Queen Camilla has made one of her most candid interventions on literacy, urging children to put down their phones and pick up books instead. Speaking at the grand final of BBC 500 Words, the children's writing competition at Windsor Castle, she told hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp: “Anybody who hears these stories will see how inspired these children are, and I think to get children reading and writing stories, especially nowadays, is so important. Also, it gives them time to get away from some of their phones.”
The Queen’s remarks come amid a reading for pleasure crisis among young people. According to the National Literacy Trust, only 33 per cent of children over eight say they enjoy reading in their free time, down from 51 per cent two decades ago. The charity also found that fewer than one in five (19 per cent) of eight to 18-year-olds read something daily in their free time – the lowest level ever recorded.
The Department for Education has joined with the National Literacy Trust, of which the Queen is patron, to declare 2026 a “national year of reading”, with events planned to reverse the trend. Meanwhile, a report by early years charity Kindred Squared revealed that almost one in three children (28 per cent) start primary school struggling to hold books correctly, with many attempting to swipe or tap pages as if they were a phone or tablet.
At the event, Camilla praised the 50 finalists, saying: “Through the magic of your pens and devices, you have brought your imaginations to life and led your readers on breath-taking explorations.” Quoting AA Milne, she added: “Always remember: ‘You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think’…which makes you all winners.”
The competition received more than 46,500 entries from across the UK, with six young authors crowned winners. Their stories were read by celebrities including Jodie Whittaker, Joanna Page, Bradley and Barney Walsh, Sara Cox, Paterson Joseph, and Big Zuu. The special was broadcast on Friday evening’s The One Show.
