Join Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall in The Reading Room; discover new books each season and meet the extraordinary people who create them

Commonwealth Interlude

Embark on a journey around the world to celebrate literature from the Commonwealth

2-3

 

Commonwealth – Asia
Authors
1-2

 

Commonwealth – Asia
Authors
book-aid-international

Watch

Book Aid International
Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
an-african-thunderstorm-david-rubadiri

Watch

David Rubadiri
An African Thunderstorm
cpp-rwanda

Watch

The Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, Episode 2 Rwanda
Melody Ingabire
damon-galgut-the-promise

Watch

Damon Galgut
The Promise
abdulrazak-gurnah-paradise

Watch

Abdulrazak Gurnah
Paradise
qcec-ghana

Watch

Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2020
The Little Prince Comes Back To Earth, by Junior Runner Up Eleni Bazikamwe (Ghana) – Read by David Walliams
hmq-africa

 

Her Majesty The Queen
Uganda, 1954
emma-kate-lewis-tread-lightly

 

‘Tread Lightly’ by Emma-Kate Lewis
Short Story
john-cremona-children-playing

Watch

John Cremona
Children Playing
©
hmq-malta-1967

 

Her Majesty The Queen
Malta, 1967
the-commonwealth-poetry-podcast-episode-1-the-united-kingdom-on-poets-and-poetry

Watch

The Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, Episode 1 The United Kingdom
On Poets And Poetry
the-commonwealth-poetry-podcast-episode-1-the-united-kingdom-john-betjeman-the-subalterns-love-song

Watch

The Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, Episode 1 The United Kingdom
John Betjeman, The Subaltern’s Love Song
the-commonwealth-poetry-podcast-episode-1-the-united-kingdom-christina-rossetti-echo

Watch

The Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, Episode 1 The United Kingdom
Christina Rossetti, Echo
the-commonwealth-poetry-podcast-episode-1-the-united-kingdom-w-h-auden-the-night-mail

Watch

The Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, Episode 1 The United Kingdom
W H Auden, The Night Mail
©
hmq-reading-3

 

Her Majesty The Queen – then Princess Elizabeth – reading
Natal National Park, South Africa, 1947
©
hmq-reading-2

 

Her Majesty The Queen – then Princess Elizabeth – reading
Windsor Castle, 1940
michael-morpurgo-interview

Watch

Michael Morpurgo
On The Queen’s Reign
michael-morpurgo-reads-there-once-is-a-queen

Watch

Michael Morpurgo
There Once Is A Queen
©
hmq-reading

 

Her Majesty The Queen – then Princess Elizabeth – reading
Windsor Castle, 1940

Season 6

Join us as we explore ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini, ‘Suite Française’ by Irène Némirovsky, ‘The Paper Palace’ by Miranda Cowley Heller, and ‘Atonement’ by Ian McEwan

ian-mcewan-atonement

 

Ian McEwan
Atonement
atonement-quote-2

 

Ian McEwan
From Atonement
on-ideas-and-inspiration

Watch

On Ideas and Inspiration
Interview With Ian McEwan
the-typewriter

 

The Typewriter
Robbie’s Letter To Cecilia
on-writing-process

Watch

On The Writing Process
Interview With Ian McEwan
©
nurses-in-1944

 

Nurses Training At The Queen’s Institute Of District Nursing
Guildford, Surrey, 1944
dictaphone

 

Dunkirk
The Tape Of Ian McEwan’s Father’s Story
northanger-abbey

 

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Inspiration For Atonement
l-p-hartley-the-go-between

 

The Go Between by L P Hartley
Inspiration For Atonement
©
atonement-cover

 

An Iconic Cover
Atonement
©
atonement-cover-2

 

An Iconic Cover
Atonement
©
atonement-cover-1

 

An Iconic Cover
Atonement
atonement-quote

 

Ian McEwan
From Atonement
miranda-cowley-heller-the-paper-palace

 

Miranda Cowley Heller
The Paper Palace
the-pond

 

The Pond
From Miranda Cowley Heller
reading-1

Watch

Miranda Cowley Heller Reads The Paper Palace
Book Extract
summer-in-cape-cod

 

