Queen Camilla pays tribute to vital work of journalists – before joking about her own press coverage

THE Queen hailed the vital work of journalists before joking that she has been the subject of stories herself over the years.

Camilla, 76, marked 135 years of the Foreign Press Association at a bash at Sheraton Grand hotel on London’s Park Lane.

She paid tribute to the “bravest” of journalists who cover warzones and praised the industry for its work to “protect and promote women”.

She told guests: “We think particularly of those reporting from Ukraine and the Middle East in these most difficult of times.”

And Camilla, presented with honorary membership, added: “I know, second-hand, a little of the responsibility of your profession.

“There are journalists in my family . . . and I have even been the subject of one or two stories myself over the years.”

She hailed “trailblazers” who have “so tragically paid with their lives” such as Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin.

The Queen added: “Perhaps this has never been more evident than in our digital age, where disinformation runs rife and where female journalists are increasingly targeted on social media.

“The FPA has done much to promote and protect women throughout your long history, appointing your first female President in 1955, and, more recently, providing specialised training for women to deal with disruptive and abusive behaviour from members of the public.

“For this, all your readers and broadcast audiences are in your debt.”

It comes after Prince Harry claimed she got “into bed with the devil” by working with newspapers to get favourable coverage.