Biography: royalty Books

Book SynopsisFor 270 years, the House of Braganza provided the kings and queens of Portugal. During a period of momentous change, from 1640 to 1910, this influential family helped to establish Portuguese independence from their powerful Spanish neighbours. They ruled the vast empire of Brazil from 1822 to 1889, successfully creating a unified nation and preventing the country from splitting into small warring states, and they saved the monarchy and government from total destruction by the marauding armies of Napoleon. In his fascinating reappraisal of the Braganza dynasty, Malyn Newitt traces the rise and fall of one of the world’s most important royal families. He introduces us to a colourful cast of innovators, revolutionaries, villains, heroes and charlatans, from the absolutist Dom Miguel to the `Soldier King’ Dom Pedro I, and recounts in vivid detail the major social, economic and political events that defined their rule. Featuring an extensive selection of artworks and photographs, Newitt offers a timely look at Britain’s `oldest ally’ and the role of monarchy in the early modern European world.

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Book Synopsis''A captivating biography ... This rollicking story is packed with anecdotes'' The Times''I can''t suppose that there has been a better English biography of Francis, or indeed is likely to be one'' Catholic HeraldFrancis I was inconstant, amorous, hot-headed and flawed. Arguably he was also the most significant king that France ever had. A contemporary of Henry VIII of England, Francis saw himself as the first Renaissance king. A courageous and heroic warrior, he was also a keen aesthete, an accomplished diplomat and an energetic ruler who turned his country into a force to be reckoned with. Bestselling historian Leonie Frieda''s comprehensive and sympathetic account explores the life of the most human of all Renaissance monarchs - and the most enigmatic.Trade ReviewA captivating biography ... [Frieda] does herself proud. Battle scenes are vividly drawn and the intricacies of statecraft reconstructed with admirable clarity. She also has a fine eye for detail - this rollicking story is packed with anecdotes -- Gerard DeGroot * THE TIMES *A thoughtful, vivid and well-paced telling of a complex story; and it is set against an even more complex background of European power-politics, which Frieda picks apart with admirable skill -- Noel Malcolm * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Frieda paints a surprisingly funny account of a king obsessed by power and sex, who took Renaissance France in directions that his predecessors would never have dared but was nearly undone by his own hubris. Frieda maintains a fine balance between psychological insight, the intricacies of 16th-century diplomacy and uproarious anecdotes of bad behaviour -- Alexander Larman * OBSERVER *A superb and vivid biography ... that brings the world of Francis I to life, skillfully delineating the moves and major players in both European and domestic politics ... and also gives the reader wonderful glimpses of the often licentious court life of that time ... Ms Frieda suggests that, under Francis I, France preserved its political power, greatly increased its cultural influence, and positioned itself for the Grand Siècle that his Bourbon successors would soon preside over -- John Steele Gordon * WALL STREET JOURNAL *Good English biographies of French kings are rare. So Leonie Frieda's life of Francis I is welcome. Leonie Frieda has done her hero such justice as is possible. She tells his story in great detail ... I can't suppose that there has been a better English biography of Francis, or indeed is likely to be one -- Alan Massie * CATHOLIC HERALD *A glittering new biography of one of 16th-century Europe's most charismatic and complex royals ... Frieda does brilliantly to condense all the captivating personalities, events, intrigues and conflicts of his reign into one book. Francis I transports the reader into the glittering and dangerous world of 16th-century France. It is a testament to its quality that upon closing the book you don't entirely want to leave -- Joanne Paul * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE *

