The Duchess of Cornwall has had a busy day in Oxford. An avid reader and promoter of literacy, Camilla stopped by the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford. The largest university library in the United Kingdom is over 400 years old and Camilla visited its newest exhibit, ‘Melancholy: A New Anatomy.’ Famed novelist, Sir Philip Pullman escorted the Duchess throughout her visit.
Promoting reading was a major part of the visit. The Duchess visited the Mackerras Reading Room and signed the library visitor book and met students and staff. Devika, a university student commented: “It was lovely meeting the Duchess and the best part was being able to introduce her to other students, who are doing some amazing diverse research, which she very kindly listened to and engaged with. The Bodleian gave us an opportunity to represent to the Duchess the values of diversity and inclusivity, which both the University and I am working towards.”
She also got a glimpse of Space for Reading, a new quiet space in the library allowing visitors to not be disturbed while they delve into a book. Organizers of the upcoming Oxford Literary Festival were also on hand to meet the Duchess.
It’s not all about present day literature at the Bodleian Library. They also have a large conservation project. Camilla visited The Conservation Studio and saw how projects are preserved and maintained. At the library’s Centre for Digital Scholarship, the Duchess was shown some of the library’s treasures including Jane Austin’s earliest work of fiction, JRR Tolkien dust-jacket design for the Hobbit and Princess Elizabeth’s (later Queen Elizabeth I) New Year’s Book for Katherine Parr.
After the library, Camilla visited the Oxford University Hospital and opened the Marcela Botnar Wing. This wing, the Botnar Research Centre focuses on orthopaedics, rehabilitation and rheumatology. Her Royal Highness saw the Clean Room, a first in the United Kingdom, where biomedical tools are created. Camilla also met with researchers and was shown demonstrations of their work.
