LONDON: A special exhibition on childhood in the British royal family is to open at Buckingham Palace on Saturday (today), featuring well-loved toys spanning 250 years including a gadget-laden miniature James Bond supercar.

The Royal Childhood exhibition at the London palace features more than 150 objects, including cherished outfits, family photographs and private film footage.

“It gives an unprecedented glimpse into life as a young member of the royal family over 250 years,” said the Royal Collection Trust.

The display includes many previously unseen objects and films, offering a glimpse of generations of royal children enjoying unguarded, private moments.

One film highlights the closeness between Queen Elizabeth II and her only sibling, the late princess Margaret.

Several clips of the young princesses show them dancing together. In one clip, Elizabeth takes the lead in teaching her younger sister a new step, while another shows the smiling pair twirling arm in arm.

“It’s easy to forget that royal children are just like everyone else,” said Anna Reynolds, the exhibition’s curator.

“This exhibition gives visitors a very personal insight into life as a young member of the royal family over nine generations, through the toys the children have played with and loved, and through the clothes they have worn,” she said.

The exhibition in the Palace Ballroom and Ball Supper Room, which runs until September 28, is divided into sections documenting the different aspects of a royal childhood.

The photographs and films in the Playing display show royal children enjoying the universal childhood pleasure of toys and playtime, but the objects in the exhibit are sure to be the envy of any young visitor.

The miniature Aston Martin DB5 built by the prestigious car company and presented to the queen’s second son Prince Andrew on his sixth birthday would make any young James Bond fan jealous.

A fully mobile replica of agent 007’s car in the 1960s films Goldfinger and Thunderball, it has a top speed of 10 miles (16 kilometres) per hour and comes with some classic Bond gadgets.

A STAFF member poses with a miniature James Bond DB5 presented to Prince Andrew by the Aston Martin company in 1965. A miniature caravan (right) presented to Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne by the Caravan Club in 1955.—AFP

The revolving number plate is personalised as JB007, concealed machine guns appear from behind the side lights and the car even has a working smoke screen, concealed electric water jets and a pop-up bullet-proof shield.

Prince George’s christening robe

A wooden roller coaster built for Queen Elizabeth’s children stretches across the entire display, surrounded by unique toys beloved to generations of royalty.

Among them is a specially built mini-caravan that was given to the monarch in 1955, in which her children toured the Buckingham Palace gardens towed by her husband Prince Philip.

A STAFF member poses with a miniature James Bond DB5 presented to Prince Andrew by the Aston Martin company in 1965. A miniature caravan (right) presented to Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne by the Caravan Club in 1955.—AFP

The British royal family is riding a surge in popularity following the marriage of Prince William, second in line to the throne, and his wife Kate, and the birth of their son Prince George, who celebrated his first birthday on Tuesday.

A number of the items on display are linked to the little prince.

The famous golden easel that stood on the Buckingham Palace forecourt and the official bulletin it held announcing George’s birth to the world are included, as is the christening robe he wore for his baptism in October.

There is also a hand-made rocking horse given by US President Barack Obama.

The Growing display features an ornate casket containing the first teeth of queen Victoria’s children, and a progress book detailing the early years of Queen Elizabeth.

Inside can be seen a handwritten note recording the first words of the future monarch: “mama” and “bebe”.

The extensive collection contains drawings by a five-year-old Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, and a fairy costume worn by his sister Princess Anne.

It also includes the soldier dressing gown worn by Charles’ son Prince Harry, who is now a serving army captain.

The geography exercise book of the five-year-old William, open to a list headed “these creatures live in the jungle”, sits alongside the handwriting book of his ancestor, the future king George IV, from 1767.

Last year more than 530,000 visitors over 65 days saw Buckingham Palace’s special exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.—AFP

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2014