Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Reads Aloud to Schoolchildren–and a Herd of Elephant Sculptures

Today, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, read aloud to a group of schoolchildren–and a herd of 100 life-sized elephant sculptures. At a storytelling event in London’s St. James’s Park, she helped celebrate the opening of an elephant “story trail” created by the National Literacy Trust, of which Camilla is a patron.

Children’s authors Petr Horacek (Elephant) and Nizrana Farook (The Girl Who Stole an Elephant) read to and played games with students from Vauxhall Primary School. Camilla joined in, reading David McKee’s Elmer.

The elephant sculptures are a part of the CoExistence campaign–a collaborative effort by conservation charity Elephant Family, which was co-founded by Camilla's late brother, Mark Shand, and The Real Elephant Collective. The Duchess of Cornwall is also joint royal president of Elephant Family.

Per a press release from the Trust, “the CoExistence campaign aims to prompt a moment of collective empathy for the world’s biggest and most intelligent land animal and tells the story of our crowded planet, the effect of human encroachment on wild spaces and the inspiring ways we can coexist with all wildlife.”

Jonathon Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, was also at today's event. “It was a really special moment for the pupils to hear the heart-warming story of Elmer read by Her Royal Highness herself in this beautiful setting,” he said.

Camilla is patron of a number of literacy charities including The London Library and The Wicked Young Writers Award. Earlier this year, she launched an Instagram book club to celebrate books and the authors who write them.

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