Queen Camilla urges Britons to read in ‘battle against machines’

Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 19/01/2026

- 21:21

The Queen also admitted that audiobooks count as reading in a literacy drive

Queen Camilla has declared that listening to audiobooks should be considered a legitimate form of reading.

During a visit to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, Her Majesty launched the National Year of Reading and spoke about the importance of encouraging people back to books.


"Just to get everybody reading again, especially now, is so important," she said. "The battle against these machines. Get them back to books."

The 78-year-old Queen, who established her own online book club and serves as patron of the National Literacy Trust, helped unveil the initiative alongside a special edition of The Beano comic.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla urges Britons to read in ‘battle against machines’

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REUTERS

A special comic strip was created for the occasion, featuring the Queen as a cartoon character coming to Dennis the Menace's aid after he is scolded by his mother for reading comics in a library.

In the strip, Her Majesty outlines "new rules" to Dennis and his dog Gnasher: "Go all-in for the National Year of Reading, Dennis! Comics and audiobooks count too!"

Camilla, who was just three years old when Dundee publisher DC Thomson first created Dennis, told pupils from Granton Primary School: "I was brought up on the Beano, too. It's been going a long time."

Upon seeing her flattering cartoon depiction, the Queen quipped: "I wish."

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla visiting the National Library of Scotland

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REUTERS

Her Majesty also had a go at sketching Dennis and Gnasher herself, joining pupils from Clovenstone Primary School for the artistic exercise.

Beano Studios artist Nigel Auchterlounie provided a brief tutorial before the Queen put pen to paper.

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, praised Camilla's efforts as "spectacular" and turned to Auchterlounie with a joke: "Are you worried about your job?"

"I am, yes!" the artist responded.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla takes part in a drawing class where she drew Gnasher

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REUTERS

Mike Stirling, The Beano's storyboard creator and self-styled "director of mischief", told the children present: "A lot of people don't know that [comics and audiobooks count as reading], so if the Queen says that, how good is that?"

The "Go All In" campaign aims to encourage everyone to develop a reading habit, even if only for five minutes daily.

A November research paper from the National Literacy Trust argued that activities ranging from scanning song lyrics to listening to audiobooks should be classified as reading.

\u200bQueen Camilla

Queen Camilla marked the launch of the National Year of Reading in Scotland

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REUTERS

During a round table discussion, the Queen enquired about recent library closures and learned that 54 had shut across Scotland since 2014.

Her Majesty also met several ambassadors and supporters of the literacy trust, among them crime novelists Sir Ian Rankin and Val McDermid, as well as Jackie Kay, the former Makar.

She was shown the ceremonial golden key used by Queen Elizabeth II to officially open the building in 1956.