Queen Camilla has outshined Meghan Markle in the podcast realm by securing a second season of her book club podcast.
Camilla's success can be attributed to her dedication and the simple yet engaging format of the podcast, where people discuss books—a topic that genuinely interests listeners. Queen Camilla's Reading Room Podcast is set to return for a second season this week. Launched earlier this year, the podcast is an audio extension of Camilla's popular online book club, which boasts 172,000 Instagram followers.
Known for her love of books, Camilla initiated the podcast shortly after research highlighted the benefits of reading, and just before the Reading Room Festival at Hampton Court in July. The new season, starting on Monday, May 20th, will feature notable guests such as Neil Gaiman, Peter James, Kate Mosse, and Richard E. Grant.
Unlike Meghan Markle, who was criticized for allegedly recording her Spotify interviews separately and adding her parts later, Camilla is fully involved in the production process. The first season of her podcast reached the top 1% of podcasts globally and topped the UK arts and books podcast charts for several weeks, attracting listeners from 158 countries.
Vicky Perrin, CEO of The Queen's Reading Room, hosts the podcast, while Camilla pre-records segments that appear at the start of each episode. The first series featured distinguished guests like Sir Ian Rankin, Dame Joanna Lumley, and David Baddiel. The second season will be released weekly from May 20th, creating a space for book lovers to hear from literary heroes. The season will spotlight authors like Neil Gaiman, Kate Mosse, and Peter James, who will share insights into their own reading habits. Queen Camilla will also share some of her all-time favorite reads with listeners.
Vicky Perrin expressed astonishment at the response to the first season, noting its global resonance and its success in helping listeners connect with books. She hopes the new season will continue to inspire literary adventures. Perrin emphasized that the podcast is not a rival to Meghan Markle's "Archetypes," which ended after one season. She clarified, "We are an independent charity thrilled that Her Majesty features on the podcast, but it's not her podcast; she's not the host."
Earlier this week, Queen Camilla expressed her love for reading and her whimsical desire to attend Hogwarts while launching a literary festival and attending a garden party at the 35th annual Charleston Festival in Rye, East Sussex. When asked by a local schoolgirl if there was a fictional place she would like to visit, Camilla replied, "I'd love to go to Hogwarts, jump on the express, and experience the magical world." During the "Power of Reading" session, she addressed 450 children, saying, "Good morning, everyone. I'm sorry about the weather. As the proud patron of Charleston, I'm delighted to welcome you to this year's literary festival." She cited Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of "The Secret Garden," as one of her favorite authors, recognizing the thrill of reading.
Camilla, an avid reader and patron of several literary organizations, has supported a children's writing competition since 2015. In March, she endorsed research suggesting that five minutes of reading daily is as beneficial as walking 10,000 steps and eating five portions of fruit and vegetables.
Unlike Meghan Markle, who aimed to address grand themes like empowering women, Camilla's podcast succeeds by focusing on a genuine topic and not self-promotion. This approach is why she will likely secure a third, fourth season, and beyond. Camilla's podcast resonates with listeners because she puts in the effort and delivers content that genuinely interests them, rather than just talking about herself.
