Queen Elizabeth II hosted a reception at St James's Palace to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Book Aid International, a charity dedicated to promoting global literacy. The event highlighted the organization's significant impact on children's education worldwide.
During the gathering, the Queen, aged 77, emphasized the "very big difference" books make in children's lives. She shared her personal experiences from visiting Book Aid libraries during her travels, noting the joy that illuminates children's faces when they receive books.
"If we can keep on doing this all over the world, we're going to make a very, very big difference to people reading books, children getting access to books."
The reception brought together key supporters of the charity, including Lady Caroline Simmonds, daughter of Book Aid's founder, and Sir Ben Okri, the renowned poet and novelist. Other notable attendees included author Ken Follett, broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, and actor Neil Pearson.
Book Aid International, originally established as the Ranfurly Library Service in 1954, has made remarkable strides in promoting literacy globally. Over the past seven decades, the charity has distributed more than 37 million books to libraries worldwide. In 2023 alone, it provided over 1.2 million books to 166 partners across 22 countries, impacting approximately 17.3 million people.
The organization's current focus is on its Generation Reader campaign, which aims to provide 1.5 million books to over 10 million children in Africa by 2030. Additionally, Book Aid International is supporting libraries in Ukraine with 25,000 donated books.
Lord Boateng, the charity's vice-patron, shared a personal anecdote about how Book Aid International influenced his childhood in Ghana. He credited the organization for nurturing his love of books and providing hope and aspiration to children in challenging environments.
The Queen, known for her avid reading habits, took the opportunity to share book recommendations with guests, including broadcaster Mariella Frostrup. She praised Robert Harris's latest novel, "Precipice," demonstrating her continued engagement with contemporary literature.
Book Aid International's journey began when Lady Ranfurly, shocked by the lack of reading materials in the Bahamas during her husband's tenure as Governor General, established a library for local children. This initiative expanded to become a global effort, evolving into the impactful organization it is today.
As the charity celebrates its 70th anniversary, it continues to make significant strides in promoting literacy and education worldwide, embodying the Queen's belief that "books are everything, education is the key."