Camilla’s love of books explored in BBC documentary

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Daniela RelphSenior royal correspondent

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Reuters

Selina Brown was among the authors at a reception hosted by Queen Camilla at Clarence House on Wednesday

Queen Camilla is to appear in a BBC documentary about the life-changing power of books.

The Queen will reflect on the childhood experiences that sparked her passion for reading and reflect on the comfort she still finds in books.

In what programme-makers describe as a “special and intimate contribution”, Queen Camilla will talk about her father Major Bruce Shand’s love of the written word and the strength it gave him when he was held in a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War Two. He went on to share his passion for reading with his daughter.

On Wednesday, she hosted a literary reception at Clarence House to celebrate the fifth anniversary of her Reading Room book club charity.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla joined authors including Sir Ben Okri (fourth from left) and Jojo Moyes (third from left) at the reception

The documentary, to be broadcast later this year, will mark the UK’s National Year of Reading and will be produced in partnership with The BBC and the Open University.

“We hope to inspire people of all ages to pick up a book, to see the world in new ways and potentially change their own lives,” said Suzy Klein, head of BBC Art and Classical Music TV.

“We are especially delighted that Her Majesty the Queen, a devoted reader and champion of literature, is at the heart of this celebratory new project.”

The documentary will hear personal stories from people who have discovered the joy of reading and used it to change their lives. They will include those who have found solace in books while in prison and others who have used a connection a book club to overcome deep depression.

The programme will also examine the scientific evidence the shows how reading can improve health and wellbeing.

It will be directed by Toby Trackman, winner of a Royal Television Society award for his film The Last Musician of Auschwitz.

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“Books make life better,” the Queen told the guests at Clarence House

Much of the Queen’s public work supports reading and literacy, including the creation of the Reading Room charity designed to promote the benefits of reading.

She has also supported the BBC’s 500 Words creative writing competition for children.

Guests at the reception included the authors Lee Child, Jojo Moyes, Selina Brown and Sir Ben Okri and Hollywood stars Stanley Tucci and and Sigourney Weaver.

In a speech, the Queen said the charity had been set up with the “simple aim of sharing my lifelong conviction that books make life better”.

She told the authors: “You allow us to experience life through another’s eyes, you encourage us, you make us laugh, you make us cry, you take us on magical journeys and you create a community of book lovers that transcends almost any barrier.”

The inaugural recipients of the Queen’s Reading Room medal were also unveiled - with Selina Brown named national winner and Liz Waterland the local winner for services to literature in Lincolnshire.

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