The Duchess of Cornwall today hosted a celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of her beloved Radio 4 soap opera The Archers.
Camila, 74, met cast members and watched as voice actors performed a scene from the programme, to which she has been listening for more than 40 years, at Clarence House this afternoon.
The royal graced the fictional village of Ambridge with her presence in 2011 after admitting she was ‘an Archers addict’ who is so dedicated to the soap she has pals update her on the plot while overseas.
The world’s longest-running radio soap marked its 70th anniversary earlier this year, however celebrations were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Duchess of Cornwall was all smiled today as she hosted a celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of her beloved Radio 4 soap opera The Archers
The Duchess, 74, met June Spencer CBE who plays Peggy Woolley in the BBC programme and cut an Archers-themed cake
During the celebration Camilla met June Spencer, 102, who is best known for her role as Peggy Woolley in the BBC soap having first stepped into the role in 1950
The Duchess watched as Carole Boyd, Ben Norris and Sunny Ormonde who play Lynda Snell, Ben Archer and Lilian Bellamy, respectively, performed a scene from the drama
During the celebration Camilla met June Spencer, 102, who is best known for her role as Peggy Woolley in the BBC soap having first stepped into the role in 1950.
Her total of 64 years in the role make her the second longest serving actor in a soap opera worldwide and she and Camilla celebrated the show’s success by cutting an Archers themed cake.
The Duchess watched as Carole Boyd, Ben Norris and Sunny Ormonde who play Lynda Snell, Ben Archer and Lilian Bellamy, respectively, performed a scene from the drama.
Camilla also met with Jeremy Howe, who has acted as the show’s editor since 2018, ahead of making a speech in celebration of the show.
Camilla is pictured making a speech at the celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of The Archers at Clarence House this afternoon
The Duchess of Cornwall appeared in high spirits as cast members performed a scene of the world’s longest running radio soap opera
The royal listened avidly alongside the show’s editor Jeremy Howe during the performance at Clarence House this afternoon
Camilla erupted into applause after the scene at the celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of The Archers this afternoon
Camilla has been an avid Archers listener for decades and made a speech celebrating the show at the celebration this afternoon
The Duchess appeared in high spirits at the event, where she opted to wear a black structured dress featuring white decorative stitching which she paired with thick black tights.
The royal was typically polished, accessorising with a pair of dainty pearl earrings, a small gold chain and a collection of delicate gold and blue bracelets.
Camilla has been an avid Archers listener for decades, while her husband Prince Charles is said to be less keen on the radio programme.
When she met cast members for the programme’s 60th anniversary the royal admitted she ‘cannot do without’ the programme and that she was so upset by the death of long-standing character Nigel Pargetter that January that she broke down in tears.
She even featured on the show in 2011, turning up at the Grey Gables country house hotel in her role as president of the National Osteoporosis Society to speak to supporters of the charity.
The royal has previously admitted she ‘cannot do without’ the programme and made a speech at the event this afternoon commemorating 70 years of the soap opera
The Duchess appeared in high spirits at the event, where she opted to wear a black structured dress featuring white decorative stitching which she paired with thick black tights
Camilla met with Jeremy Howe, who has acted as the show’s editor since 2018, ahead of making a speech in celebration of the show
The royal was typically polished, accessorising with a pair of dainty pearl earrings, a small gold chain and a collection of delicate gold and blue bracelets
Camilla appeared in high spirits at the event this afternoon and is pictured shaking hands with the programme’s editor
Camilla was all smiles at the event celebrating the programme, to which she has been listening for more than 40 years, at Clarence House this afternoon
The editor of The Archers Jeremy Howe is pictured making a speech at the reception this afternoon
The Duchess is the second member of the royal family to appear on the show, after Princess Margaret also starred in an episode back in 1984.
Camilla appeared alongside character Caroline Sterling – played by Sara Coward – who also performed alongside Princess Margaret when she made her appearance more than 35 years ago.
Actress Sara said at the time: ‘It was fascinating to go to Kensington Palace to record with Princess Margaret 27 years ago, and Clarence House was still more fun. The Duchess was relaxed, charming and wonderfully natural.’
The pilot episode of The Archers was broadcast on the Midlands Home Service on May 29, 1950, going nationwide on January 1, 1951.