Queen Camilla was seen mingling with Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker during a reception at Clarence House this week. The Queen hosted the shortlisted authors, judges and winner of the Booker Prize at the royal residence on Tuesday afternoon, after author David Szalay won the accolade for his novel Flesh at Monday night’s award ceremony.
The actress, who also has her own publishing imprint, SJP Lit, called her role on the judging panel for the prestigious literary prize a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and dubbed the experience “extraordinary”. The panel also included writer and literary critic for the Guardian Chris Power, Nigerian writer and winner of The Future Awards’ Africa Prize for Arts and Culture Ayobami Adebayo, and American novelist Kiley Reid.
The judging panel was chaired by Irish novelist Roddy Doyle, himself a Booker winner.
It considered 153 books and was looking for the best work of long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between October 1 2024 and September 30 2025.
Speaking about her role as a judge, the 60-year-old actress said: “I have been following the Booker Prize for years and raised my hand jokingly, only to be approached by the CEO, Gaby Wood.
“It’s been this really sort of extraordinary experience.”
Parker added: “I missed many meals out, didn’t go to the theatre or see any movies, but it was the kind of sacrifice that I thought had great nobility – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Especially for a reader like me, who loves nothing more than to be inside the pages of a really special book.”
The actress and publisher also spoke about how she shares the Queen’s passion for literature, and said: “I’m so appreciative of the kind of attention that she gives, and focuses on literacy, reading, and the way it enriches lives.”
Camilla is an avid reader and patron of several literary organisations, and last year hosted the six 2024 Booker Prize hopefuls at Clarence House.
Parker described herself as a “devoted” reader, saying: “I’m a publisher as well, so it’s something I think is necessary, important, and changes lives.” The Sex And The City star founded JP Lit in 2022, in partnership with the independent publisher Zando.
The Queen called Parker’s involvement “one of her many hats”, to which the actress responded: “It’s the one I’m most proud of.”
Parker added: “It’s so thrilling. We are surrounded by such wonderful, exciting authors.”
During the reception at the royal residence, the actress wore a vintage Dior jacket, embellished with blue sequins and gold accents, paired with a long black satin dress, pink Rene Caovilla heels and a Sonia Rykiel domino bag.