Queen Camilla is hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace this afternoon with a number of star-studded guests.

Zara McDermott, Carrie Johnson and Cerie Blair were among those invited to mark the relaunch of the Wash Bags project. 

The Wash Bags Project was initiated by The Queen as Duchess of Cornwall in 2013 after hearing the stories of rape and sexual abuse survivors during her visits to the Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).

The scheme provides a wash bag of toiletries, donated by Boots, to people who have been affected by rape and sexual abuse. The bags are offered at SARCs after a forensic examination, as a small gesture of comfort during a difficult time.

At the reception, Camilla gave a short speech where she recognised those who support survivors of sexual assault. 

She said: "Your stories and your experiences are vital tools as we seek to bring about change: to forge a world in which people, whoever and wherever they are, do not live in fear of being abused.

"As I have often heard victims say: speaking about the experience is one of the key ways to survive it. By sharing with one another today, we can strengthen our alliance against sexual abuse in all its forms."

Discussing the wash bag initiative, she added: "The aim of the washbags was to create something that would be 'a crumb of comfort' to those finding themselves in this horrendous position."