Queen surprises schoolchildren as she opens 50th Coronation Library

By Hannah Furness

The Queen has surprised pupils as she visited their school to officially open a new Coronation Library.

Two schoolchildren were photographed peeking around a corner, gasping as they spotted the Queen walking along the corridor towards them.

Queen Camilla visited Moreland Primary School in central London to open the 50th in a series of school libraries that have been "transformed" to mark the Coronation.

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The school, which was opened by the Duke of Kent in 2016, hosted the event to mark the year-long project, which is supported by the National Literacy Trust.

The Queen visited the playcentre to hear a discussion about the importance of reading, with speakers including bestselling children's authors Cressida Cowell and Chris Smith.

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She then joined an interactive storytelling session with Alim Kamara, a British-Sierra Leonean rapper and storyteller, 10 reading ambassadors from the school, and 20 pupil librarians and their teachers from local Libraries for Primaries beneficiary schools.

The Queen was given a tour by two pupil librarians, and introduced to Joseph Coelho, the Waterstones Children's Laureate. A keen advocate of literacy and reading for pleasure, she spent time with students to hear about their activities in the library.

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After unveiling a plaque to mark the opening of the library, the Queen paid a visit to the playground where the school choir was singing and children waved flags decorated by their favourite book characters.

The Queen opened the first Coronation Library in May 2023, at Shirehampton Primary School in Bristol.

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The Coronation Libraries Programme is intended to celebrate "Her Majesty's strong advocacy not only for reading and literacy, but also for the vital importance of primary school libraries," a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said.

All 50 Libraries receive a set of 23 books, chosen by children from across the country, and bear a commemorative bookplate featuring the Coronation emblem.

© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2024

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