Royal Collection Trust – World Book Day in the Royal Library
TINY BOOKS AND TALL TALES FROM THE ROYAL COLLECTION
To mark this year’s World Book Day, we’re taking a look at books and stories in the Royal Collection, from the oldest and rarest manuscripts to some of its smallest objects. We also meet an ancient hero from the Persian Shahnama, or Book of Kings, and take to the stage with some very special costumes.
Explore the Royal Library
Windsor Castle
The Royal Library contains more than 200,000 items, including not only books and manuscripts but also music, sound recordings, medals and coins. Discover the Library’s history and explore some of the unique objects kept there, from Charles I’s personal copy of the Complete Works of Shakespeare to a handwritten composition by an 11-year-old Mozart.
COLLECTION
Very short stories
From a big library to an exceptionally small one. Among the many perfectly recreated rooms of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is a miniature library, bursting with original works by the top literary names of the day, including Joseph Conrad, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Edith Wharton. Take a closer look at some of the titles lining the tiny shelves and learn more about the Dolls’ House in this online trail.
ACTIVITY
Draw your own cartoon
This fearsome warrior is Rustam, a legendary Persian hero who defeats an evil fire-breathing dragon with the help of his loyal horse, Rakhsh. Do you have a hero? Maybe it’s a real person who’s helped you during the past year, or a character from a film or book. Try telling their story using our cartoon strip template to guide you.
COLLECTION
A royal performance
Although things are different for this World Book Day, will you still be dressing up as your favourite book character? The Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, helped to make and wore these costumes for a performance of Aladdin at Windsor Castle in 1943, with Princess Elizabeth (as The Queen was then known) in the starring role.
