The Queen was presented with a special comic strip of The Beano.

Queen Camilla met Dennis the Menace in Scotland today (Image: AP)

The King and Queen undertook their first public facing engagements of the year today, busying themselves in Scotland as the Duke of Sussex’s latest case against the press began in London. Charles, 77, enjoyed a dram of award-winning whisky as he hosted a reception marking the Scotland Investment Forum, while his wife was presented with a special comic strip of The Beano.

During a visit to the National Library of Scotland in central Edinburgh, Camilla appeared impressed by the series of drawings that depicted her coming to the rescue of the mischievous Dennis the Menace after he had been told off by his mother for reading a comic in a library while wearing headphones.

Outlining the “new rules” in the comic, the cartoon Queen tells the famous character and his pet dog Gnasher: “Go all in for the National Year of Reading, Dennis! Comics and audiobooks count too!” Marvelling at the flattering picture of herself, Camilla joked “I wish”.

King Charles tastes some whisky (Image: Getty Images)

The Queen’s visit on Monday sought to highlight how listening to audiobooks counts as reading just as much as picking up a book.

During a visit to the National Library of Scotland in central Edinburgh, Camilla launched the National Year of Reading campaign and spoke of her mission to encourage people to get “back to books”.

With the slogan “Go All In”, the Scottish campaign is designed to encourage everybody to develop a habit for reading, even if it is just for five minutes a day.

In November, a landmark research paper from the National Literacy Trust, of which Camilla is patron, argued that everything from scanning song lyrics to listening to audiobooks can now be classed as reading.

Joining a round table discussion to discuss the campaign, the bookloving Queen asked how many libraries had closed recently and was told that 54 libraries in Scotland had closed since 2014.

The framed Beano comic strip featuring Queen Camilla which was presented to her today (Image: PA)

A copy of the drawing of Gnasher by Queen Camilla during a visit to National Library of Scotland (Image: PA)

Discussing the national campaign to encourage more people to read, she said: “Just to get everybody reading again, especially now, is so important. The battle against these machines. Get them back to books.”

Camilla was later given the opportunity to try her hand at drawing Dennis the Menace and Gnasher alongside a group of school children from Clovenstone Primary School following a brief tutorial from Nigel Auchterlounie, an artist at Beano Studios.

Meanwhile the King hosted around 130 people from to an event at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh, to celebrate Scottish entrepreneurialism.

Charles enjoyed a sip from a £1,800 bottle of Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky during the reception in the Throne Room.

The whisky, from firm Rosebank whose distillery is based in Falkirk was first established in 1840, won Best in Show award at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. A single dram like the one sipped by the King would cost £60.

Managing director Leonard Russell warned: “Be careful sir, it’s high strength.” Before taking a sip, Charles turned to John Swinney and said: “The terrible thing about it is, the photograph is never the most fetching.”

The King then went on to hand out gongs at an investiture.