Queen Camilla has officially opened a new library at Shirehampton Primary School in Bristol, marking her first solo public engagement since the Coronation. As patron of the National Literary Trust, she inaugurated the first of 50 planned Coronation libraries aimed at boosting literacy in underserved communities across the UK.
The libraries are a collaboration between the Primary School Library Alliance and the National Literary Trust (NLT), an organisation dedicated to improving reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Each refurbished space will be stocked with books and managed by a trained staff member, offering a range of reading activities for the entire school.
During her visit, Queen Camilla met pupils and librarians from ten other Coronation library schools. They participated in a workshop with author Cressida Cowell, designing their dream library. The Queen also unveiled a commemorative plaque, which will be placed in all 50 libraries, and joined children for a Coronation tea party and draw-along session in the playground.
The libraries will each receive a set of 23 books chosen by children nationwide, featuring a commemorative bookplate with the Coronation emblem. Representatives from Oxford University Press, BookTrust, and Arts Council England attended the event, highlighting the collaborative effort to promote literacy.
