Queen Camilla’s charity launches laboratory study into the magic of book clubs

As The Queen’s Reading Room celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2026, the charity has announced an ambitious neuroscientific study to explore how book clubs truly affect our wellbeing.

Led by Professor Sam Wass of the University of East London, the research will move into the laboratory to track the physiological and psychological shifts that occur during communal reading.

It aims to determine if shared stories can act as a catalyst for reducing stress and forging deeper social connections.

Vicki Perrin, the charity’s chief executive, noted that this study would "go further, exploring what happens when people gather to share stories and connect over the pages of a book".

While solitary reading is known to be beneficial, Professor Wass explained that "far less is known about the impact of shared reading on stress, social connection and mental wellbeing." 

By using rigorous methods, the team hopes to prove "how these collective experiences shape connection and belonging."

This mission began in 2020 when Queen Camilla shared a simple list of nine favourite titles during lockdown.

It has since evolved into a powerful movement, previously proving that just five minutes of fiction can slash stress by nearly a fifth. 

With new data showing only half of British adults read annually, the Queen’s message is "as urgent as ever". 

By the time the results are published this October, the charity hopes to make "reading time" as essential to our daily routine as a morning walk, transforming books into a vital tool for public health.