Queen Camilla confirmed for “powerful” new BBC documentary airing this year

by

To celebrate the National Year of Reading in 2026, Queen Camilla will be the subject of a new documentary created with The Open University.

This documentary highlights how reading can profoundly change people’s lives, sharing inspiring stories from those who’ve found joy and transformation through books.

Queen Camilla is a strong advocate for reading. She started The Queen’s Reading Room and supports several organizations across the UK – like BookTrust, the Royal Literary Fund, and the National Literacy Trust – that encourage and help people to read.

The film features Queen Camilla discussing her lifelong love of books, recalling what first inspired her passion for reading as a child and how she continues to find solace in them. She shares memories of her father, Major Bruce Shand, and his time as a prisoner of war in Germany, explaining how reading became a source of strength for him and how he passed that love of literature on to her.

According to Suzy Klein, who leads arts and classical music TV at the BBC, simply opening a book can be incredibly impactful. Books offer a unique escape – unlike other forms of entertainment, they don’t try to grab our attention or sell us something, but instead transport us to new worlds we can imagine.

Seeing things from a different angle can really shift how we see ourselves, and this documentary beautifully illustrates that through the personal and heartfelt stories of the people featured in it.

With this year dedicated to reading, we want to encourage everyone, young and old, to discover the joy of books and how they can broaden our perspectives and even transform our lives. We’re thrilled that The Queen, a lifelong reader and passionate supporter of literature, is leading this special initiative to celebrate the positive impact of great books.

The documentary, also featuring Queen Camilla, will share inspiring stories from people of all walks of life. These individuals all found strength and a fresh start through the power of reading.

These stories show the powerful impact books can have on people’s lives – offering comfort during difficult times, like in prison, helping overcome challenges such as depression through community, and even inspiring complete life transformations. Books provide hope, joy, connection, and new ways of looking at things when people need them most.

The movie will also look at the increasing scientific proof that reading can benefit your health and make you feel better.

Dan Chambers, a co-founder of Blink Films and the project’s executive producer, shared his excitement about showcasing how reading can change lives. He also expressed gratitude to Queen Elizabeth II for her continued support of the project and for participating in an on-camera interview.

BBC Arts has more literary programming on the way, featuring a three-part series on Charles Dickens. The popular show The Read will return with new episodes discussing beloved books like The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Little Women, and Oliver Twist. Plus, BBC Bookworm will be creating fresh content specifically for TikTok.

The documentary is due to air later in 2026.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a degree in Journalism.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-03-26 14:38