Her Majesty the Queen and Dennis the Menace launch the National Year of Reading in Scotland

A photograph showing Her Majesty the Queen amongst a group of adults and school children standing on a staircase at the National Library of Scotland, accompanied by Dennis the Menace and Gnasher.
Her Majesty the Queen and Dennis the Menace at the launch of the National Year of Reading at the National Library of Scotland

We have launched the National Year of Reading in Scotland at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, with Her Majesty The Queen joining local primary school children and beloved comic character Dennis the Menace to mark the start of a year-long national effort to reignite a love of reading.

On 19 January, we were joined by Scottish authors and campaign ambassadors Jackie Kay, Val McDermid and Sir Ian Rankin, as well as partners from across government, business and the charity sector, including Education Scotland, DC Thomson, Scottish Book Trust and the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLiC).

At the event, Beano immersed 150 local school children in the world of storytelling, writing and illustration. Using a bespoke three-panel comic strip featuring Her Majesty The Queen and Dennis the Menace as a story starter, pupils worked alongside Beano’s creative team, and Her Majesty herself, to create their own mischievous National Year of Reading comic.

“Beano shows children that reading doesn’t have to be boring to be powerful. We encourage them to question, imagine and think differently, which we call creative mischief. We’re launching a Year of Mischief to celebrate reading as a powerful, playful force that helps kids explore ideas, spark creativity and see the world their way.”

Mike Stirling, Director of Mischief,  Beano

Her Majesty also joined pupils to try their hand at illustrating Dennis the Menace’s dog, Gnasher, with comics artist Nigel Auchterlounie, while Laura Howell supported children in creating their own Minnie the Minx characters.

A Beano comic strip showing the Her Majesty the Queen interacting with Dennis the Menace and Gnasher at the National Library of Scotland

Thanks to generous donations from DC Thomson, HarperCollins and Penguin Random House, all 150 children received brand new Beano comics, books and additional reading materials to take home.

The launch in Scotland follows our opening event in England at the Emirates Stadium in London, building momentum for a UK-wide movement to make reading more visible, relevant and engaging, and inspire everyone to Go All In on reading in 2026.