 The preserved bird in Derby Museum | |
| Species | Columba livia f. domestica |
|---|---|
| Breed | Racing pigeon |
| Sex | Cock |
| Hatched | Derby, England |
| Resting place | Derby Museum and Art Gallery |
| Known for |
|
| Owner | Charlie Hudson |
| Appearance | Blue Cock |
| Named after | Rome-England bird race |
The King of Rome was a successful racing pigeon, winning a 1,001-mile (1,611 km) race from Rome, Italy, to England, in 1913. Bred and trained in England, it was owned by Charlie Hudson of Derby. It set a new long-distance record for a racing pigeon of England.
The King of Rome is the subject of a 1988 song and a 2010 children's book, both by Dave Sudbury. The best-known of the several recordings of the song is by June Tabor. In 2013 a radio play by Anthony Atkin and Allison Glossop was broadcast to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the pigeon's record-breaking flight.