The Queen hosted JK Rowling at the Palace of Holyroodhouse this afternoon, with the pair discussing their shared passion for children’s literacy. The Harry Potter author, who has twice declined a peerage and also turned down a damehood, accepted the honour of a private chat with Her Majesty to discuss the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books.
Camilla was pictured smiling and standing side by side with the author as the pair met to discuss the importance of young people having access to books at the Edinburgh royal residence. Both women are passionate advocates of efforts to improve literacy, and Rowling’s wizarding series has been enjoyed by several royals, including the King, with Camilla previously revealing that her husband is “brilliant” at doing all the voices when he reads the books to their grandchildren.
A post on the monarchy’s official social media read: “With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
“Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations.”
No further details of their meeting were given by Buckingham Palace.
The pair met at Holyrood in June 2011, where they also discussed ways to encourage children to read. Rowling was awarded an OBE in 2001 and was made a Companion of Honour in 2017 for her work, though she has refused any further recognition.
Rowling, who also goes under the pen name Robert Galbraith for her crime fiction series, has been named a literary hero by the National Literacy Trust, of which the Queen is patron, for helping turn a generation of children into readers.
Her Harry Potter series has sold more than 600 million copies worldwide and continues to inspire children to read almost 30 years after the first instalment was published in 1997.
As an avid reader, the Queen has devoted much of her work to championing literature, and her charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, has published research showing that reading for just five minutes a day yields significant wellbeing benefits, such as reducing stress and improving concentration.
JK Rowling has become known for her outspoken views and previously been accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity, which she denies.
Camilla squeezed in the meeting during a jam-packed opening day of Royal Week, which saw her visit the Royal Scottish Academy and attend a garden party alongside the King, Princess Royal and Duke of Edinburgh.
The King also attended the historic Ceremony of the Keys, hosted an investiture, and held private audiences.