Queen Camilla: Books Built My Education

Queen Camilla has spoken about the profound role books played in her education, particularly after she finished school at 16. She recalled reading classic literature and even forbidden novels like Lady Chatterley's Lover by torchlight as a teenager, highlighting the allure of the prohibited.

Camilla shared that she and her husband, King Charles, dedicate quiet time to reading before dinner. While the King enjoys biographies and PG Wodehouse, Camilla finds her focus disrupted when he laughs heartily at his books. She also mentioned that reading can evoke strong emotions, leading to sudden weeping.

The Queen emphasized her father's influence in fostering her love for reading, stating it transported her to various worlds. She believes that reading is crucial for understanding people and life, and that those who don't read miss out significantly.

She further discussed the stress-reducing benefits of reading, citing research indicating that 10 minutes of daily reading can decrease stress by 20%. Camilla underscored the importance of preserving books as part of human heritage, fearing a world without reading would be a tragedy.