POP-UP PALACE PETS AND OTHER ROYAL BEASTS

Probably this is designed for children. It is published in collaboration with Historic Royal Palace, and we learn about devoted dogs like Queen Mary II's lapdogs and Queen Victoria's six dogs being the first ever to enter the Crufts Dog Show in 1891, fluffy and frightening cats like Queen Victoria's Persians, two of which Flypie and White Heather outlived her. There are chattering parrots and singing birds, popular royal companions and the story that Princess Alexandra taught her cockatoo to say 'God save the Queen!' England's first grizzly bear and polar bear both lived at the Tower of London. Animals have often been given to the royal family and our late Queen Elizabeth received an elephant, and the people of Northern Australia gave Prince George a baby crocodile even before he was born. There are tales of revolting rats, super-sized spiders and mischievous moles in the Palace Pets. With colourful pop-up illustrations a short picture book for ages 6 and up.