Queen Camilla is celebrating her 79th birthday!
On Friday, July 17, Buckingham Palace released a new portrait to mark the occasion. The photo was taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson in the State Drawing Room at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland during Queen Camilla and King Charles’ visit in May.
In the portrait, Camilla is wearing a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch that was presented to the late Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham in February 1977.
Her birthday comes just a week after she joined King Charles at Highgrove House for a private reunion with Prince Harry, his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Buckingham Palace confirmed the meeting only after it had taken place. It followed a week of visits Harry made in London and elsewhere.
It was the first time in four years that King Charles had seen Meghan and his grandchildren, who live in California. Because of ongoing security concerns, Meghan and the children were not with Harry throughout the entire trip, but they returned to the U.K. in time for the family reunion.
Along with the birthday portrait, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Camilla will give books to every child ages 10 and 11 in schools across the U.K. The books will be distributed later this year as part of a campaign to encourage reading and improve literacy.
Each child will receive a special edition of the bestselling book Impossible Creatures by author Katherine Rundell. The initiative is part of the National Year of Reading 2026, a nationwide campaign aimed at inspiring more people to enjoy reading.
The program is being carried out in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, of which Queen Camilla is patron.
Each book will feature a royal stamp on the cover and a personal message from the queen. In her message, she describes Impossible Creatures as a brilliant fantasy by one of her favorite writers. She says the story introduces readers to mythical friends and frightening enemies and hopes children will enjoy it as much as she does.
Queen Camilla has long supported reading and literacy programs. She serves as patron of several charities that promote reading, regularly visits schools and literary events, and founded the Queen’s Reading Room charity, which began as a podcast and now also hosts literary festivals.
During a visit to New York with King Charles, 77, in April, Camilla joined Sarah Jessica Parker and Jenna Bush Hager at the New York Public Library for an event celebrating books and reading.
Speaking at the event, Parker thanked the queen for promoting reading. She said every effort to highlight the importance of books, empathy, curiosity and the relationship between readers and books makes a meaningful difference.
Author Cressida Cowell, who appeared with Camilla during a school visit in Wales in 2022, praised the queen for bringing attention to the importance of literacy. She said Camilla has focused on an issue that is vital for both children and adults but often does not receive enough public attention. Cowell also said she believes progress is being made in supporting libraries, which remain essential for many children.
Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, also praised the queen. He said that during public events, her genuine care as a mother and grandmother is clear and that she understands children and families and enjoys talking with young readers about books.
