Camilla left in tears
Camilla moved to tears by boy’s heavenly tale about a sad old bunny
THE Duchess of Cornwall has marked the tenth – and final – year of the 500 Words children’s storywriting competition with a very special appearance.
Camilla filmed a video message to all those who took part from a magical-looking thatched hut on Prince Charles’s Royal Deeside estate.
The duchess, who has been dubbed the ‘Fairy Godmother’ of the BBC Radio 2 writing event, is also an honorary judge.
She said she had been moved to tears by one child’s entry about a rabbit that went to heaven. This year’s final was due to be broadcast live on Zoe Ball’s breakfast show from Buckingham Palace – but was cancelled due to coronavirus.
In her message, the duchess, who has spent lockdown in Scotland with her husband, said: ‘Just like many of you this year, 500 Words is having to settle for a virtual birthday party, rather than the one we had planned. I was really looking forward to meeting the finalists at Buckingham Palace today. But... we will still celebrate as hard as we can.’ She also congratulated the ‘brilliant’ children for ‘staying at home, being kind to others and cheering up your family and friends’.
Yesterday, the six main winners were announced on air by Zoe Ball, and their stories read by celebrities including David Walliams, Jodie Whittaker, Joanna Lumley and Alfred Enoch.
Gold, silver and bronze prizes were awarded in each age category – five to nine years and ten to 13 years – chosen from 134,709 entries. Chatting during the show with Zoe Ball, Camilla admitted one particular story left her in tears. The Old Rabbit, by Lenny Tucker, eight, from Essex, told the story of Pat, an old, tired and lonely bunny, dying and going to heaven in the most moving way. ‘I had a good cry,’ Camilla said of the story, which won silver in the five to nine category.
Lenny said he was ‘happy and excited’ to hear his story read live on air by Miss Lumley,
while his mother Jennie added: ‘He’s over the moon, and has said he’ll donate his prize of the Duchess of Cornwall’s height in books to his school.’
The building in which Camilla appears for her message is a previously-unseen playhouse built at Birkhall for the Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, in 1935.
The duchess said the 500 Words team was hoping to hold a party at the palace after lockdown. She added: ‘In its ten years, 500 Words has received a staggering million-plus entries. And it hasn’t just got children excited about reading and writing – lots of grown-ups have got very excited too.
‘Including me, the competition’s rather ancient Fairy Godmother! Now this year, we may have been confined to our homes, but nobody can confine imagination.’ The winner of the gold prize in the five to nine division was Shachar ApplebaumKhan, nine, from London, who wrote The Winning Goal about a young footballing refugee. The other group gold award winner is Vishal Saha, 13, from Surrey, who wrote The Diary of a £5 note.
Camilla said of the competition: ‘I’ve loved every minute of it.’
‘Can’t confine imagination’