The Queen's Reading Room charity has announced ambitious plans for its second major research initiative, focusing specifically on the neuroscientific impact of participating in book clubs and shared reading groups.
Expanding Understanding of Collective Reading
Camilla's organisation, which originated as an Instagram book club during the pandemic lockdowns, is preparing to investigate the physiological and psychological effects that occur when people gather to read together. This laboratory-controlled study represents a significant expansion of the charity's research efforts beyond individual reading habits.
Scientific Partnership and Methodology
The investigation will be led by Professor Sam Wass from the University of East London, in collaboration with The Bentley Foundation. Researchers will apply rigorous neuroscientific methods to examine how the collective experience of shared reading might transform lives by reducing stress levels, strengthening social connections, and enhancing overall wellbeing.
Professor Wass explained the study's unique focus: "While previous research has demonstrated the benefits of solitary reading, we know far less about how shared reading impacts stress, social connection and mental wellbeing. Our aim is to build a comprehensive evidence base showing how these collective experiences shape feelings of connection and belonging."
Building on Previous Findings
This new research builds directly upon the charity's 2024 neuroscience study, which revealed that just five minutes of reading fiction could immediately reduce stress by nearly twenty percent while improving concentration and focus by as much as eleven percent. That earlier research also suggested that frequent readers experience considerably lower levels of loneliness compared to non-readers.
Organisational Vision and Anniversary
Vicki Perrin, chief executive of The Queen's Reading Room, emphasised the study's broader implications: "This new research will go further by exploring what happens when people gather to share stories and connect over the pages of a book. We're moving beyond individual benefits to understand collective experiences."
The announcement coincides with the organisation's fifth anniversary in 2026, with Camilla—an avid reader and literacy champion—celebrating the milestone. The charity has adopted "Make Room for Reading" as its anniversary motto, launching a campaign encouraging people to find simple ways to incorporate just five minutes of daily reading into their routines, similar to established health practices like taking ten thousand daily steps or consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables.
From Humble Beginnings to Charitable Impact
The Queen's Reading Room began when Camilla shared a list of nine favourite books during the first 2020 lockdown, which she described as being "literally scribbled on a piece of paper." The initiative officially launched as an Instagram book club in January 2021, creating a community space for book enthusiasts before becoming a registered charity in 2023.
The research team expects to publish their findings by World Mental Health Day in October, potentially offering new insights into how structured reading groups might contribute to public mental health initiatives and community wellbeing programmes across the United Kingdom.
