The Duchess of Cornwall made a new friend this afternoon when she met an adorable rescue dog at Clarence House.
Camilla, who became the patroness of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2017, invited volunteers from the animal welfare charity to the royal residence to celebrate the charity’s 160th anniversary.
The Duchess, 74, is a dog lover who has two rescue terriers of her own after her prince charles†
The Duchess of Cornwall, 74, seemed excited to make new friends as people brought their rescue dogs to Clarence House to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Camilla touched noses with Flora the dog and got a ‘kiss’ from the rescue spaniel
The Duchess beamed when she met Flora, who was rescued from Battersea, and her owner Mala
Flora certainly stole the show, as the Duchess seemed completely taken with the adorable dog
Camilla smiled at the camera as she petted Flora – who seemed a little worn out from the excitement of the visit
Flora looked a bit exhausted from the excitement of her royal visit and dropped her eyes for a moment
Wearing a recycled navy blue dress with a white floral print, she proved her love for the man’s best friend was undeniable when she met rescue dogs and their owners.
Meeting Mala Breeze and her rescue spaniel cross, Flora, Camilla beamed as she stroked the doggy.
She sniffed close to Flora’s face and got a “kiss” as she made a fuss about her – and it was obvious Flora loved the attention.
However, the excitement of the occasion seemed too much for the little Spaniel, who looked like she was falling asleep at some point.
In an ITV documentary showing an intimate look into Camilla’s personal life, which aired Wednesday night’s Camilla’s Country Life, the Duchess spoke of her own rescue dogs as she went for walks with them.
The Duchess chatted with volunteers who brought some of the puppies currently waiting to be rehomed to join in the fun
Camilla couldn’t help but reach out to make a fuss about the dogs as she met volunteers at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Beth, 11, and Bluebell, 10, both Jack Russells, were rescued from the home of Battersea Dogs and Cats by the Duchess and Prince of Wales.
The program, which the Duchess followed while she was guest editor of Country Life magazine, showed her just how much the puppies meant to her.
In fact, Beth and Bluebell are so important to the Duchess that she has featured them in her edition of the magazine.
In a photo taken by photographer Anya Campbell, the puppies appeared with Camilla’s pearls around their necks.
The terriers also posed with their owners to mark the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary in 2020.
During the documentary, which aired a few days before Camilla’s 75th birthday on Sunday, she put her love for dogs and horses in the spotlight.
In particular, she devoted an article to a riding club of which she chairs – the Ebony Horse Club in Lambeth, South London.
Amanda Holden, an ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, greeted her friend Camilla with a kiss on the cheek
The TV host (center) spoke to the Duchess and children’s book author Jacqueline Wilson in the grounds of Clarence House
Jacqueline, also an ambassador for the charity, shared a joke with the Duchess and TV host
Longtime Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Ambassador Paul O’Grady joined the celebration
Jacqueline, Amanda and Camilla smiled together as they were joined by Paul O’Grady
The funny man (right) laughed at Amanda as he charmed the women in Clarence House
Paul and Amanda posed on a bench while the TV host and comedian held a rescue dog in his lap
The Duchess spent the afternoon chatting with guests, including charities and people who rescued their puppies from Battersea
The club encourages children from disadvantaged backgrounds to take up horseback riding to improve their lives and well-being.
During the film, Camilla met a young trainer who had been riding at the club since childhood, named Indigo.
She also met other children who attended the club – she remembered the faces of those she had met before.
The documentary also offered a glimpse into Camilla’s childhood when she visited an old family holiday home, Hall Place in Hampshire.
When they invited her sister Annabel Elliot to join her for a photo shoot at the big house, the couple recalled rolling down the hills in the Hall Place grounds as children.
Annabel also sparked a decades-old feud between the sisters, noting that Camilla had buried Annabel’s favorite teddy bear in the Hall Place rose garden after the two broke up.
As the Duchess celebrated the charity she holds dear this afternoon, she was joined by television presenters Paul O’Grady and Amanda Holden, who was dressed in a white Suzannah summer dress with a lemon print that cost £995.
Amanda has a history of working as an ambassador for the animal charity, participating in a 2018 campaign to encourage people to adopt animals rather than buy from breeders.
Pooch fanatic Paul, who has hosted the ITV program For the Love of Dogs for the past 10 years, is also a long-time supporter of the charity.