CHANNELLING MARY POPPINS TO CHAMPION LITERACY THE QUEEN

JOINS CELEBRITIES AND BEST-SELLING AUTHORS TO APPLAUD YOUNG WRITERS' 'ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT WORK'

- TRACY SCHAVERIEN

The Queen welcomed celebrities, literary figures and a Maori choir to Buckingham Palace for a reception to celebrate the teenage winners of a writing competition.

Among those joining Her Majesty for the event for the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition were former Spice Girl Geri Horner, actress Tanya Reynolds, comedian Richard Ayoade, Booker Prize winner Ben Okri, Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon and bestselling historical novelist Philippa Gregory – who told the Queen she was “so glad you are feeling better” after her chest infection.

Meanwhile BBC newsreader Clive Myrie, who was among the famous faces reading excerpts from the winning stories, had been worried he would be late to the engagement after coming straight from work.

“You’ve managed to extract yourself?” the Queen asked him. Clive replied: “I made it clear I had an appointment with Your Majesty.” Camilla also enjoyed a warm chat with actor Toby Stephens, telling him she was “so sorry” to learn of his mother Dame Maggie Smith’s death in September and calling the