Queen Camilla is celebrating her 79th birthday today, with the Palace announcing a special initiative as part of her work with the National Literacy Trust to mark the day13:29, 17 Jul 2026Updated 13:34, 17 Jul 2026The Royal Family have marked Queen Camilla’s 79th birthday today, with the Palace sharing a new photo of the Queen for the special occasion. The image was taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson last month in the State Drawing Room at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland.‌Dressed in a regal dark blue dress, the Queen accessorised her outfit with a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch, which was presented to Queen Elizabeth II at the Birmingham Spring Fair in February 1977.‌The photo was shared by the Royal Family’s Instagram account, wishing Her Majesty a happy birthday. The message was then shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales, as they added their own birthday wishes to the Queen.‌Content cannot be displayed without consentWhile the image was shared to mark Camilla’s birthday, it also accompanied an exciting announcement about the Queen’s dedication to improving children’s literacy.It has been revealed that every Year 6 and P6 child across the UK will be gifted a special edition of the bestselling book Impossible Creatures by award-winning author Katherine Rundell this Christmas.‌The generous programme will be delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust (NLT), of which Her Majesty is Patron. Each book will contain a personal message inside from the Queen, which will say in part: “Impossible Creatures, by one of my favourite writers, is a brilliant fantasy that will introduce you to a host of mythical friends and terrifying enemies… and I hope that you will love it as much as I do.”Reading and the importance of literature has long been one of the Queen's main charitable focuses, as the NLT programme aims to celebrate the National Year of Reading 2026.‌The Palace said that the book will be distributed through schools and libraries, alongside a collection of free resources, with the NLT also targeting hospitals, care settings, refuges and food banks in disadvantaged communities to ensure all eligible children will have access to the book.Author Katherine Rundell said: “I’m so immensely honoured that Her Majesty The Queen has chosen Impossible Creatures as her Christmas Gift to every child in Year 6. Her gift is given at the best possible time. I’m thrilled to be part of a project which has at its heart the power of shared stories and shared ideas.”Camilla has spent her whole life being a passionate reader and even launched the Queen’s Reading Room back in January 2021, which recommends new reads every month. The initiative offers exclusive content and is, in Queen Camilla ’s own words, “a resource, a reassurance and a refuge to all book lovers”.‌She previously said: “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.”‌Camilla has long embraced her royal responsibilities with grace, proving wrong those who questioned whether she belonged in the royal fold.Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond previously praised Her Majesty's remarkable climb in public standing after years as one of the monarchy's less popular figures, emphasising that the Queen's dutiful path demonstrates more than mere perseverance - it's about transforming into a figure of widespread respect.Jennie previously told OK! magazine: "I remember so well the years when Camilla was kept in the shadows - what she went through would have broken any weaker woman. But she always had two factors in her favour: an unshakeable love for Charles and an ability to rise above the criticism and get on with life. And now she has won the respect and affection of many people in this country, and is thriving as a result."Article continues below