The English royal family has long been a source of fascination. This is particularly true since the invention of the printing press. The printing press made it easy for people to indulge in gossip and curiosity about the comings and goings of the family at the top of the social pyramid in the United Kingdom. If you’re a fan of the Netflix series The Crown or just interested since Meagan and Prince Harry said adieu to this green and pleasant land, here are the books you’ll want to bring home.
Victoria by Daisy Godwin
Before Queen Victoria came to the throne, she was a princess. This piece of fiction mingles facts to create a seamless whole that reveals the young Victoria and here fascinating consort Albert in love.
Victoria: The Queen, by Julia Baird
When Victoria began to grow, she assumed responsibility for an empire. Her life through all stages is told with great flair by this highly acclaimed biography. She reveals new insights including letters about the Queen’s life after Albert died and the passionate Victoria was left alone to raise her nine children.
Source: Quercus BooksThe King’s Speech by Mark Logue
After the beloved movie came out, people were hungry for more. Based on never before seen material from the grandson of the King’s speech therapist, it’s a a moving and charming account of a man struggling to live up to his heritage.
Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother by William Shawcross
George VI died young and left behind a vibrant window. His consort, the mother of the present queen, lived for over a century. This is her story and the story of the nation she watched grow up along with her.
The Little Princesses: The Story of the Queen’s Childhood by Her Nanny Marion Crawford
Crawford, dubbed crawfie by her charges, shows off Queen Elizabeth’s childhood from the point of view of the ultimate insider. This is a great book for those who love a hint of scandal. She was thrust out from the inner circle when revealing what was confidential material. If you want the lowdown on what it’s like to grow up as a British royal, this is your book.
Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life by Sally Bedell Smith
Biographer Sally Bedell Smith tackles the subject of the life of the heir to throne with great relish. This is a book about the life of Prince Charles from his birth to his late sixties. It’s a story of great imagination and insight told with fun by Smith. She’s clearly enjoying the chance to explain what makes Charles tick just as much as her readers.
Source: AmazonGame of Crowns by Christopher Anderson
Bringing together varied strands of modern royal life, this one looks at the later life of Queen Elizabeth II as Charles, Camilla and Katherine go about their days serving her and waiting for the future. It’s about what is going to happen to who once Elizabeth has passed away. Bring this one out if you’re wondering what’s it’s really like to wait for crown.
The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe by Angela Kelly
Kelly has dressed the Queen for over a decade. Here, she shares the secrets of the royal wardrobe for readers. It’s a tale about having to dress one woman who is routinely seen by millions of people all over the world. If you want a fly on the wall view, you’re right there with her.
Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown
Princess Margaret was one of the most tragic and fascinating royals of all time. Her sad love story and turbulent life that followed are chronicled through this kaleidoscopic biography. The author brings us raw royal life and what it means to be at the center of attention. As the Queen’s pretty, brash sister, Margaret was always good copy. She still is today.
The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
Princess Di, as the popular press dubbed her, is still having an influence on the public’s perception years after her untimely death. Her life unfolds under the work of one of the United Kingdom’s most successful editors. Diana lived her life front of the public while privately engaging with the royals in a way that her husband and many others found uncomfortable. This book presents both sides in a measured and utterly fascinating way.
The high profile British royals continue to a source of intense fascination. Many people wonder what it’s like to be born royal or to marry into this much scrutinized family. These books bring people right into the very heart of the British monarchy. sit back and enjoy them.
