Queen Camilla started February off with a flourish. After touring the Mulberry Academy London Dock to officially open the new school, just hours later she celebrating the London Library’s 184th anniversary. 

The Queen attended a dinner at the historic London Library, an event celebrating the group’s continuing philanthropic work to support both writers and readers. 

Queen Camilla was originally named as Vice-Patron of the library in 2012 and in 2024, Buckingham Palace announced her as the new Patron. 

Before the dinner, Her Majesty met with Helena Bonham Carter, the library’s first female president. Bonham Carter spoke at the dinner, highlighting just how impressive the library’s collection is, saying ”It is very easy to be astonished by the atmosphere of this place. We have 17 miles of books here, which is the equivalent of the Underground Circle line.”

Queen Camilla also chatted to Sir Stephen Fry, the guest speaker for the evening. Sir Stephen thanked The Queen for her support for the London Library, but also for her wider championing of literacy and community, adding ”Thank you for your patronage, your support not just of The London Library, but of your support for books and writing everywhere…. Here we are, all equal citizens of the great kingdom of letters, the realm of reading, and here the highest possible doctrine is held for the value of books, the value of collections, the value of a sanctuary… where anybody who loves books is made to feel at home.”

The London Library counts several notable authors among its current members, including Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and Jessie Burton.