Queen says King is 'getting better' but urges him to 'behave himself'

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• READ MORE: Queen on Platform 9¾! Camilla tells children she would 'love to jump on the Express to Hogwarts' and 'pick a house' as she makes surprise appearance at Charleston Festival

The Queen revealed today that the King is ‘getting better’ before joking: ‘Well, he would be if he behaved himself.’

Camilla, 76, was chatting to guests at a garden party at Lamb House in Rye, East Sussex, where she was treated to a performance by actors Timothy West and Hayley Mills.

Charles, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, is said to be delighted that his doctors have given him permission to undertake more public engagements again.

He packed in five major events in 48 hours earlier this week alone - and his wife revealed that he was ‘quite cross he could not be there', but had been ‘dragged away to more menial tasks’.

She was visiting Lamb House, home of the author EF Benson, on a literary-themed day of engagements in Sussex.

The Queen has made no secret of her frustration that her husband is working too hard, but sources say she understands and accepted his prodigious work ethic.

The King had been undertaking state business and royal duties tirelessly behind the scenes since his diagnosis, and has now been given the green light to attend more events in public.

He is also set to lead the Royal Family at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next week, as previously revealed by the Mail.

Queen Camilla also revealed today that she dreams of being a student at Hogwarts, as she helped launch a literary festival.

Attending the opening of the 35th annual Charleston Festival she was asked by local schoolgirl Bess, nine: ‘Are there any fictional places from a book that you would like to travel to and why?’

She replied: ‘One place I think I'd love to go is Hogwarts. I'd like to jump on the Express and I'd like to go to Hogwarts and sit in that wonderful hall and wait for the hat to come round and pick a house for me.

‘I'd like to look at Dumbledore, and Hagrid, and Snape, and see all the pictures going mad and people jumping out of pictures and the food flying about, I think it would be a proper magical experience, and that's a place I'd really like to go to.’

The event was also attended by children's laureate Joseph Coelho, Jacqueline Wilson, author of Tracy Beaker, actress Jenny Agutter, and Francesca Simon of Horrid Henry books, as well as Sir Lenny Henry.

During the session entitled the ‘Power of Reading’, the Queen delivered an address to around 450 children attending, saying: ‘Good morning everybody, I'm sorry about the weather, I lived in Sussex for many years and it was always sunny.

‘As the proud Patron of Charleston, I am delighted to welcome you to this year's Literary Festival, in a place rightly described by a previous resident as "an earthly paradise".’

She cited Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret Garden, as one of her favourite authors and ‘someone, like all of us, who understood the incredible thrill of reading’.

During the two hour visit, which took place in a marquee during rain, The Queen also toured Charleston’s house and studio which was home to the famous 'Bloomsbury Set', a group of intellectuals, philosophers and intellectuals from the early 20th century.

Joseph Coelho, children’s laureate, said afterwards: "I could see the kids in the audience smiling and grinning. Books can take you to different worlds."

She also attended a jolly, if slightly soggy, garden party.