A YEAR long calendar of events to showcase Winchester’s close connections to the bloodlines of Britain’s kings and queens has been launched.

From taking to an interactive historic trail, uploading selfies with an interactive King Alfred statue or walking one of the many city walks that reveal Winchester’s bloody royal past, there are plenty of history-fuelled events taking place in Winchester throughout the year.

Interactive quiz trails across the city have been launched by TV history presenter Dan Snow, these can be downloaded on mobile phones and offer a fun way to walk in the footsteps of Winchester’s Saxon forefathers; the Medieval Jews of Winchester; or the poet John Keats who wrote his Ode ‘To Autumn’ after a walk along the water meadows in 1819.

There will also be a giant recreation of Hamo Thornycroft’s iconic statue of King Alfred.

At a press of a button, the two metre high talking statue will offer a royal introduction to his kingdom and will tell visitors about his life and legacy, visitors to the city are encouraged to take selfies with the hashtag #sALFies with the statue and upload them to @King_Alf on Twitter for the chance to win a royal-themed prize.

From August 1 to 31 Winchester Cathedral will host a children’s summer holiday royal blood trail, where families can explore the Cathedral’s royal connections.

Meanwhile the Cheriton Battlefield Walk has been redeveloped and there will be a special Royal Blood trail telling the district’s history of visits,births, marriages and funerals of kings and queens throughout history.

A series of large scale re-enactments based on the events of the Civil War and the Norman occupation are set to take over the streets of the city later in the year.