Duchess Camilla Releases Her Escapist Summer Reading List

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall is taking royal watchers on yet another tour of her bookshelf with a brand new list of her recommended reads.

Much like her isolation reading list in April, Camilla is hoping to provide some distraction for those missing out on their usual summer activities.

“I am delighted to share a few more of my favourite books,” Camilla said in a statement posted to the Clarence House instagram account along with the list. “At present, it might be ambitious to describe them as ‘beach reads’, but I very much hope they provide a welcome bit of escapism.”

The 72-year-old royal’s reading list includes Girl by Edna O’Brien, which earned the 89-year-old author the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year award, and acclaimed No. 1 bestseller The Island by Victoria Hislop.

Of course, a Duchess’ reading list wouldn’t be complete without a pinch of royalty. For her required regal read she chose The Queen’s Necklace, which Camilla describes as “an epic tale of love and hatred, betrayal and courage, set at the court of Louis XVI.”

Camilla’s love of reading is reflected in a number of her patronages including the National Literacy Trust, the Royal Society of Literature, BookTrust as well as Coram Beanstalk, an organization that supports children’s literacy.

Scroll through for Camilla’s full list of escapist reads and her commentary on each. 

 

The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins

“A menacing and mysterious tale spun by this great Victorian writer with a penchant for drama.”

 

Girl by Edna O’Brien

“This brilliant Irish novelist lays bare the trauma of Nigeria’s abducted schoolgirls in this harrowing novel.”

 

Dead Like You by Peter James

“If you have never read Peter James’ crime thriller series about the Sussex detective, Roy Grace, I would highly recommend you give it a try!”

 

The Queen’s Necklace by Alexandre Dumas

“A thrilling mystery about a missing diamond necklace. An epic tale of love and hatred, betrayal and courage, set at the court of Louis XVI.”

 

The Island by Victoria Hislop

“An evocatively told story of four generations rent by war, illicit love, violence and leprosy, from the thirties, through the war, to the present day.”

And don’t forget to click here and visit Zed: The Zoomer Book Club for more royal reads!

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