Queen Camilla arrived at Sydney’s Green Square public library for a celebration of reading today. I was the Australian reporter covering the event and Camilla was in her element talking to children about books and writing. She couldn’t have been happier.
Her Majesty was met by The Honourable Prudence Car MP, Deputy Premier of NSW and NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, who told me: “It’s really exciting to show off some of our students to the Queen today. This will be a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Camilla sat down with students from local schools moving from table to table around the room. At each she talked directly to the children who read out their work. “Would any of you like to read your story?” said the Queen at the first table.
Maya, 10, from Chifley Primary School read her insightful tale called ‘The Lonely Sea’. It was all about saving the ocean and the need for children’s voices to be heard. At another table Yvette Poshoglian, author of the popular Ella and Olivia series who had been participating in workshops with the children all morning said: “We just met two and half hours ago and we have already got to know a lot about each other. We talk about community and what that means.”
Aryan, 13, read Her Majesty a beautiful story called ‘The Red Veil’. He said “The red veil symbolises marriage in the Hindu community. It reminds me of how much my parents came through. They came from India.” He then read his story out loud “The red veil is covered in sequins….Many Hindu women keep their marriage veil as it shows entry to their husband’s family.”
Beforehand the kids had only been told they were going to a special event and had no idea it was with Queen Camilla. “It was so exciting,” a group of girls told me afterwards.
The Queen also met past participants of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition and presented certificates to four past and current Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition participants: From 2023 – Ayra, 11; Isra, 10. From 2024 –Yihan, 18; Aditya, 13.
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been delivered since 1883.
Moving into another ‘Reading Area’, The Queen’s Reading Room Trustee, Amanda MacManus, also former assistant private secretary to Her Majesty and a great personal friend, introduced Camilla to best-selling Australian authors Liane Moriarty, who wrote Big Little Lies, and Thomas Keneally and met with 10 Sydney book club representatives who were given book bundles provided by The Queen’s Reading Room. All had previously been featured in The Queen’s Reading Room’s Instagram book club.
The Queen’s Reading Room is a charity and book club of Her Majesty Queen Camilla that champions literature in the UK and beyond. “The Queen asked me how I started writing and I told her the story of how my father used to commission me to write novels when I was 10,” said Liane Moriarty afterwards.
“She asked me if he paid well. I said no. I didn’t have an agent – I do now!”
Thomas Keneally, author of Schindler’s Ark which was adapted by Spielberg into the Oscar-winning movie Schildler’s List was delighted to meet Camilla.
“I’ve met her before he said and find her very personable. This is not an adopted thing. She really loves books.” When asked about the commotion in Parliament House in Canberra yesterday Kenneally said “I wish it hadn’t happened. I think there is a psychosis about. These two people are just here to do their duty.”
Lord Mayor Clover Moore who was also at the engagement representing the city of Sydney, agreed: “I think it’s not their fault that we’re not a republic. It’s ours, the Australian people. We voted for this. It’s important to be respectful.”
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