J.K. Rowling Wins Prince of Asturias Award for Concord

J.K. Rowling has added yet another award to her collection of accolades! Rowling has been awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord “for having helped children of all races and cultures to discover the joy of reading.”

Spain’s Prince of Asturias Awards recognize those who have had a notable impact in a number of fields, including science, humanities, and the arts. The Award for Concord, which Rowling has won, celebrates work that has encouraged unity and harmony in society.

In her acceptance speech, Rowling thanked the Spanish royal family and the Prince of Asturias Foundation before going on to express the importance of reading for children and the themes in the Potter books that reflect society. She concluded by revealing the impact of Potter that she is most proud of:

Thank you again for this extraordinary honor, which acknowledges that aspect of Harry Potter‘s success of which I am most proud: the fact that so many children, of such widely diverse backgrounds, have chosen to accompany Harry during his five years at Hogwarts.

The full transcript of Rowling’s acceptance speech can be read here.

Winners of Prince of Asturias Awards receive an award statuette and 50,000 euros in prize money. In line with her passion for children’s literacy, Rowling has chosen to donate her winnings to the International Reading Association’s Developing Countries Fund, which promotes literacy worldwide.