Camilla, Dame Judi Dench, and other stars celebrate the written word with thousands of book enthusiasts

The Queen made a special appearance at the first-ever Queen’s Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace on Sunday, joining a crowd of thousands of literature lovers. Though initially delayed due to adverse weather, she arrived in time to enjoy a memorable closing performance featuring Dame Judi Dench and Gyles Brandreth.

Set on a stage in the palace’s open-air courtyard, the pair entertained the audience with unrehearsed Shakespearean scenes and anecdotes from their storied careers as the day came to a close. The crowd erupted in applause when Dame Judi took to the stage, with Mr Brandreth exclaiming, “Isn’t it exciting?” to which Dame Judi humorously replied, “Especially as we haven’t rehearsed.”

The event drew an estimated 2,900 attendees, who enjoyed a mix of theatrical warm-ups, interactive exercises, a recitation of The Owl And The Pussycat, and surprise guest appearances from Ben Elton and Sir Derek Jacobi. At one moment, Dame Judi captivated the audience with a spontaneous Shakespeare soliloquy, demonstrating her timeless talent.

Mr Brandreth expressed his excitement, saying, “We’re thrilled that the Queen is here tonight. To have a King and Queen who genuinely cherish and support the arts is simply fantastic.”