HONOURING PAST AND PRESENT THE QUEEN WELL VERSED IN RAISING A SMILE AS SHE RETURNS TO WORK

There were no back-to-work blues for the holiday at Balmoral.

-  LAURA BENJAMIN

Wearing a much-loved dress from British brand Bombshell, Her Majesty beamed with delight at a tea party for a Poetry Together recital, joined by pupils and their grandparents at Fielding Primary School in West London.

She interrupted her break with the King to join her good friend Gyles Brandreth, who launched the initiative in 2019 to encourage the generations to come together over poetry.

The recitals included Mary Howitt's 1829 poem The Spider and the Fly, much to the literature-loving Queen's enjoyment. “Brilliant, that was absolutely incredible," she said. "It's a long poem to remember." Poet Roger McGough gave a performance before Her Majesty presented some of the participants with certificates.

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