'Catherine is thrilled by the kind wishes and support': Camilla thanks well-wishers for messages to the Princess of Wales as she carries on her royal duties - while the King leaves Clarence House

The Princess of Wales is 'thrilled' by all the support she has received since announcing she is undergoing treatment for cancer, the Queen revealed today.

Camilla made the comment during a tour of the Shrewsbury Farmers' Market this afternoon, where more than 2,000 well-wishers had gathered to see her.

Speaking to two young girls who had hand-drawn get well soon cards for Kate, Camilla said: 'I know that Catherine is thrilled by all the kind wishes and support.'

The Queen also promised Lois, six, and Harriet, ten, that she would transport the letters 'carefully' for the Princess. She was responding to Harriet's apology that the cards, which they had drawn yesterday, had become 'a bit creased' in the wind.

'I'll take them carefully and will make sure she knows they're coming,' the Queen responded, leaning in to speak to the two girls in the blustery conditions.

Speaking after meeting Camilla, Harriet - who is on half-term with her sister - said: 'We heard the news and I wanted to hold the poster up to show my love to Kate.'

Their mother Lucy Waterston, who did not think the Queen would even get to see the cards, said: 'She said she certainly will send her love.'

The well-wishes come after the Princess revealed in a personal video message last week that she is receiving the 'early stages' of preventative chemotherapy. 

Charles, who is being treated for cancer, was earlier seen leaving Clarence House in London in his state Bentley limousine, although it is not known where he was going. 

Queen Camilla receives messages of support for the Princess of Wales in Shropshire today

Camilla receives artwork of herself and King Charles III from a well-wisher in Shropshire today

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Camilla signs the visitors' book at the Old Market Hall during her trip to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla smiles as she meets a market trader during a visit to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla receives a message of support for the Princess of Wales in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla smiles during a visit to the farmers' market in The Square, Shrewsbury, today

Queen Camilla smiles in Shrewsbury this afternoon during her visit to the farmers' market

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla speaks with market traders at a wine stall during a visit to Shrewsbury today

Kate and the King are currently both undergoing treatment for cancer and have therefore postponed any public duties for the time being.

Another well-wisher in Shrewsbury today sent their 'best wishes to His Majesty', to which the Queen responded: 'Thank you'.

Camilla was dressed in a brown leopard print blouse by Fiona Clare, a brown suede skirt and camel top stitch coat by Anna Valentine and two jaunty bumble bee brooches, one of her own and one belonging to Queen Elizabeth II.

Camilla also thanked a woman who said she was 'thinking of her' during this time.

Speaking after she left, Joanne Morris, 65, said: 'She's got a lot on and it's a big thing - you think it's an easy job but it must be very, very tiring.'

More than 2,000 people came out to catch a glimpse of the Queen on what was her first engagement meeting the public since Kate's announcement.

The Queen has become the most senior royal to return to public-facing duties since the monarchy's double cancer scare.

Camilla became the leading royal figure after her husband King Charles III 's enlarged prostate treatment and later cancer diagnosis, carrying out a string of royal engagements while Prince William supported his wife following surgery.

And she was back out today after Kate's shock news last Friday that she has been receiving cancer treatment but remaining hopeful.

Camilla signs the visitors' book at the Old Market Hall during her trip to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla arrives in Shrewsbury this afternoon for her visit to the farmers' market

Well-wishers hold messages of support for the Princess of Wales in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla meets a trader during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Members of the public await the arrival of Queen Camilla for her visit to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla arrives in Shrewsbury this afternoon for her visit to the farmers' market

Well-wishers hold messages of support for Queen Camilla for her visit to Shrewsbury today

Also today, Camilla spoke with traders as she toured the market in the Shropshire town which featured a host of food, artisan, jewellery and craft stalls.

The Queen met with market organisers Jenny and Stuart Jones before touring the historic event which has been held in The Square for almost 20 years.

It has grown into one of the best markets in the area with around 40 traders regularly setting up stall on the first Friday of the month.

She also visited the Old Market Hall where she signed the visitors book, which was also signed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952, before meeting members of the local Bee Keepers' Association.

From there Camilla will travel to the recently restored Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, before meeting local volunteer groups.

These include the Shrewsbury Food Hub, Shrewsbury Interfaith forum, Save Our Shropshire and Shropshire Supports Refugees.

It comes after Buckingham Palace yesterday confirmed that Charles is to make his most significant public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer when he attends church on Easter Sunday.

