Britain’s Queen Camilla, 78, welcomed J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, 60, to Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh. The meeting, held to mark the start of Scotland’s Royal Week, focused on the importance of reading for children, according to the palace. The royal family’s official Instagram account posted a photo of the two women standing side by side — Camilla in a deep blue dress and Rowling in a white blazer.
In the caption, the post noted a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to getting children to enjoy reading. The palace added: “Her Majesty and Mrs. Rowling discussed how important it is to give young people access to books, and the crucial role that reading plays in opening doors for future generations.”
Criticism: Meeting with a Transphobe During Pride Month
The photo quickly drew criticism online. Releasing the image in June, during Pride Month, sparked confusion among many users. Rowling has long been one of the most vocal opponents of recognizing transgender people.
In the comments, Camilla was called “pathetic,” and Rowling was labeled the “queen of transphobes.” “And that during Pride Month,” wrote one user; another noted, “Trans rights are human rights.” There were also supporters. Some defended Rowling and highlighted her right to have her own opinion. Others made disparaging remarks about trans women, claiming they are merely “men in costumes.”
Rowling has in recent years repeatedly questioned the existence of transgender people and, for example, denigrated trans women as “men” or “criminals.” Last year she urged a boycott of a department store chain for employing trans women (Queer.de reported). Her stance led to a break with former Harry Potter collaborators such as Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who publicly distanced themselves from her.
Camilla’s Commitment to Reading — and to an Antisemite
The occasion for the meeting: Camilla serves as patron of several literary organizations. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she launched an Instagram book club that gave rise to the charity “The Queen’s Reading Room.”
Already in 2023 Camilla had sparked controversy when she urged authors not to let others—who want to “restrict the freedom of your expression”—hold them back. This appeal came in the context of revised editions of Roald Dahl’s children’s books, in which discriminatory statements were to be removed. Dahl is revered as a cult author, but he openly acknowledged that he hated Jewish people (“I am definitely anti-Israel and I have become antisemitic”). He also expressed sympathy for the Nazis, remarking, “Even a stinker like Hitler didn’t choose them [the Jews] without reason.” (Queer.de reported.)
