Queen Camilla established her online book club in early 2021 to help foster community during lockdowns. The Queen’s Reading Room has quietly become a major force promoting reading, with the support needed more than ever. Her Majesty is using the club’s fifth anniversary to shine a brighter light on reading
On January 8, Queen Camilla took to the TQRR’s social media to share an anniversary message, saying ”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.”
Originally an online book club, The Queen’s Reading Room has now launched sixteen seasons of books for anyone to enjoy and discuss with other readers in their life.
The Queen’s Reading Room Festival was first launched in 2023 and has quickly become one of the leading literary festivals with authors like Ann Cleves, Julia Quinn, and Philippa Gregory taking part. The 2025 festival was held at Chatsworth House, with the 2026 dates and location to be announced soon.
The organisation has also funded neuroscientific research into the connections in the brain between reading and happiness, with research showing that just five minutes of reading a day to make a positive difference.
Queen Camilla finished her anniversary message with a plea to the public to make a reading a priority, saying ”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.”
