Children’s sequel to visit Queen at Holyrood

THE Queen is to star in her own Holyrood production. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is to be the setting for an official “fun” children’s book with Her Majesty as its central character.

The palace has had its fair share of murders and even boasts a naked ghost. To add to its already remarkable history, it recently hosted the wedding reception of Zara Phillips, the Queen’s granddaughter, and Mike Tindall, the England rugby captain.

But now a children’s book is being planned by the royal household about the palace, with the Queen in the central role. The royal household published its first children’s book in July, giving a unique insight into the Queen’s life at Buckingham Palace.

Marion McAuley, a former head of education at the Royal Collection, wrote the book Does The Queen Wear Her Crown in Bed?, with illustrations by Katy Sleight.

The follow-up based on the Queen’s official residence in Scotland is planned for next year and the writer – potential authors are currently being considered – faces a more difficult job in explaining to children the Edinburgh palace’s colourful past.

A spokeswoman confirmed a follow-up set in Scotland was being planned. “It is hoped to do one set in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is a case of finding the right author and storyline. But it is something we want to do very much,” she said.

“Children, perhaps more than any other age group, are fascinated by kings and queens, but most of the information that is readily available to them is fiction. We hope this new book will complement these other offerings by showing children what the real Queen does today.”

In Does The Queen Wear Her Crown in Bed? readers are led by a footman, two children and one of the Queen’s pet corgis through different aspects of palace life, such as how it is guarded, its use as the monarch’s home and royal offices, its gardens, and banquets held there.

But the story to be told at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which has served as the principal residence of the kings and queens of Scots since the 15th century, is far more colourful. The naked ghost of one Bald Agnes, stripped and tortured in 1592 after being accused of witchcraft, is said to roam the palace to this day.

The rooms in the north-west tower were occupied by Mary, Queen of Scots. It was there that she witnessed the murder of David Rizzio, her private secretary, in 1566.