The Queen's Reading Room: Camilla & the Power of Reading
From a lockdown book club to a national charity: how Queen Camilla's love of reading grew into The Queen's Reading Room, championing books and literacy for all.
Queen Camilla is, first and foremost, a reader. Long before her royal role, she was the sort of person who always had a book on the go and a stack more waiting, and that lifelong passion has become one of the defining causes of her time as Queen. Through The Queen’s Reading Room, she has turned a private love of books into a public mission, championing reading and literacy for people of every age and background.
What began as a modest lockdown project has grown into a thriving charity with a festival, a podcast and a national profile. It is a lovely example of a royal taking a genuine personal enthusiasm and using it to do real good, encouraging the simple, transformative habit of reading in an age of endless distraction.
Here is the story of The Queen’s Reading Room: how it began, what it does, and why Camilla believes so deeply in the power of a good book.
From a lockdown book club
The Queen’s Reading Room began, fittingly, with a reader wanting to share good books. In January 2021, during the isolation of the Covid lockdown, the then Duchess of Cornwall launched an online book club on Instagram, sharing her own recommendations and those of well-known authors to give people company and comfort through a difficult time.
It struck a chord immediately. At a moment when millions were stuck at home and hungry for connection, the idea of the Queen sharing her favourite reads was warm, human and welcome. What started as a simple seasonal reading list quickly gathered a devoted following, and the seed of something much larger was planted.
Becoming a charity
Two years on, the project had outgrown its origins. In 2023, The Queen’s Reading Room was formally established as a registered charity, with a broader mission: to champion the power of reading, support literacy, and connect people with books and authors across the country.
The charity’s work rests on a simple, evidence-backed conviction: reading enriches lives, builds empathy, aids wellbeing and opens doors. By putting the Queen’s name and enthusiasm behind that idea, the charity gives it real reach, encouraging reading not as a duty but as one of life’s great pleasures and comforts.
A festival, a podcast and a medal
The Queen’s Reading Room has grown into a lively cultural enterprise. It hosts an annual literary festival that brings readers together with leading authors for a day of talks and celebration of books, and produces a popular podcast in which the Queen and her guests discuss the books and reading lives that shaped them.
It has also introduced The Queen’s Reading Room Medal, an award celebrating outstanding books, a mark of the charity’s growing authority in the literary world. Together, these strands turn a love of reading into a year-round conversation, reaching new audiences and keeping books at the heart of the culture.
Camilla’s lifelong love of books
None of it would ring true without the Queen’s genuine passion behind it. Camilla is a voracious and eclectic reader, at home with the classics and contemporary fiction alike, and she speaks about books with the unmistakable warmth of a true enthusiast rather than a figurehead.
That authenticity is the charity’s greatest asset. When the Queen champions reading, it is not a brief handed to her but a lifelong love she is delighted to share, and that sincerity is precisely what makes the message land. She is a reader encouraging others to discover what reading has given her.
The power of reading and literacy
Beyond the pleasure of a good story, the Queen has been a passionate advocate for literacy itself, warning of the importance of ensuring that children and adults alike have the skills and encouragement to read. Literacy, she has argued, is a foundation for opportunity, confidence and connection, and one too easily taken for granted.
It is a cause that sits naturally alongside the wider royal commitment to education and opportunity. By linking the joy of reading with the serious business of literacy, The Queen’s Reading Room speaks to both the heart and the head, celebrating books while quietly making the case that everyone deserves the chance to enjoy them.
Start your own reading room
The loveliest thing about the Queen’s mission is how easy it is to join. You need nothing but a book and a little time, and perhaps a few friends to share it with. Reading a classic novel, starting a small book club, or simply picking up something new is exactly the spirit The Queen’s Reading Room hopes to spread.
For inspiration, a good classic novel is the perfect place to begin: the kind of enduring book that rewards the time and stays with you for years. For a more royal-flavoured reading list, our guide to Meghan’s reading list from The Tig offers another set of recommendations with a royal connection.
Why the Queen’s mission matters
The Queen’s Reading Room matters because it champions something quietly essential: the habit and joy of reading, at a moment when both are under pressure from busy, screen-filled lives. By turning her own love of books into a national charity, Queen Camilla has done real good: encouraging literacy, connecting readers, and reminding us all of the comfort and richness a book can bring.
It is a warm, humane use of a royal platform, rooted in a genuine passion. Browse more of our Royal Figures stories to explore the causes closest to the royal family’s hearts.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Queen’s Reading Room?
The Queen’s Reading Room is a charity founded by Queen Camilla to champion the power of reading and literacy. It began as an online book club in 2021 and became a registered charity in 2023, running a literary festival, a podcast and a book medal.
How did The Queen’s Reading Room start?
It started in January 2021, during the Covid lockdown, when the then Duchess of Cornwall launched an Instagram book club sharing her own and well-known authors’ reading recommendations. The project grew rapidly and became a registered charity in 2023.
Does Queen Camilla have a podcast?
Yes. The Queen’s Reading Room produces a podcast in which Queen Camilla and her guests discuss the books and reading lives that shaped them, part of the charity’s wider work championing reading.
What is the Queen’s Reading Room Medal?
The Queen’s Reading Room Medal is a literary award introduced by the charity to celebrate outstanding books, reflecting its growing role in championing reading and recognising the best of contemporary writing.
Why does Queen Camilla care about literacy?
Queen Camilla is a lifelong, passionate reader who believes reading enriches lives, builds empathy and opens opportunities. She has advocated for literacy as a foundation for confidence and connection, warning against taking the ability to read for granted.
How can I get involved in reading like the Queen?
You can join the spirit of The Queen’s Reading Room simply by reading more: picking up a classic novel, following the charity’s recommendations and podcast, or starting a small book club with friends to share the pleasure of reading.
Details of The Queen’s Reading Room are drawn from the charity and widely published reports; details are described as of 2026.
