PALACE HOUSE BLOG: Part Twelve – Tales of a fire-breathing dragon in the Harlequin Room
27th Aug 2026
The Circus Room en-suite bathroom has become the new Harlequin Room which owes its name to the wallpaper echoing the lozenges on the Montagu coat of arms. In our blog series, Lord Montagu explains the inspiration for the room’s striking artwork.
A series of framed illustrations which hang in the new room are taken from a book by my mother called Little Alexander and the Dragon.
Sadly, she never finished illustrating it but it has given me great pleasure to print those pages she did complete and to adapt one of the illustrations for the shower tiles as the room’s main feature.
The story is about a young boy, Alexander who was page to a grand lady. He longed to explore strange lands and do brave things such as killing dragons.
His chance came when he ventured into a nearby wood; there he entered a world of knights in armour, a blackbird messenger called Ossymanders and a fire-breathing dragon.
The story ends when Alexander overcomes the dragon and persuades him to change his diet to acorns and artichokes!
Find out more in Lord Montagu’s personal tour here: https://youtu.be/0f0nr6nNfPU
Artwork by Lord Montagu’s mother featured in A Palace House Christmas at Beaulieu last year.
Don’t miss this year’s fabulous festive-themed experience Alice’s Christmas Wonderland. Get curiouser and curiouser as you visit the colourful Mad Hatter’s hat shop, tumble down a rabbit hole and meet the Queen of Hearts. Tickets are on sale now – book for early discounts.
