Queen Camilla’s ‘horror’ as writer breaks royal protocol despite being a mega-fan

Queen Camilla’s ‘horror’ as writer breaks royal protocol despite being a mega-fan

Queen Camilla had a sweet and hilarious meeting with her ‘biggest fan’ during a recent appearance.

Queen Camilla with writers Emily Giffin and Harlan Coben

Queen Camilla shared a sweet and hilarious moment after she met her “biggest fan” during a recent appearance in London.

Her Majesty attended the Queen’s Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace, where she met and spoke to a number of authors and actors, including Sir Ian Rankin, Ann Cleeves, Miriam Margolyes, Elizabeth McGovern, Harlan Coben and Emily Giffin.

During the engagement, Mr Coben, a world-renowned American thriller writer introduced the royal to Emily Giffin, an 11-time best-selling writer, who said she was Camilla’s “biggest fan” and had to sleep “on the streets”, just to get a glimpse of her during her Coronation in May 2023.

Ms Giffin took a bow as she greeted the Queen, and apologised on behalf of Mr Coben who failed to bow before shaking the royal’s hand.

But the laid-back royal had the perfect response to it as she said she too would also be “horrified” if she was in her position before bursting into giggles.

Camilla attending the Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace

Harlan Coben greets Queen Cmailla

Stay up-to-date with the latest Royal news Join us on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Mr Coben initially introduced Ms Giffin to the Queen saying: “I just want to introduce you to number one New York Times best-selling author Emily Giffin who is your biggest fan – and she is so excited to meet you.”

Ms Giffin told Camilla: “It is an honour of a lifetime. I came over for your Coronation. I just so admire you.

The Queen replied: “You came over?” with the writer replying: “Yes I slept on the street for two nights… it was an honour of my lifetime.”

She thanks the royal for hosting the festival and all the “wonderful work you do”.

But she also shared she once trained Mr Coben on Royal Family etiquette. The crime author admitted to “messing up” remembering the rules, with Ms Giffin apologising for his mistake.

She told Camilla: “He’s very sorry that he didn’t bow before he shook your hand”. Camilla then said: “I’d be horrified if I was you” and burst into a giggle.

 

Trending

The writer later wrote on her Instagram page: “Still pinching myself to have met Queen Camilla. Her Majesty was so warm and charming, and I have such admiration and appreciation for all that she is doing to encourage reading and support authors. This moment was a dream come true, and I will be forever grateful to her wonderful staff.”

The Queen’s literacy festival at Hampton Court took place for a second year.

Camilla launched The Reading Room on Instagram in January 2021 and the project was relaunched as charity The Queen’s Reading Room in February 2023.

It also has a podcast whose second series guests included Good Omens and Stardust author Neil Gaiman and Withnail And I actor Richard E Grant.

The Queen’s Reading Room festival is a co-production between The Queen’s Reading Room and Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for Hampton Court Palace.

 

Related Posts

SHOCK HEALTH BOMBSHELL! DAME EMMA THOMPSON DEMANDS ‘SEX ON THE NHS’ – SPARKS FURIOUS NATIONAL DEBATE!

London, UK – Oscar-winning acting legend Dame Emma Thompson has ignited a firestorm of controversy with a sensational call for sex to be officially available on the…

Red Bull’s second seat is under fire — again. But now, all eyes are on a name no one expected: Sebastian Vettel. What secret conversations are happening behind closed doors, and could the legend’s return shake the entire F1 grid? Here’s what we know — and what’s still in the dark.

Photo: © IMAGO No, before you ask, Sebastian Vettel is not plotting an F1 return to drive for Red Bull. Instead, he could take on a role altogether more…

No More Second Chances — If Kimi Antonelli Wants to Beat Lance Stroll’s Record, It Has to Happen Now. The 2025 Austrian Grand Prix May Decide Everything About His Future, His Legacy, and Whether He’ll Be Remembered as a Star or Just Another Name in the Stats.

The Austrian Grand Prix has been the scene of controversy over the years, largely due to the nature of the circuit and how it promotes racing. Drivers…

Nelson Piquet Jr believes Cadillac would be making a huge mistake by choosing Bottas over Perez — and he reveals the behind-the-scenes factors that make Perez the smarter, faster, and more strategic option for the 2025 season.

Cadillac are going to be Formula 1’s 11th team in the 2026 season and there are now questions over who might be in their driver lineup. For…

After a crucial decision on driver line-ups, Valtteri Bottas is suddenly closer than ever to securing a spot with Cadillac in Formula 1. Fans and experts alike are eager to see how this will impact the competitive landscape. Could this be the turning point in Bottas’ racing career?

Valtteri Bottas is beginning to make his case that he should be back on the Formula 1 grid next season. Sauber decided against extending Valtteri Bottas’ contract last year…

The FIA’s discovery of McLaren’s secret tire trick triggered a shocking controversy that has left fans and experts questioning everything they thought they knew about racing strategies, fair play, and the limits of innovation within the sport’s highest level.

McLaren’s Hidden Weapon: How the MCL39 Revolutionized F1 Suspension and Shook the Grid in 2025 In a world obsessed with outright speed and headline-grabbing upgrades, McLaren quietly…