Queen Camilla has officially launched her own podcast!
Called The Queen’s Reading Room and hosted by Camilla herself, the podcast is a weekly audio version of her online book club of the same name.
Described as “a place for book lovers – and those who wish they loved literature a little more – to be inspired by the bookish confessions of global literary heroes,” the first of eight episodes was released on January 8, 2024.
In it, Camilla discussed the famous Harry Potter series and said it was what she liked reading with her grandchildren best before admitting she’s not very good at doing the ‘voices’.
“I think the one I enjoyed reading more than anything else was Harry Potter… I can’t mimic voices for love or money, I’m completely hopeless at it. I was a really bad actor at school, and I’ve never been able to master the art of mimicry,” she said.
However, Camilla then shared that King Charles is rather good at performing for his grandchildren during reading time…
“But my husband, he does it brilliantly. He can do all the voices.”
Ahead of the first episode’s release, a stellar line-up of guest stars was confirmed for The Queen’s Reading Room; including Dame Joanna Lumley, Sir Ian Rankin, David Baddiel, Elif Shafak and Susie Dent of Countdown fame. None of these guests appeared in the first episode though, so they must be slated for later episodes.
Camilla originally began her book club in early 2021, during the pandemic, so she could share what books she enjoyed reading during the lockdown, and why.
Then in February 2023, The Queen’s Reading Room became a charity – that promotes reading and helps to improve literacy in the UK – as well as a book club. Now, it’s obviously a podcast too.
Of course, Camilla is not the first royal to foray into the world of podcasting.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, launched Archetypes in 2022.
Archetypes focused on the different stereotypes that get levelled against women and ran for 12 episodes.
Guest stars included Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton and Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell.
Furthermore, Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson, Duchess of York, launched Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah in 2023.
The podcast is co-hosted by Fergie and entrepreneur Sarah Thomson, and the two talk about everyday issues.
Fergie has shared multiple insights into the royal family in various Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah episodes too, including what the last words the late Queen Elizabeth II ever said to her were.
The Queen’s Reading Room is now available on all podcast platforms.