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Camilla receives artwork of herself and King Charles III from a well-wisher in Shropshire today

Camilla signs the visitors' book at the Old Market Hall during her trip to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla smiles in Shrewsbury this afternoon during her visit to the farmers' market

Queen Camilla receives messages of support for the Princess of Wales in Shropshire today

Queen Camilla speaks with market traders at a wine stall during a visit to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla smiles in Shrewsbury this afternoon during her visit to the farmers' market

Queen Camilla arrives in Shrewsbury this afternoon for her visit to the farmers' market

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla arrives in Shrewsbury this afternoon for her visit to the farmers' market

Members of the public await the arrival of Queen Camilla for her visit to Shrewsbury today

Camilla receives artwork of herself and King Charles III from a well-wisher in Shropshire today

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla reflected in a mirror during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

Brooches on Camilla's coat as she meets members of the Bee Keepers' Association today

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla speaks with market traders at a wine stall during a visit to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

The King, 75, will join the Queen and other members of the royal family at the annual Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle this weekend.

As the palace announced the forthcoming engagement, Charles was pictured carrying out official duties for the first time since the Princess of Wales shared her cancer news with the nation.

Charles met community and faith leaders from across the UK in London yesterday.

The monarch, with a folded cardboard place name in front of him labelled 'HM The King', was shown in conversation around a large antique table in the Palace's Billiard Room.

He was welcoming alumni from the Windsor Leadership Trust, which encourages multi-faith dialogue, harmony and understanding at a time of heightened international tensions.

Confirmation of the King's Easter Sunday appearance came just four days after Kate released an emotional video message revealing she has started a course of preventative chemotherapy.

It will be seen as the King making a move to reassure the public following the shock news.

But the service will be a smaller version of the annual gathering, with less members of the royal family as the King has paused public-facing duties while he continues treatment for cancer himself.

Camilla signs the visitors' book at the Old Market Hall during her trip to Shrewsbury today

Brooches on Camilla's coat as she meets members of the Bee Keepers' Association today

Queen Camilla receives messages of support for the Princess of Wales in Shropshire today

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Brooches on Camilla's coat as she meets members of the Bee Keepers' Association today

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla poses with a dignitary and her dog during a visit to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

Members of the public await the arrival of Camilla in Shrewsbury today as they wear masks

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

Members of the public await the arrival of Queen Camilla for her visit to Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

A chocolate welcoming Queen Camilla ahead of her visit to Shrewsbury this afternoon

Queen Camilla greets well-wishers during a visit to the farmers' market in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla arrives in Shrewsbury this afternoon for her visit to the farmers' market

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla smiles after receiving a red rose from Abi Crighton in Shrewsbury today

Queen Camilla arrives in Shrewsbury this afternoon for her visit to the farmers' market

Queen Camilla arrives in Shrewsbury this afternoon for her visit to the farmers' market

Members of the public await the arrival of Camilla in Shrewsbury today as they wear masks

The head of state was described by the Palace as being 'so proud' of the princess for her courage in speaking out, and is said to be in 'the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law'.

Kate, the Prince of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will miss the service on Sunday.

The family are spending the Easter holidays together as they adjust to Kate's diagnosis, which was discovered in post-operative tests following her major abdominal surgery.

The King's own treatment for cancer was announced at the start of February, but he has been carrying out low-key official duties behind palace walls.

Although the Easter service is within the grounds of the castle, the King and Queen will be seen arriving by the media.

Royal arrivals at the chapel's Galilee Porch are often watched by staff living at Windsor, who usually gather on a grassy bank nearby or look on from their doorsteps.

Also yesterday, Camilla hosted an event celebrating the power of reading.

She gathered authors, academics and celebrity supporters for an evening reception at Clarence House to mark new research commissioned by her Queen's Reading Room literary project.

Dame Joanna Lumley, a supporter of the initiative was asked about Camilla's prominent role and replied: 'I think they're all really dutiful, in theatres if somebody's ill, somebody steps into their place, we go on with the understudy, we make the show great we keep on going.

Queen Camilla is driven from Clarence House in London today as she heads to Shrewsbury

King Charles III waves to smiling members of the public as he leaves Clarence House today

King Charles III grins to well wishers as he leaves Clarence House in London this morning

Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a video released last Friday

'I think there's a lot of professional and dutiful public service, public life which goes on that we've got so out of kilter with, we find it amazing.

'We all think she should be blubbing in a corner but that's not what these people are made of.'

Among the guests were a host of celebrity supporters of the Queen's Reading Room including the actors Helena Bonham Carter, Sir Derek Jacobi, Rupert Everett, Edward Fox and authors Sir Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Sir Ben Okri.

Camilla, an avid reader whose literary project has grown beyond its roots as an online book club, highlighted the research during a speech.

She said: '...in addition to our five a day and our 10,000 steps, we should all be aiming for at least five minutes of reading every day for invaluable benefits for brain health and mental wellbeing.

'Just as we always suspected, books are good for us - and now science is proving us right!'

Camilla launched her reading room during lockdown and it has grown into a major literary initiative which now has a podcast attracting leading authors and a literary festival in its second year.