United Kingdom, Jan. 23 -- Queen Camilla's charity is to study the benefits of book clubs.

The 78-year-old royal established The Queen's Reading Room during the COVID-19 pandemic and the organisation is set to undergo first-of-its-kind research into the ways shared reading can "shape connection and belonging.

Prof. Sam Wass, of the University of East London, who is leading the study, said: "This study gives us a unique opportunity to understand what happens, psychologically and physiologically, when people read together.

"While previous research has shown the benefits of reading alone, far less is known about the impact of shared reading on stress, social connection and mental wellbeing."

The laboratory-controlled project will use "ri...