A Right Royal BookTrail
Royal Book Trail
Whether you’re a royal wedding fan or not, you can’t move for news about the royal wedding. Well, why not escape into a book instead – you can still join in with the regal feeling all around with a book or two!
Buckingham Palace (c)Wikipedia
Buckingham Palace with the Corgis
You can’t have a royal BookTrail without the grand palace itself. There are several books based inside the palace but this one is from the point of view of the corgis!
Royal intrigue
Most tales set in and around the palace and royal life are set in the past but this one is more recent with stories in the present day showing the intricate links between Wallis Simpson, a woman who was blamed for tearing the Royal family apart and Diana, Princess of Wales. The story flits from London to Paris and Versailles but London is a key location
Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park
This is a story about a woman, Maria, who works as a seamstress for the Royal family. She loves her job but one day catches the eye of the Prince of Wales and is captivated by him and the intrigue that surrounds him.
Hyde Park – Where one of the girls says it’s where the posh ladies ride in their carriages
St James Park – On their days off from the palace, the girls would go to St James’ Park
Philippa Gregory novels
Victoria and Abdul
Kensington with Kate Morton
Home to the royals today and just behind Kensignton palace is where a girl once lived in the book The Secret Keeper, who had allusions of grandeur but whose reality was far from royal. She lived through war time London, sits in Kensington Gardens at the Peter Pan statue and lives in . Her friend Vivien works at the local Royal Hospital
Campden Grove – Dorothy and Vivien’s home
Kensington High Street – Megan has been spotted here
London – Kensington Gardens – Just beside the famous Peter Pan statue was the meeting place where Jimmy and his girl meet to talk.
Belgrave Square
Belgravia
Think an America marrying an Englishman is unusual in such high circles? There is great precedent for this. In fact the book The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau is the story of one year in the life of the English aristocracy. Iconic figures such as Washington society heiress Mary Leiter who married Lord Curzon. Many grand homes were restored as a result of this marriage practice – Blenheim Palace was desperate for a new roof for example and it was the Vanderbilt money which made this possible
35 Belgrave Square – The house at the centre of the story
Tower of London
An iconic site in many historical novels as this is where Queens and royal guests stayed in some comfort. It’s more well known for being a prison where Henry VIII locked up Ann Boleyn and where the mystery of the Royal Princes unfolded…
It’s also somewhere the kids can enjoy as Paddington shows you in this lovely book. Oh and let’s not forget the antics of Gangsta Granny!
Parliament
Where the story of government almost ended!
Hamleys
IS this not the most royal of toyshops that every little princess dreams of?
The one in the book is fictional but is heavily inspired by Hamleys and the toy floor in Harrods. The street it’s located in is close to Claridges Hotel and somewhere where present day Brook Mews is located.
Whatever you do, read or watch this weekend. Have a lovely time and enjoy the sunshine!
