Queen Camilla Explores Bath's Cultural Treasures and Adds to Royal Library
Queen Camilla embarked on a significant visit to the historic city of Bath this week, engaging with key cultural institutions and receiving literary contributions for the Buckingham Palace library. Her itinerary included stops at the Holburne Museum, the Theatre Royal, and the independent publisher Persephone Books, highlighting her support for arts and literature.
A Royal Encounter at Persephone Books
During her visit to Persephone bookshop on Tuesday, February 17, the 78-year-old Queen met with founder Nicola Beauman and managing director Francesca Beauman. Their discussion centered on the importance of establishing a 20th-century literary canon that emphasizes domestic feminist narratives. They also explored the need to rescue overlooked literary voices, particularly noting how readers are often more familiar with male perspectives on the First and Second World Wars compared to female ones.
Queen Camilla shared details about the new Buckingham Palace library, where she plans to incorporate Persephone books. Francesca Beauman expressed delight at the royal visit, describing how they showed the Queen around the shop and enjoyed a cup of tea together, with a minor etiquette moment over milk pouring. Beauman remarked, "We had a delightful chat about, not to be immodest, why our books are so wonderful."
As the Queen departed, she was greeted by an affectionate crowd and took three books with her: Crooked Cross by Sally Carson, They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple, and Mariana by Monica Dickens. These titles are intended for her personal reading and the palace library, reflecting her interest in feminist literature.
Cultural Highlights in Bath
Beyond the bookshop, Queen Camilla's tour included a preview of a community production of David Copperfield at the Theatre Royal. She also visited the recently completed Schroder Gallery at the Holburne Museum, where she toured new exhibitions such as A Life in Print by fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes and viewed photographs by Sir Don McCullin.
This visit marks Queen Camilla's second trip to the South West this month, following her earlier engagement at the headquarters of Avon and Somerset Police in Portishead near Bristol. Her activities in Bath underscore her commitment to promoting cultural heritage and literary arts across the region.
