Treasures and Curiosities from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle

---

The next Chiswick Decorative & Fine Arts Society talk is by Oliver Everett

Oliver Everett is to give a talk entitled Treasures and Curiosities from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle as part of the Chiswick Decorative and Fine Arts Society series of lectures.

He was Assistant Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales,1978-80; and then Private Secretary to Diana, Princess of Wales, 1981-3. He was Librarian in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle from 1984-2002 and is now Librarian Emeritus following his retirement in 2002. He wrote the official guidebook and audio tour on Windsor Castle, taught a course on its history and advised on a television programme about it. He has specifically written articles on the Royal Library and helped with two books on aspects of the Royal Collection. Oliver is currently advising on a possible history series for television and lectures widely, both in Britain and abroad.

The Library is primarily used by the Queen to show to her guests after dinner parties at Windsor Castle. This is because it is so full of a great range of fascinating objects associated with the history of Britain and the Royal family. The lecture gives a tour of the Library similar to that experienced by the Queen's guests. The Library is open to academic researchers but not to the general public.

The lecture therefore constitutes a rare opportunity to see its rooms and treasures. These treasures include beautiful and rare books and manuscripts; books with personal royal associations; old master drawings (Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Holbein, Canaletto) and watercolours; jewellery; insignia of Orders of Chivalry; miniature paintings; clocks; fans; maps; the shirt in which Charles I was executed; and the Queen's description (when Princess Elizabeth, aged 11) of her father's Coronation in 1937.

The lectures start at 8pm on 9 February in the Malinova Room at The Polish Centre (POSK), 238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF. All are welcome and you are encouraged to arrive early to join the rest of the audience for a pre-lecture drink. Tickets cost £8 for non-members.

February 4, 2017