Queen Camilla Honors Colin Firth's 'Pride and Prejudice' Scene at Derbyshire Literary Festival

Queen Camilla humorously referenced the iconic lake scene featuring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy from the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice during her annual literary festival at Chatsworth House, which is widely believed to have inspired the setting of Pemberley. Marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, Camilla addressed guests at the Grade I listed stately home, joking about the famous scene where Mr. Darcy emerges from the water, a moment that helped solidify Firth's fame, although it was later revealed a stuntman performed the lake plunge due to health risks. The Queen, founder of The Queen’s Reading Room charity and a passionate reader, highlighted the importance of books in enriching life, noting her online book club's growth to a community of over 180,000 members with an annual global audience of 12 million. She also suggested a playful re-enactment of the scene to add excitement to the festivities. The event celebrated Austen’s literary legacy and the cultural impact of adaptations of her work, including the 2005 film version filmed at the same location. Camilla’s remarks combined literary appreciation with a lighthearted nod to one of television’s most memorable moments, emphasizing the enduring power of storytelling and reading.