The Queen and author J.K. Rowling met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh to discuss their shared commitment to promoting reading among children. The encounter, which took place during the Queen’s ongoing Royal visit to Scotland, underscored the importance both place on encouraging young people to engage with literature for pleasure and personal development.
Buckingham Palace highlighted the meeting on social media, noting the mutual passion for books held by Her Majesty and the author of the Harry Potter series. They spoke about the critical role that access to books plays in opening doors for future generations. Photographs from the event showed the two figures smiling side by side during their audience.
Rowling’s relationship with the literary community has been complex in recent years, with her outspoken views on gender identity sparking controversy. In June 2020, she was accused of transphobia following comments she made regarding inclusive language around menstruation. Rowling has since positioned herself as a vocal advocate for sex-based rights, a stance that has polarized opinions.
Despite these disputes, Rowling’s Harry Potter books continue to be popular within the Royal family. The Queen has previously spoken fondly about reading the series to her grandchildren, while noting her limited ability to mimic characters’ voices. Earlier royal engagements have also featured the books prominently; in 2013, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Catherine, now Princess of Wales, toured the Harry Potter film sets and engaged in a wand duel at Warner Brothers Studios.
The Queen and Rowling are no strangers, having met several times over the past 15 years. Their collaborations include a private meeting in 2011 at Holyroodhouse where they reportedly discussed joint efforts to encourage child literacy. The Queen has long been a patron of literary organizations and founded The Queen’s Reading Room charity, evolving from a book club she launched on Instagram during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Rowling’s work was notably excluded from the 2022 Big Jubilee Read, a list celebrating 70 years of Elizabeth II’s reign with recommended books from across the Commonwealth. While “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was among the 153 titles nominated by the public, it was not selected by the literary judging panel, likely influenced by the ongoing debates around the author.
At a 2023 reception hosted at Clarence House, the Queen expressed support for creative freedom, urging authors to remain steadfast despite pressures to censor language or limit imagination. This statement followed news that new editions of Roald Dahl’s books were being edited to remove potentially offensive content.
During her visit to Edinburgh, the Queen also toured the Royal Scottish Academy and joked about encouraging the King to donate one of his landscape paintings to the gallery. The King, a keen watercolour artist, has raised over £2 million for charity through sales of his work. Later, the King participated in the Ceremony of the Keys at Holyroodhouse, marking the start of Royal Week and receiving the keys to the city of Edinburgh, which he returned for safekeeping.