Queen Camilla's secret role at Letters Live leaves audience gasping

Queen Camilla gave audiences at London’s Royal Festival Hall an unexpected moment on Thursday evening.

She quietly joined the line-up for Letters Live to read a deeply personal letter written by the late Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Few in the audience appeared to know she was taking part, making her arrival on stage all the more dramatic as gasps and applause swept through the hall.

The Queen read a 1952 letter written by the Queen Mother to poet Edith Sitwell, who had sent her an anthology of poems following the death of her husband, King George VI.

Written during a period of profound grief, the letter read, “I am deeply touched by your thought of me, I love being given books, and I send you my warmest thanks.”

It ended simply: “I am yours, very sincerely, Elizabeth R.”

The reading offered a portrait of a grieving woman finding solace in the kindness of a friend and the pages of a book.

Camilla later admitted to Elaine Bedell, chief executive of the Southbank Centre, that she had been “terrified” before stepping onto the stage.

Among those watching were an impressive collection of performers, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, Simon Callow, Harriet Walter, Rob Rinder, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Kaluuya and Laurence Fishburne.

The evening also featured music from Elbow and folk duo The Staves.

During the interval, Camilla met several of the performers in the artists’ bar.

Olivia Colman was quick to congratulate her, telling the Queen that she had “done a great job”.

Colman also admitted that she enjoyed the secrecy surrounding the evening’s surprise guests.

“I love that they keep it a secret who’s coming out. Did you hear the shock when they heard it was you?” she asked.

Dressed in an elegant blue Fiona Clare gown she responded, telling Colman, Cumberbatch and his wife, Sophie Hunter, who helped introduce the readers: “All of you were so terrific.”

Cumberbatch offered some reassurance of his own, telling King’s wife: “It’s a long walk to that lectern, but once you’re there it’s a lovely audience.”

The Queen also noticed that most of the performers were using wireless headset microphones.

“I’m upset I didn’t get to wear one,” she joked.

Sara Pascoe quickly replied: “They didn’t dare mic you up maybe.