Queen Camilla joins famous faces such as Dame Joanna Lumley, Dame Prue Leith and Gyles Brandreth at St Paul’s Cathedral for charity Christmas carol concert

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The Queen joined actors, TV personalities and authors at St Paul’s Cathedral this evening for a charity Christmas carol concert.

Camilla, 76, mingled with the likes of Dame Joanna Lumley, 77, Dame Prue Leith, 83, and Gyles Brandreth, 75, at the London event in her role as president for cancer charity Maggie’s.

The beaming Queen put on an elegant display in a white coat, teamed with black boots and a matching clutch bag.

She added a touch of glitz to her stylish ensemble with a pair of colourful brooches and gold drop earrings.

To complete her look, Camilla opted for simple yet sophisticated makeup, complete with a classic pink lip colour. The royal wore her blonde locks in blow-out curls – her typical yet stylish look.

The Queen joined actors, TV personalities and authors at St Paul’s Cathedral this evening for a charity Christmas carol concert (pictured)

The Queen became president of cancer charity Maggie’s, which provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK and online, in November 2008.

‘Her Majesty first visited Maggie’s Edinburgh in July 2008. Her visit made a huge impact and her warmth and generosity of spirit were greatly appreciated by all who met her,’ explained the charity’s website.

‘We then approached Her Majesty to request her formal appointment as Maggie’s President.

‘Passionate and committed to our work, and one of our greatest advocates, Her Majesty has visited many of our centres in England, Wales and Scotland.

‘As Maggie’s President, Her Majesty has brought great joy to many of the people who use our centres and we are hugely grateful for her passion and continued unswerving commitment.’

Dame Joanna Lumley commanded attention in a vibrant orange jacket teamed with a pearl necklace.

Dame Prue Leith, meanwhile, turned heads in a colourful scarf and a purple jacket teamed with an equally bright pink top.

Earlier today, Camilla celebrated seasonal flowers and foliage by opening Winter Flowers Week at the Garden Museum in Lambeth, central London.

Camilla, 76, mingled with the likes of Dame Joanna Lumley, 77, Dame Prue Leith, 83, and Gyles Brandreth (pictured right), 75, at the event in her role as president for cancer charity Maggie’s

Dame Prue Leith, meanwhile, turned heads in a colourful scarf and a purple jacket teamed with an equally bright pink top

Dame Joanna Lumley commanded attention in a vibrant orange jacket teamed with a pearl necklace

The Queen put on an elegant display in a white coat, teamed with black boots and a matching clutch bag

Queen Camilla with the Dean of St Paul’s, The Very Revd Andrew Tremlett during the Maggie’s cancer support centres annual carol concert at St Paul’s Cathedral in London

Queen Camilla during the Maggie’s cancer support centres annual carol concert at St Paul’s Cathedral in London

Her Majesty put on a cheerful display as she opened the exhibition and appeared delighted while enjoying the scent of a striking yellow bunch of flowers.

During the visit, the Queen was presented with ‘an empowerment doll’ and other examples of the arts and crafts developed by enslaved African women on the island of Antigua. 

Camilla also learned about the work of Frank Walter, the late artist and environmentalist who was the first black man in Antigua to become manager of a sugar plantation, as she visited an exhibition about his life at the museum in south London.

The royal also heard author Leo Tolstoy’s famous quote about happy and unhappy families just days after senior royals were pictured together following the publication of a controversial book about the monarchy.

Christopher Woodward, director of the Garden Museum, quoted the Russian writer during a speech as he hosted Camilla’s visit to his institution’s Winter Flowers Week, an exhibition of five installations celebrating seasonal and sustainable festive decorations. 

Beaming Queen Camilla talks to Gyles Brandreth during this evening’s event in London

Queen Camilla (second left) meets Dame Joanna Lumley, Charles Dance and Dame Prue Leith

Gyles Brandreth, Michelle Brandreth, Dame Joanna Lumley, Charles Dance, Dame Prue Leith and Sir Simon Russell Beale ahead of the Maggie’s cancer support centres annual carol concert

Queen Camilla (left) meets former Scottish poet laureate Jackie Kay (right) this evening

Queen Camilla arrives for the Maggie’s cancer support centres annual carol concert at St Paul’s Cathedral

In his speech, Mr Woodward said about the exhibitions: ‘And the idea is that you often see work by floral designers at a wedding or at a party, this is the chance for the designers to pause and for five days have an audience to follow through the concepts and inspirations which make this beauty.

‘And winter has been an enticement to foliage and to structure and – just look.

‘Tolstoy began Anna Karenina ‘Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way’.’

He went on to say: ‘And as you become older, I think you notice all the world’s little ‘rightnesses’ and study how many twists and troubles and turns lead to happiness, and how it has as many, more perhaps, colours and aspects as the more often studied tragedies.’

Speaking after the royal visit, Mr Woodward stressed the Tolstoy quotation was not a reference to the recent news stories about the royal family but about drawing attention to the museum’s ability to be an oasis to keen gardeners and members of the public.

He said contemporary art rightly draws attention to the ‘fissures and challenges’ but there was also art that highlighted the ‘happiness and wholeness’ of life.

He said about the Garden Museum: ‘We want to make a space where people come here for a couple of hours and feel ready to go back into the city.’ 

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