The National Literacy Trust, for which the Queen serves as Patron, will coordinate the distribution of books through schools and libraries nationwide
Queen Camilla is marking her 79th birthday today with the unveiling of a major new literacy initiative for children across the United Kingdom.
The programme, titled The Queen's Christmas Present, will provide every Year 6 pupil in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, along with P6 pupils in Scotland, with a specially produced copy of Katherine Rundell's bestselling novel Impossible Creatures this December.
A fresh portrait of Her Majesty has been released to commemorate the occasion, captured last month in the State Drawing Room at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.
In the image, the Queen wears a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch with significant royal history. The piece was originally given to Queen Elizabeth II during the Birmingham Spring Fair in February 1977.
The special edition books will carry a distinctive royal stamp on their covers, accompanied by a handwritten message from the Queen inside.
In her personal note to recipients, Her Majesty writes: "Impossible Creatures, by one of my favourite writers, is a brilliant fantasy that will introduce you to a host of mythical friends and terrifying enemies and I hope that you will love it as much as I do."
The initiative forms part of the National Year of Reading 2026, described as the most ambitious reading campaign in a generation, designed to foster a lasting passion for books among young people and adults alike.
Children who are not enrolled in traditional schooling but fall within the equivalent age group will also be eligible to receive copies.
To reach children in the most vulnerable circumstances, the charity will conduct targeted outreach in hospitals, care facilities, refuges and food banks within disadvantaged areas.
A network of 900 National Year of Reading partners will help engage families throughout the country, while schools and libraries will receive free accompanying resources and activities.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is providing a one-off grant to support the community outreach efforts in England.
Her Majesty has championed literacy causes for many years, serving as Patron to BookTrust and Coram Beanstalk alongside the National Literacy Trust, and founding her own organisation, The Queen's Reading Room.
Research from the National Literacy Trust reveals that reading enjoyment drops most dramatically during the transition from primary to secondary education. The charity's 2026 survey of more than 125,000 young people found that pleasure reading falls by 30 per cent between ages 8-11 and 11-14, making Year 6 pupils the ideal target for intervention.
Katherine Rundell, who serves as a National Year of Reading ambassador, said: "I'm so immensely honoured that Her Majesty The Queen has chosen Impossible Creatures as her Christmas Gift to every child in Year 6."
Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: "Reading unlocks children's imagination, sparks their curiosity and brings unrivalled benefits for their futures."
