Queen backs calls for a national Shakespeare Night "Instead of a Burns Night's toast to the "laddies and lassies" we'd toast the masters and mistresses and we could have a battle of the sexes with women delivering Shakespeare quotes about men and men delivering Shakespeare quotes about women." Instead of piping in a haggis, the soundtrack to Shakespeare Supper Night would be sonnets and songs played by minstrels, while guests tuck into medieval dishes including ox roasts, joints of meat and quince tarts. The proposal is to celebrate on April 23 - not only the date of Shakespeare's birth and death, but also the feast day of England's patron, St George. Ms Ford said the Queen had backed the plan and is planning to get in touch with Mrs Miller about it. In a letter from a private secretary, Ms Ford said she was told: "Her Majesty acts on the advice of her ministers and I have therefore been instructed to send your letter to the Right Honourable Maria Miller, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport so that she may know of your approach to the Queen on this matter and may consider the points you raise. Her Majesty has taken careful note of your comments. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said the Queen did not reveal the contents of letters but it was likely she had referred to the matter to the relevant government department. Ms Ford added: "We are just a little place so we are really trying to get the word out. After 400 years it's unbelievable that we haven't got a night to celebrate our most famous poet. Sometimes traditions just have to be started. You have this moment where you realise, 'Surely not! How do we not have a day to celebrate this man? It would be fun, besides anything else. We are very much about bringing history to life.