Dog guard of honour as Camilla takes lead role

A dozen homeless dogs stood in two lines wearing blue jackets as Camilla fed them treats, petted them and chatted to volunteers at the home.

The Duchess has recently adopted the two terriers from the charity and it was the first time she had visited Battersea with her new companions in tow.

Camilla got Beth in August 2011 when she was a three-month-old unwanted puppy and later adopted Bluebell in September 2012 after she was found wandering alone in a London park with a painful skin condition.

The pair appeared in fine form when they emerged with Camilla from the royal car, straining at their leads to explore the smells of the home and barking at the cameras as they were photographed.

Staff who treated the two dogs commented on how well they were looking and said they were delighted that Bluebell’s fur had grown back.

“She’s the nicest dog,” the Duchess said of Bluebell. “Both of them are. They are very happy and they love it... These two, I must say, have turned out to be stars.”