Queen draws parallels to sensual Pride and Prejudice lake moment to kickstart Reading Room event
Queen Camilla Launches Reading Room Festival at Chatsworth House
In a charming event held at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, Queen Camilla launched her Reading Room festival on Friday. The festival, which is hosting its third edition on Saturday, was established in the 250th anniversary year of Jane Austen's birth.
The Queen, who founded The Queen's Reading Room charity following the success of her Instagram book club during the pandemic, spoke to authors Dame Jilly Cooper and Bridgerton actress Kathryn Drysdale before leaving the venue.
During her speech, Queen Camilla referenced the steamy lake scene in the Pride and Prejudice TV adaptation, jokingly suggesting that Lord William Burlington, the chairman of The Chatsworth House Trust, re-enact the memorable scene. However, it's important to note that the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which was filmed at Chatsworth House, did not feature Mr. Darcy rising from the water as Queen Camilla described.
Queen Camilla spoke about the power of books, stating that they make life better, allowing us to see through another's eyes, comfort and encourage us, make us laugh, make us cry, and free us to travel the globe without stepping outside our front doors. She also spoke to people helped by The Elm Foundation about the positive impact of reading and escapism provided by books.
The Queen's Reading Room has grown into an online community of over 180,000 with an annual audience of 12 million people from 183 countries. At the event, she added books to The Queen's Reading Room book donation station, including some of Austen's work, which will be given to The Elm Foundation.
Lord William Burlington welcomed Queen Camilla and thanked her for "this amazing opportunity." The Queen also greeted famous faces including Gill Hornby, Richard Osman, and Gyles Brandreath at the event.
Dame Jilly Cooper, an English author born in 1937, famous for her romance novels, especially the Rutshire Chronicles, was also present at the event. However, the book that Camilla discussed while leaving Chatsworth House was not specified in the search results.
As the Queen marveled at objects from Austen's life, including a first edition of Pride And Prejudice previously owned by Lady Caroline Lamb, and described them as "treasures," it's clear that the love for literature and its impact on people's lives was the heart of this event. Despite her voice giving out halfway through her speech due to doing a lot of talking in the previous days, Queen Camilla's passion for books and reading was evident.
