Queen Camilla and top authors have created a new addition to Queen Mary’s Dolls' House to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Queen Mary’s Dolls' House is the largest and most famous dolls' house in the world complete with running water, electricity and a working lift.
The Queen has created a miniature library with 20 tiny manuscripts that provide a snapshot of contemporary literature in Britain to commemorate the centenary.
One of the greatest treasures of the dolls' house is its library that captures the literature of the 1920s with miniature, handwritten books from famous writers of the era like Thomas Hardy.
Queen Camilla opens new miniature dolls' house library
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The Queen said about the dolls' house: “For me, it is the library that is the most breathtaking space in the house.”
The dolls' house was built between 1921 and 1924 and was a gift from the nation to Queen Mary following the First World War.
It is a 1:12 scale replica of an Edwardian -style residence with contributions from over 1,500 of the greatest artists, craftspeople and manufacturers of the day.
Camilla said: “These new books highlight the incredible richness of twenty-first century Literary talent and demonstrate how fortunate we are to have access to so many outstanding writers, whose work brings joy, comfort, laughter, companionship and hope to us all, opening our eyes to others’ experiences and reminding us that we are not alone.”
Queen Mary's Dolls' House on display at Windsor Castle
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The new manuscripts in the modern library range from short stories, poetry collections and illustrated tales to plays, articles and recipes.
Each manuscript is only 4.5cm high and have been hand-bound with a unique cover that takes its influence from the contents of the book.
The designer of Queen Mary’s Dolls' House, Sir Edwin Lutyens, described it as “a miniature mansion such as the King and Queen might live in…in every detail complete.”
The Queen has also contributed her own miniature book to the collection; a handwritten introduction to the Modern-Day Miniature Library project.
A miniature book from the library in Queen Mary's Doll's House
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The library in Queen Mary's Dolls House
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On display at the exhibition at Windsor Castle is a scaled-down replica of the Crown Jewels which use real diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
On Tuesday, the Queen will host a reception at Windsor Castle to thank the authors, illustrators and binders who contributed to the library project.
Her Majesty will view the new tiny books which will then be added to the doll’s house display for visitors to see.
21 people contributed to the Modern-Day Miniature Library Project including Simon Armitage, an English poet and Robert Hardman, a royal author.
