Latest news with #TheQueen'sReadingRoom
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Queen Camilla 'excited' to have starring role in new crime novel , World News
Queen Camilla is "excited" to have a starring role in a new crime novel. The 77-year-old royal is an avid reader and a particular fan of Peter James' Detective Superintendent Roy Grace thrillers. His latest book, The Hawk is Dead, takes his investigation into Buckingham Palace when the royal train which Camilla is travelling on derails and a key member of her staff is shot by a sniper. A source told MailOnline: "Opening with a cinematic derailment of the royal train, The Hawk Is Dead takes Roy Grace deep into the heart of Buckingham Palace, where he is called upon to solve a murder and what looks to be a royal assassination attempt. "Queen Camilla, a well-known book-lover and reading champion through her charity, The Queen's Reading Room, has always been one of the first people to receive each Grace novel and is excited to have a starring role, alongside His Majesty King Charles, in Peter's latest thriller." According to the outlet, Camilla has received a preview of the novel, and Peter has had the opportunity for some "extensive behind-the-scenes" research at Buckingham Palace, including "insights" from members of the Royal Household, including the queen herself. Publisher Pan Macmillan wrote of the plot: "A tragic accident or a planned attack?... Despite all the evidence, Roy Grace is not convinced the Queen was the intended target... Failure at this level is not an option. But time is running out before a killer in the palace will strike again." In 2021, Camilla visited the set of Grace, an ITV adaptation of the novels starring John Simm as the detective and it was her conversation with the author that sparked the seed for his new book. Peter said: "The Queen asked me when I might set a Roy Grace novel in London… and the seed was sown. Where better in London than Buckingham Palace? "I came up with an idea, which I ran by Her Majesty — and she loved it." The Hawk is Dead will be released on Oct 21. [[nid:717772]]
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Queen Camilla to feature in new crime novel
Queen Camilla is "excited" to have a starring role in a new crime novel. The 77-year-old royal is an avid reader and a particular fan of Peter James' Detective Superintendent Roy Grace thrillers, and his latest book, 'The Hawk is Dead', takes his investigation into Buckingham Palace when the royal train which Camilla is travelling on derails and a key member of her staff is shot by a sniper. A source told MailOnline: 'Opening with a cinematic derailment of the royal train, 'The Hawk Is Dead' takes Roy Grace deep into the heart of Buckingham Palace, where he is called upon to solve a murder and what looks to be a royal assassination attempt. 'Queen Camilla, a well-known book-lover and reading champion through her charity, The Queen's Reading Room, has always been one of the first people to receive each Grace novel and is excited to have a starring role, alongside His Majesty King Charles, in Peter's latest thriller.' According to the outlet, Camilla has received a preview of the novel, and Peter has had the opportunity for some "extensive behind-the-scenes" research at Buckingham Palace, including "insights" from members of the Royal Household, including the queen herself. Publisher Pan Macmillan wrote of the plot: 'A tragic accident or a planned attack?... Despite all the evidence, Roy Grace is not convinced the Queen was the intended target ... Failure at this level is not an option. But time is running out before a killer in the palace will strike again.' In 2021, Camilla visited the set of 'Grace', an ITV adaptation of the novels starring John Simm as the detective and it was her conversation with the author that sparked the seed for his new book. Peter said: 'The Queen asked me when I might set a Roy Grace novel in London … and the seed was sown. Where better in London than Buckingham Palace? 'I came up with an idea, which I ran by Her Majesty – and she loved it.' 'The Hawk is Dead' will be released on 21 October.
