Queen reflects on reading 'forbidden' Lady Chatterley's Lover under the pillow

Queen Camilla has shared a cherished memory of secretly reading Lady Chatterley's Lover during her teenage years in the 1960s. Forbidden literature piqued her curiosity, as she found herself drawn to its controversial nature. The Queen, now 79 years old, also reflected on the transformative power of literacy and books in her life, revealing that her husband and her share a nightly tradition of quiet reading before dinner.

This shared activity allows them to connect deeply, as they both enjoy different genres of literature - the King prefers biographies and Jeeves and Wooster novels, while the Queen finds herself unexpectedly moved or weeping at times. Camilla passionately cautioned against the potential disappearance of books, stating that their absence would be a tragic loss for society.

She recalled her own youthful fascination with Charles Dickens' Tale of Two Cities, captivated by its vivid depiction of the guillotine during the French Revolution. Reading was particularly crucial for her generation of women, who lacked access to higher education, making books an essential part of their education. The documentary also highlights the impact of reading on individuals in challenging circumstances, such as Omar, who discovered a love for reading while in prison.

For him, books provided an escape from the confines of his cell, enabling him to imagine new worlds. Queen Camilla's father, Bruce Shand, was a prisoner of war during World War II, and he too relied on books as a source of solace and personal growth. His memoir left a profound impact on Camilla, helping her to understand and empathize with her father's experiences.