The Queen attends ‘The Queen’s Reading Room Festival’ at Chatsworth House
Published
Her Majesty has visited Chatsworth House for ‘The Queen’s Reading Room Festival’ which is now in its third year. During the visit, The Queen met people participating in one of the charity’s grassroots outreach programmes, watched a performance of Jane Austen’s work, and joined a reception with literary figures taking part in the festival.
The Queen’s visit began with Her Majesty joining the conclusion of a discussion about the positive impact of reading on mental health supported by local domestic violence charity, The Elm Foundation, and neuroscientist, Professor Sam Wass.
As The Queen’s Reading Room Festival coincides with the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, The Queen viewed a performance of Austen’s work by author, Gill Hornby, and actor, Fiona Shaw, before viewing a selection of artefacts from the Jane Austen House museum.
The Queen’s Reading Room, launched by The Queen in 2023, is a charity celebrating and promoting the transformative power of books in the UK and beyond. The charity was born from an Instagram book club launched in lockdown of 2021.
During the visit, Her Majesty donated books to The Queen’s Reading Room Book Donation point. All books donated across the festival will be distributed to The Elm Foundation service users. Here, The Queen also met members of the public who were arriving for a showing of Pride and Prejudice on the lawns of the House.
The Queen later attended a reception with literary figures taking part in the festival including Jilly Cooper, Richard Osman, Jojo Moyes, Robert Harris, Rupert Everett, Alan Titchmarsh, Sebastian Faulks, Helen Fielding, Kathryn Drysdale and Julia Quinn.
Through neuroscientific research, the charity seeks to discover and celebrate the unique power of books to improve brain health, mental health and social connection. Its study using brain scans and skin conductance tests found that just five minutes of reading fiction both reduces stress by nearly 20% and improves the brain’s capacity to manage stress; all while boosting concentration and focus and reducing feelings of loneliness.
The Queen’s Reading Room seeks to promote the accessibility and joy of stories and storytelling, and it reaches more than 12 million people in 182 countries around the world each year with its free, educational content around books; as well as staging major festivals and events around the UK and internationally.
Read more about The Queen’s work with literacy here.
Related content
A Speech by The Queen at a Literary Reception to mark the fifth anniversary of Her Majesty's Reading Room
I find it hard to believe that it is five years since I founded it, at the height of lockdown, with the simple aim of sharing my lifelong conviction that books make life...
The Queen's speech at a WOW reception to mark International Women's Day
Every woman has a story. And these stories must be told. Because when we live in a culture of silence, we empower violence against women and girls.
The Queen hears about Avon and Somerset Police's approach to tackling domestic abuse
12 February 2026
Announcement of a State Visit by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Speech delivered by The Queen during a visit to Maggie’s Cheltenham, to celebrate the charity’s 30th anniversary
I should like to end by expressing my heartfelt thanks to the whole Maggie’s community. To Maggie’s children, Lily and John, who have done so much to continue their mother’s...
A message from The Queen to mark the 5th anniversary of The Queen's Reading Room
Reading truly changes how we perceive, how we think and how we connect.
State Visit by The President of The Federal Republic of Germany and Ms. Büdenbender
03 December 2025
The Queen hosts a reception for winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition
20 November 2025
Further details of The King and Queen's State Visit to the Holy See
State Visit by The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Frau Büdenbender
Their Majesties The King and Queen undertake a State Visit to the Holy See
Remarks by Her Majesty The Queen, Sponsor of HMS Astute, at a ceremony to mark the end of the submarine’s first commission, HMNB Devonport
Each time I have met your Commanding Officers and visited the submarine, I am reminded of the exceptional servicemen and women in our Royal Navy. Commanding Officers, the Ship...
State Visit by The President and First Lady of the United States