Summer In Cape Cod
From Miranda Cowley Heller
interview-1-how-personal-life-influenced-the-paper-palace

Watch

On How Personal Life Influenced The Paper Palace
Interview With Miranda Cowley Heller
mother-and-sister-black-white-mch

 

Miranda Cowley Heller’s Mother And Sister
From Miranda Cowley Heller
interview-2-on-her-sisters-as-an-inspiration

Watch

On Her Sisters As An Inspiration
Interview With Miranda Cowley Heller
reading-2

Watch

Miranda Cowley Heller Reads The Paper Palace
Book Extract
step-fathers-painting-paul-resika

 

Miranda Cowley Heller’s Step-Father, Paul Resika – Painter
From Miranda Cowley Heller
the-beach

 

The Beach
From Miranda Cowley Heller
still-life-by-miranda-cowley-heller

 

Still Life By Miranda Cowley Heller
From Miranda Cowley Heller
hummingbird

 

Hummingbird
Inspiration
the-beach-path-an-ambiguous-ending

 

The Beach Path
An Ambiguous Ending
irene-nemirovsky-suite-francaise

 

Irène Némirovsky
Suite Française
©
travel-permit

 

Travel Permit
1939
©
suitcase

 

Suitcase
Where Suite Française was found
harriet-walter-reads-suite-francaise-from-chapter-2

Watch

Harriet Walter reads Suite Française
Book Extract
denise-epstein

 

Denis Epstein
Daughter of Irène Némirovsky
paris-occupation

 

Nazi Occupation Of Paris
1940
harriet-walter-reads-suite-francaise-from-chapter-20

Watch

Harriet Walter reads Suite Française
Book Extract
michelle-williams-as-lucille-angellier

 

Michelle Williams as Lucille Angellier
Suite Française
boy-soldier

 

Boy Soldier
Inspiration for Hubert Péricand
kristin-scott-thomas-as-madame-pericande

 

Kristin Scott Thomas as Madame Péricand
Suite Française
david-golder

 

David Golder
By Irène Némirovsky
©
suite-francaise-notebook

 

Suite Française
Manuscript
©
deportation-certificate

 

Telegram
By Michel Epstein
khaled-hosseini-the-kite-runner

 

Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner
khaled-hosseini-3

 

Khaled Hosseini
Author of ‘The Kite Runner’
king-zahir-shah-of-afghanistan

 

King Zahir
Shah of Afghanistan
kite-running

 

Kite Running
Afghanistan
kite-flying

Watch

Ferozkoh Kite Festival
Turquoise Mountain
kite-runner-letter

Watch

Reading The Kite Runner
Book Extract
khaled-hosseini-quote

 

Khaled Hosseini
From The Kite Runner
kite-runner-stealing

Watch

Reading The Kite Runner
Book Extract
turquoise-mountain

 

Turquoise Mountain
Supporting craftsmanship, education and health
khaled-hosseini-the-kite-runner-adaptations

Watch

The Kite Runner
Adaptations

Podcast

The Commonwealth Poetry Podcast with Gyles and Aphra Brandreth and guests HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and Joanna Lumley

Read more
the-commonwealth-poetry-podcast

Children’s book recommendations

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

Read more
© doc-dssoc-cropped

Online exclusive interview:

Elena Ferrante

Read more
anonymous-author
Explore

Literary treasures
sobieski-hours
2022-02-16-5
Roundtable

Judi Dench & Gyles Brandreth

On the adventure of reading
hilary-mantel-philippa-gregory-2
Roundtable

Hilary Mantel & Philippa Gregory

How to research a historical novel

Conversations with HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

Join HRH in The Reading Room as she discusses all things books and meets some of her favourite authors

intro-2

Watch

In Conversation with HRH
An introduction to The Reading Room
copy-of-scholastique-mukasonga

Watch

HRH & Edna O’Brien
In Conversation: On writing ‘Girl’
©
readingroom_summerjenniferpattison_03

