# Queen Consort launches literary charity

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/02/28/queen-consort-launches-literary-charity/
- Published: 2023-02-28T08:20:00+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Queen Consort has launched The Queen’s Reading Room, the online community 
she created during the pandemic, as a charity.**

The [Queen’s Reading Room](https://royalreadingroom.uk/) was announced as a charity
at an event celebrating its second anniversary, which saw the Queen Consort joined
by The King, along with authors, members of the literary community and representatives
of literacy charities.

> Joined by The King, Her Majesty hosted the Reception in celebration of the second
> anniversary of The Queen’s Reading Room, which has been newly announced as a charity.
> 
> The online community celebrates books from around the world and the extraordinary
> people who create them. [pic.twitter.com/VcjKvZkRm0](https://t.co/VcjKvZkRm0)
> 
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> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) [February 23, 2023](https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1628799145501773824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

As a charity, it will continue to celebrate books from a diverse range of authors
around the world, chosen for their literary, educative and historic merit. The charity
will work to provide opportunities for the appreciation of literature among adults
and children in the UK and around the world, with the aim of closing the gap between
writers and readers through accessible, educational and free literary content available
year-round.

Her Majesty will continue to share book recommendations through her Instagram page,
via the charity website and through Facebook too.

Speaking at the event, the Queen Consort said:

> “As some of you may know, my Reading Room started as a list of 9 of my favourite
> books, literally scribbled on a piece of paper during the first lockdown. It is
> now a global community of over 155,000, supported by internationally-renowned 
> men and women of letters, as well as thousands of readers. I am now delighted 
> to announce that the Reading Room has become a charity, working to close the gap
> between readers and writers and helping people of all ages and backgrounds find
> and connect to books. We have lots of excitements in the pipeline and I do very
> much hope you will be able to attend our first literary festival at Hampton Court
> Palace later this year, when we shall bring together some of the world’s foremost
> authors, actors, experts and literature lovers for a day celebrating the written
> word.”

The Queen’s Reading Room Festival will take place on 11 June at Hampton Court Palace.
Speakers will include Dame Judi Dench, David Olusoga, Kamila Shamsie, Austentatious,
Ben Macintyre, Dame Harriet Walter, and Ken Follett.

Visitors will be able to explore the Palace on literary themed tours and tread the
floors where Shakespeare once performed with his King’s Men; wander the gardens;
listen to poetry read by actors, and enjoy shows from the festival’s headliners.
The full programme and tickets will be released in early March and all proceeds 
from the festival will support the ongoing work of The Queen’s Reading Room and 
Historic Royal Palace charities.

 * **[New £1 million fund for poetry and literature for young people](https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/03/11/new-1m-fund-poetry-and-literature-young-people/)(
   11 March 2011)**
 * **[Worldwide poetry day to fundraise for hospices](https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/05/07/worldwide-poetry-day-fundraise-hospices/)(
   7 May 2003)**
 * **[Poet in residence sought by London charity funder](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/03/21/poet-in-residence-sought-by-london-charity-funder/)(
   21 March 2024)**