Queen Camilla has unveiled The Queen’s Reading Room Medal, a new honor recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to promoting books, reading, and literature in their
communities.
The announcement was made during a reception at Clarence House this week, marking the fourth anniversary of The Queen’s Reading Room—originally launched as The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room. Her Majesty shared the news at the star-studded event, highlighting the medal’s mission to spotlight those who inspire a love of reading.
Nominations for the award will open on April 1, and the public is encouraged to submit names of individuals who have had a meaningful impact on reading culture in their local areas.
King Charles and the Duchess of Gloucester attended the celebration, with the King leading applause for Queen Camilla’s announcement.
Notable guests included actors Richard E. Grant, Sigourney Weaver, and Freddie Fox, alongside acclaimed authors such as Kate Atkinson, Donna Tartt, Elif Shafak, and Anthony Horowitz.
The Queen’s Reading Room began in 2021 as a digital book club, created to foster connection and community during the isolation of the COVID-19 lockdowns. It now runs multiple seasonal reading programs each year, hosts a popular podcast featuring authors, and organizes an annual reading festival at Hampton Court Palace. Photo by Ibagli, Wikimedia commons.