FOLLOWING the stellar success of Queen Camilla’s successful podcast The Queen’s Reading Room, the show will return for another live event this summer.
According to an expert, this is bound to ruffle the feathers of Meghan Markle, whose own Spotify podcast deal was axed last year.
On June 8, 2024, due to “popular demand”, The Queen‘s Reading Room Festival will return to Hampton Court Palace for a one-day, star-studded event.
According to the event page, it will be “bigger and better” than the inaugural event last year and will “gather authors, experts, actors and literature lovers for a day celebrating the written word.”
Editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward told Fabulous: “Camilla’s podcast has been a great success. She has proven many times over she can bring in any of the big names from the world of the arts she wants.
“Given Meghan’s apparent disinterest in Queen Camilla I doubt if she has a nice word to say about her or her podcast.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, whose Archetypes podcast was axed along with their entire Spotify deal last June, have caused tension across the pond in recent times.
King Charles’ wife was cruelly branded the “villain” and “dangerous” by her son-in-law in his book Spare last year.
Denise Palmer Davies, brand expert and director of Borne Media, told Fabulous: “After all the hurtful things Harry has said about Camilla, she has finally got her own back on them.”
She added that Camilla’s podcast success is the “perfect revenge” and added: “I bet Meghan in particular will be livid over the whole thing, and probably a bit embarrassed that hers fell at the first hurdle.”
Camilla’s online book club was set up during lockdown when she shared some of the literature she read during the pandemic and the club’s Instagram page already boasts over 167,000 followers.
Her high profile podcasts guests have included the likes of Joanna Lumley, Ian Rankin, David Baddiel and Elif Shafak.
Meanwhile the The Queen’s Reading Room Festival will star the likes of “Harry Potter Miriam Margolyes and Helena Bonham Carter, thrill-writer Harlan Coben and a special musical showcase of the musical comedy Operation Mincemeat.”
Ingrid shared how Camilla is “far too polite” to react to any negative comments from the Sussexes.
She added: “I don’t think Camilla has the time or inclination to feel anything much about Meghan.
“She is confident and comfortable in herself and would see no necessity to give Meghan or what she is doing or saying a second thought.
QUEEN Camilla launched her podcast in January and it’s already proving to be a big success.
The podcast, which currently has a five-star rating, is dominating Arts and Books categories.
The much-anticipated audio show follows Camilla’s popular The Queen‘s Reading Room book club, which she launched during the pandemic.
Queen Camilla doesn’t host the podcast itself, but she does feature in each episode.
During the first episode, King Charles’ wife was asked: “Which book did you most enjoy reading to your grandchildren and did you do different voices for the characters?”
Camilla answered: “I think the one I enjoyed reading more than anything else was Harry Potter.
“I can’t mimic voices for love or money, I’m completely hopeless at it.
“I was a really bad actor at school and I’ve never been able to master the art of mimicry, but my husband, he can do all the voices.”
“She is far too polite to say anything.
“Should she come across Meghan soon she will be detached but as charming as always.”
It has been announced that the Duchess of Sussex has signed a new podcast agreement with Lemonada Media.
In a statement, Meghan said: “I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting.
“Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024.
After all the hurtful things Harry has said about Camilla, she has finally got her own back on them
Denise Palmer Davies
“Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works.”
However Ingrid claimed success may be trickier than the Duchess of Sussex thinks, and added: “I think Meghan is canny enough to realise that people will only want to help her if there is something in it for them.
“As Meghan’s reputation in the US is almost as tarnished as it is here, they are obviously wary of getting involved.”