Watch

In Conversation with HRH
The Camilla Club
edna-doc-cover-2

Watch

HRH & Edna O’Brien
In Conversation: On Writing ‘The Country Girls’
who-inspired-hrhs-love-of-reading-2

Watch

In Conversation with HRH
Who inspired HRH’s love of books?
books-unlocked

Watch

In Conversation with HRH
Books Unlocked
peter-james-thumbnail-2

Watch

HRH & Peter James
In Conversation: On Roy Grace
hopes-for-the-rr-2

Watch

In Conversation with HRH
HRH’s hopes for The Reading Room
peter-james-thumbnail-1

Watch

HRH & Peter James
In Conversation: On writing crime
reading-to-children-2

Watch

In Conversation with HRH
Why should we read to children?

Treasures from the Library

HRH explores precious books and manuscripts from prestigious UK libraries

Watch

One of Queen Victoria’s favourites: Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist
Windsor Castle Library

Watch

Henry VIII’s Bible
Windsor Castle Library

Watch

French Psalter: a poem by Princess Elizabeth
Windsor Castle Library

Watch

Shahnamah: The Book of Kings
Windsor Castle Library

Watch

The Sobieski Hours: a nativity scene
Windsor Castle Library

Watch

A Bestiary
The Bodleian Library

Watch

Katherine Parr’s New Year’s gift from Princess Elizabeth
The Bodleian Library

Watch

Walter Scott: when Queen Victoria read to Prince Albert
Windsor Castle Library

Watch

Austen: Sense And Sensibility
Windsor Castle Library

Find your next book

Explore this selection of brilliant titles, as chosen by Her Royal Highness for The Reading Room.

    • Atonement

    By Ian McEwan

    Publish Date: 2007
    It’s the summer of 1935, and young Briony sees her older sister Cecilia plunge nearly naked into the fountain of their country house, while Robbie Turner, the housekeeper’s son, is watching. From that moment, their lives will never be the…
  • Ian McEwan, Atonement – Book Cover

    Atonement

    by Ian McEwan

    Quick View

    • The Paper Palace

    By Miranda Cowley Heller

    Publish Date: 2021
    It’s a glorious August morning, when Elle Bishop wakes up after a dinner party and heads for a swim in the freshwater pond below ‘The Paper Palace’ – the gently decaying summer camp in the back woods of Cape Cod…
  • Miranda Cowley Heller, The Paper Palace – Book Cover

    The Paper Palace

    by Miranda Cowley Heller

    Quick View

    • Suite Française

    By Irène Némirovsky

    Publish Date: 2004
    Set in 1940, the year France fell to Nazi occupation, Suite Francaise tells two stories, that of a group of Parisians fleeing the invasion and that of a small rural community under German occupation. But even in dire circumstances, Némirovsky…
  • Irène Némirovsky, Suite Francaise – Book Cover

    Suite Française

    by Irène Némirovsky

    Quick View

    • The Kite Runner

    By Khaled Hosseini

    Publish Date: 2003
    Amir is a young boy who likes running kites with Hassan, the son of his father’s servant. But neither of the boys can foresee what is soon to happen, an event that will change their lives forever. Told against the…
  • Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner – Book Cover

    The Kite Runner

    by Khaled Hosseini

    Quick View

    • My Brilliant Friend

    By Elena Ferrante

    Publish Date: 2011
    ‘Rino’s mother is named Raffaella Cerullo, but everyone has always called her Lina. Not me … To me, for more than sixty years, she’s been Lila.’ Set in the 1950s, My Brilliant Friend is the first volume of the “Neapolitan…
  • Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend – Book Cover

    My Brilliant Friend

    by Elena Ferrante

    Quick View

    • A Christmas Carol

    By Charles Dickens

    Publish Date: 1843
    Ebenezer Scrooge is an old miser who values money over anything else, including his relationship with his deceased partner Jacob Marley, his clerk, and his nephew. On the night of Christmas Eve, he is visited by the Ghost of Jacob…
  • Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol – Book Cover