The Star
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Forget chatbots, reading can help combat loneliness
HAVING fewer than five close friends may not provide enough social contact. But larger numbers are less likely to be close friends. The dilemma of technology frequently means that despite some people having vast numbers of friends on social media, they are not close friends and so do not provide the social support needed. Similarly, artificial intelligence (AI) based chatbots may not provide the type of face-to-face social interaction that people need to flourish. During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020, a study found that face-to-face communication was far more beneficial for mental health than digital communication. But how can reading help us to feel less lonely and have better wellbeing? A recent survey from The Queen's Reading Room, the charity and book club of Britain's Queen Camilla, as well as other surveys, have found that reading fiction and other books significantly reduces feelings of loneliness and improves wellbeing. Another charity, The Reader, conducted a survey of approximately 2,000 participants and found that this was especially true among young adults: 59% of those aged 18 to 34 said reading made them feel more connected to others, and 56% felt less alone during the pandemic. Another survey, in conjunction with the University of Liverpool, of more than 4,000 participants found that reading offers powerful benefits, serving as a top method for reducing stress. In addition, participants reported that reading encouraged personal growth, such as improving health, picking up hobbies, and boosting empathy, with 64% of readers having a better understanding of the feelings of others. Reading and the brain Indeed, scientific research looking at book clubs and shared reading backs this up, finding notable emotional and social benefits of reading. For example, students reported greater connection (42.9%) to others, deeper understanding of others' experiences and beliefs (61.2%) and reduced loneliness (14.3%) as a result of reading. The surveys above all rely on people reporting how they feel, rather than an objective measure. But there are also findings from objective measures of the brain, including neuroimaging. A systematic review of 11 intervention studies showed that shared reading among older adults improved wellbeing and helped alleviate loneliness and social isolation. One way in which reading may help reduce loneliness is by enhancing our social cognition, which is the ability to understand and connect with others. A neuroimaging study of young adults found that reading fiction, particularly passages with social content, activated areas of the brain involved in social behaviour and emotional understanding, such as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. This brain region was also linked to the stronger social cognition seen in frequent fiction readers, suggesting a neural pathway through which reading fosters greater social connectedness. Importantly, reading may also reduce the risk of dementia. One study of 469 people aged 75 and over, with no dementia at baseline, were followed up for 5.1 years. Among leisure activities such as playing board games, playing musical instruments, and dancing, reading was associated with a 35% reduced risk of dementia. A number of studies have similarly shown that engaging in cognitively stimulating activities, such as reading, can slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia. Our own research also showed the benefits of reading for pleasure early in life. In a large sample of more than 10,000 children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, we found that those who read for pleasure early in life had better brain structure, cognition, academic achievement, longer sleep duration, and better mental health – including lower symptoms of inattention, stress, and depression – when adolescents. Impor-tantly, they also had less screen time and better social interactions. So while AI and chatbots can enhance our lives in many ways, they are not a solution to every-thing. We know that while technology has many benefits, it has also produced many unforeseen problems. Let's solve problems of loneliness and social isolation through reading and book clubs. Reading is also a great way to improve brain structure, cognition, and wellbeing. – The Conversation Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian is professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge, and Christelle Langley is a post-doctoral research associate, cognitive neuroscience, at the same institution. This article was first published in The Conversation.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Forget chatbots: research suggests reading can help combat loneliness and boost the brain
Loneliness has become such a widespread problem that Silicon Valley billionaires are now highlighting it to market AI companions, with Mark Zuckerberg recently stating 'the average American has fewer than three friends'. This actually echoes what the World Health Organization has called a crisis of social isolation and loneliness. They report that around 25% of older adults are socially isolated and 5%-15% of adolescents are lonely. But a variety of research – including our own – suggests reading may be a much better solution than chatbots. Human interaction is no doubt hugely important. In a study we published in 2023, we found that it only takes around five close friends for children and adolescents to thrive, giving them better brain structure, cognition, academic performance and mental health. Having fewer than five close friends may not provide enough social contact. But larger numbers are less likely to be close friends. The dilemma of technology frequently means that despite some people having vast numbers of friends on social media, they are not close friends and so do not provide the social support needed. Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK's latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Similarly, chatbots may not provide the type of face-to-face social interaction that people need to flourish. During the pandemic lockdowns, a study found that face-to-face communication was far more beneficial for mental health than digital communication. But how can reading help us to feel less lonely and have better wellbeing? A recent survey from The Queen's Reading Room, the charity and book club of Queen Camilla, and other surveys, have found that reading fiction and other books significantly reduces feelings of loneliness and improves wellbeing. Another charity, The Reader, conducted a survey of approximately 2,000 participants and found that this was especially true among young adults. Fifty-nine percent of those aged 18-34 said reading made them feel more connected to others and 56% felt less alone during the pandemic. Another survey, in conjunction with the University of Liverpool, of over 4,000 participants found that reading offers powerful benefits, serving as a top method for reducing stress. In addition, participants reported that reading encouraged personal growth, such as improving health, picking up hobbies and boosting empathy, with 64% of readers having a better understanding others' feelings. Indeed, scientific research looking at book clubs and shared reading back this up, finding notable emotional and social benefits of reading. For example, students reported greater connection (42.9%) to others, deeper understanding of others' experiences