The Duchess of Cornwall is helping launch The Commonwealth Poetry podcast, where in each episode, a different Commonwealth country will be highlighted. Each episode is set to help listeners explore and celebrate the poetry, heritage, and people of the Commonwealth.
The podcast is a chance for people from Commonwealth countries to talk about poetry. This could be a person who just simply cares or knows about poetry. Or it could be someone who writes their own poetry. During each episode, the guest will have a chance to share two or three of their favourite poems.
The Duchess of Cornwall, who is known to be an avid reader, sat down for the inaugural episode. The Duchess was joined by Dame Joanna Lumley, host Gyles Brandreth, and his daughter Aphra during the recording at Clarence House. During the episode, the Duchess talks about The Reading Room, a hub started by the Duchess allowing for literary communities around the world to come together and celebrate literature in all forms.
During the episode, Camilla talked about The Reading Room, her travels within the Commonwealth, and her favourite British poets. She also said she believes the task of learning poetry by heart may help children with their concentration skills.
Sharing her childhood memories of reading A Smuggler’s Song by Rudyard Kipling, with her father, the Duchess said: “I remember my father reciting it to us. He read the poem and we had to sing the chorus. And we all had The Owl And The Pussy-Cat. We all went to sea in our beautiful pea-green boats.”
The podcast was produced by students at Chester University where the Duchess, also known as the Countess of Chester, holds an honorary degree. The release comes just before the Duchess and the Prince of Wales visit the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, Rwanda later this month.
