Camilla asks to be in crime novel, author reveals

Author Peter James has said Queen Camilla asked if she could be a character in his next novel

Author Peter James has revealed he was contacted by Queen Camilla to ask if she could be a central character in his upcoming novel.

James, who has written more than 30 crime novels, said he first found out she was a fan of his work following an interview with the Daily Mirror, in which she had two books in the accompanying picture.

He said he immediately wrote to the Queen to thank her. She responded telling him she had read all his published novels, he added.

During lockdown, the Queen, in her previous role as Duchess of Cornwall, set up a book club and the Brighton author was one of the selected authors.

James said she suggested taking the main character from his book, Roy Grace, out of Brighton and into London, but James involved Camilla as a character in his book.

"She wrote to me and asked when will a novel be set in London", James said, adding that things had not previously ended well for those who previously ignored Queens of England.

"I was aware that there was chaos in the palace due to renovations, and when I heard art was being moved, I saw an opportunity," he said.

"I drafted a few lines and sent it to the palace, but the Queen loved it. It got signed off by Buckingham Palace communications."

In the new book, Roy Grace travels from East Sussex to London in the royal train, which derails, and Camilla helps passengers onboard.

James added that he spoke to Buckingham Palace about the book and was given a three-and-a-half-hour tour around the palace, which he said helped him set the scene in his book.

The Hawk is Dead is due to be released in October.