Queen Camilla Meets Sarah Jessica Parker at the NYPL

In a moment reminiscent of “Sex and the City,” Queen Camilla had the chance to meet Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, at the New York Public Library’s main branch on Wednesday.

The 78-year-old Queen was in Manhattan as part of a whirlwind East Coast tour with King Charles. During her visit, she toured a curated selection from the NYPL’s America 250 collection alongside Parker, who is 61.

This wasn’t their first encounter. The two first met last November at Clarence House in London, where Camilla hosted a reception celebrating the 2025 Booker Prize, for which Parker was a judge.

Parker expressed enthusiasm about Camilla’s visit, noting, “It’s a great thing for all New Yorkers. We get a chance to talk about libraries and talk about literacy.”

During their time at the library, the Queen, Parker, and NYPL president Dr. Anthony Marx explored books and artifacts highlighting both American and British history. Items included a copy of the Declaration of Independence, a 1775 map by British cartographer John Montresor, and an etching related to protests against the Stamp Act, marked by Benjamin Franklin.

Among the treasures was a letter from Jane Austen, celebrating the release of “Pride and Prejudice.” Camilla was particularly delighted when she discovered an early edition of “Now We Are Six” by A.A. Milne, mentioning how it contained some of the original drawings of Roo the Kangaroo by E.H. Shephard.

Interestingly, the Fifth Avenue Library has kept stuffed animals inspired by Milne’s works, which once belonged to his son, Christopher Robin. While the original Roo had been missing for years, Camilla presented the library with a handmade replacement from a British toy manufacturer.

At a reception that included Vogue’s Anna Wintour, Parker emphasized the significance of Camilla’s visit, particularly in light of funding challenges faced by libraries. “This is about access to information, which is crucial. Some might see it as political, but, honestly, it’s fundamental,” she said.

During her visit, Camilla, who focuses on advocacy for domestic violence victims, also met with representatives from various organizations dedicated to prevention and social services.

Jenna Bush Hager, host of “Today,” moderated a panel where Camilla shared her enthusiasm for books. “I’m thrilled to share with the Queen our mutual love of books and our shared commitment to making room for books in as many hearts and homes as possible,” she remarked.

Camilla reflected on how she established a book club, The Queen’s Reading Room, on Instagram during the pandemic, which has amassed a sizable global following, boasting 12 million pieces of content in 183 countries. “The first Americans I met in my life were characters from novels that I cherished as a child,” she shared. “Even back then, I knew that books would be my best friend through good times and bad.”