Hundreds of wellwishers turned out to greet Queen Camilla on her arrival in Canterbury today to unveil a statue of a literary heroine.

Her Majesty drew a huge crowd to the city centre where a bronze figure of the 17th century author and playwright Aphra Behn has been installed.

The statue was commissioned by the Canterbury Commemoration Society to honour the writer who was born in Harbledown on the outskirts of the city in 1640 and is credited with being the first published female playwright and poet.

The bronze figure has been installed outside the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge where hundreds of people gathered behind barriers hoping to see the Royal visitor.

Shortly before midday, Her Majesty’s cavalcade cruised down the high street and she stepped out to cheers from the crowd and a rousing welcome from the 2nd Whitstable Sea Cadets.

She was then introduced to a line-up of dignitaries, including Lord Mayor Jean Butcher and Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield.

The chairman of the Canterbury Commemoration Society, Stewart Ross, outlined the story of Aphra Behn and the project to raise a statue in her name which he then invited the Queen to reveal from under its red robe.

The impressive artwork was created by sculptor Christine Charlesworth following an extensive period of research, consultation and fundraising.

The winning design presents a 17-year-old Aphra, book in hand and theatrical mask behind her back, looking wistfully about her as she sets out for London with her family.

The coup in getting Her Majesty to come to Canterbury to unveil the statue, which has been gifted to Canterbury City Council, was largely down to television personality Gyles Brandreth.

He is president of the Canterbury Aphra Behn Society and also trustee of the Queen’s Reading Room charity, which champions literature in the UK and beyond.

Following the unveiling, the Queen was given a tour of the Beaney, meeting library and museum staff and looking at exhibits, including a first edition of Behn’s novel, Oroonoko and meet its donor, Anna Astin.

She was treated to a performance of an excerpt from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Behn’s play, The Rover.

Two schoolchildren who won prizes in the Canterbury Festival’s Poet of The Year competition also read their winning entries.

Ahmad Raza of Pilgrims Way Primary School recited his poem, All About Me which won the five to eight-year-old category and Emily Corbett read Counting Stars, which won the nine to 11-year-old category in the same competition.

Gyles Brandreth then read one of Behn’s poems.

The Queen also met children from Wickhambreaux and St Peter’s Primary Schools who were taking part in Behn studies and reading workshops.

As well as literature, Her Majesty also revealed her love of dogs while meeting with a group of sight-impared people taking part in a “sensing culture” class.

It was there she patted and stroked a friendly golden retriever called Fergie belonging to partially-sighted Susan Mason, 66 from Herne Bay.

She told Ms Mason: “I’ve just got a new puppy who’s eight weeks old.”

Asked what type of breed it is, the Queen replied: “You may well ask. A bit of everything - it’s a rescue dog.

“It’s called Moley - just looks like a mole.”

Buckingham Palace posted the news of the death of the Queen’s previous dog on social media last November with a message describing the joy the pet brought to the Monarch.

During her tour, she was especially fascinated to see the exhibition of puppet character creator Peter Firmin and the display which included Bagpuss, Basil Brush and the Clangers.

Before the Queen left Canterbury she did an impromptu walkabout, spending more than 15 minutes chatting to members of the public and receiving numerous bouquets.

Just before she left the city, the crowd gave the Queen three cheers.