Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth celebrates Dickens' birthday

Feb 15, 2012, 13:01 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has celebrated 200 years since Charles Dickens was born.

The 85-year-old monarch was accompanied by Prince Philip as they joined the likes of actor Eddie Redmayne and 007 star Samantha Bond in commemorating the landmark anniversary of the birth of the legendary author last night (14.02.12).

In her capacity as patron of the Royal Theatrical Fund, the queen saw both children and professional actors from the Chickenshed Theatre Company take to the stage to perform a new piece called 'Mr. Dickens and the Actors' at the Guildhall in London.

Speaking about the royal audience member, Richard Clifford, director of the show, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: 'It's always a great privilege particularly as she's not a huge theatre-goer.

'It's lovely for us to celebrate Dickens' bicentenary with her.'

However, the celebrations won't be stopping there, as tonight (15.02.12) the royal couple will host a reception at Buckingham Palace to commemorate the bicentenary.

Members of the Dickens family, as well as actors Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter - who are currently starring in the latest film version of Dickens classic 'Great Expectations' - are expected to be in attendance at the event.