Clare Balding and Jeffrey Archer among speakers at Queen’s literary festival

Broadcaster Clare Balding, former politician Lord Jeffrey Archer and author Harlan Coben are among the line-up for the Queen’s Reading Room festival.

Camilla’s event will commemorate the five-year anniversary of her global charity, which began as an Instagram book club during the Covid-19 lockdown.

During the day, Celebrity Traitors star Balding will discuss the connection between physical places and the stories people tell, a prominent theme throughout her novels.

The event, which is being held at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, will also see former MP and author Archer – who is one of the world’s best-selling authors – discuss how to build successful novels.

American writer Harlan Coben, who is known for his popular Netflix TV series including Fool Me Once, will speak about his literary creations being turned into shows.

The programme also sees artist and author Philippa Perry, who is married to the artist Sir Grayson Perry, take to the stage to discuss “whether a therapist can catch a killer”.

Meanwhile, Lee Child, who is known for his Jack Reacher novels which have been adapted for TV, will be joined by special guests as he speaks about rehabilitation in writing and reading.

Other speakers at the Queen’s Reading Room festival are the authors Ann Cleeves, Elif Shafak, Meg Mason, Daisy Fancourt, Cecelia Ahern, Kate Atkinson and Louise Penny.

Jessie Burton, Louise Kennedy, Reeta Chakrabarti, Jane Harper and Jennifer Saint complete the line-up, along with Louisa Young, Lucy Foley and Nussaibah Younis.

The festival programme also includes a drop-in hub for new writers called The Writers’ Room and a space for speakers to share their love of poetry called The Poetry Room.

It will also feature a new exhibition based around its Chatsworth House venue, bringing together significant works of literature from its archive and history.

Camilla’s reading room was launched as a charity in February 2023 to work on advancing education by promoting the appreciation of literature among adults and children.

The Queen’s Reading Room chief executive Vicki Perrin said: “As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of The Queen’s Reading Room, it is a joy to announce the return of our festival to Chatsworth.

“Bringing so many remarkable authors, thinkers and storytellers to one place is a true privilege.

“As ever, we are committed to making reading accessible for all, and will be continuing our partnership with local charity, The Elm Foundation, which supports victims of domestic violence.”

Perrin added that the event will be using Chatsworth’s Universal Credit Scheme, which will see tickets allocated to low-income guests at a reduced rate.

She continued: “From intimate conversations with some of today’s most compelling voices to the return of The Writers’ Room and the launch of our new Poetry Canopy, this year’s festival offers something for every kind of reader.

“Whether you come seeking inspiration, discovery or simply the joy of being surrounded by books and ideas, we cannot wait to welcome you to Chatsworth in September.”

The Queen’s Reading Room festival takes place from September 19 to 20, with tickets to go on sale on April 15.