy of poems by Pepino, the late husband of Lucia in the 'Mapp and Lucia' books, which is described in great detail by the author.
She said: "How wonderful, thank you very much."
She was shown various other rare books during her tour and was then taken outside for a garden party celebrating the town's literary history.
Chatting to guests, she said: “I can’t believe I’m in Tilling. It’s such a treat to be here.”
The weather had been wet when Camilla arrived and she apologised to the community organisations assembled at the Church of Saint Mary.
She said: “Sorry it’s a bit damp."
She later told a well wisher: “I’m afraid I haven’t brought the weather.”
Among the volunteers the queen met was 93-year-old Inga Davie, who was wearing a long service medal for her 45 years with the Royal Voluntary Service, of which Camilla is patron.
The royal told her: “You must be one of our longest standing members. You do such a wonderful job. You literally are the skeleton of the country.”
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