Queen Camilla is celebrating her 79th birthday this Friday, but it is mainly the young people in the country who will be receiving gifts on this day. Instead of accepting presents, King Charles' (77) wife has prepared a surprise herself: Every sixth-grade child in Britain will receive a book for Christmas.
The gift is a special edition of the children's novel Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, which the Queen is distributing together with the National Literacy Trust. "Led by the National Literacy Trust, of which the Queen is patron, the program celebrates the National Year of Reading 2026," the royal household announced.
A personal message in every copy
Each book bears a royal stamp on the cover and a few lines from Camilla herself inside, according to Hello! magazine. The novel is by one of her favorite authors and is a great fantasy story that transports young readers into a world full of fabulous friends and fearsome foes, she writes in it. She hopes the children will love the book as much as she does.
For Camilla, this initiative is no coincidence. Reading has been part of her life for a long time, and she has made it her mission to inspire others to love books. The Queen launched her book club Reading Room in January 2021 during the coronavirus lockdown to share recommendations. Two years later, it became the registered charity The Queen's Reading Room, which now organizes its own literary festival and podcast. In addition, Camilla supports several British literacy initiatives as patron, including the National Literacy Trust and BookTrust.
A portrait with a special detail
Right on time for her birthday, Buckingham Palace released a photo of the Queen on Friday. It was taken the previous month in the State Drawing Room of Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, photographed by Chris Jackson.
In the picture, Camilla is wearing a bright blue dress with a butterfly-shaped brooch made of diamonds and sapphires. The piece of jewelry has history: According to The Telegraph, it was once presented to Queen Elizabeth II in February 1977 at the Birmingham Spring Fair.
Congratulations also came from Prince William (44) and his wife Kate (44), who wished the Queen all the best through their official channels. According to reports, Camilla will spend her birthday away from the public eye, at the Highgrove estate.
