As her husband battles political chaos at home, Brigitte Macron received a much warmer welcome from Queen Camilla today.
Sporting Dior – nature – Her Majesty shared a decidedly French double kiss with the First Lady and greeted her with a cheerful ‘Bonjour!’ while celebrating a new multi-channel literary initiative.
The Queen praised Madame Macron’s English as “much better than my French” – although she studied in Paris in her youth – and she seemed to have such a good time at a reception with authors that the engagement was delayed by a few minutes.
The couple came together to celebrate the Entente Littéraire Prize Ceremony, a new young adult fiction award translated into French and English.
The Queen, 77, and France’s First Lady, 71, who previously played table tennis together, spent 15 minutes speaking privately at the event, where they exchanged books – four of the Reading Room’s recommendations the Queen, from Camilla to Madame Macron, and in exchange, a book about Notre Dame.
The event was held at the French Ambassador’s Residence in London, near Kensington Palace, where dozens of authors and translators gathered to honor the award.
The Queen and Madame Macron greeted each other with outstretched arms. ‘How are you? How good to see you,’ said the Queen.
After posing for a photograph, the couple headed upstairs and Madame Macron thanked the Queen for “organizing” the award.
The sophisticated couple enters the embassy for the Entente Literary Award ceremony
Brigitte Macron, 71, greets the Queen, 77, outside the residence of the French ambassador in London
The French First Lady and the monarch talk on the red carpet before the start of the event
The Queen was not heard sharing any further details about her illness, after telling guests at Buckingham Palace yesterday that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia.
He has been doing a reduced program while he recovers, particularly from fatigue, but today completed the full one-hour commitment.
The two women made a brief stop in the building’s library, before leaving to talk privately.
Guests at the reception included authors Peter James, Anthony Horowitz, Elif Shafak, Edward St Aubyn, Edmund de Waal and illustrator Axel Scheffler.
The Queen seemed especially pleased to see Joanne Harris, immediately recognizing her name as the author of the bestseller Chocolat, “one of my favorite books.”
The Queen spoke to other authors about her preference for a “proper book” over electronic versions, adding: “I like turning a proper page.”
She wore a gray and black tweed dress and jacket by Dior, in a display of what is known as diplomatic attire.
The Queen, a keen reader who has her own book club The Queen’s Reading Room, told crime author Peter James that she had read her latest novel in two days and “couldn’t put it down”.
At today’s ceremony, Camilla and Brigitte were introduced to the judges and shortlisted authors.
The Queen speaks to guests at the awards ceremony
Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron pose with winners Manon Steffan Ros (left), author of Le Livre Bleu de Nebo, and translator Lise Garond (second left)
The Queen and Madame Macron presented certificates to the award winners.
She nodded to a speech by Joanna Harris, chair of the judging panel, who said: “A lot of people who are big fans of literacy are not big fans of young adult fiction, and hopefully some of that will change.”
‘This is a diet we give to our young people to encourage them to be readers in the future.
“That’s why it’s so important.”
Two prizes worth 8,000 euros were awarded: one for a book originally written in French and translated into English, and another written in English and translated into French. The money will be divided equally between the writer and translator of each book.
The winners of the award were Lucie Bryon for her graphic novel Ladrones, and Manon Steffan Ros, author of Le Livre bleu de Nebo and its translator Lise Garond.
While still recovering from a bout of pneumonia, Queen Camilla wore her outfit to channel luck as she joined forces with Brigitte Macron for the book awards ceremony in London.
For the occasion that is undoubtedly so close to her heart, the literature-loving monarch cut a sophisticated figure in a heather gray jacket and matching knee-length skirt, both by Dior.
For the occasion, Queen Camilla (right) looked elegant in a speckled gray jacket and knee-length skirt.
The Queen paired her ensemble with the Queen Mother’s rock crystal brooch, which was a wedding gift from the late Queen.
Queen Camilla crosses her fingers as she bids farewell to France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, after the book prize ceremony today in London.
In particular, he combined the set with the Queen mother‘s Rock Crystal Brooch which was a wedding gift from the late Queen.
Camilla previously wore the art-deco brooch on Christmas Day at Sandringham in 2008 and when she met the Pope at the Vatican in 2009.
Additionally, on her right wrist, the Queen wore a Vintage Alhambra gold and blue agate bracelet worth £4,800 from Van Cleef & Arpels, a French luxury jeweler adored by the Princess of Wales.
The Alhambra motif is inspired by the four-leaf clover, which is said to bring good luck.
But this wasn’t Camilla’s only attempt to bring him luck today.
After saying goodbye to the First Lady of France, he crossed his fingers to wish her luck.
Still unwell, Camilla today opted for black leather gloves and knee-high suede boots in a bid to stave off the winter chill.
Brigitte also bundled up for the British weather in a long light blue winter coat with matching heels, a color she has worn time and time again, including to her husband’s inauguration in 2018, as it accentuates her light blue eyes. .
Although the award is not set until 2023, Camilla has supported it from day one and officially launched it alongside her husband King Charles, Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte during a state visit to France last year.
Brigitte also bundled up for the British weather in a long light blue winter coat with matching heels.
Camilla’s appearance today is the second time she has refused to miss a book event, despite battling her current illness.
On 5 November, the palace announced that the Queen had contracted a chest infection and would miss that week’s Remembrance events, including the Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph war memorial.
But he returned to action on November 12 to meet the literary Booker Prize finalists at his London home, Clarence House.
“I’m improving a lot,” he said at the event. “I have a little cough, but I really wanted to be here.”
The Queen contracted a chest infection after a long trip to Australia and Samoa and has since canceled a number of engagements, including the Royal Variety Performance and the premiere of Gladiator II.
It is understood the Queen was not taken to hospital with pneumonia but is now facing bouts of extreme fatigue.
Sources stressed there was no cause for alarm and said the chest infection had simply left the Queen “with significantly diminished energy reserves”.