![\"Queen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777588994_480_0_Image.jpg\")
<\/p>\nQueen Camilla chatted to TV host and daughter of former US president George W Bush, Jenna Bush Hager, in a rare TV interview shown on US TV this morning<\/p>\n
Queen Camilla chats to Jenna Bush Hager at the New York Public Library(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
The Queen hailed the US state visit as ‘wonderful’ and told Americans to “keep reading” in a personal message during a rare TV interview.<\/p>\n
Camilla issued her message as she chatted to TV host Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of former US president George W Bush, during her visit to the New York Public Library yesterday.<\/p>\n
At the library, Camilla attended an event linked to her Reading Room charity, read an excerpt of Winnie the Pooh to schoolchildren and also presented a \u2018Roo\u2019 doll to add to the library\u2019s Winnie-the-Pooh collection of toys. It came after Camilla spent two days in Washington DC alongside King Charles<\/a> with US president Donald Trump<\/a> – with their state visit marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.<\/p>\n READ MORE: King Charles US visit live: Donald Trump to face monarch after trying to drag him into Iran War<\/a>READ MORE: King Charles and Queen Camilla bring out showbiz stars in New York visit<\/a> The TODAY host greets the Queen (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n The Queen told Bush Hager the state visit had been \u201cgood fun\u201d adding: \u201cIt\u2019s been wonderful, and everybody\u2019s been very kind and welcoming. Well, it\u2019s always a pleasure to be here. Always, always lovely to be back in New York again.\u201d<\/p>\n And when asked what her message to America is on the 250th anniversary of the nation, Camilla, known for her love of books, said: \u201cWell, I\u2019d like to say, keep reading. I think it\u2019s very important, and you know, specialist statistics are showing reading is falling in children. We\u2019ve got to find a way of bringing it up.\u201d<\/p>\n During the chat, shown on NBC\u2019s TODAY show this morning, Camilla told the host, who also runs a book club and credits her mother former first lady Laura Bush for her love of reading, that it was her father, Major Bruce Shand, who inspired her.<\/p>\n The Queen said: \u201cOh, but he was wonderful. He used to sit at the end of our beds every night and read us these incredibly exciting stories, some of them quite frightening, pillows over our head, but he just gave us this incredible interest.\u201d<\/p>\n The two women share a love of books(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Bush Hager also spoke of her full circle moment seeing Camilla, after their first meeting in 2005. On Camilla\u2019s first trip to the United States as a member of the Royal Family<\/a> in 2005, she and King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, had dinner with President George W Bush and wife, Laura, as well as Bush Hager, her now husband Henry and her sister Barbara. The TV host told the Queen: \u201cI love it that we can be back together\u201d and Camilla replied: \u201cAnd loving books.\u201d<\/p>\n Today, the King and Queen will end their four-day state visit, which is Charles\u2019 first trip to the US as monarch. The royal couple will travel to Virginia to join residents at a \u201cblock-party\u201d featuring food and entertainment to celebrate America, the creation of the nation\u2019s Founding Fathers described by Charles in his Congress address as \u201cbold and imaginative rebels with a cause\u201d.<\/p>\n In one of America\u2019s national parks, the King will meet one of the area\u2019s indigenous communities and people involved in conservation initiatives and efforts to protect the natural environment.<\/p>\n Separately, the Queen will visit a farm to highlight the work of America\u2019s horse racing<\/a> industry and the long-term links with the sport in the UK.<\/p>\n Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal<\/p>\n WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here.<\/a><\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777588995_912_0_Image.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777588996_819_0_Image.jpg\")
<\/p>\n