{"id":136317,"date":"2025-10-21T15:34:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/136317\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T15:34:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:34:11","slug":"windsor-castle-marks-jane-austens-250th-birthday-with-rare-copy-of-pride-and-prejudice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/136317\/","title":{"rendered":"Windsor Castle Marks Jane Austen\u2019s 250th Birthday With Rare Copy of Pride and Prejudice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Visitors to Windsor Castle<\/a> over the next two weeks are in for some rare treats. For the first time ever, a copy of Pride and Prejudice<\/a> once owned by Prince Albert will go on public display. The book is believed to be the same copy from which he read aloud to Queen Victoria. According to the Queen\u2019s journals, Albert began reading the novel to her in July 1853 while she was recovering from measles. She later described it as \u201cvery amusing,\u201d \u201cadmirably written,\u201d and \u201cinteresting and entertaining.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Open\u00a9 Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust | Todd-White Art Photography\/Ben Fitzpatrick<\/p>\n

The dedication page in Emma for the Prince Regent.<\/p>\n

Also on display will be a specially bound copy of Emma<\/a>, personally dedicated to King George VI, then the Prince Regent, with an inscription page. According to the Royal Collection Trust<\/a>, the three-volume edition was sent to him before Christmas in 1815 after Austen was given a tour of his London residence, Carlton House, by his librarian.<\/p>\n

\"Pride<\/a>\"Emma\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Also on view for the first time will be another well-read first edition of Pride and Prejudice, possibly once part of the Servants\u2019 Library at Windsor before joining the Royal Library\u2019s collection. Published anonymously in 1813, the book sold out within its first year and remains among the most popular novels in English literature. The display also features two Regency-era fashion books\u2014Costume of England and Costume of the Ladies of Paris\u2014published around the same time as Austen\u2019s works. All of the books come from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle, which holds more than 240,000 items documenting the reading interests of generations of British monarchs.<\/p>\n

\"Collection\u00a9 Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust | Todd-White Art Photography\/Ben Fitzpatrick<\/p>\n

The books are all borrowed from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.<\/p>\n

The display is located in the Queen\u2019s Drawing Room, once one of Windsor Castle\u2019s principal reception rooms and originally connected to the bedchamber of Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II. The room now houses key portraits from the Tudor and Stuart periods, including a youthful depiction of Queen Elizabeth I and paintings by Hans Holbein the Younger.<\/p>\n

\"Luxurious\u00a9 Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust<\/p>\n

Inside the Queen\u2019s Drawing Room, which was once one of the most important reception rooms at the castle.<\/p>\n

The Jane Austen display is included with standard admission to Windsor Castle. The books will be on display during the afternoon at certain hours between October 25 and November 2, but not everyday. So visitors are advised to check the schedule before reserving admission tickets.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration\u00a9 Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust\/Todd-White Art Photography\/Ben Fitzpatrick<\/p>\n

A colorful illustration from Costume of the Ladies of Paris.<\/p>\n

The installation is the latest event of many around the world as Jane Austen fandom continues to reach a fever pitch as we get closer to the 250th anniversary<\/a> of the lauded author\u2019s birth this December. Sotheby\u2019s New York recently hosted an auction<\/a> that included a trio of extremely rare letters penned by Austen to her sister, Cassandra, as well as other memorabilia\u2014including the first American edition of Pride & Prejudice<\/a> ever printed.<\/p>\n

\"Play\"Open\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Rachel King (she\/her) is a news writer at\u00a0Town & Country. Before joining\u00a0T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at\u00a0Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in\u00a0Forbes,\u00a0Observer,\u00a0Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and\u00a0Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at\u00a0@rk.passport<\/a>.<\/p>\n