With the news of the passing of the Queen of England last Thursday, the internet has been abuzz with information about Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles III accepting his place on the throne and other interesting facts about the Royal Family.
Avid readers will be pleased to know that the Royal Family has been known for decades as a family of readers. Ranging from the classics to romance to theories on sustainable living, the Royals — both past and present — are often seen with a book in hand.
Here are some of the titles that the members of the Royal Family would suggest as one of your next reads. With such varied tastes, there’s surely something here for everyone!
Whether it’s one favorite book or many, it’s wonderful to see the love the Royal Family has for books and how they’re handing that love down through the generations.
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The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
The Late Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022)
Queen Elizabeth was reluctant to share her reading habits, though she did seem to be fond of mysteries. In 1971, she made Agatha Christie a Dame Commander of the British Empire, and in 2000, she gave fellow mystery writer, Dick Francis, a similar title.
We like to think she may have liked The Body in the Library (William Morrow) and A Murder is Announced (William Morrow), both by Agatha Christie, as these two titles are especially witty and clever in their plots and twists.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Prince — now King — Charles III
King Charles has been much more forthcoming about his reading interests, citing his enjoyment of mystery writer, Dick Francis, like his mother, but also large quantities of poetry and even books about gardening, the environment and green living.
But he is best known for his readings of the Harry Potter books (Scholastic) by J.K. Rowling, which he’s been seen on multiple occasions reading — and performing — for his grandchildren. Camilla, the Queen Consort, once stated, “He reads them Harry Potter, and he does all of the voices, because he is a brilliant mimic, and they sit spellbound.”
It’s adorable to imagine King Charles cozied up by a fire with his five grandchildren as they listen to stories of great wizards, potions and magical creatures.
The Book of Dust by Phillip Pullman
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and now Queen Consort
Of the Royal family, one of the most avid fiction readers is the Duchess of Cornwall, who prizes thrillers, historical fiction, the classics, young adult fiction, and even middle-grade titles.
She is said to have a soft spot for Phillip Pullman’s dark fantasy young adult works, specifically The Book of Dust (Knopf Books for Young Readers), which she has called, “Storytelling at its best.”
Fledgling by Mark A. Cooper
William, Prince of Wales, and Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Cambridge
Prince William has admitted in the past to not being the biggest reader of the family, but he does love the book Fledgling (Sourcebooks Young Readers) by Mark A. Cooper and described it as, “A typical British boy’s book. Action, adventure, romance, emotion and some laughs.”
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
But while the Prince of Wales was able to cite one book as his favorite, it’s likely that Kate Middleton’s book of choice might change from month to month with her avid reading habits and book clubbish style. The Princess of Wales has frequently been seen in public with a book in hand — from Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train (Riverhead Books) to Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow’s The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (The Dial Press), which is one of my personal favorites — in addition to her library full of classics from the likes of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters.
Kate’s clear love for books is enough to make any fellow book reader want to be her friend, but with her regular selection of books that would easily find a home among nearly any book club circle, it’s enough to make fellow bookworms want to be a part of her book club, too.
Archie Comics
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex
Hilariously, Prince Harry once admitted that he preferred reading comics over books, and Meghan Markle once shared how Archie Comics (Archie Comics) were her favorite growing up, which influenced the naming of their son, Prince Archie. Talk about a matched couple!
The Motivation Manifesto: 9 Declarations to Claim Your Personal Power by Brendon Burchard
But the Duchess of Sussex is also an avid reader of self-improvement books. Among her favorites is The Motivation Manifesto: 9 Declarations to Claim Your Personal Power (Hay House) by Brendon Burchard, which she has described as, “A must-have for waking up your inner bad@ss and being the very best version of yourself.” It sounds like a very inspiring step up from the Archie world.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
William and Kate’s children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis
Kate Middleton loves to prioritize reading in her household, especially with her three children. While they have read and loved many books, there are some titles that have been sure to stand out.
One of Kate’s favorites to share with her children has been E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web (HarperCollins). She explained, “It’s an all-time classic and loved in our house for obvious reasons. This is a charming story about friendship, loyalty and love. But it also holds special significance for my daughter, Princess Charlotte.”
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd
Harry and Meghan’s children: Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
While the Duchess of Sussex can agree with the Princess of Wales about the importance of reading to her children, she has declared one clear favorite that she enjoys reading with her two children.
Meghan emphasized that, both, Archie and Lilibet love, try to read, and keep returning to Lynley Dodd’s Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy (Gardners Books), which holds an adorable story, all wrapped up in brightly colored illustrations and fun, rhythmic lines.
