Queen Camilla has spoken about her deep love of literature and her charitable work promoting reading in an interview broadcast in the United States.
The conversation with presenter Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of former President George W Bush, marked the monarch's first visit to the United States since ascending to her current role.
"It's been wonderful, and everybody's been very kind and welcoming," the Queen, 78, remarked of the State Visit.
"Well, it's always a pleasure to be here. Always, always lovely to be back in New York again."
Queen Camilla lavishes praise on the United States to the former president's daughter
|TODAY / NBC NEWS
The interview on NBC's TODAY show represented something of a reunion, as Camilla and King Charles III first visited America as a married couple in 2005, attending a White House dinner hosted by Mrs Hager Bush's parents, former President George W Bush and Laura Bush.
The day before the interview, Her Majesty visited the New York Public Library to celebrate the transatlantic appreciation of literature.
In a particularly fitting tribute, she read a Winnie-the-Pooh story aloud to a group of local children, honouring the beloved character's centenary year. A.A. Milne's original tale was first published on October 14, 1926.
The Queen also gifted a Roo doll to enhance the library's existing Winnie-the-Pooh collection.
Jenna Bush Hager has been a journalist for 17 years | NBC UNIVERSAL"As many of us have long suspected, books really are good for us," Camilla told those gathered. "They also have a magical way of bringing people together with their ability to transcend any barrier."
The stories of Christopher Robin and his bear companion held special significance for the Queen, having been among her childhood favourites.
Her Majesty's passion for books stems from her father, British Army officer Bruce Shand, who nurtured her love of reading during childhood.
"Oh, but he was wonderful," she recalled. "He used to sit at the end of our beds every night and read us these incredibly exciting stories, some of them quite frightening, pillows over our head, but he just gave us this incredible interest."
Queen Camilla rarely sits down for in-depth interviews | NBC UNIVERSALThe Queen's Reading Room emerged from the pandemic lockdowns of 2020, when Camilla initially shared eight of her favourite titles with a local newspaper.
"We're all sitting there, twiddling our fingers, not quite knowing what to do, and I just gave eight of my favourite books to a local newspaper. Bingo," she explained. "All these people write to me all over the world, so we thought, why not try and take it a step further?"
The online book club has since expanded to reach 180 countries, launching a podcast and hosting prestigious literary festivals worldwide.
With declining reading rates among children a growing concern, the Queen delivered a clear message to Americans ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations in July.
George W Bush and Queen Camilla pitured in 2007
|GETTY
"Well, I'd like to say, keep reading," she urged. "I think it's very important, and you know, specialist statistics are showing reading is falling in children. We've got to find a way of bringing it up."
Celebrity supporters, including Sarah Jessica Parker and Anna Wintour, attended the library event to champion the Queen's literacy initiative.
The royal couple touched down in Washington DC on April 27 before travelling to New York.
Their itinerary includes a visit to Virginia for America's anniversary celebrations, where they will attend a block party and enjoy Appalachian cultural performances.