Queen Camilla has announced that every pupil in their final year of primary school will receive a personalized copy of a best-selling children's book to mark her 79th birthday. The initiative aims to encourage reading among 10 and 11-year-olds.
All Year 6 pupils in Britain will be gifted a copy of "Impossible Creatures" by award-winning author Katherine Rundell for Christmas. Each book will include a personal message from the Queen, expressing her hope that the children will enjoy the fantasy novel as much as she does. The book features mythical creatures and characters.
The distribution of the books will be managed through schools and libraries, accompanied by a set of free educational resources. This effort is part of the Queen's Christmas Present initiative, a collaboration with the National Literacy Trust (NLT), of which Camilla is a patron. The program also supports the National Year of Reading 2026.
Research from the NLT indicates a significant drop in reading enjoyment as children transition from primary to secondary school, highlighting the target age group's critical need for engagement. The initiative specifically targets Year 6 pupils in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and P6 pupils in Scotland.
Katherine Rundell expressed her honor at having her book chosen, emphasizing the importance of reading for fostering creative imagination, intellectual freedom, critical thinking, and ethical compassion. She stated that books are essential tools for young people as they face future challenges.
Jonathan Douglas, CEO of the NLT, remarked on the power of reading to unlock children's imagination and curiosity, bringing lasting benefits. He conveyed the NLT's pride in celebrating the National Year of Reading with the support of the Queen and Rundell.
The Queen's Christmas Present initiative follows other literary endeavors by Camilla, including the founding of The Queen's Reading Room charity, dedicated to promoting the advantages of reading. A new portrait was also released to commemorate her birthday, taken at Hillsborough Castle last month. The portrait features the Queen wearing a blue dress and a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch, a gift presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.