Queen Camilla has issued a stark warning that her mission to promote reading is “more urgent than ever”, as global reading rates fall to their “very lowest”. The 78-year-old founded The Queen’s Reading Room book club during lockdown, which has since grown into a charity reaching 186,000 book lovers across more than 180 countries.
New data reveals that only one in two adults in the UK reads a book in a year, while 46 per cent of people say distractions prevent them from finishing one. The charity’s research shows that just five minutes of reading fiction can reduce stress by nearly 20 per cent, improve concentration by 11 per cent, and ease loneliness.
To mark its fifth anniversary, The Queen’s Reading Room has launched a “Make Room for Reading” campaign, encouraging people to fit in five minutes of daily reading, akin to 10,000 steps or five portions of fruit and vegetables. Camilla said: “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.”
The charity has donated over 2,300 books to hospitals, homeless shelters, and domestic violence refuges. Chief executive Vicki Perrin described reading levels as a “crisis”, noting that only one in three children aged eight to 18 in the UK enjoys reading – the lowest level on record. Camilla remains actively involved, personally selecting all books featured by the club.
