Duchess of Cornwall congratulates Olivier Award winners

The Duchess of Cornwall congratulated Olivier Award winners in London following a night celebrating London theatre.

Camilla talked with West End stars following the ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall, which saw surprise talents commended.

Beating competition from the likes of Gillian Anderson, Patsy Ferran won the best actress award for her work in the Tennessee Williams play Summer And Smoke.

The young star was shocked by her win, but was praised by the duchess for keeping her composure as the pair spoke backstage.

Ferran said: “She asked if it was a big surprise that I won an award, and I said it was a massive, huge surprise. I wasn’t expecting it at all.

“She said she thought I did very well with dealing with my surprise.

“I’ve never done that, I’ve never met royalty before. So it’s quite a night to remember isn’t it?”

Camilla also spoke to comedian Kyle Soller, who won best actor for his part in The Inheritance, which swept four awards at the ceremony.

The duchess also offered congratulations to musical stars Sharon D Clarke and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, who won the best actor and actress in a musical respectively.

Ferran added on her surprise win: “I just just don’t associate myself with that world. So to find myself speaking in front of a group of people that I’ve watched for years on stage and screen is kind of weird, and quite alarming.

“I am going to go for a drink.”