King Charles might have a few nerves ahead of his Coronation but at least he knows he’s not going to end up with a pile of fish scales on his head. But if you know which of Europe’s current monarchs might have been once had to wear a crown made of sealife skin then you are already a royal genius. The British Library has pulled together some of the most fascinating facts about royalty past and present for a quiz book, just in time for the Coronation.
The Royal Puzzle Book by Philip Parker isn’t just a question and answer list (although you’ll be pub quiz ready for even the most regal of rounds once you’ve dived in). While it’s packed with plenty of posers that will get even the most accomplished royal expert thinking, this is actually a gem of a read that is like opening up a history book filled with all the bits you actually always wanted to know.
What sets this book apart is the care that has gone into making royal stories, past and present, interesting to everyone. There are dozens of rounds of questions, arranged into intriguing sections including royal pets, cryptic royals and, of course, coronations. But while the questions and fun and far from obvious, it’s the answers that really resonate. Each question is explained with paragraphs of well researched knowledge, written in an accessible way. So if you don’t know which monarch owned a cheetah (no spoilers here), you won’t just find their name in the answers section but a full explanation along with other interesting facts related to the question topic.
There are also plenty of fabulous photos and several picture rounds. And it’s bang up to date. As you’d expect for a book making its debut as King Charles III is crowned, it’s well and truly in 2023 with questions about royal events that have happened in the last few months. And those questions are well written, snappy and understandable by everyone. Philip Parker has plenty of experience in writing quiz books and his latest offering, with over 300 challenges in it, can be enjoyed by all.
And if you think you know all there is to know about royalty, think again. Each round ends with a genius question that will really get you thinking and rather keen to find out the answers.
This isn’t just a quiz book although it’s filled with fun questions that cover British royal history from Anglo-Saxon times to today and takes you right around the country and back again. It’s an elegant, accessible and rather beautiful book all about royalty and it will be exciting interest long after the Coronation it was written for is part of history.
The Royal Puzzle Book by Philip Parker is published by the British Library and is available to order on their website.
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