Queen Camilla has been handed an honorary doctorate by her sister-in-law tonight as the pair conducted a rare joint engagement.
Camilla, 77, is one of five people who were presented with honours on the University of London’s Foundation Day by the school’s Chancellor, Princess Anne, 74.
The Queen was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature for her promotion of literacy and literature for over 20 years.
She joins King George V, Queen Mary, Sir Winston Churchill and Dame Judi Dench who have been conferred as part of the ceremony since 1098.
Anne also presented honours to four other individuals for their exceptional contributions to society.
Dr Nahim Ahmed MBE and Professor Sir Michael Arthur were awarded honorary doctorates of science, while Anthony Neoh and Abdul Fazal Bhanji OBE were conferred an honorary doctorate if laws and honorary fellow respectively.
Camilla and Anne arrived at Senate House together, and were welcomed by the vice-chancellor of the University of London, Professor Wendy Thomson CBE and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Sir Mark Lowcock.
Shortly after arrival, the Queen instinctively invited her sister-in-law to enter a room, where they were due to greet fellow recipients of honorary doctorates and their families, before her.
But smiling Anne – who would have been acutely aware of royal precedence, politely refused and asked her sister-in-law to enter first.
The two women then took one end each of the small line-up before Camilla was invited to sit down and sign a visitor’s book, smiling as the overexcited young son of Dr Nahim had to be scooped up by his mother after he started playing on a window behind her.
The Princess Royal was invited to inspect a Guard of Honour consisting of members of the University’s Officer Training Corps, Air Squadron and Royal Naval Unit before the pair headed inside where they put on their ceremonial robes before the ceremony.
In the hall, Anne gave the Chancellor’s Welcome before the presentation of diplomas.
Anne and Camilla are understood to have a warm friendship, with the King’s sister heaping praise on her sister-in-law in BBC documentary, Charles III: The Coronation, last year.
She said: ”I’ve known her a long time, off and on. Her understanding of her role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding.”
The royal went on to add: “This role is not something that she would have been a natural for, but she does it really well. And she provides that change of speed and tone.”
