Accompanied by broadcaster Lorraine Kelly, Queen Camilla engaged with individuals experiencing homelessness to discuss the transformative influence reading has had on their lives.
During her visit to a St Mungo’s housing facility in southeast London, she not only arranged books but also interacted with residents, gaining insight into how a reading initiative is enhancing mental health and self-assurance.
Two years ago, Camilla’s initiative, The Queen’s Reading Room, aligned with the charity after pioneering research identified the therapeutic potential of storytelling and shared reading groups, especially for those who have been homeless.
Through The Queen’s Reading Room, hundreds of books have been donated to St Mungo’s services, alongside bookshelves and a custom training package designed to enable staff and volunteers to facilitate book clubs.
This increased access to literature has resulted in a noticeable rise in client confidence at St Mungo’s, prompting many to engage with support services for the first time, significantly aiding their journey out of homelessness.
Within the centre’s welcoming ‘Activities Room’, characterized by its bright, high ceilings and inviting sofas perfect for reading, Camilla met with participants of the shared reading program supported by St Mungo’s.
A large bespoke bookshelf designed by Royal Warrant Holder Woodpecker Joinery features prominently in the room, which is also home to a TV, piano and football table.
Queen Camilla was joined by broadcaster Lorraine Kelly as she spoke to people experiencing homelessness about the profound effect that reading has had on their lives
She stacked books and spoke to clients as she visited a St Mungo’s accommodation service in south east London today, where she learned how a reading scheme is helping to boost wellbeing and confidence
Camilla took her time stacking the books onto the shelves behind her and said: “Well, we’ve filled up the bookshelf”
Talking to one staff member, the Queen admired the bookcase and the variety of genres available, from Richard Osman to Jeffrey Archer and Danielle Steel, and said: ‘It is so great that there is something for everyone.’
Former client Lee became emotional when he told the Queen that three months earlier, he had been living on the street and found great comfort in reading.
Now living in permanent accommodation thanks to St Mongo’s, he said: ‘Reading helped me so much when I was through the system, because it’s scary. And having a book to read is that little bit of an escape, like an oasis from the situation.’
Lee, who now runs a weekly creative writing workshop, added: ‘Reading for me did what getting drunk did for other people. I didn’t have to use that escape. I was using stories.’
To celebrate today’s visit, Camilla donated 20 books based on a ‘Book Menu’ that each service fills in, reflecting residents’ interests and offering a range of books accessible to everyone.
They are all previous reads from her book club, and include popular titles Wuthering Heights, War Horse, A Gentleman in Moscow and Black Beauty.
She took her time stacking the books onto the shelves behind her and said: “Well, we’ve filled up the bookshelf.”
The Queen then chatted to Lorraine about their shared love of reading.
Camilla’s charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, partnered with the charity two years ago after groundbreaking research showed that stories and shared reading groups can act as a therapeutic tool in trauma recovery, particularly for people sleeping rough
The Queen gave a few words herself, and said she was “so glad” that her reading room is helping people find escapism
Camilla heard directly from several people supported by the charity about how the reading scheme has helped shape their recovery, with one telling her that their confidence has grown after rediscovering the joy of reading she had as a child
By increasing access to books and reading, St Mungo’s has seen client enjoy an increase in confidence and even start to engage with support services for the first time, directly impacting their recovery from homelessness
‘The greatest gift in the world [is reading]’, the broadcaster said to the Queen before telling her that she is currently teaching her two-year-old grandaughter to read.
Lorraine added: ‘’ve always got a book in my bag’, with Her Majesty nodding and replying: ‘So have I.’
During a tour of the centre on Wednesday afternoon, Camilla met with a variety of St Mungo’s staff and volunteers, from service managers to complex needs workers and volunteers, who play a vital role in keeping people safe.
She also heard directly from several people supported by the charity about how the reading scheme has helped shape their recovery, with one telling her that their confidence has grown after rediscovering the joy of reading she had as a child.
In a short speech to the dozens gathered in the room, Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said the reading scheme has had a ‘profound and transformative impact’ on both residents and clients.
‘Through books and reading we have seen people not only engage with the support services, increase their confidence and improve their mental wellbeing; we’ve also seen them find joy in the experience of entering the worlds created by wonderful authors,’ she said, adding: ‘We are deeply grateful for how you have brought the joy and power of books and reading into St Mungo’s and to the people we support out of homelessness.’
The Queen then gave a few words herself, and said she was “so glad” that her reading room is helping people find escapism.
She said: ‘Thank you for having me today. I am so glad that my reading room and St Mungo’s are working together and getting people reading.
‘I hope the books I’ve brought today, I hope a lot of people will read them and get interested.
‘As we know, books do so much for people, it is a wonderful way of escapism and taking them out of their life and into another one. So thank you for all you are doing.’
St. Mungo’s is one of the leading homelessness charities in England, working directly with people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, providing them with services to find paths away from homelessness for good.
Last year St. Mungo’s helped more than 28,000 people across 138 services.
The reading scheme has been established in nine of the homeless charity’s centres.
Speaking afterwards, Lorraine heaped praise on the Queen for her involvement with the charity.
She said: ‘I love reading and I think this initiative is just so fantastic, and to combine two things I’m very passionate about, which is helping people who are homeless and actually getting people reading.
‘The two just marry together so well and having the royal seal of approval, to actually have the Queen here makes all the difference in the world. Everybody is so excited, it’s got everybody enthused and it’s just a brilliant thing.
‘You can tell she is genuinely passionate about it.’
She added: ‘To give them this opportunity and you never know where this might lead… it just helps them to get back on their feet.’
