Queen Camilla celebrates five years of her Reading Room after sending 'urgent' warning

The Reading Room began as a quiet literacy corner and has since expanded to more than 180 countries, all united by storytelling.

The Queen's Reading Room's social media page thanked all those who have engaged in the "journey" it has been on.

The charity wrote: "These five years have been foundational, and in 2026, we continue our commitment to world-class literary programming, to serving grassroots communities and getting books into the hands of those who need them most, honouring the truth that reading is for everybody."

The Queen's Reading Room recommended that individuals make some time for reading, even if it was just "five minutes a day".

The organisation said: "Share the stories that changed you, that brought joy and comfort, that opened your eyes to new perspectives and possibilities.

"Here's to the next chapter, because as we all know, books really do make life better."

To mark the fifth anniversary, Her Majesty Queen Camilla 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. 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."

Their message came as the Queen declared her charity's work to promote reading is "more urgent than ever".

The warning emerged alongside striking data indicating that only half of British adults read a book each year, and 46 per cent say they cannot finish a book because of distractions around them.

"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 Queen said in a statement.

Research conducted by the charity has revealed that dedicating just five minutes to reading fiction can slash stress levels by almost 20 per cent, while also boosting concentration and focus by up to 11 per cent and alleviating feelings of isolation.

The organisation has adopted "Make Room for Reading" as its anniversary year motto, encouraging people to incorporate brief reading sessions into their daily routines.

The charity's approach centres on "lighting little fires" - inspiring individuals to embrace modest but meaningful changes to their habits.

Globally, the picture remains concerning, with Unicef data from 2022 indicating that approximately 70 per cent of ten-year-olds in low and middle-income nations not able to read or comprehend a basic written story.

Chief executive Vicki Perrin has praised the Queen for bringing her "special magic" to the organisation, describing it as remaining "very much" Camilla's "baby".

"She founded the charity. It's very much her baby. 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," Ms Perrin said.

The chief executive described the Queen's love for literature, mentioning that her iconic image of Camilla is "in her armchair surrounded by piles of books on the side table and on the floor at her feet".

Ms Perrin characterised current reading levels as a "reading crisis", expressing deep concern about declining rates among both children and adults.

The Queen has personally selected 76 books for recommendation since the initiative began, with early choices including Dame Hilary Mantel's The Mirror And The Light and William Boyd's Restless.

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