The Queen has underlined the “more urgent than ever” mission of her charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, as it marks its fifth anniversary, saying “books make life better”.
Founded by Camilla during lockdown, the initiative has grown into a global charity, connecting more than 186,000 book lovers in over 180 countries. Despite this stretch, the King’s consort expressed concern about declining global reading rates.
In the UK, only one in two adults read a book a year, and 46% struggle to finish due to distraction. The charity’s anniversary motto, ‘Make Room for Reading’, encourages just five minutes of reading a day, equivalent to 10,000 steps or five servings of fruit and vegetables, with the aim of ‘igniting small fires’ through small, positive changes.
Neuroscience research highlights the immediate benefits of reading short fiction: an almost 20% reduction in stress, an 11% improvement in concentration, and a decrease in loneliness. Globally, Unicef reported that around 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries could not understand a simple written story in 2022, a significant increase from 57% before the pandemic.
Queen Camilla marked the fifth anniversary of her Reading Room (PA) book club
Reflecting on her origins, Camilla said in the public remarks Press Association: “Five years ago, I started a book club in isolation in the hope that others might enjoy good literature as I did. From 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.”
She added: “I’m so proud of what my charity has achieved, reaching millions of people, running remarkable events and partnering with incredible organizations to bring books to the people who need them most. Its ground-breaking research has confirmed what many of us have always felt: reading really does change the way we perceive, think and connect. Books make life better, and this is just the beginning.”
Vicki Perrin, the charity’s chief executive, praised Regina for bringing “special magic” to the organisation, stressing that it remains “very much” Camilla’s “baby”. Ms Perrin confirmed that the Queen personally selects all the cards featured in the club.
Ms Perrin explained: “She founded the charity. It’s very much her baby… She still picks out all the books that are featured in the book club and 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 armchair with piles and books on the table and the floor, piles of books and the floor. She’s talking about the latest book she she’s read it and has a proof of a new book coming out that she’s really enjoying.”
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 charity’s impact, citing letters from around the world describing the “transformative” effect of incorporating more reading into lives. Ms Perrin described current reading levels as a “reading crisis”, expressing deep concern about falling rates among children. The National Literacy Trust, with Camilla as patron, reported that just 32.7% of UK children and young people aged eight to 18 enjoyed reading in 2025, the lowest figure since 2005.
The project began in 2020 when Camilla shared a list of nine favorite books, “literally scribbled on a piece of paper” during the first lockdown. Officially launched on Instagram in January 2021, it has evolved into a community hub that includes Camilla’s recommendations and author interviews. Over five years, the Queen has personally recommended 76 books, including that of Dame Hilary Mantel Mirror and Light and Delia Owens Where Crawdads Sing. Popular choices include Anthony Horowitz’s The Magpie Murders and Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet.
In 2023, the book club transitioned to the charity The Queen’s Reading Room, 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 across 11 core sites, including 1,400 to inpatients at Chelsea and Westminster hospital, and supports reading groups at St Mungo’s homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters.
Queen Camilla places books at a donation point for the Queen’s Reading Room, which will be distributed with all books donated during The Elm Foundation (PA) service user festival
Ms Perrin shared how staff at St Mungo’s Observed Reading Groups “sparked something” in people at high risk of returning to the streets. “It’s really about lighting small fires… creating those moments where we assist and help partners incubate those ideas that will be transformative,” she concluded, highlighting the charity’s vital role. The King, Princess of Wales and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians also contributed to the selections.