Queen Camilla is facing criticism after sharing a photo with author J.K. Rowling during a meeting at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The image was posted on June 30, the last day of Pride Month, and the reaction was swift across social media. According to People, the Queen and Rowling met to discuss children’s reading and access to books. The palace post focused on literacy work, but many critics pointed instead to Rowling’s long-running comments about transgender women and the message they felt the image sent.
Queen Camilla Meets J.K. Rowling in Edinburgh
The palace caption stressed a shared interest in reading and young people’s access to books. "With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh," the post said according to People. Camilla, 78, hosted Rowling, 60, during the royal visit to Scotland. The meeting tied into the Queen’s support for childhood literacy, a major part of her public work, but the focus online quickly shifted away from books.
J.K. Rowling’s Comments Stay at the Center
Rowling has faced years of criticism over statements about trans women. In 2020, she published a lengthy essay defending her position and rejecting accusations of transphobia. In that essay, she wrote, "I refuse to bow down to a movement that I believe is doing demonstrable harm in seeking to erode ‘woman’ as a political and biological class and offering cover to predators
