A Royal Day to Remember at the Brontë Birthplace
Thursday 15th May 2025 will forever hold a special place in the story of the Brontë Birthplace.
To mark 210 years since the Brontë family moved to Thornton in May 1815, the Brontë Birthplace had the great honour of welcoming Her Majesty Queen Camilla to the very house where Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë were born.
Her Majesty was greeted at the old butcher’s shop entrance by five individuals including members of the Brontë Birthplace Committee and Press Advisor and Brontë expert, Christa Ackroyd. A poem and posy were beautifully presented by two of our youngest volunteers, before Her Majesty was welcomed by current and former committee members, volunteers, patrons and supporters – as well as our two youngest shareholders, Nancy (18 months old) and her cousin Alex (age 3).
Be More Brontë
In the scullery, the Queen joined local schoolchildren taking part in an educational activity inspired by our “Be More Brontë” initiative.
The children shared their interpretations of what it means to Be More Brontë — from being bold and creative to pushing through life’s challenges with resilience and imagination.
Her Majesty was invited to write on a specially designed Be More Brontë postcard, where she simply wrote: “Be More Brontë” and kindly signed it. A moment none of us will forget.
The Tour Continued...
Upstairs in “Charlotte’s Room,” one of our overnight stay bedrooms, Her Majesty was warmly greeted by our Fundraising Coordinator, Nigel West, along with two remarkable visitors from the Banagher Brontë Group (James Scully and Nicola Daly) in Ireland, and volunteer and Brontë expert Joanne Wilcock, who read a moving poem in honour of the visit.
The visit concluded with Her Majesty being the first to sign our guest book, followed by a special moment outside where she unveiled a commemorative plaque on the front of the house. As she admired the building and the cheering crowd outside, she said warmly,
“I would very much love to visit again to see where you have placed the plaque.”
Our Chair, Katharine Barnett, shared:
“We are honoured beyond words. Her Majesty’s visit recognises not just the birthplace of the Brontë children, but the dedication of our volunteers, supporters, and community. This house is no longer just a place of literary history — it is a living, breathing space filled with creativity, education, and community pride.”
Our General Manager, Anna Gibson, added:
“This visit is a powerful moment of validation. We have worked tirelessly to restore and reimagine this house, and to be able to share it with Her Majesty, our community, and the next generation of Brontë lovers is simply extraordinary.”
This historic day was made possible thanks to the generous support of Bradford City of Culture 2025, the Community Ownership Fund, the Rural England Prosperity Fund, and the passion of over 700 community shareholders, volunteers, and friends.
And thanks to the talented lens of our host photographer Matt Gibbons, the entire visit has been beautifully documented — capturing every moment, every smile, and every story as it unfolded.
From the parlour fireplace to the upstairs bedrooms, every corner of the Birthplace echoed with celebration, resilience and joy — a true reflection of what it means to Be More Brontë.
All photography credit to our Host Photographer, Matt Gibbons.