    A Christmas Carol

    by Charles Dickens

    Quick View

    • The Little Library Cookbook

    By Kate Young

    Publish Date: 2017
    Drawing from her favourite works of fiction, Kate Young has compiled over 100 mouthwatering recipes for all meals, from breakfast to dessert. Inspired by classics such as Paddington Bear, The Great Gatsby, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, and…
  • Kate Young, The Little Library Cookbook – Book Cover

    The Little Library Cookbook

    by Kate Young

    Quick View

    • A Half Baked Idea

    By Olivia Potts

    Publish Date: 2019 Awards: 2020 Debut Food Book of the Year – Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards
    Profoundly hit by the death of her mother, Olivia decides, afer five years practicing law as a criminal barrister, to abandon her career and enroll in the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts institute. Coping with grief and loss, Olivia…
  • Olivia Potts, A Half Baked Idea – Book Cover

    A Half Baked Idea

    by Olivia Potts

    Quick View

    • A Book Of Food

    By P Morton Shand

    Publish Date: 1927
    The book is not conceived as a cookery book, but rather an exploration of gastronomy, culinary practices, facts and information about food and cooking. A fascinating journey from flavours to the influences of the Industrial Revolution on English cuisine, to…
  • P Morton Shand, A Book Of Food – Book Cover

    A Book Of Food

    by P Morton Shand

    Quick View
Show More

Friends of The Reading Room Recommend

Discover more reading recommendations from authors and lovers of literature

98-328-hugo-burnand-highrove-2021-high-res

 

HRH The Prince of Wales
delia-owens-3

 

Delia Owens
kazuo-ishiguro-3

 

Kazuo Ishiguro
william-boyd-3

 

William Boyd

Pick of the week

Ariel

A collection of Sylvia Plath’s later poems, written between 1960 and 1963, Ariel was published posthumously in London. The book features some of her most celebrated poems, including ‘Daddy’ and ‘Lady Lazarus’.


Read more

Book Club Kits

Have you introduced your book club to The Reading Room?

Download our book club kits for conversation starters…
which may turn into bookish debate!

Find out more

The Island

Victoria Hislop

Download

War Horse

Michael Morpurgo

Download

The Light Years

Elizabeth Jane Howard

Download

The Various Haunts of Men

Susan Hill

Download

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro

Download

The Red Notebook

Antoine Lauraine

Download

A Gentleman in Moscow

Amor Towles

Download

Girl

Edna O’Brian

Download

The Book of Dust

Philip Pullman

Download

The Architect’s Apprentice

Elif Shafak

Download

Restless

William Boyd

Download

Where the Crawdads Sing

Delia Owens

Download

The Mirror and the Light

Hilary Mantel

Download

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Charlie Mackesy

Download

Children’s Books

Explore this selection of brilliant titles, as chosen by Her Royal Highness for The Reading Room.

Show More

HRH’s favourite books

For World Book Day

Read more
© season1-img-20201208-wa0003

Children’s book recommendations

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

Read more
© doc-dssoc-cropped

Reading Room Roundtables

Cressida Cowell & Katherine Rundell

Read more
rrr-cressida-cowell-and-katherine-rundell

Friends of The Reading Room recommend…

charlie-mackesy

 

Charlie Mackesy’s
Reading Recommendations
michael-morpurgo-3

 

Michael Morpurgo’s
Reading Recommendations
anthony-horowitz-2

 

Anthony Horowitz’s
Reading Recommendations
chimamanda-ngozi-adichie

 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s
Reading Recommendations
maggie-ofarrell-2

 

Maggie O’Farrell’s
Reading Recommendations
peter-james-2

 

Peter James’
Reading Recommendations
victoria-hislop-3

 

Victoria Hislop’s
Reading Recommendations
susan-hill-3

 

Susan Hill’s
Reading Recommendations
antoine-laurain-3

 

Antoine Laurain’s
Reading Recommendations
edna-obrien-3

 

Edna O’Brien’s
Reading Recommendations
elif-shafak-3

 

Elif Shafak’s
Reading Recommendations
william-boyd-3

 

William Boyd’s
Reading Recommendations