ROYAL STAMP OF APPROVAL

The author Sebastian Faulks on the Queen's 'eclectic' reading taste and writing a memoir

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Sebastian Faulks's new memoir has been 20 years in the making – but with the fascinating snapshots of his life that fill the pages it was well worth the wait.

The award-winning British novelist, who won critical acclaim for his harrowing 1993 First World War epic Birdsong, shares anecdotes ranging from his postwar childhood in rural Berkshire to his “office romance” with his wife Veronica Youlten, whom he met while working at The Independent, and delivering their daughter Holly on the bathroom floor at home.

The book, Fires Which Burned Brightly: A Life in Progress, will soon grace the shelves of Clarence House too. The 72-year-old author promised to send a copy to the Queen, a fellow literature lover, at the state banquet at Windsor Castle in July. During the event he rubbed shoulders with royals and rock stars, bonding with Sir Elton John over having rugby-mad sons.

Sebastian, who lives in west London and has three grownup children, William, Holly and Arthur, is regarded as one of the finest novelists of his generation thanks to Birdsong, his historical bestsellers set in France - The Girl at the Lion d'Or and Charlotte Gray - and his 2008 continuation of the James Bond legacy, Devil May Care.

Here, in an exclusive interview with HELLO!, he reveals that Camilla has “eclectic” taste in literature and talks about his interaction with the “absolutely charming” Sir Elton and who he thinks should be the next James Bond.

What do you think of what the Queen is doing for literature?