Queen Camilla's attempt to break royal protocol was thwarted by her sister-in-law Princess Anne during a rare joint event on the University of London's foundation day.
On Wednesday, Anne, 74, the chancellor of the University of London, awarded Camilla, 77, an honorary doctorate of literature in recognition of the Queen's more than 20 years of promoting literacy and literature.
As soon as they arrived together at the University's Senate Hall, where the ceremony would take place, Camilla invited the Princess Royal to enter the room before her.
But Anne, who is well versed in royal protocol, “politely refused with a smile and allowed Camilla to enter first,” the Daily Express reported.
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Princess Anne thwarted Queen Camilla's attempt to break royal protocol during their recent joint engagement. (Getty)
The newspaper said that during official events and affairs of state, the royal family adheres to a hierarchy of priorities, a “nominal order of importance.”
Anne, the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, was born into the royal family, but Camilla has higher priority as queen.
In accordance with royal tradition, Camilla was to enter the room before Anne.
Camilla was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature by Princess Anne of the University of London. (Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
After entering the room, Camilla and Anne joined four other honorary doctorate recipients and their families, the Daily Express reported. While in the room, Camila was photographed smiling while signing the visitor list.
Before the ceremony, Anne inspected the guard of honor, which includes members of the university's Officer Training Corps, Air Squadron and Royal Navy units, the newspaper said.
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Camilla and Anne then donned ceremonial robes for the conferment of their doctorates. During the ceremony, Camilla knelt on a stool and Anne was photographed smiling with her hood draped over her sister-in-law's shoulders.
Afterwards, the two posed for a photo together, with Camila smiling while holding her diploma.
Camilla and Anne were pictured walking down the hall ahead of the ceremony. (Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The University of London's Foundation Day commemorates the founding of the academic institution by a Royal Charter in 1836. In 1908, the university began awarding honorary degrees as part of the ceremony.
In addition to Camilla, other royals who received honorary degrees were King George V and Queen Mary, then Prince and Princess of Wales, according to a press release from Buckingham Palace.
Other notable winners include Sir Winston Churchill, Dame Judi Dench and TS Elliott.
The palace said: “As an avid reader, the Queen has a strong interest in highlighting the importance of reading and writing and has been a long-standing supporter of literacy in the UK and across the Commonwealth.” “Her Majesty visited schools and libraries, as well as workplaces and prisons, to see the work of adult literacy schemes.
Camila signed the guest book while attending the event. (Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“As the Duchess of Cornwall, Her Majesty was (and remains) a patron of several organizations promoting and supporting literacy, including the National Literacy Trust, First Story, Coram Beanstalk and BookTrust.
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“The Queen's Reading Room was launched as an online book club on Instagram in January 2021 following the reading recommendation of Her Majesty Queen Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, and was launched in February 2023 to promote the benefits of reading. It has become a charity organization.
The occasion was also a special moment for Camilla and Anne, who share a close friendship. Anne's brother, King Charles III, and his wife, Camilla, married in 2005 after a decades-long romance.
During the ceremony, Anne smiled as she draped a hood over Camilla's shoulders. (Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Charles and Camilla met in 1970 and began dating, but their relationship ended in 1971 when the future monarch joined the Royal Navy.
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Camilla married Anne's ex-boyfriend Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973, and Charles married Princess Diana in 1981. However, Charles and Camilla later resumed their romance while still married to their respective spouses.
Parker Bowles and Camilla divorced in 1995, and Charles and Diana finalized their divorce in 1996, the year before the Princess of Wales died in a tragic car accident.
Camilla and Anne have known each other for many years and share a close friendship. (Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Charles and Camilla went public with their relationship in 1999. Anne spoke highly of her sister-in-law in the 2023 BBC documentary Charles III: The Coronation.
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“I've known her on and off for a long time,” Anne said via the Daily Express. “Her understanding of her role and how much of a difference it makes to the King was truly outstanding.
“This role isn't something she played naturally, but she does it really well. And she provides a change of pace and tone.”
