King Charles I's Shakespeare Second Folio displayed at Windsor Castle

The king wrote the names of some of the characters on the contents page

A collection of Shakespeare's plays annotated by King Charles I while he was in captivity awaiting execution is to be displayed at Windsor Castle.

The Shakespeare in the Royal Library exhibition features the Second Folio inscribed by the king with the Latin phrase "Dum Spiro Spero".

It means "while I breathe, I hope" and was likely written by him in 1648 on the Isle of Wight.

King Charles was taken from the island to London and beheaded in 1649.

It followed his conviction for high treason during the English Civil War.

His personal attendant Sir Thomas Herbert, who was on the scaffold with his master outside Whitehall's Banqueting House, later inherited the copy of plays.

The inscription translates as 'while I breathe, I hope'

Its pages may suggest the ill-fated king was taking solace in the comedies, as he wrote the names of some of the characters on the contents page, such as Rosalind, Benedick, Beatrice, Pyramus and Thisbe.

The book, which was originally published in 1632, was eventually reacquired for the Royal Library by George III in 1800.

Charles I was executed for high treason

The exhibition at Windsor celebrates the royal court's connection with Shakespeare through books, maps and art acquired by monarchs over the centuries.

It includes a drawing of Romeo and Juliet by Princess Victoria, the future Queen Victoria, when she was 15.

Also on display is a colourfully bound copy of the Merry Wives Of Windsor presented to Queen Mary in 1917.

It includes an embroidered image of Windsor Castle on the front cover.

The attraction will run until 1 January 2017.

Queen Victoria drew Romeo and Juliet when she was 15

The merry wife of a Windsor, Queen Mary, received a copy of The Merry Wives Of Windsor