Queen Camilla has been reflecting on a milestone moment for her much-loved Reading Room book club charity, as it officially turns five. What began as a lockdown passion project has grown into a global initiative, but the queen says the mission now feels more pressing than ever.
The Queen’s Reading Room was formally launched by Her Majesty in 2023. But its roots go back to 2021, when it was founded during the COVID-19 lockdown. The charity exists to celebrate and promote the power and benefits of reading. This is something Queen Camilla has championed for decades.
Now 78, Her Majesty marked the fifth anniversary by praising how far the charity has come. She also issued an “urgent” warning that global reading rates are currently at their “very lowest”.
Queen Camilla’s Reading Room charity was founded five years ago (Credit: Photo by Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/Shutterstock)
Queen Camilla issues ‘urgent’ warning amid book club charity anniversary
Speaking to the Press Association, Queen Camilla looked back on the early days of the project. She 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.”
She did not shy away from the challenges ahead. She added: “At a time when global reading rates are at their very lowest, my charity’s mission feels more urgent than ever.”
The queen went on to say she was immensely proud of what the Reading Room has already achieved. “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,” she said.
She also highlighted the charity’s research. Camilla said this backed up what many readers instinctively feel.
She said: “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.”
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