Queen Camilla has joined King Charles in Scotland following a recent announcement from Buckingham Palace, marking her first public engagement during their visit by officially reopening the newly reconstructed Ratho Library.
A Revived Community Hub
Her Majesty’s visit to Ratho celebrated the new library facility, which now serves as a vibrant hub for the local community. The previous library was unable to reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving residents dependent on temporary mobile library services for over a year. During the transition, community programming was hosted at Ratho Community Centre.
With the new building now complete, the library shares space with an early years centre and regularly hosts visits from local schools, including Ratho Primary. It also offers year-round support for residents of all ages, providing space for events, reading groups, and community activities.
Queen Camilla’s visit marked the official launch of Paper Trails, a five-year project from the Edinburgh International Book Festival in partnership with Edinburgh City Libraries. This initiative aims to bring literature directly into neighborhoods across the city through innovative, community-focused programmes. Author Sir Ian Rankin has expressed his support for the initiative.
Paper Trails will be active across five key locations: Ratho Library, Muirhouse Library, Liberton High School Library, Streetreads, and the Mobile Library. Each site will collaborate with local staff and residents to develop programming tailored to their specific needs. The project also involves mobile services delivering books—and even author visits—to care homes and individuals who are unable to travel.
Meeting Community Champions and Writers
During the engagement, Queen Camilla met members of the Citizen Collective, a youth writing programme, as well as acclaimed authors Jenny Colgan and Paula Hawkins. She was also introduced to volunteers from the Royal Voluntary Service’s Housebound Home Library scheme, which has been delivering books to people unable to visit libraries for over 60 years.
The visit ended on a celebratory note as a young writer performed a poem, followed by Queen Camilla cutting a cake to officially open the library.
A Literary Commitment Beyond the Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival, founded in 1983, has grown into a globally recognized cultural event. Alongside its annual festival—which will next take place from August 9 to 24, 2025—the organization is deeply involved in year-round outreach. It runs programmes in schools, prisons, hospitals, and neighborhoods, working to make literature more accessible to everyone.
To further expand its reach, the festival streams hundreds of its events online, ensuring those unable to attend in person can still enjoy and engage with its offerings.
Royal Visit Amid Changes to Royal Traditions
Queen Camilla’s appearance in Scotland came shortly after Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Royal Train—used by members of the monarchy for official travel—will be retired by 2027 as part of broader cost-saving measures.
She is currently accompanying King Charles for a week-long visit to Scotland, where both are participating in a series of engagements celebrating community and cultural initiatives.
