1 dzień temu
The Queen has marked the fifth anniversary of her reading charity by declaring its mission is «more urgent than ever» as global reading rates plummet to their lowest levels. The Queen's Reading Room now reaches more than 186,000 book lovers across 180 countries.
In remarks released to the Press Association, Camilla emphasized the critical need for action. «At a time when global reading rates are at their very lowest, my charity's mission feels more urgent than ever,» she said. «Books do make life better, and this is only the beginning.»
The statistics paint a stark picture. Only one in two UK adults now reads a book in a year, while 46% of people struggle to finish books due to distractions. Most alarming: just 32.7% of children and young people aged eight to 18 in the UK enjoyed reading in 2025 - the lowest level since 2005, according to the National Literacy Trust.
Globally, Unicef estimates that 70% of 10-year-olds in low and middle income countries were unable to read or understand a simple story in 2022, up from around 57% before the pandemic.
From Lockdown List to Global Charity
The initiative began modestly during the first lockdown in 2020. «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,» Camilla said. The list was «literally scribbled on a piece of paper» and officially launched on Instagram in January 2021.
The Queen has personally recommended 76 books over five years, including initial selections like "The Mirror And The Light" and popular choices such as "Magpie Murders" and "Pride And Prejudice". The book club became a registered charity in 2023.
«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 told the Press Association.
Impact and Research
The charity's own neuroscience research found that just five minutes of fiction reading can reduce stress by nearly 20%, improve concentration by up to 11%, and reduce feelings of loneliness. The organization promotes a motto of "Make Room for Reading" with a daily goal of five minutes.
Vicki Perrin, chief executive of The Queen's Reading Room, praised Camilla's continued personal involvement. «She founded the charity. It's very much her baby,» Perrin said. «She still chooses all of the books that are featured on the book club, and is by far the most well-read person I've ever had the pleasure to meet.»
Perrin described the Queen surrounded by «piles and piles of books» in her armchair, constantly reading proofs of upcoming publications.
The charity has donated more than 2,300 books to 11 grassroots locations, including 1,400 to inpatients at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and reading groups at St Mungo's homeless shelters. Staff there reported the reading groups «lit something up» in residents at risk of homelessness.
The organization has also launched an annual literary festival and podcast. The first recipient of The Queen's Reading Room Medal is due to be unveiled this spring.
«We've had letters from people all around the world saying how transformative it's been to get a little bit more reading into their lives,» Perrin said. Other royals including the King and the Princess of Wales have contributed book selections to the initiative.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
