Queen Camilla joked about an infamous Colin Firth scene from Pride and Prejudice during her annual literary festival at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. The 78-year-old royal greeted book lovers at a reception for The Queen's Reading Room as the festival marked its third edition at the Grade I listed estate.
Camilla wore a black dress with white polka dots by Fiona Clare, paired with low-heeled grey pumps. Her blonde bob was styled in gentle waves, and she favored a natural makeup look as she met authors, volunteers and readers gathered in the Painted Hall for the event.
"It seems only fitting that, in the 250th year anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, we are reminded that this magnificent backdrop was her inspiration for Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice. Who can forget the infamous scene of Mr Darcy emerging from the lake in the BBC version?" the Queen said, prompting laughter from guests. She added with a wink: "Maybe, William, we can persuade you to re-enact the scene here to add to the excitement of the day?" The reference drew attention to the iconic on-screen moment associated with Colin Firth in the 1995 adaptation.
Although the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, filmed at Chatsworth, is part of the broader Austen legacy, the BBC version’s Darcy did not rise dripping from the water in the way Camilla described. Still, the royal pressed the point about literature's enduring allure, noting, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that books make life better." She described how books open others’ eyes, comfort, amuse, move and transport readers around the world without leaving home.
The queen highlighted the online reach of The Queen's Reading Room, which began as a lockdown project and has since grown into an online community of more than 180,000 members with an annual audience of about 12 million people across 183 countries. She also spoke with representatives from The Elm Foundation, a charity aiding those affected by domestic abuse, about how reading can offer escapism and support, and she added books to the donation station for the charity.
As the festival unfolded, Camilla teased a potential stay for a screening of Pride and Prejudice on the Chatsworth lawns, before urging attendees to enjoy the event and the works of Austen. She told guests she had been talking for days and would try to hang onto her voice.
The appearance came amid a busy week for the Royal Family, which included a state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, as well as a somber tribute to the late Duchess of Kent at Westminster Abbey. The queen was unable to attend that service due to a bout of acute sinusitis, but she carried forward her charity and reading-room commitments with the Chatsworth event.
Among those welcomed by Camilla were Jane Austen Society president Gill Hornby, author and TV presenter Richard Osman, and broadcaster and writer Gyles Brandreth — the latter two taking part in discussions about Austen’s life and work on the steps of the Painted Hall. Brandreth, a trustee of The Queen’s Reading Room, led a session with Hornby as part of the festival’s program.
Lord William Burlington, chairman of The Chatsworth House Trust, greeted Camilla as she arrived and thanked her for choosing Chatsworth for the Reading Room’s festival. In remarks to guests, he praised the opportunity to connect readers with Austen’s legacy in such a storied setting, noting the event’s growing importance for the local and literary communities.
The Queen’s Reading Room, established during the pandemic after Camilla hosted an Instagram book club, continues to expand its reach as a charity initiative that lends and donates books to promote literacy and learning. The festival’s celebration of Austen’s work coincides with the estate’s broader efforts to preserve Chatsworth’s cultural heritage while engaging new audiences in literature and the arts.