The Queen has highlighted the “more urgent than ever” mission of her charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, as it marks its fifth anniversary, claiming that “books make life better.”
Founded by Camilla during the lockdown, the initiative has grown into a global charity, uniting more than 186,000 book lovers across more than 180 countries. Despite this range, the King’s consortium expressed concern about global reading rates falling.
In the UK, only one in two adults read a book each year, with 46 per cent struggling to finish due to distractions. The charity’s anniversary motto, “Make a Room for Reading,” encourages just five minutes of daily reading, similar to 10,000 steps or five portions of fruit and vegetables, with the aim of “lighting small fires” through small and positive changes.
Neuroscience research highlights the immediate benefits of reading short fiction: a nearly 20 percent reduction in stress, an 11 percent improvement in concentration, and a reduction in loneliness. Globally, Unicef reported that around 70 percent of 10-year-old children in low- and middle-income countries could not understand a simple written story in 2022, a significant increase from 57 percent before the pandemic.
Queen Camilla marked the fifth anniversary of her Reading Room (PA) book club
Reflecting on her origins, Camilla stated in remarks released to the Press Association: “Five years ago, I founded a book club in the lock-up, in the hope that others can enjoy good literature as much as I do. From those humble beginnings, that book club has grown into a global charity, supporting a community of book lovers, united by a common belief in the power of reading.”
She added: “I am so proud of what my charity has achieved, reaching millions of people, organizing remarkable events and partnering with incredible organizations to bring books to people who need them most. Her ground-breaking research has confirmed what many of us have always felt: reading really does change how we perceive, how we think and how we connect. Books make life. better, and this is just the beginning.
Vicki Perrin, the charity’s chief executive, praised the Queen for bringing her “special magic” to the organisation, stressing that she remains “very much” Camilla’s “baby”. Mrs. Perrin confirmed that the Queen personally selects all the books that appear in the club.
Mrs Perrin elaborated: “She founded the charity. It’s very much her baby… She still picks out all the books that appear in the book club, and she is by far the most well-read person I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Often, when I go in to see her, the defining image of Her Majesty is in her armchairs with the table and the plinths on the floors and the floors above on the floor and on her floor. she’s talking about the last one she read, and she has a proof of a new book coming out, and she’s really enjoying it.”
Queen Camilla meets author Charlie Mackesy and his dog Barney while hosting a reception at Clarence House in London (PA)
The CEO also highlighted the impact of the charity, noting letters from around the world describing the “transformative” effect of incorporating more reading into life. Ms Perrin described current reading levels as a “reading crisis”, and expressed great concern about falling rates among children. The National Literacy Trust, with Camilla as patron, reported that only 32.7% of UK children and young people aged between eight and 18 enjoyed reading in 2025, the lowest figure since 2005.
The project started in 2020 when Camilla shared a list of nine favorite books, “literally written on a piece of paper” during the first lockdown. Officially launched on Instagram in January 2021, it has evolved into a community hub featuring Camilla’s recommendations and author interviews. Over five years, the Queen has personally recommended 76 books, including that of Dame Hilary Mantel The Mirror And The Light and Delia Owens’ Where The Crawdads Sing. Popular choices include Anthony Horowitz’s Killing of the Magga and Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet.
In 2023, the book club transitioned to The Queen’s Reading Room charity, expanding its reach to host an annual literary festival, launch a podcast, and introduce The Queen’s Reading Room Medal to honor local reading champions. The charity has also donated more than 2,300 books to 11 popular venues, including 1,400 to inpatients at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and supports reading groups at St Mungo’s homeless shelters and domestic violence refuges.
Queen Camilla places books at a donation point for The Queen’s Reading Room, which will be distributed with all books donated during the festival to users of the Elm Foundation (PA) service
Ms Perrin shared how staff at St Mungo’s observed reading groups “switched something on” in individuals at high risk of returning to the streets. “It’s really about starting small fires… creating those moments where we help and help partners incubate those ideas that will be transformative,” she concluded, emphasizing the vital role of charity. The King, Princess of Wales and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians also contributed selections.