At a reception held at Clarence House, the 76-year-old Queen celebrated the third anniversary of The Queen’s Reading Room, now a registered charity.
She expressed enthusiasm for the groundbreaking neuroscientific research carried out to explore the correlation between reading and mental health, emphasizing that this study marks the start of a new chapter for the charity in reshaping perceptions around reading.
The Queen recommended incorporating five minutes of reading each day alongside the recommended daily fruit, vegetable intake, and steps for significant brain health and mental wellbeing benefits.
She pointed out, "Just as we always suspected, books are good for us – and now science is proving us right!" The study highlighted that reading for just five minutes can alleviate stress, boost concentration, and enhance connection with oneself.
During the reception, the Queen met with key figures involved in the research, including Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Prof Barbara Sahakian, and Prof Joseph Devlin.
The findings of the study are set to be disclosed on Wednesday.
The Queen commended the impressive progress made by The Queen’s Reading Room over the past three years, following the success of two reading lists released during the lockdown in 2020 amid the pandemic.
She acknowledged the diverse reach of The Queen’s Reading Room, serving nearly 12 million individuals across various platforms and organizing educational literary content and festivals.
The Queen highlighted the launch of a podcast featuring renowned writers, actors, and thinkers as a new initiative to explore the science behind the impact of stories on enriching lives.
As she manages her engagements this week amidst her family members' ongoing cancer treatments, the Queen expressed her anticipation for the upcoming commemoration of Noël Coward's 125th birth anniversary in 2024.
She shared amusing anecdotes about Coward’s preference for solitude with a book over social gatherings.
Vicki Perrin, the chief executive of The Queen’s Reading Room, emphasized the significance of the research findings on reading and mental wellbeing.
Perrin expressed optimism that this pioneering research will shift perspectives on the importance of reading and pave the way for further exploration in the field.