One of the many likeable characteristics of Queen Camilla is that she has a clear, full-throated passion for literature. She has taken her husband, the King, away from his usual diet of intellectually respectable but slightly stuffy authors – such as his mentor Laurens van der Post – and introduced him to the likes of Jilly Cooper, Elizabeth Jane Howard and E. F. Benson. Yet for all her bookish associations, the latest meeting that she had with the country’s bestselling – and most controversial – author is likely to arouse strong passions on both sides of the political divide. It has also prompted a particular question: is Camilla herself a Terf?
The picture that was posted on the royal family’s social media accounts yesterday was innocuous enough. The Queen met J.K. Rowling in Edinburgh at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the two of them were photographed looking comfortable in one another’s company. The accompanying caption suggested that:
With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure…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.
