Published on
Queen Camilla posted a photo of her meeting Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to discuss encouraging reading among young people.
The pair discussed their “shared passion for books” to mark the start of Royal Week in Edinburgh – also known as Holyrood Week – which celebrates Scottish culture and achievements.
In a statement published on social media, the Royal Family said the Queen and Rowling “had a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure”.
They added: “Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations.”
While promoting reading for younger generations is of paramount importance, the post triggered widespread criticism on social media due to Rowling’s outspoken views on transgender issues.
Rowling has frequently courted controversy and caused outrage with her statements against transgender women. She has shared numerous statements condemned as transphobic, leading many to label her a TERF – a transgender-exclusionary radical feminist.
To make matters worse, the meeting took place on 30 June, at the end of Pride month.
“During Pride month, this is a statement,” one post read online.
“There are many other admirable individuals to spotlight who champion reading for children and young people,” wrote one user, while another commented: “As an admirer of the Queen and her Reading Room I’m deeply disappointed in her giving a platform to JKR, any month but especially during Pride Month.”
Others highlighted how this meeting and its timing shows how out of touch the Royal Family is.
Check out some of the reactions to the “tone-deaf” meeting below:
Rowling’s divisive politics have turned some members of the Harry Potter cast against her, with Daniel Radcliffe denouncing her views on gender.
Other celebrities have spoken out against the author, most notably Stephen Fry, who said last year that Rowling “seems to be a lost cause.”
Fry, who previously narrated all seven Harry Potter audiobooks, said during the recording of the podcast The Show People: “She has been radicalised I fear and it maybe she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her.”
His comments came in the aftermath of the UK Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 which determined that ‘woman’ meant a biological female and not gender.
Fry continued: “It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her I am afraid. I am not saying that she not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.”