Queen Camilla’s Urgent Plea: Boost Reading Now!
Queen Camilla’s Urgent Plea: Boost Reading Now!
By Danielle Stacey, Online Royal Correspondent – London
Queen Camilla has described her charity’s mission to get people reading as “more urgent than ever,” as she marked the milestone fifth anniversary of her Reading Room book club.
From Book Club to Global Charity
Camilla, 78, founded The Queen’s Reading Room during the COVID-19 lockdown in January 2021. The project started as an Instagram book club, where the then Duchess of Cornwall and well-renowned authors shared their literary recommendations.
Two years later, the initiative was formally launched as a registered charity under the name The Queen’s Reading Room. It has since hosted an annual literary festival, launched a podcast, and introduced The Queen’s Reading Room Medal to celebrate unsung local heroes who champion reading. The first recipient will be unveiled in the spring.
Camilla’s Heartfelt Message
In remarks released to the Press Association, Camilla said:
“Five years ago, I founded a book club in lockdown, hoping others might enjoy good literature as much 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.”
“I am so proud of what my charity has achieved, reaching millions of people, staging remarkable events, and partnering with incredible organizations to bring books to those who need them most.”
“Our groundbreaking research has confirmed what many of us always felt: reading truly changes how we perceive, think, and connect. At a time when global reading rates are at their lowest, my charity’s mission feels more urgent than ever. Books do make life better, and this is only the beginning.”
The Current State of Reading
Currently, only one in two UK adults reads a book in a year, and 46% of people say they struggle to finish one due to distractions. The Queen’s Reading Room’s motto for its birthday year is “Make Room for Reading,” with a drive to encourage people to find easy ways to fit in just five minutes of reading a day, like 10,000 daily steps or five portions of fruit and vegetables.
Royal Support and Achievements
HELLO!’s Royal and Features Contributor Tracy Schaverien says:
“The Queen has been an avid reader her whole life, and she has made it her mission to share that with others. She’s especially passionate about the benefits of reading for children, something apparent during her regular visits to libraries, where she often sits down to read aloud to groups of youngsters.”
“When they have downtime, she and the King like nothing better than to sit quietly at home together, each with their nose in a good book. But reading is more than a hobby for her; she regards it as something essential to our wellbeing, and it’s remarkable to see what she has achieved with her Reading Room charity.”
The Queen, who is patron of several literacy organizations including the National Literacy Trust, has personally recommended 76 books over the past five years. The initiative began with Dame Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror And The Light, William Boyd’s Restless, Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, and The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak.
The charity’s chief executive, Vicki Perrin, revealed that Her Majesty still personally chooses its books. Ms. Perrin said:
“There’s just been so much that has been achieved, and it all comes down to the special magic of the Queen’s Reading Room, which is Her Majesty – the fact that she is this person who is so authentically passionate about literature and literacy, and about spreading the joy and love of reading.”
“She founded the charity. It’s very much her baby… She still chooses all the books featured in the book club and is by far the most well-read person I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.”
“Often, when I go to see her, the defining image of Her Majesty is in her armchair with piles and piles of books on the side table and on the floor by her feet. She talks about the latest one she’s read and has a proof of a new book coming out that she’s really enjoying.”
Over the past five years, the King, the Princess of Wales, and Queen Mathilde of Belgium have all contributed their own selections to the book club, while more than 120 authors have recommended their favorite reads. Charles chose a Second World War military history book, The Battle Of The Atlantic by his biographer Jonathan Dimbleby, among his choices. Kate opted for five of her most loved children’s books, including Stig Of The Dump and Charlotte’s Web.
