Queen Camilla appeared in great spirits on Tuesday as she attended a reception for the National Theatre at Buckingham Palace in London – and was surprised with one of her favourite plays.  

It made for a very glitzy event indeed, as the royal, 77, was charmed by A-listers including We Live In Time’s Andrew Garfield, Gavin and Stacey creator James Corden and two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett. 

The Queen was herself immaculately turned out in blue scallop detail dress by Anna Valentine, paired with a heart-shaped brooch. 

She appeared buoyant as she chatted with attendees, who also included actors Rory Kinnear, Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter and his wife Imelda Staunton, who played Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, and Lesley Manville, who played Princess Margaret. 

It’s not Corden’s first brush with royalty, as he’s known to be a good friend of Prince Harry – having been invited to his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018, and interviewing him in 2021 on his Late Late Show. 

During the episode, the duo rapped from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, while Harry sweetly revealed that Prince Archie’s first word had been ‘crocodile’. 

Harry also decided open up to James about his relationship with Meghan, his son Archie and their decision to quit as frontline royals, saying the pressure of being in London was ‘destroying my mental health’. 

However, Corden seemed more than happy to chat with Camilla, as the two were seen exchanging jokes and laughing heartily. 

Queen Camilla appeared in great spirits on Tuesday as she attended a reception for the National Theatre at Buckingham Palace in London. Pictured with James Corden

Tonight’s event was to celebrate staff, actors and supporters of the National Theatre, and to celebrate the work they do in schools, on the stage, and on screen. 

The Queen was even surprised with a scene from one of her favourite plays as she mingled with the Hollywood stars. 

As guests mingled in the Green Room, Her Majesty was interrupted mid conversation by the actress Sharon D Clarke, in costume as Lady Bracknell from The Importance of Being Earnest.

The actress, in character, ushered the Queen to a seat in the next door Throne Room before taking to the stage with Dr Who Star Ncuti Gatwa as Algernon and Hugh Skinner, who played Prince William in the Channel 4 comedy series The Windsors, as Jack Worthing.

Camilla laughed along as the actors performed a scene in which Jack tells Lady Bracknell he was found in a handbag at Victoria Station as a baby.

There was laughter as it ended with the question from Algernon: ‘Shall we go to the Palace?’ followed by Jack’s angry reply: ‘No, I can’t abide the Palace.’

The Queen later revealed the play was ‘one of my favourites’ as she met the performers in the Picture Gallery.

And she joked that she might need to borrow part of Lady Bracknell’s costume for her next State Banquet.

The Queen was herself immaculately turned out in a navy dress with a scalloped collar, paired with a heart-shaped brooch. Pictured with Andrew Garfield

Queen Camilla speaks with actors Lesley Manville and Cate Blanchett as she hosts a reception for staff, actors and supporters to celebrate the work of the National Theatre

Britain’s Queen Camilla reacts next to actor Sharon D Clarke, as she watches a performance

As guests mingled in the Green Room, Her Majesty was interrupted mid conversation by the actress Sharon D Clarke, in costume as Lady Bracknell from The Importance of Being Earnest

The Queen later revealed the play was ‘one of my favourites’ as she met the performers in the Picture Gallery. Pictured next to Damon Buffini and Director and Co-Chief Executive of National Theatre Rufus Norris

Actor Cate Blanchett reacts, as Britain’s Queen Camilla attends a reception for staff, actors and supporters of the National Theatre

Corden seemed more than happy to chat with Camilla, as the two were seen exchanging jokes and laughing heartily

The Queen was herself immaculately turned out in blue scallop detail dress by Anna Valentine, paired with a heart-shaped brooch

Greeting Sharon D Clarke, she asked: ‘Lady Bracknell, herself. Did you enjoy it?’

‘I have loved every second of playing Lady Bracknell, it was never something I ever expected to play,’ she replied.

‘Fantastic, absolutely brilliant,’ Camilla told her.

Putting a hand on the Queen’s shoulder, Sharon asked, ‘It’s a play that you love?

‘It’s one of my favourites, it’s so funny, it really makes me laugh,’ said Camilla. ‘You are brilliant at it, you got her spot on.’

And gesturing at the actress’s gem-studded sash she said: ‘I like all your decorations.’ ‘You can’t nick any of them,’ replied Sharon, adding, ‘But if you want to fashion yourself like me…’

‘I feel I could borrow a few, for a State Dinner. I think it would be just the job,’ joked the Queen. ‘That’s a very big diamond.’

Queen Camilla met with double Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett at tonight’s event

Queen Camilla poses for a picture with Director and Co-Chief Executive of National Theatre Rufus Norris, Director Designate of National Theatre Indhu Rubasingham and Executive Director and co-chief Executive Director of National Theatre Kate Varah

Queen Camilla llistens to a performance of actor Simon Russell Beale

Queen Camilla meet cast members of the ‘London road’ play

The Queen was beaming next to Damon Buffini and Rufus Norris of the National Theatre

Greeting Ncuti Gatwa, she said: ‘How are you? The last time I saw you were recording Twas The Night Before Christmas,’ referring to a filmed performance of the famous poem that both she and the King appeared in to support The Actors Benevolent Fund after the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020.

‘It was so much fun,’ he recalled. ‘Thank you for having me back.’

In a speech following the performance, which also featured a musical number from London Road, a production about the Ipswich Strangler murders, the National Theatre’s Chair Sir Damon Buffini told the Queen: ‘Thank you so much for letting us invade your home. It’s absolutely fantastic that you’re our patron. We are after all the Royal National Theatre, it means a huge amount to us to have your support.

‘We’d like to see you more often. You could drag your other half along as well if you’d like to, we promise it won’t be too long.’

Earlier Camilla had been escorted into the reception by the National’s outgoing Director Rufus Norris, whose own speech was interrupted by Sir Simon Russell-Beale with a performance of ‘Speak the Speech’ from Hamlet, a monologue which offers advice on the art of acting.

There was laughter as he gestured to the famous faces as he delivered a line about actors who have ‘so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of Nature’s journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.’

The Queen was also introduced to Indhu Rubasingham, who becomes the National Theatre’s first-ever female director and joint chief executive with its executive director Kate Varah.

Camilla became patron of the National Theatre in 2022. The role was previously held by the Duchess of Sussex, from 2019 to 2021 and prior to that, by Queen Elizabeth II.

With a global audience reach of 19 million on stage, on tour, in schools, and cinema the National Theatre is active in every local authority in the UK and works with hundreds of schools and communities to inspire creativity, develop skills and create pathways for careers in theatre.

As she departed the event, Camilla told guests: ‘That was a very lovely occasion.’