Royal Family marks Camilla's birthday with photo featuring a Louise Penny book
Celebrated Canadian mystery author says it was ‘astonishing’ to see the social media post
Canadians who follow The Royal Family on social media had a chance to witness a CanLit cameo in a post marking Camilla's birthday July 17.
The post shared on Instagram and Facebook shows the Queen Consort seated outdoors on a wicker chair holding a hardcover copy of celebrated Canadian mystery author Louise Penny's book The Grey Wolf.
The book is the nineteenth in Penny's widely popular Inspector Armand Gamache series, set in her home province of Québec, which have sold more than four million copies worldwide. The series primarily takes place in the Eastern Townships and the fictional community of Three Pines.
The royal shout-out took the author by surprise.
"I was floored when a friend in the U.K. forwarded me the photo," Louise Penny said in an email to CBC Books.
"I knew she'd read the book, since she sent me a lovely note, but to see it in the birthday post was astonishing."
Camilla, who turned 78 on July 17, is known to be a fan of the mystery genre, says the CBC's Janet Davison, who follows the Royal Family closely and is the author of the Royal Fascinator newsletter.
"Not only does she love to read mysteries, she's going to be a character in one," said Davison.
In June, U.K. author Peter James, who is said to be Camilla's favourite mystery novelist, announced that the Queen will take a leading role alongside fictional detective Roy Grace in a mystery set at Buckingham Palace. The Hawk is Dead will be out Oct. 21.
"Camilla is not the first member of the Royal Family in our living memory who has been a character in fiction novels or in detective novels," said Davison.
Queen Elizabeth II was a character in Alan Bennett's The Uncommon Reader, published in 2007 to coincide with her Diamond Jubilee marking 60 years since her ascension to the throne.
There is also a series of mysteries by S.J. Bennett in which "her Majesty the Queen is the one who investigates," said Davison.
A subtle nod to Canada?
As for the birthday post, the Royal Family's usual practice is to release a photo depicting that person doing something that they love.
"So to see Camilla reading is not surprising," Davison said. That's because Camilla is a known bookworm who supports literacy initiatives, and has had a long association with the coveted literary award, the Booker Prize.
Through her book club, The Queen's Reading Room, Camilla highlights four of her favourite books for each season of the year, a mix of old and new across a range of genres.
"The surprising bit is to see the Canadian author because I'm not sure that we have seen that before," she said.
It's unclear whether the selection of The Grey Wolf has any connection at all to the U.S. president's threats to Canadian sovereignty, or to the ongoing tariff disputes.
But with the Royal Family, "very little happens by chance," said Davison.
"We have been seeing a notable number of signals that have a Canadian theme or somehow acknowledge Canada in the past six months or so," said Davison. "So it did get me wondering to what extent was there a decision to highlight or at least have on display a Canadian author."
In the spring, Camilla travelled to Canada with her husband, King Charles, so he could deliver the throne speech to mark the opening of Parliament May 27. The King did so at the request of Prime Minister Mark Carney.
"It was the warmest of welcomes and the fondest of returns to a nation and a people we love," Charles and Queen Camilla said in a joint statement released after they left Ottawa.
Louise Penny actually met King Charles ahead of the couple's trip to Canada after receiving an invitation to Canada House in London.
Davison said it will be interesting to observe if the Queen's selection of a Louise Penny book has any impact on the already popular Canadian author, such as introducing her to new audiences.
Penny will join Mattea Roach, host of CBC Radio's Bookends, for a live event that will take place Nov. 28 at Massey Hall in Toronto.