Queen Camilla has joined King Charles in Scotland following a recent announcement from Buckingham Palace, marking her first public engagement during their visit by officially reopening the newly reconstructed Ratho Library.

A Revived Community Hub

Her Majesty’s visit to Ratho celebrated the new library facility, which now serves as a vibrant hub for the local community. The previous library was unable to reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving residents dependent on temporary mobile library services for over a year. During the transition, community programming was hosted at Ratho Community Centre.

With the new building now complete, the library shares space with an early years centre and regularly hosts visits from local schools, including Ratho Primary. It also offers year-round support for residents of all ages, providing space for events, reading groups, and community activities.

Queen Camilla’s visit marked the official launch of Paper Trails, a five-year project from the Edinburgh International Book Festival in partnership with Edinburgh City Libraries. This initiative aims to bring literature directly into neighborhoods across the city through innovative, community-focused programmes. Author Sir Ian Rankin has expressed his support for the initiative.

Paper Trails will be active across five key locations: Ratho Library, Muirhouse Library, Liberton High School Library, Streetreads, and the Mobile Library. Each site will collaborate with local staff and residents to develop programming tailored to their specific needs. The project also involves mobile services delivering books—and even author visits—to care homes and individuals who are unable to travel.