The Queen has praised cancer specialists for their efforts during her husband’s battle with the disease – while universities and colleges were today honored with a prestigious award at Buckingham Palace.

Camilla, 76, and the Duchess of Gloucester, 77, hosted the Queen Jubilee Awards for Higher and Further Education, the day after the King, 75, was pictured meeting the Prime Minister in person.

Learning centers from across Britain were recognized with awards, including the Institute of Cancer Research in London for its pioneering work in breast cancer. Camilla thanked the winning team and said: ‘What would we do without you?’

The Queen wore an elegant green dress for the awards ceremony in the British capital, which is held every two years. In 2020, the Royal Family supported the King and then the Prince of Wales on this occasion.

But this time the Queen led the show, with the Duchess of Gloucester, dressed in a sophisticated blue ensemble, by her side.

It comes after the King met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in person at Buckingham Palace yesterday for the first time since the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.

Charles revealed he has been reduced to tears by the messages and cards of support he has received since his cancer diagnosis, with Mr Sunak telling him that ‘the country is behind you’.

After the awards ceremony, the Queen was affectionately dubbed a ‘local girl’ by Plumpton College, a wine industry training institute that has a long association with Camilla, who grew up nearby in Sussex.

Her father, Major Bruce Shand, was a wine merchant and passed on his love of the grape to his daughter, who is known to prefer a glass of red.

They lived in the village of Plumpton and Camilla attended school in nearby Ditchling.

Jeremy Kerswell, principal and CEO of Plumpton College, received a Queen’s Anniversary Prize on behalf of his institution which has trained many of the country’s wine industry experts for decades.

He said: “It means so much, our award was in recognition of all the work the college has done over the years which has influenced the growth and success of the wine industry.

‘When I came on stage she said, ‘I’m so happy to see Plumpton here’, and she talked about wanting to come and visit the college and made it clear: ‘Your wine is very good too, isn’t it?’ It?’

“She is also the patron of our charity because she is a local girl: the Plumpton College Charitable Foundation.

“It’s our centenary in two years, so I just said, ‘Why don’t you come over next year and bring your husband for our centenary?’ and she said, ‘I’ll definitely go back to the diary.’

The awards recognize excellence, innovation and clearly proven benefits for education, the economy and the wider world. This year’s winners ranged from the University of Glasgow’s Center for Robert Burns Studies to the world-class aerospace engineering program at Loughborough College.

This year’s winners will each nominate two colleagues to join a working group charged with tackling the ‘Coronation Challenge’, a year-long initiative focused on using emerging technologies and the creative industries to to ‘turbocharge’ innovation.

The group’s recommendations will be sent to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and it is hoped the government of the day will implement them.

Queen Camilla has been installed as an honorary liveryman  of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers in her first engagement since returning to London with King Charles.

The royal, 76, was joined by the Duchess of Gloucester, who was made an honorary liveryman in 2005,  in the pair’s first joint engagement.

Opting for a black dress, the queen met with the Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, Mrs Claire Chitty, and the Master of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, Mr Peter Dove, ahead of a ceremony at Clarence House.  

Camilla shook hands with the clerks while adorning a red and gold robe.

It comes as Camilla and King Charles were seen returning to London today for more cancer treatment after his first public appearance at Sandringham. 

The 75-year-old monarch landed at Clarendon House in the royal helicopter after spending a week in Norfolk resting following the shock announcement.

He was pictured with his wife Queen Camilla by his side as the royal couple were driven to nearby Clarence House. 

It is thought that the King will hold face-to-face meetings in London this week despite his ongoing cancer treatment.

He will spend a day or so in the capital, as his trip is likely to overlap with his medical appointments.

Charles was pictured walking to church at Sandringham with Camilla on Sunday, the first time he had been seen in public since he began regular treatments. 

On Saturday he broke his silence for the first time as he sent his heartfelt thanks for the messages of support and said he was ‘heartened’ to hear his experience is inspiring others up and down the country to get themselves checked. 

The letter, signed by Charles R, read: ‘I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days.

‘As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.

‘It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world.

‘My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.’

Charles announced last week he was postponing all public duties while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer, found by doctors while he was being treated for his benign enlarged prostate. 

But the King is well enough to hold a limited number of face-to-face meetings, sources say.

The Queen has been carrying out her royal diary of engagements and last week said her husband was doing ‘extremely well under the circumstances’.

She said the King, who underwent his first bout of cancer treatment last week, had been ‘very touched’ by all the messages of support he has received from the public.

On Thursday she made a five-hour car journey from her husband’s side at Sandringham to Wiltshire to the charity musical evening at Salisbury Cathedral, after the local helipad flooded.

The King appeared to be in high spirits while attending a service at St Mary Magdalene Church.

He smiled and waved at a crowd of more than 100 well-wishers as he visited the Sandringham Estate Chapel alongside his Camilla, 76, before being greeted by rev Canon Paul Williams.

Wearing his signature long brown coat and using an umbrella as a walking stick, the King strolled at his usual brisk pace for the 11am service at the Norfolk estate. 

Crowds, who gathered to show the couple support following Charles’ diagnosis watched on from behind locked gates, said he ‘seemed like he was doing really well’. 

Andy Frost, 48, of Cromer, Norfolk, who was in the crowd, said: ‘The King really didn’t look too bad when you think of what he has been going through.

‘We normally come here about two or three times a year to visit Sandringham House, but today we thought we would come and see how the King is. He was walking very well, and actually looked better than I thought he would. It was lovely to see him.’

Mr Frost’s wife Eileen added: ‘He looked quite well. He waved at everyone and seemed like he was doing really well.’

Laura Barron of Sunbury, Surrey, who was with her son Hugo, eight, and eight-month-old daughter Beth said: ‘We are on holiday in the area, so we thought we would come to see the King.

‘He was walking along normally, and he really looked better than I thought he would. We didn’t get very close, but he certainly looks smart and able to walk confidently.’

Buckingham Palace confirmed last week Charles, who only acceded to the throne 17 months ago, does not have prostate cancer, saying only that he has a ‘form of cancer’.

He was diagnosed after a ‘separate issue of concern was noted’ and was investigated while he was being treated for his benign enlarged prostate.

Friends revealed last week that ‘workaholic’ Charles will most likely be spending his time indulging in two of his favourite hobbies – walking and water painting – while trying to take it easy.

All public engagements have been cancelled but those close to the monarch joked that he will continue to work through his ‘red boxes’ of paperwork ‘before he’s had his boiled egg in the morning.’

A friend told the Mail: ‘Boredom will be one of the hardest things for him.’

Another said the King will likely to spend some his time listening to his beloved records of the late Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, specifically the poetic song Take This Waltz, which he has described as ‘very moving’.