Queen Camilla makes no secret of her passion for books and is keen to promote appreciation of literature. So when her charity, The Queen's Reading Room, staged its inaugural literary festival at Hampton Court Palace last week, OK! was delighted to be invited.
The festival, attended by the King and Queen, welcomed hundreds of book lovers to the historic palace for a day of performances, talks by leading authors and a finale involving Dame Judi Dench and Gyles Brandreth.
Taking to the stage was the cast of improvised comedy Austentatious to perform a farce in the style of Jane Austen with a title dreamt up by the Queen herself, Persuasion And The Odd Occasion. Elsewhere, novelist Kate Mosse spoke passionately about her book, Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (Also) Built The World.
As always, the British weather was unpredictable, but torrential rain didn't put off the likes of Succession's Dame Harriet Walter and The Crown's Ben Miles, as they paid tribute to the award-winning novelist Dame Hilary Mantel, who died last year. And bestselling author Peter James shared insights into writing crime novels.
The charity, previously known as The Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room, has grown rapidly since its launch in January 2021 and is, in the Queen's own words, "a resource, a reassurance and a refuge to all book lovers."
She has said reading has often been her salvation in challenging and trying times. "If you learn to read, however difficult your life is at the time, you can pick up a book and you can escape. You can laugh, you can cry, it just takes you out of the real world and it gives you a different dimension to life."
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 26, 2023 من OK! UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 26, 2023 من OK! UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
SEASONAL SHOPPING
Get in the festive spirit with a visit to one of the UK's best Christmas markets.
BOOST YOUR BRAIN HEALTH
As doctors highlight the importance of early detection in dementia cases, here are some of the steps we can take to help protect ourselves
'If it wasn't for psychiatrist, I wouldn't be a sitting here'
Comedian Ruby Wax shares her long-term struggles with mental health as she backs a brand new campaign to inspire and help others
I'm happy to be the one who says no'
TV presenter Helen Skelton might love the adrenaline rush of a new adventure, but when she's not busy breaking Guinness World Records she has learned how to take the pressure off herself
My daughter is excited to see Daddy covered in bugs'
I'm A Celebrity star Alan Halsall on how his loved ones feel about his Aussie adventure and what he will miss most while away
'We enjoy doing things together - we motivate and encourage one another'
Race Across The World stars Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy Parisi on letting the cameras into their private life with their new reality series and taking on their toughest challenge yet
"They'd need to be Christian - but I'm hoping I'll find someone who will treat me right'
MAFS UK'S Sacha Jones says she's devastated following her heartbreaking split from \"husband\" Ross McCarthy
THE ROYAL WEEK
Armistice Day was remembered, entertainers were honoured and the King celebrated his birthday
KATE'S NEXT MAJOR MILESTONE
\"This is Kate's night,\" a royal expert tells OK!, as the Princess of Wales reveals she will be hosting her annual carol service this year
I'm in awe of my baby boy - he is truly a blessing'
JLS singer Oritsé Williams and his wife Kazz introduce baby son Shiva to the world in our exclusive OK! shoot