Queen Camilla issues 'urgent' warning as she marks her book club’s fifth anniversary
Her Majesty is marking a big milestoneQueen Camilla has marked the fifth anniversary of her Reading Room book club charity.
The Queen’s Reading Room was formally launched by Her Majesty in 2023. But it was founded in 2021 during the COVID-19 lockdown. It’s a charity working to celebrate and promote the power and benefits of reading.
Queen Camilla, 78, has celebrated the charity five years on, but issued an “urgent” warning over global reading rates being at their “very lowest”.
Queen Camilla issues ‘urgent’ warning amid book club charity anniversary
In comments to the Press Association, Queen Camilla said: “Five years ago, I founded a book club in lockdown, in the hope that others might derive as much enjoyment from good literature as I do.
“Since those humble beginnings, that book club has grown into a global charity, supporting a community of book lovers, united by a shared belief in the power of reading.”
At a time when global reading rates are at their very lowest, my charity’s mission feels more urgent than ever.
She added: “I am so proud of what my charity has achieved, reaching millions of people, staging remarkable events and partnering with incredible organisations to bring books to people who need them most.
“Its groundbreaking research has confirmed what many of us always felt: reading truly changes how we perceive, how we think and how we connect. At a time when global reading rates are at their very lowest, my charity’s mission feels more urgent than ever. Books do make life better, and this is only the beginning.”
The Queen’s Reading Room work
Queen Camilla has done much work in connection with her book club and literary charity.
The charity’s mission is to “seek to discover and celebrate the unique power of books to improve brain health, mental health and social connection” through “groundbreaking neuroscientific research”.
In a statement on the charity’s website, Queen Camilla says: “With their extraordinary power to educate and inspire, books – from authors around the globe – have enriched my life since I was a child.
“It has therefore been such a joy to watch my Reading Room grow over the years into a thriving book community.
“Now a charity, I hope that we, together with our partners, can foster in adults and children alike a lifelong love of literature and connect more people with that special magic that can only be found in the leaves of a book.”
Queen Camilla has hosted many receptions and events linked to the charity.
The Queen’s Reading Room Festival has become one of the UK’s most celebrated literary events. It brings together live programming with grassroots community initiatives to celebrate the power of books.
Meanwhile, the charity has also launched a podcast, described as a “place for book lovers”.
The charity also has the Reading Room Medal. This celebrates individuals who have “championed reading, books and literature in communities around the UK”.
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