Queen Camilla has hailed the US state visit as 'wonderful' and issued a personal message to Americans to 'keep reading' during a rare television interview. The Queen spoke to host Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former US president George W Bush, at the New York Public Library yesterday.
State Visit Highlights
Camilla attended an event linked to her Reading Room charity, read an excerpt from Winnie the Pooh to schoolchildren, and presented a 'Roo' doll to the library's Winnie-the-Pooh collection. The visit followed two days in Washington DC with King Charles and US President Donald Trump, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Interview with Jenna Bush Hager
During the interview, broadcast on NBC's TODAY show this morning, the Queen described the state visit as 'good fun' and 'wonderful', adding: 'Everybody's been very kind and welcoming. It's always a pleasure to be here. Always lovely to be back in New York.'
When asked for her message to America on its 250th anniversary, Camilla said: 'I'd like to say, keep reading. I think it's very important. Specialist statistics show reading is falling in children. We've got to find a way of bringing it up.'
The Queen also credited her father, Major Bruce Shand, for inspiring her love of reading: 'He used to sit at the end of our beds every night and read us incredibly exciting stories, some quite frightening, pillows over our head, but he gave us this incredible interest.'
Full Circle Moment
Bush Hager recalled meeting Camilla in 2005 during her first US trip as a royal. The Queen and King Charles, then Prince of Wales, dined with President George W Bush, Laura Bush, and Bush Hager with her sister Barbara. The host told the Queen: 'I love it that we can be back together.' Camilla replied: 'And loving books.'
Final Day of Visit
Today, the King and Queen conclude their four-day state visit, Charles's first to the US as monarch. They will travel to Virginia for a 'block-party' celebrating America's founding, described by Charles in his Congress address as 'bold and imaginative rebels with a cause'.
In a national park, the King will meet an indigenous community and conservationists. The Queen will visit a farm to highlight the US horse racing industry and its links to the UK.
