A recent appearance by Queen Camilla alongside J.K. Rowling has sparked strong reactions online. The photo, taken at an event to promote the importance of reading, was shared by The Royal Family on social media. Supporters of the women praised the collaboration, while critics questioned the Queen’s decision to pose with the author amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Rowling’s public views.
Queen Camilla Posted Photo With J.K. Rowling During Pride Month
On June 30, the last day of Pride Month, the Royal Family social media accounts posted a photo of Queen Camilla smiling for the camera alongside controversial Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
It was taken at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, where an event was held to discuss the women’s shared support for literacy and “commitment to children reading for pleasure.” As the caption noted, “Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations.”
Although the meeting was meant to highlight reading, many online users criticized Camilla for associating with Rowling, whose past comments about transgender issues generated intense public debate.
Queen Camilla Draws Disappointment
The comments section flooded with comments, many expressing disappointment and anger over Camilla and Rowling’s collaboration. “As an admirer of the Queen and her Reading Room I’m deeply disappointed in her giving a platform to JKR, any month but especially during Pride Month,” one user wrote, adding that the Queen could have chosen other “admirable individuals” for her cause.
“The Royal Family standing proudly with probably the biggest trans hate preacher in the world. Shows how out of touch the monarchy is,” another user added, with one commenting that posting the photo was a way to drive away LGBTQ+ supporters.
“Giving one of the nastiest, most poisonous transphobes on the planet the Royal seal of approval is disgusting,” wrote one person. “Would this include the children’s books about LGBTQ?” one asked.
J.K. Rowling’s Widely Criticized Views
The disapproval of Rowling stems from a series of statements that began sometime in 2018, when the author was criticized for liking a Twitter post that, in part, read, “Men in dresses get brocialist solidarity I never had.” A spokesperson for Rowling later said the author had liked the post by accident, calling it a “clumsy” moment.
The following year, Rowling again faced backlash for following “self-professed transphobe” Magdalen Berns and defending Maya Forstater, who was fired for making anti-trans statements.
In 2020, the author penned an essay explaining her views on gender identity and transgender rights, arguing that biological sex is foundational and expressing her concerns about how transgender activism impacts women’s safety.
In a post on X in 2024, Rowling replied to a commenter, writing, “There are no trans kids. No child is ‘born in the wrong body.'”
Despite her statements, Rowling has repeatedly denied being a transphobe, maintaining that her stance is in defense of feminism and women’s rights.
Some Defended Queen Camilla For Associating With The Author
Among the sea of criticisms, some still stood behind Camilla and Rowling, with one noting that the acclaimed author has “done so much” for the world. “Few could ever dream of having that impact,” one user said.
“She gets so much hate for expressing her personal beliefs when we all have the right to do so ourselves,” one commented, adding that Rowling is an amazing author who came up with the magical world of Harry Potter that encouraged many to develop a love for reading books. “Whether you agree with her political beliefs or not, you have to admire her work for what it has done for young readers,” she added.
Another person noted that while Rowling has openly expressed her opinion and disagreed with certain lifestyles, she “has never said that she hates anyone.”
“Two remarkable and inspiring women in one photo,” wrote another.
Members Of The Royal Family Have Supported LGBTQ+ Initiatives
While the monarch and working royals are expected to remain politically neutral, several members of the Royal Family have actively supported LGBTQ+ causes over the years.
In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II granted royal assent to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act, the final step that made same-sex marriage legal in England and Wales after it passed through Parliament.
In 2019, Prince William became the first senior royal to visit the Albert Kennedy Trust, a charity dedicated to preventing and ending LGBTQ+ youth homelessness. During his visit, he said it was “absolutely fine” if any of his children came out as gay or lesbian.
In 2025, King Charles III unveiled Britain’s first permanent LGBT+ Armed Forces Community Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The monarch’s attendance was widely seen as a significant step in acknowledging the service of LGBTQ+ veterans who were once barred from serving openly.