and beliefs (61.2%) and reduced loneliness (14.3%) as a result of reading. The surveys above all rely on people reporting how they feel, rather than an objective measure. But there are also findings from objective measures of the brain, including neuroimaging. A systematic review of 11 intervention studies showed that shared reading among older adults improved wellbeing and helped alleviate loneliness and social isolation. One way in which reading may help reduce loneliness is by enhancing our social cognition, which is the ability to understand and connect with others. A neuroimaging study of young adults found that reading fiction, particularly passages with social content, activated areas of the brain involved in social behaviour and emotional understanding, such as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. This brain region was also linked to the stronger social cognition seen in frequent fiction readers, suggesting a neural pathway through which reading fosters greater social connectedness. Importantly, reading may also reduce the risk of dementia. One study of 469 people aged 75 and over, with no dementia at baseline, were followed up for 5.1 years. Among leisure activities such as playing board games, playing musical instruments and dancing, reading was associated with a 35% reduced risk of dementia. A number of studies have similarly shown that engaging in cognitively stimulating activities, such as reading, can slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia. Our own research also showed the benefits of reading for pleasure early in life. In a large sample of over 10,000 children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, we found that those children who read for pleasure early in life had better brain structure, cognition, academic achievement, longer sleep duration and better mental health – including lower symptoms of inattention, stress and depression – when adolescents. Importantly, they also had less screen time and better social interactions. So, while AI and chatbots can enhance our lives in many ways, they are not a solution to everything. We know that while technology has many benefits, it has also produced many unforeseen problems. Let's solve problems of loneliness and social isolation through reading and book clubs. Reading is also a great way to improve brain structure, cognition and wellbeing. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. We recently gave a talk about this topic for the British Neuroscience Association, in association with The Queen's Reading Room. We would like to thank the Queen's Reading Room CEO, Vicki Perrin for her input and support. Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian receives funding from the Wellcome Trust and the Lundbeck Foundation. Her research work is conducted within the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Mental Health and Neurodegeneration Themes. She consults for Cambridge Cognition. We recently gave a talk about this topic for the British Neuroscience Association, in association with The Queen's Reading Room. We would like to thank the Queen's Reading Room CEO, Vicki Perrin for her input and support. Christelle Langley receives funding from the Wellcome Trust. Her research work is conducted within the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Mental Health and Neurodegeneration Themes.
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Queen claims victory over ‘naysayers' who said online reading club would fail
The Queen has claimed victory over the many 'naysayers' who did not believe her online book club would be a success. As she marked the fourth anniversary of The Queen's Reading Room at a star-studded reception at Clarence House, Her Majesty revealed that she had built a 'family' of 12 million readers spanning 173 countries. She said that her aim was simply to 'make life better'. The Queen was supported at the gathering by her whole family, with her husband, the King, her sister, Annabel Elliot, and two children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, mingling with a host of authors and literary figures. During the event, she announced the launch of The Queen's Reading Room Medal, which will recognise those who champion books and storytelling in their local communities. The Queen's Reading Room started life as a lockdown reading list but has evolved to become a registered charity that runs a hugely popular podcast, hosts an annual festival and has commissioned pioneering research. 'From its humble beginnings (amid the voices of quite a few naysayers), my Reading Room now reaches over 12 million people in 173 countries each year, with nearly 20,000 visitors to our festivals to date,' the Queen told guests, to gasps and cheers. 'It is because of the gift of writers like you, and because of the passion of every person in this room for promoting literacy and a love of literature, that we have been able to build such a family of readers. Long may we continue to be inspired by you all.' Watched on by the King, the Queen added: 'Through literature, we experience life through another's eyes, we are comforted, strengthened, we laugh, we cry, we travel to different lands, and we escape the real world. 'In short, books, and those who create them, make life better... much better – so thank you! Making life better is the ultimate aim of my Reading Room.' The Queen said that books make for a happier, healthier and more connected society, improving mental health and our understanding of the world. As she finished her speech, the King gave her an affectionate pat on the back. Among those gathered for the event on Tuesday evening were actors Richard E Grant, Freddie Fox and Sigourney Weaver. They were joined by authors including Jilly Cooper, Anthony Horowitz, Peter James, Kate Atkinson, Elif Shafak and Donna Tartt. Lady Sarah Chatto, the Duchess of Gloucester, and her husband Daniel were also on hand to celebrate. The Reading Room medal aims to highlight the work of 'reading heroes' across the country who are working to help their communities overcome that reading crisis. From April 1, anyone over the age of 18 can nominate themselves or another person for the award, with the first recipient announced next year. The award's judging panel consists of heavyweight literary figures from across the industry, including Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literary Trust, and Dame Gail Rebuck, chairman of Penguin Random House. As the King and Queen arrived at the reception, coming down the stairs from their private apartment, Charles spotted actress Miriam Margolyes and immediately reached out to hold her hand: 'Wonderful to see you,' he said. After Camilla's speech, Margolyes greeted her warmly, joking: 'I've got to try and curtsy without falling down,' to which Camilla laughed, replying: 'Here, let me hold you up!' At the reception, a selection of items from Jane Austen's House and birthplace in Chawton, Hants, and from the Royal Collection were also on display, marking the 250th anniversary of the author's birth. They included a Royal Collection second edition copy of Sense and Sensibility, and a drawing by Austen's sister, Cassandra. The Queen is a long-standing campaigner on literacy and encouraging reading, and is patron of organisations including the National Literacy Trust, First Story, Corma Beanstalk and Booktrust. Last year, a report published by the National Literary Trust found that reading rates are the lowest on record, with one in two adults not reading a book at all in the last year.
