Queen Camilla reveals what she ‘hates’ in candid new chat | Royal | News
The Queen made a candid confession this week (Image: Getty)
Queen Camilla made a very candid confession during a visit to a bookstore this week. The Queen visited Heywood Hill, an independent bookshop in central London, on Tuesday.
It is known for its reading consultations, where visitors detail their literary highs and lows so they can receive a specially curated book subscription for a year. The Queen, an avid reader and patron of many literary organisations, attended a consultation and was asked to choose the most read works of all time.
When asked if there was a genre she disliked, Camilla said without hesitation: “I hate science fiction,” pronouncing it sky-fi.
Queen Camilla tours Heywood Hill (Image: PA)
Queen Camilla during her reading consultation with Harriet Bibby, deputy headteacher of Heywood Hill (Image: PA)
He added with a laugh: “I’m afraid it’s not my favorite. I’m sure a lot of people love it, but, umm…
“No science fiction. No, I can’t do that. There have to be some things you like and some things you really don’t like, and that’s really what I don’t like.”
Camilla’s first choice of favorite books was Elizabeth Jane Howard’s Chronicles of Cazalet, which she described as her “absolute favourite”, followed by The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
“God, there are so many things coming after this. I’m thinking about it all but it all seems to come out at the same time,” he told Harriet Bibby, the assistant bookstore manager who was leading the consultation.
Camilla added that she loved Amor Towles’ “A Gentleman in Moscow” and the “wonderful” works of British novelists William Boyd and Anthony Horowitz.
The Queen estimated that 80 per cent read fiction and 20 per cent non-fiction during the visit, which marked the West London store’s 90th anniversary.
Queen Camilla helps pack a book for delivery with packer Jay Lomot Macam (Image: PA)
Queen Camilla leaves the bookstore (Image: PA)
One lucky customer will have their order packed and delivered by the Queen, who has started working to assist two full-time packers.
Camilla was listed as “CR” on the staff list, and next to her was a crown pinned to the door of the packing room.
The Queen was also shown a large world map covered in blue and yellow flags showing her subscribers in more than 80 countries.
After completing her tour of the store’s four main rooms, Camilla unveiled a plaque renaming one of the rooms “The Queen’s Chamber.”
Queen Camilla opens the Queen’s Chamber (Image: PA)
He inherited his love of books from his father, Major Bruce Shand, who wrote about military history and published his war memoirs.
While he was inside, a crowd had gathered outside, cameras at the ready.
Accompanied by Mr Dunne, he walked out the front door and across the pedestrian crossing towards Shepherd’s Market opposite.
He was greeted and spoken to by local business owners and merchants in the upscale backstreet.
