Overview
- The BBC 500 Words awards were held at Windsor Castle and filmed for The One Show, which broadcast the ceremony on March 6.
- Camilla encouraged children to put down their phones and embrace reading and writing, quoting A. A. Milne on the centenary of Winnie‑the‑Pooh.
- Six winners were honoured across two age groups, with medals presented by the Queen; gold awards went to Zuren Zhang and Maya Ukwubiwe.
- This year’s competition drew more than 46,500 entries from across the UK, with celebrity readings by Jodie Whittaker, Joanna Page, Paterson Joseph, Sara Cox, Big Zuu, and Bradley and Barney Walsh.
- Coverage linked her message to National Literacy Trust findings that only 33% of children over eight enjoy reading, as the Department for Education supports a national year of reading, while viewers responded positively on social media.