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Queen Camilla described the initial days of her and King Charles’s state visit to the United States as “good fun” during a conversation with U.S. television personality Jenna Bush Hager. The remarks came as the royal couple prepared to return to England following their American tour.
Speaking at the New York Public Library on Wednesday, Camilla appeared in a navy blue silk outfit by Fiona Clare, adorned with a red, white, and blue Britannia brooch that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The event was hosted by The Queen’s Reading Room, an initiative dedicated to celebrating literature and storytelling, and aimed to highlight the cultural and literary ties between Britain and America.
The gathering brought together around 100 guests, including actress Sarah Jessica Parker, author Harlan Coben, writer Min Jin Lee, and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth. During her interview on the TODAY show, Bush Hager noted the significance of the visit coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States. Camilla acknowledged the milestone, describing the visit as a “whistle stop” but “really good fun,” noting the fast pace of their engagements.
“You’ve been to a lot of places,” Jenna commented, to which Camilla replied, “Yes, it’s been wonderful. Everyone’s been very kind and welcoming. It’s always a pleasure to be here, always lovely to be back in New York.”
When asked about her message to Americans on this historic occasion, Camilla emphasized the importance of reading. “I’d like to say, keep reading,” she urged. “Specialist statistics show that reading is declining among children, and we need to find ways to encourage it.”
The Queen’s Reading Room, which began as an online book club during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, reflects Camilla’s belief in the power of literature to support wellbeing and provide an escape. “We were all twiddling our fingers, not quite sure what to do, so I gave eight of my favorite books to a local newspaper,” she explained.
“People started writing in from all over the world, so we decided to take it further.” Since then, the initiative has expanded into podcasting and now reaches audiences in 180 countries.
During her remarks, Camilla shared how her late father, Major Bruce Shand, a decorated British Army officer, nurtured her love of reading by reading stories to her and her siblings each night. “He was wonderful,” she recalled.
“He used to sit at the end of our beds and read us exciting, sometimes frightening stories, pillows over our heads. He gave us this incredible interest.”
Among her cherished childhood books was A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh.
At the library event, Camilla read a passage to local children and helped reunite the character Roo with the rest of the beloved 100 Acre Wood toy collection. Since the original Roo had been missing from the set, the Queen presented a replacement plush toy, completing the treasured collection.