Queen Camilla has read The Gruffalo to her grandchildren author reveals, as royal hosts National Literacy Trust charity's 30th anniversary celebration

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Gruffalo author Axel Scheffler has revealed that his own daughter stopped reading as a child - but thankfully has picked up a book again.

The best-selling illustrator, whose children’s books with author Julia Donaldson, have sold more than 17 million copies worldwide, was speaking at a party thrown by Queen Camilla to mark the 30th anniversary of the National Literacy Trust.

He reassured parents everywhere that reading can involve a little trial and error - but urged them to stick with it.

‘I have been involved with the charity for around ten years…and think their work is so important,’ he said.

‘Honestly, I am quite shocked that a charity has to do the things that the state would normally do, teaching children how to read and be literate. But it’s amazing the work that they do. It’s a privilege to help.

Queen Camilla pictured meeting 10-year-old Literacy Champion Jayden Lowndes, (pictured in suit) from Stoke-on-Trent, who was awarded Literacy Champion this year

Queen Camilla, accompanied by author Adele Parks, pictured left, smiling as they stood next to one another. Adele, an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust, said it was a ‘fitting celebration’ for the birthday of a charity that has so far helped five million children to read

‘The Queen’s support is so key. It’s very important to have someone like that supporting them. She is a great reader. I know she had read the Gruffalo to her grandchildren.’

He added: ‘Reading to your children is very special. I think the popularity of the books I have done with Julia is because it’s such an intimate moment between parents and children and such an important moment to connect. 

'I hope picture books in printed form will survive all the screens.

‘I don’t even have one [a mobile phone]. I have a landline but that’s it.

‘My daughter has a phone, yes of course. She is 16. It’s impossible to control these things, of course there should be both. 

'I am sure the book will survive and hopefully children will carry on reading books with their parents forever.

‘My teenage daughter has just gone back to a book. Back to reading. As a parent I read to every night but she had a phase when she didn’t read and now she has gone back to reading. And enjoying it, more importantly.

‘The importance of reading cannot be underestimated. The National Literacy Trust have done research which shows how important it is to skills more generally in later life. 

 Queen Camilla pictured cutting a cake to celebrate the National Literacy Trust charity's 30th anniversary, as she hosted community volunteers and authors at Clarence House, in London on Tuesday

Queen Camilla chatted with Adele Parks MBE, (right) who look delighted to be meeting The Queen. Camilla also met with authors Sarah Waters and Majorie Blackman

Camilla pictured meeting for Welsh novelist, Sarah Waters (right), best known for her novels set in Victorian society and featuring lesbian protagonists in her work

Queen Camilla meets with the actor and comedian, Charlie Higson (second right) and the actor and singer, Miles Jupp (right)

Camilla pictured among a community of volunteers and authors at Clarence House in London Tuesday. The Queen is a passionate advocate of literacy and a books and is patron of the National Literacy Trust

The trouble is that it is a struggle against the tide of progress of screens and lesser attention spans. And reading is so important, to focus on something immediate in front of you.'

The Queen - a passionate advocate of literacy and books - is patron of the NRT, which supports families with young children to help them develop the literacy skills they need to get the most out of life.

The charity recently created 1,000 reading champions across the country who help foster literacy in disadvantaged communities. Sixty of them were invited to Clarence House today/yesterday.

Their roles involve creating and sharing fun activities for families, setting up and managing community bookshelves or becoming a storyteller.

While the party had to be brought inside because of the unseasonal weather, there was a still a celebratory atmosphere as Camilla, 76, met authors including Adele Parks and Sarah Waters and Majorie Blackman - supporters and volunteers.

Along them were Caroline Lowndes, from Stoke-on-Trent with her son Jayden, ten.

She is a teacher and now reading champion for the charity and said it was a ‘privilege’ to inspire children to read.

Camilla had an animated conversation with Jayden Lowndes, this years' Literacy Champion. His mother, Camilla Lowndes, a primary school teacher, stood proudly behind her son who spoke to The Queen

The Queen put an affectionate hand on the shoulder of 10-year-old Jayden Lowndes. The youngster said his favourite author was David Walliams and told the Queen how he encouraged his whole circle of friends to read more

Camilla cut the cake to celebrate the charity's 30th anniversary. Jonathan Douglas, the charity's  Chief Executive, said of the Queen: ‘We are working to put a library in every school in the country by 2028'

Adele Parks, who is a women's fiction writer who has written 23 novels, spoke during the 20th anniversary party. The charity recently created 1,000 reading champions across the country who help foster literacy in disadvantaged communities

Camilla shook hands with Simon Armitage (right), the award winning poet. She told guests: ‘A huge thank you to you all. You all do a brilliant job. I hope the next thirty years will achieve something that makes illiteracy a relic of the past. Thank you so, so much for all you do'

‘It’s a life skill,’ she said.

Jayden said his favourite author was David Walliams and told the Queen how he encouraged his whole circle of friends to read more.

‘I love it,’ he added.

Jonathan Douglas, Chief Executive, said of the Queen: ‘We are working to put a library in every school in the country by 2028. 

'Around 2,900 schools didn’t have a library when we started the campaign and we’ve put 1,000 in. 

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'Sadly because of the pandemic and cost of living crisis a lot of parents can’t afford books. 

'We can do it and the help of the Queen is crucial in this.'

Adele Parks, a long-term ambassador for the National Literacy Trust, said it was a ‘fitting celebration’ for the birthday of a charity that has so far helped five million children to read.

‘That number will go up and up as people are given more and more opportunities to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. I have always believed literacy is the key to a better life,’ she said.

Before she left, The Queen cut a special anniversary cake and gave a short off-the-cuff speech after being given a gift of some of the ambassadors’ favourite books to read over the summer, including Handle with Care by Shreya Sen-Handley. and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.

She told her guests: ‘A huge thank you to you all. You all do a brilliant job. I hope the next thirty years will achieve something that makes illiteracy a relic of the past. Thank you so, so much for all you do.’