Queen Camilla’s meeting with J.K. Rowling sparks backlash over Pride Month timing
On 30 June 2026, Queen Camilla met J.K. Rowling at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh during the Royal Week/ Holyrood Week. The Royal Family’s Instagram post highlighted a “shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure” and said the two discussed ensuring young people have access to books.
The photo was posted on the final day of Pride Month, prompting a wave of criticism because Rowling is widely known for her anti‑trans statements. Users wrote comments such as “Absolutely horrible any time, but especially during Pride month” and accused the palace of being tone‑deaf, while others defended the meeting as a promotion of literacy.
The royal household has not issued further comment, and no new literacy program was announced beyond the existing Queen’s Reading Room initiatives.