Her Majesty the Queen hosted an afternoon of celebration at the New York Public Library (NYPL) to champion the UK and USA’s literary links.
Attended by global leading author and cultural figures including Harlen Coben, Min Jin Lee, Anna Wintour, and Sarah Jessica Parker, as patron of The Queen’s Reading Room, Her Majesty celebrated the ‘precious friendship’ between the United Kingdom and the United States through the shared power of literature and cultural exchange.
The event marks a significant milestone for The Queen’s Reading Room, Her Majesty’s book club turned global charity, now reaching 12m people, in 183 countries. Launched on Instagram during the pandemic, the initiative has grown into a major cultural force in the promotion of reading and its health benefits. Its increasing influence is indicated by today’s swell of support from leading global literary and cultural stars at a glittering reception.
Her Majesty, a well-known book lover and advocate of reading for positive mental health, delivered a speech in the library’s historic rooms. Her Majesty said:
“One of our studies has established that even five minutes of reading fiction a day can reduce your stress levels by 20% and enhance your mental well-being. As many of us have long suspected, books really are good for us. They also have a magic way of bringing people together, with their ability to transcend almost any barrier. I would be delighted if my Reading Room could join the grand tradition of cultural exchange” between our two countries and if we might all work together to spread the word.”
Her Majesty pledged intent for The Queen’s Reading Room to work closely with grounding institutions like the NYPL to “strengthen communities through the written word.”
We are delighted to support The Queen’s Reading Room and this wonderful event, which shines a light on the profound role that education and literacy play in enabling social mobility and in strengthening communities.
Cathrin Petty
Managing Partner, Co-Head of North American Private Equity and Global Head of Healthcare at CVC
Speaking after the event, Vicki Perrin, Chief Executive of The Queen’s Reading Room, said:
“The Queen’s Reading Room is delighted to have partnered with leading charities and respected literary figures at the iconic New York Public Library in our mission to restore reading rates in the UK and beyond.
“Literature is a proud, anchoring feature of the UK US relationship. Generations of society on both sides of the Atlantic have long recognised its power to boost wellbeing, generate opportunity, and incentivise belonging.
“The swell of incredible support from authors and cultural contributors demonstrates the global ambassadorship that exists to amplify the transformative power of reading, for everyone, everywhere.”
Global superstar author Harlan Coben added:
“The Queen’s Reading Room has done fantastic research to show what we really already know; reading teaches us empathy, it teaches us courage, it improves society. Their work should be all our work. We need to make reading the next ten thousand steps, it will make us all better off.”
Demonstrating that all facets of society can play a part in the mission to increase adult literacy, Cathrin Petty, Managing Partner, Co-Head of North American Private Equity and Global Head of Healthcare at CVC, added:
“We are delighted to support The Queen’s Reading Room and this wonderful event, which shines a light on the profound role that education and literacy play in enabling social mobility and in strengthening communities.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.cvc.com/media/news/2026/the-queen-s-reading-room-celebrates-transatlantic-literary-ties-at-new-york-public-library/
