Downing Fellow lunches with the Queen

Downing Fellow lunches with the Queen

Downing Fellow in English, Dr Bonnie Lander Johnson, had lunch with the Queen last week as part of a reception for the First Story charity.

Queen Camilla is Patron of First Story, a charity Dr Lander Johnson partners with to bring 400 secondary school students to Cambridge for an annual festival of writing, which this year was hosted by Downing for the first time. You can read more about this year’s festival here.

The event took place at Clarence House on 11 July, to celebrate the 15th birthday of First Story. Guests had lunch and spoke with Camilla about their work on literature and education.

Dr Lander Johnson said: "I’m so pleased that the King and Queen are so supportive of the arts and literacy. At a time when these skills are less valued in British culture, it is important for us to find champions. The Queen was very interested to hear about our work with young people and writing.”

Published 19 July 2023