Queen Camilla is well-known for her brilliant sense of humour and incredible efforts to champion everything from the importance of literature to supporting domestic abuse victims. And, as the Queen marked her 78th birthday, a top British screenwriter has revealed exactly what she is like in person.
Speaking exclusively to the Express ahead of the London run of her new play By Royal Appointment, screenwriter and author Daisy Goodwin praised the Queen for the impressive way she has brought literature and literacy to the forefront through her charity, The Queen’s Reading Room.
Ms Goodwin, who also wrote the hit ITV series, Victoria, said: “I’m very pro-Camilla. She’s been through a lot, and she’s rocking it; she’s doing it so well.”
The charity – previously known as The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room – has grown rapidly since its launch in January 2021, and the initiative is, in the Queen’s own words, “a resource, a reassurance and a refuge to all book lovers”.
“I think her Queen’s Reading Room initiative is amazing,” Ms Goodwin adds. “I’ve been invited to the receptions and I’ve talked to her about it. She really reads, I think she’s brought a different flavour to the monarchy, a really good one, because she’s got different interests, and I think that’s great because the Royal Family have been very good on sport and racing, but to have a royal figure in there championing reading, it’s fantastic.
“I’m very pro Camilla, and I think she’s amazing and has been a very good thing for the monarchy.”
Ms Goodwin’s comments come as the Queen prepares to celebrate her third annual Reading Room festival. However, in a change from the previous two years, the event will be held at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, rather than at Hampton Court Palace from September 19- 20th.
As with the first two celebrations, the festival will have a star-studded line-up, which includes the likes of Bridget Jones author, Helen Fielding, romance novelist Dame Jilly Cooper and author of the popular Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn. Also making appearances this year will be comedian Richard Osman, historian Peter Frankopan and gardening legend, Alan Titchmarsh.
The festival will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen and will feature a special screening of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in the garden at Chatsworth.