Queen Camilla calls on people to read

Queen Camilla has called on people to pick up a book and read, calling it an “urgent” need.

Her Majesty was promoting literacy and said that “books do make life better.” She also shared her pride in her book club that turned into a successful charity.

The Queen made the comments as her book club marked its fifth anniversary. She said, “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.

“I am so proud of what my charity has achieved, reaching millions of people, staging remarkable events and partnering with incredible organisations to bring books to people who need them most.

Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Buckingham Palace

“Its groundbreaking research has confirmed what many of us always felt: reading truly changes how we perceive, how we think and how we connect.

“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.”

Launched by Her Majesty during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Queen’s Reading Room (formerly known as The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room) is now a registered charity that encourages people to read and promote literacy.

Buckingham Palace also released a photo of the Queen to mark the fifth anniversary. It was taken in July 2025 in the garden of her Wiltshire home, Ray Mill House, located in the village of Lacock.

Queen Camilla has long been a proponent of literature and is the patron of The National Literacy Trust.

The National Literacy Trust has revealed that just one in three children enjoys reading, which is down significantly since the question was first asked in 2005.