Camilla welcomed children back to school as pupils returned to classrooms.
The Duchess of Cornwall was greeted today by year three students at Ivydale Primary School on their third day back in class, and was even treated to a cheeky joke.
She was not wearing a mask in line with school policy.
Happy youngsters eagerly pointed out their favourite books lining the shelves of a new school library funded entirely by parents.
The Duchess also recorded a secret message which will feature on the National Literacy Trust’s Virtual School Library, when it is launched online on Monday.
Arriving at the school and met by headteacher Helen Ingham, she said: “It is very nice to be out about.”
Wearing a navy and white silk print dress, the Duchess spoke to children as they did their schoolwork outside and explained their drawings.
Inside the main hall, Chris Smith, of BBC Radio One Newsbeat, read a poem created by children based on his book The Hope-o-potamus.
The newsreader, who penned the poem and co-authored the Kid Normal series with Breakfast Show host Greg James, welcomed the duchess to the school.
And the Duchess raised a smile after clips of jokes written and created by children from around the country were played on a giant screen in the main school hall.
One of the cheeky pupils, Toby, of Scarborough, got the biggest laugh joking: “Who goes to the toilet at a party? A party pooper.”
The joke project had been inspired by the Incredible Joke Instant Joke Creating Machine book by Susie Day.
Many of the Ivydale school children, aged seven and eight-years-old, have been off school during the pandemic.
They sat with the Duchess in the new school library designed and funded by parents and pointed out their favourite books.
Camilla, 73, said: “I would like to welcome you all back. It must be nice to be back in school after so long.”
The school, in Nunhead, south east London, built the new library with mezzanine level built after three years of fundraising.
The Duchess also privately recorded a video message to launch the National Literacy Trust’s Virtual School Library which will be broadcast on 14th September.
The National Literacy Trust says ten per cent of schools do not have a library and a quarter of all children did not have access to books of their own or library books during lockdown.
The trust will on Monday launch its Virtual School Library, providing a weekly author or illustrator sharing a free ebook or audiobook.
Fiona Evans, director of Social Programmes at the National Literacy Trust, said: “School libraries will play a vital role in supporting the literacy, learning and wellbeing of all children as they return to school after such a significant disruption to their education.
"Ivydale Primary School’s brand-new school library was the perfect setting for our Patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to launch our new Virtual School Library which will ensure that children have access to the magical world of stories all year round."
Children’s author Chris Smith said: “As children go back to school after such a difficult few months, we’ve got to do everything we can to help them take their next steps forward.
"And stories can be a massive help with that process. A great story can be a comfort, an inspiration or an escape – and the place where these magical treasures can be found at school is that wonderful place called the library.
“It was fantastic to join Her Royal Highness today to launch not one but two brand-new school libraries. The first is a spectacular space, filled with books and displays that will inspire children at Ivydale Primary School to fall in love with reading for decades to come.
"The second is a new virtual school library from the National Literacy Trust which will bring the magic of stories to all primary school children across the UK at a time when they need them most.
"Greg and I can’t wait to be the first guest virtual school librarians – we’ve got some brilliant stories and fun-filled activities up our sleeves."
Helen Ingham, headteacher at Ivydale Primary School, said: “Our new school library is spectacular.
"We wanted to create a space that would inspire our pupils, staff and the wider community to fall in love with reading, and we’ve achieved that and so much more.
"All corners of the community came together in a three-year mission to fundraise for the school library and to give their time and expertise to help bring it to life.
“I am so grateful to our incredible parents and PTA, publishers including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Walker Books and Pan Macmillan, and local independent bookshops Rye Books and Tales on Moon Lane for making today possible.
"It was an absolute honour for Her Royal Highness to open our new school library. It has been a truly special day that our children will never forget.”