Queen Camilla and Jilly Cooper's Warm Embrace: A Royal Rendezvous Over Bonkbuster Books!
Royal Romance and Racy Novels: The Queen Meets Her Matchmaker
In a delightful display of royal camaraderie, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has revealed her secret affection for Dame Jilly Cooper's racy novels. At a high-profile literary festival at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, the Queen was seen lavishing praise on the author, whose books have been dubbed "bonkbusters" due to their steamy content.
The unlikely friendship between Camilla and Dame Jilly is particularly intriguing, given that the latter's iconic lothario, Rupert Campbell-Black, was allegedly inspired by none other than Camilla's own ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. The Queen, it seems, has a soft spot for both the author and her former husband.
As the two women met at the reception to mark the third annual Queen's Reading Room literary festival, the atmosphere was electric with gossip and speculation. But what emerged from the conversation was a heartwarming display of mutual admiration and affection.
According to insiders, Camilla was overheard telling Dame Jilly how much she and her family – including her daughter Laura Lopes – had enjoyed the author's Disney TV series adaptation of "Rivals". The Queen herself even confessed that she and Andrew Parker Bowles still maintain a close friendship, despite their divorce many years ago.
"We chatted about how much we love each other," Dame Jilly gushed in an interview with thescholarlynote.com afterwards. "I've been very lucky to have such wonderful connections through my books. It's lovely that they all like it – even Her Majesty! We've known each other a long time, and we live near each other."
Dame Jilly's novels have always pushed boundaries, but her friendship with the royal family takes the cake. "Andrew is a wonderful man," she continued. "Her Majesty and Andrew still get on so well. They are still great friends who are very fond of each other." The Queen's warm smile as she greeted Dame Jilly at the reception spoke volumes about their enduring relationship.
The Queen's Reading Room Festival, which has now reached an impressive 12 million people in 183 countries online, celebrates the transformative power of books and reading. And it seems that even the most unlikely friendships can be forged through a shared love of literature.
As for Camilla's taste in fiction, it's clear that she's not afraid to indulge in a bit of romance and intrigue. Whether she'll be invited to Dame Jilly's next soiree or not remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the royal family's affection for racy novels is very much alive and well.
In related news, the Queen's Reading Room charity continues to promote literacy and a love of reading across the UK and beyond. With its online reach now spanning the globe, it's clear that books have the power to bring people together – even royalty.