After a weekend of celebrations, Princess Beatrice was back to her official royal duties on Tuesday – and it was for a cause close to her heart.
The 34-year-old is the proud royal patron of Oscar’s Book Prize, set up by Viveka Alvestrand and her husband James Ashton to ‘encourage parents to take time to share books with their young children’.
It is an annual award for the best book of the year for children under five and is awarded in memory of Oscar Ashton, who passed away in 2012 at age three from an undetected heart condition.
And this week, the winner of the 2023 prize was announced.
Beatrice was on hand to make the big announcement – but not before she ‘drummed up’ some excitement amongst guests.
In a clip shared on the prize’s official Instagram page, Beatrice can be seen taking the microphone and declaring she has a “very important job to do”.
With a big smile on her face, she then asked guests to give a drum roll as she opened the envelope to reveal the winner.
The children’s book The Boy With Flowers In His Hair by Jarvis was announced as the winner of the Oscar’s Book Prize 2023.
Beatrice said: “I am honoured to be a Patron of Oscar’s Book Prize. As befits this special tenth anniversary for the prize, the judges have chosen a truly unique book that the judges all felt is an instant modern classic.
“Its values of friendship and acceptance exemplify the very best tropes in picture book storytelling, all told with a gentle immersive world for its readers.
“It is also beautifully illustrated in the Oscar’s Book Prize tradition. Congratulations to Jarvis with his book, The Boy With Flowers in His Hair.”!
Manchester-based author and illustrator Jarvis was awarded £10,000 at a ceremony in central London for the annual children’s book award, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Jarvis said: “I could not be more delighted to have won this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize, and taking a look around the room and the incredibly talented authors and illustrators also shortlisted, it truly is an honour.
“I’ve always believed that picture books are a piece of art that everyone can own.
“This award celebrates the art and joy in children’s books and I am so pleased that my book, which focuses on poignant issues surrounding vulnerability and friendship, has been received so well.”
The finalists for the prize included Billy And The Pirates by Nadia Shireen, Can I Play? by Nicola Kinnear and Frank And Bert by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros.
Beatrice appeared after her sister, Princess Eugenie, shared a behind-the-scenes snap from the coronation concert as she reflected on a “fun” weekend following her uncle King Charles’s coronation.
She shared a series of snaps from the weekend’s events on her personal Instagram account, including a sweet picture with Beatrice and their mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, before they took their seats at the star-studded bash at Windsor Castle.
