Camilla takes a leaf out of Richard and Judy’s book
As she launches royal reading club...
SHE has already championed the cause of literacy, making it a cornerstone of her royal work.
now the Duchess of Cornwall is following in the footsteps of TV couple richard and Judy by setting up a book club.
Avid reader Camilla will unveil her new venture – a royal first – on Instagram this month with four recommended books she has chosen. The Duchess of Cornwall’s reading room will be a ‘ celebration of literature’ and, she hopes, a hub for literary communities around the world.
The titles in her first Winter Season are being kept under wraps until January 15. new books will be added each season.
She has previously highlighted favourite books by authors including William Boyd, Charles Dickens, Susan Hill and Philip Pullman. Camilla, 73, was inspired to set up the free initiative as a result of the phenomena l response to two suggested reading lists she published during lockdown.
She also took heart from research which showed book sales soared by 400 per cent in the spring lockdown.
The royal decided to set up a more permanent platform to celebrate and explore literature from around the world with@ du chess of cornwalls reading room and, say sources, has put her ‘ heart and soul’ into the venture.
Each recommended book will be accompanied by exclusive content from the authors, as well as the royal herself, to s park conversation and debate. Since joining the royal Family with her wedding to Prince Charles in 2005, Camilla has made the issue of literacy – particularly among children – central to her work and is patron of seven charities including the national Literacy Trust and First Story.
A royal source said Camilla hoped the new reading room will ‘encourage all ages and levels of reader to pick up a book – that it will spread awareness of the emotional, social and educational benefits of reading. But also, fundamentally, that it creates an opportunity for connection, engagement and discourse with and about authors and books around the world.
‘That is as important to her as recommending any particular title herself.
‘ Ultimately, though, her hope is that this should put more books into the hands of more people.’
Through the national Literacy Trust, the reading room has already linked up with libraries across the UK to ensure the featured titles are available free for as many people as possible. Camilla, who describes herself as a ‘voracious’ reader, said last year: ‘There is no friend as loyal as a book’ – a quote from Ernest Hemingway.
Launching her earlier reading lists, she said: ‘In these challenging times when we are isolated from the ones we love, many of us are finding comfort in reading, to fire up our imaginations, to take us on journeys and to make us laugh.’
Charlie Mackesy, author and illustrator of best- seller The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, has lent his support to the project, writing a letter, complete with his signature dr a wi ngs, to a delighted Camilla.
In a video call between the two, excerpts of which are published today, Camilla said of Mackesy’s work: ‘It’s lovely. I adore it.’