Pop-up books

The Royal Family Pop-up Book

By Patrick Montague-Smith, Deans International Publishing, 1984
ISBN 0 603 003710

Almost unbearably exciting, this is a must for any true Royalist's collection, and is possibly one of the strangest pieces of royal paraphernalia ever marketed.
It would be so easy to make jokes about the Royal Family looking like a bunch of card-board cut outs with no personalities and fixed glassy smiles, but we've decided to err on the side of grace and good manners.
Besides the pictures really speak for themselves, and nothing we could say can make them any sillier than they already are.

Oh, who are we kidding, as if we have that much will-power!

(N.B. Don't forget to run the mouse over the images to get the full effect...)

Barbecue at Balmoral

See the Queen and Prince Philip standing at the barbecue amongst the sausages just like any regular Joe and Betty, surveying their offspring with indulgent smiles! There is a notable absence of servants: they must have given them a day off, hooray! Look at young and marriageable Prince Andrew, wearing a kilt! How many young ladies must have sighed with disappointment at their inability to see any further than his hairy thighs. Surely a pop-up book is an ideal medium for such things? Ah, well. Look at the corgi, leaping unfeasibly high, to grab his dangling ball!
Look at Edward — oh, nah.
And as for the royal ladies, why, they're having a simply smashing time, Anne with her drink, Margaret with her — nothing? (the PR guys must have air-brushed out her cigarette and customary shot glass)
Mark Phillips smiles a jolly smile as he pours the pitcher. Look! He really bends! What fun! Everyone's so happy!
Yay!

The Balcony of Buckingham Palace

Sounds like the title to some kind of ballad. An illustration of the climactic event of Charles and Diana's wedding. Contains all of your favourite royal waves, which can now be reproduced at will in your own home: the Queen; the Queen Mother; Prince Philip — although judging by his wave, Harry's not the first member of the family to flirt with fascist imagery! Go Charlie! Go Di!! We wanna see a snog! Ooh, there we go, just run your mouse over the image — magic! Note strangely tumescent behaviour of creepy bridesmaid's flag hand.

The Royal Crawlabout

Watch the royal couple assert their power by torturing their first-born son in front of a large gathering of NZ media! A strangely hunch-backed Diana pokes him with a sharp finger and Charles laughs cruelly as he dangles a brightly-coloured toy just out of reach. William looks suitably upset. (Ed note: What the hell is she wearing? She looks like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn.)

Devilishly easy to make fun of, as you can see. A classic of its kind.

We have seen a few of these in the last couple of years, so if this is a book you desperately need on your bookcase let us know by using our Queries Page.

See also Royal Dogs