A special literary guest joined King Charles and Queen Camilla in the carriage procession at Royal Ascot on Monday afternoon – English novelist and screenwriter, Anthony Horowitz. The screenwriter was involved with numerous television shows since the 1980s, most notably the murder mystery Murder in Mind, the crime drama Collision, and the detective drama Foyle’s War, all produced in the early 21st century.
He has been a huge supporter of the Queen’s Reading Room, a project which has now evolved into a registered charity with a popular podcast and annual festival. Reading Room aims to highlight the work of “reading heroes” across the country who are helping communities overcome the reading crisis.
The Queen is a long-standing campaigner on literacy, serving as patron of organisations including the National Literacy Trust, First Story, Corma Beanstalk and Booktrust.
Queen Camilla has previously included his work on her Reading Room website’s reading list. Camilla has promoted ‘Magpie Murders’ by Anthony Horowitz on her website.
She gave the book a personal review: “Magpie Murders is a book within a book, a cleverly crafted, brilliantly plotted, classic whodunnit with an ingenious twist in the tale … when editor Susan Ryeland is given the manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest book, she has no reason to think it will be much different to any of his others … but how wrong she is!”
The Queen’s Reading Room is UK based charity founded by Camilla, hoping to promote the benefits of reading. It was initially conceived from an Instagram book club launched during the pandemic.
The charity hosts events, including the annual Queen’s Reading Room Festival, and produces educational content and a podcast featuring authors.
Alongside Anthony Horowitz and his wife, Jill in the third carriage at Royal Ascot today was Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips and his girlfriend, Harriet Sperling.
The King and Queen rode in the first carriage with Prince Faisal, a member of the Saudi Royal Family, and Lady Sarah Keswick, one of the Queen’s official companions.
The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition which began during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
Writing in the official programme, the King and Queen said: “Having experienced the thrill of victory at Royal Ascot ourselves in 2023, we can only wish all those competing this week the very best of luck and that everyone watching has a most enjoyable five days.”