Queen Camilla Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Her Reading Room Charity
At a special event marking the annual celebration of her literary charity, Queen Camilla passionately advocated that books hold the key to unlocking our best selves. The Reading Room, which turned five this month, was founded during the height of lockdown with the simple yet profound aim of sharing the Queen's lifelong conviction that books make life better.
Remarkable Growth and Global Reach
Since its inception, the Reading Room has expanded beyond all expectations, filling over 22,000 seats at its annual festival and evolving into a registered charity. It has forged impactful partnerships with local organisations dedicated to combating domestic violence and homelessness, donated thousands of books, and created literary content for a global digital audience of 12 million people across 184 countries.
Queen Camilla expressed deep gratitude to the many wonderful friends and supporters who have made this possible, with a special thank you to the brilliant writers who have contributed so significantly. She shared an intriguing quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who once said, "The authors' trade ought to be scheduled among the dangerous trades." The Queen elaborated, noting that writers are indeed dangerous in the best sense—they delve into our hearts and souls to reveal unvarnished truths, showcasing the strengths and weaknesses of the human condition.
The Enduring Legacy of Sherlock Holmes
Reflecting on literary history, Queen Camilla highlighted that this year marks exactly 140 years since Conan Doyle created the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. She offered encouragement to writers struggling with writer's block, mentioning that Doyle wrote his first book, A Study in Scarlet, in just three weeks at the age of 27. For further inspiration, she cited crime novelist Raymond Chandler's advice: "When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand."
The Queen also revealed the royal family's long-standing admiration for Conan Doyle. King Edward VII, her husband's great-great-grandfather, was a fan and once requested to sit next to him at a dinner. Queen Mary enjoyed his novels too, with her copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from 1894 and a tiny handwritten book for the Dolls' House, How Watson Learned the Trick, still preserved. Additionally, King George VI's childhood copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles, a gift from his younger brother, bears the comment "Good detective story" in his reading log from 1907 to 1934.
Transformative Benefits of Reading
Queen Camilla emphasised the groundbreaking research conducted by the Reading Room, which has shed light on the transformative benefits of reading for mental health. Last year, the charity was invited to present the keynote speech at the British Neuroscience Association's Festival, sharing insights with world experts. She expressed delight in announcing a new partnership with the BBC and Blink Films for a major documentary that will showcase the life-transforming power of books, including personal experiences from her father and herself.
Recognising Volunteers with the Queen's Reading Room Medal
To highlight the importance of volunteering, the Reading Room has created the Queen's Reading Room Medal. Nominations poured in from across the UK, featuring inspiring stories of individuals helping others access books, spreading the joy of reading, and using literature as a tool to improve even the toughest lives.
In closing, Queen Camilla shared a final word from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: "The love of books is among the choicest gifts of the gods." This sentiment encapsulates the charity's mission and the enduring impact of literature on society.
