It’s been quite the literary week for Queen Camilla. After launching The Queen’s Reading Room’s Reading Medal, she paid a visit to the Charles Dickens House Museum to help celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Arriving at the former home of Charles Dickens, Queen Camilla was given a tour of the home-turned-museum by three of Dickens’ descendants. The author lived at 48 Doughty Street in London from 1837 to 1839, where he wrote A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, among other works.
“It is…great to be back again, a real thrill,” she said upon arrival.
The Dickens Fellowship purchased the house in 1923 and saved it from demolition. In 1925, after renovations, it opened as a museum and home for the most comprehensive collection of Charles Dickens material in the world.
Today there are over 100,000 items in the Dickens collection and the Museum works with researchers, archivists, educators, and the public to share the details of the celebrated author’s life and work.
During the tour, the Queen saw a recently-acquired portrait of the author as well as clothing he wore shortly before his death, prompting her to quip: “He was tiny!” She also handled one of his diamond rings and joked “I won’t nick it!”
Afterwards, Queen Camilla watched as Simon Callow and Miriam Margolyes, both patrons of the Museum, performed from a selection of Dickens’ personal letters and a bit of A Christmas Carol, with Queen Camilla commenting on how you can re-read the holiday classic “and always find something new.”
Before departing, the Queen also met with the staff and volunteers. The Museum said it was a “pleasure to welcome Her Majesty the Queen…in celebration of our centenary year” on social media.
