Royal Shakespeare

Members of the British royal family have enjoyed Shakespeare for centuries, as can be seen in their collecting of his works. Queen Victoria in particular delighted in Shakespeare’s plays, discussing them in her journal and seeing numerous performances as part of her patronage of the theatre, including those put on at Windsor Castle as part of the Windsor Theatricals. A keen artist, she sketched episodes from the plays and received watercolours of scenes as gifts from her children. Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet were three of the plays which most inspired her and her family. Shakespeare and his works continue to be important to the Royal Family today.