Queen Camilla has made history by becoming the first female member of the Royal Family to join the prestigious Garrick Club, a private members' club.
Her Majesty's nomination was put forward and approved during a gathering on Wednesday, which she attended without prior announcement.
The exclusive private members' establishment in London's West End had maintained its men-only policy since its establishment in 1831 before finally opening its doors to women in 2024.
The Queen has secured the backing required for membership, according to reports in the Mail, with her admission set to receive official confirmation next month.
Queen Camilla becomes first female royal to join prestigious club after historic rule change
|GETTY
This landmark moment arrives nearly two years after the club voted to end its longstanding exclusion of female members.
The Garrick Club had resisted calls to welcome women for nearly two centuries before members finally voted in favour of change in 2024.
The decision came after sustained pressure and the departure of several notable figures from the club's ranks.
Sir Richard Moore, the former head of MI6, was among those who stepped down following the publication of the membership list.
Camilla pictured at a royal reception on Wednesday evening
| PAEarlier attempts to overturn the male-only rule had been unsuccessful, but the 2024 ballot secured approval with close to 60 per cent of members voting in favour of admitting women.
The membership process required Her Majesty to be both proposed and seconded by existing club members.
Additionally, 30 signatures from fellow members were necessary to support her candidacy, a threshold that was successfully reached.
The formal ratification of Queen Camilla's membership is scheduled for April, completing the administrative requirements for her entry into the historic institution.
Garrick Club is located in Covent Garden
|GETTY
The Queen's admission represents the first time a female member of the Royal Family has joined the establishment's membership rolls.
The news of Queen Camilla's Garrick Club membership comes as she hosted a glittering reception at Clarence House on Wednesday evening for the inaugural Queen's Reading Room Medal ceremony.
Hollywood actors Sigourney Weaver and Stanley Tucci joined literary figures including Jeffrey Archer, Richard Osman, Robert Harris, Lee Child and Jojo Moyes at the event.
Her Majesty touched on the work of British writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle during her speech
| PAKing Charles attended to support his wife, alongside the Duchess of Gloucester.
Her Majesty presented awards to Selina Brown, founder of the Black British Book Festival, and Liz Waterland, who preserved a community library.
The Queen founded her online reading community five years ago and will feature in a BBC film celebrating reading later this year.