Queen Camilla welcomed guests to St James's Palace on Tuesday evening for a reception marking 30 years of The Amber Trust, with one performance carrying a particular personal connection.
Among the musicians performing at the celebration was pianist Derek Paravicini, who is the Queen’s nephew via her first marriage.
Mr Paravicini is the son of Mary Ann Parker Bowles, the sister of Camilla’s former husband, Andrew Parker Bowles.
Following his performance, Mr Paravicini greeted the Queen warmly, saying: “Hello, Aunt Camilla” before kissing her on both cheeks.
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The Queen responded warmly, passing on messages from her two children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
“Laura and Tom say hello,” she told Mr Paravicini, their first cousin.
The exchange took place after musicians supported by The Amber Trust delivered a recital earlier in the evening at St James’s Palace.
The Queen later met performers and their relatives, speaking with them about the charity’s work and the impact it has had on their lives.
Derek Paravicini's mother is Andrew Parker Bowles's sister
|PA
Queen Camilla pictured with her nephew at St James's Palace
|REUTERS
Mr Paravicini, who is blind and autistic, is internationally recognised for his extraordinary musical abilities.
Born extremely prematurely, he lost his sight shortly after birth and has severe learning difficulties, yet possesses a remarkable musical memory and improvisational talent.
He learned to play entirely by ear and is widely described as a musical savant.
The Amber Trust, which organised the performances, is the only national charity in the UK dedicated solely to supporting blind and partially sighted children with their musical education.
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Derek Paravicini is Queen Camilla's nephew via her first marriage
|PA
Queen Camilla has served as the charity’s president since 2012.
The reception at St James's Palace marked the trust’s 30th anniversary and brought together young musicians who have benefited from its work, offering the Queen the opportunity to see firsthand the progress and confidence music can bring to children with visual impairments.
Founded to remove barriers to musical education, The Amber Trust supports blind and partially sighted children, including those with additional disabilities, helping them to develop skills that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Its work includes funding specialist tuition, providing adapted instruments and materials, and offering guidance to families and teachers.
Queen Camilla watching the performers at St James's Palace
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During its anniversary year, the charity is providing direct support to more than 700 children across the UK.
In addition to one-to-one assistance, it also reaches a wider audience through professional development programmes for music teachers working with vision-impaired pupils.
The trust has expanded its digital resources in recent years, offering online materials and advice to educators and families.
This approach allows its expertise to reach many more children indirectly, extending the charity’s impact well beyond those it supports individually.