The Queen celebrated unsung reading heroes at a literary reception with stars as she began filming for a new documentary on the ‘life-transforming power of books’.
Camilla was joined by King Charles and Duchess of Gloucester to meet finalists of The Queen’s Reading Room Medal, at Clarence House, London.
The medal recognises those who have promoted books and literature across communities in the UK.
Other star-studded guests packed into Clarence House included Sir Ben Okri, Jojo Moyes, Richard Osman, Sigourney Weaver, Stanley Tucci, Lee Child, Jeffrey Archer, Derek Jacobi and Robert Harris.
Camilla launched the Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room in 2021 to hail the power of literature and it subsequently became The Queen’s Reading Room.
Speaking afterwards Aliens star Sigourney Weaver said she has even signed up for Camilla’s Queen’s Reading Room newsletter.
And she added she was reading The Far Pavilions by M M Kay after it was recommended by The Queen.
She said: ‘I’m so interested in how this is growing because you can do the same thing in America, it’s energising.
‘The ideas that adults are not reading or reading go their children is sad. Reading is everything. I wouldn’t have a career if I wasn’t a reader.’
The actress added she was ‘shocked’ by recent statistics revealed by Camilla in January revealed only one in two adults in the UK read a book in a year.
In a speech Camilla revealed she is appearing in a new BBC documentary with cameras filming at the palace.
Standing in front of celebrated authors she said: ‘I’m also delighted to announce that we have partnered with the BBC and Blink Films for a major new documentary that will showcase the life-transforming power of books – my father’s and my own experience included – for which the cameras are filming here this evening.’
Camilla’s late father Bruce Shand published his memoir about World War II exploits and time spent as a prisoner of war.
And she has previously described him as ‘probably the best-read man I’ve come across anywhere. He devoured books. He read to us as children’.
The documentary will mark the UK-wide National Year of Reading 2026 and produced in partnership with The Open University.
At the royal reception, Selina Brown won a medal as ‘National Reading Hero’ after founding the Black British Book Festival – which is Europe’s largest celebration of black literature.
Camilla presented the medal and said: ‘Many congratulations’
Liz Waterland received a medal as ‘Local Reading Hero’ for her commitment to volunteering at Deepings Community Library in Lincolnshire.
Presenting the medal Camilla said: ‘Fantastic job. You are so brilliant.’
A copy of Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘How Watson Learned the Trick’ from Queen Mary’s Doll’s House at Windsor Castle.
And early editions of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles.