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Book SynopsisFor more than 70 years, Prince Philip was the Queen's constant companion and support, but his vital role in the monarchy has too often gone largely unnoticed. Now, in Ingrid Seward's superb biography of the Duke of Edinburgh, we get the chance to read the full story of his remarkable life and achievements.  Born into the Greek and Danish royal families in 1921, a descendant of Queen Victoria, Prince Philip's aristocratic credentials were second to none. But, only 18 months after his birth, the family had to be rescued by a British warship from the island of Corfu after his father was exiled. His nomadic childhood was spent in Germany, Paris and eventually England where he was sent to boarding school. At the age of 18, while studying at Dartmouth Naval College, he was asked to look after the King’s two daughters, 13-year-old Elizabeth and her sister Margaret, during a royal visit. It was their first proper meeting and, only eight years laTrade Review'In this wide-ranging biography, Ingrid Seward celebrates Philip’s ensuing 73-year role as (in the Queen’s words) "my strength and my stay", without shying away from some of his less family-minded attributes' * Daily Mail, Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisA long-overdue and dramatic reinterpretation of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots by one of the leading historians at work today. She was crowned Queen of Scotland at nine months of age, and Queen of France at sixteen years; at eighteen she ascended the throne that was her birthright and began ruling one of the most fractious courts in Europe, riven by religious conflict and personal lust for power. She rode out at the head of an army in both victory and defeat; saw her second husband assassinated, and married his murderer. At twenty-five she entered captivity at the hands of her rival queen, from which only death would release her. The life of Mary Stuart is one of unparalleled drama and conflict. From the labyrinthine plots laid by the Scottish lords to wrest power for themselves, to the efforts made by Elizabeth's ministers to invalidate Mary's legitimate claim to the English throne, John Guy returns to the archives to explode the myths and correct the inaccuracies that surround this most fascinating monarch. He also explains a central mystery: why Mary would have consented to marry – only three months after the death of her second husband, Lord Darnley – the man who was said to be his killer, the Earl of Bothwell. And, more astonishingly, he solves, through careful re-examination of the Casket Letters, the secret behind Darnley's spectacular assassination at Kirk o'Field. With great pathos, Guy illuminates how the imprisoned Mary's despair led to a reckless plot against Elizabeth – and thus to her own execution. The portrait that emerges is not of a political pawn or a manipulative siren, but of a shrewd and charismatic young ruler who relished power and, for a time, managed to hold together a fatally unstable country. MY HEART IS MY OWN is a compelling work of historical scholarship that offers radical new interpretations of an ancient story.Trade Review'Fascinating… A book based on gold-standard research, the kind of thing that puts most popular history writing to shame.' Kathryn Hughes, Mail on Sunday 'Certain to be a bestseller, and deservedly so. Rarely have first-class scholarship and first-class storytelling been so effectively combined.' John Adamson, Daily Telegraph 'An absorbing biography … meticulously researched… scholarly and intriguing.'Peter Ackroyd, The Times 'A biography that reads as thrillingly as a detective story, and is rich in details and authoritative in its analysis.' Miranda Seymour, Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisA Country Life 'Best Book of the Year' 2023The Times Book of the Week * * * 'I could read Martin Williams all day. He is a staggeringly communicative historian; this book throws shafts of light on recent history almost repeating itself, giving vivid glimpses into monarchy and the way things were, and are. Compulsory reading.' --- Dame Joanna Lumley'A social historian and gifted storyteller, Williams is by turns moved and amused as he reflects on the poignancy and rituals of a nation united (pretty much) in grief...' --- The Times'adroitly-written...[told by Williams] so skilfully, and with such silken prose, that it's a pleasure to spend the time inside his head' --- The Oldie'delightful details...to rekindle this vanished epoch' --- Country Life'Vivid, panoramic, skilfully written, this gripping book is an insight into a time and an age'. --- Kate Williams'Martin Williams has written a fascinating and absorbing account of the Edwardian era, the demise and funeral of the King, and the iconic Black Ascot that followed it. He has brought a lost age grippingly to light'. --- Hugo Vickers'witty, informative and immensely readable... captures the spirit of the times'. --- Miranda Seymour'A tour de force'. --- Dr Kate Strasdin'We tend to think that Cecil Beaton single-handedly invented the Edwardian Age. Martin Williams shows us succinctly and elegantly that perhaps it was the King himself.' --- Nicky Haslam'... moves with unflagging wit and style. A fresh perspective on a brilliant life and a lost era beautifully evoked, it is impossible not to be swept away by this gem of a book. Pure pleasure.' --- Robin Muir'a must-have... a wonderful and thought-provoking read.' --- The Historian'...a book about a changed and changing world trying to cope with even more change...beautifully written [and] timely' --- The Catholic Herald'...resonates powerfully with our own recent experience of collective mourning...Williams describes the king's gradual demise in evocative detail.' --- Air MailUnforgettable as it was, the public response to the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 was not without precedent. When her great-grandfather King Edward VII - glamorous, cosmopolitan and extraordinarily popular - died in May 1910, the political, social and cultural anxieties of a nation in turmoil were temporarily set aside during a summer of intense and ritualised mourning.In The King is Dead, Long Live the King! Martin Williams charts a period of tension and transition as one era slipped away and another took shape. Witnessed by a diverse but interconnected cast of characters - crowned heads and Cabinet ministers, debutantes and suffragettes, artists and murderers - here is the swansong of Edwardian Britain. Set against a backdrop of bereavement and parliamentary crisis overshadowed by the gathering clouds of war, we see a people caught between past and future, tradition and modernity, as they unite to bid farewell to a much-loved monarch who had personified his age. From Buckingham Palace to Bloomsbury, and from the lying-in-state in Westminster Hall to a now legendary Royal Ascot enveloped in black, this is a vivid evocation of a world on the brink of seismic upheaval.

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Book SynopsisFollowing her death in September 2022, the outpouring of affection and admiration for the Queen was as touching as it was remarkable. She had been a matriarch to the nation for over seven decades, and tens of millions of people – in Britain and across the world – poured forth their heartfelt respect for this extraordinary woman in the ten days of mourning that followed. Including a queue of up to twenty-four hours’ wait, momentous ceremonial processions across two countries and emotional coffin-side vigils from the monarch’s closest family members – these were events the scale of which are unlikely to be repeated.In this insightful biography, veteran royal biographer Andrew Morton charts Elizabeth’s life, from her ascent to the throne at twenty-five, through fifteen Prime Ministers; the turmoil and tragedies of family life that dogged her until the end; a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, during which she became the reassuring face of hope and optimism, solidifying her status as grandmother to the nation; and on to her record-breaking Platinum Jubilee, the first UK monarch to reign for over seventy years.Now updated with a compelling new epilogue bringing the Queen’s story to its close, this definitive account offers revelatory insights into the life of an inimitable woman, the likes of whom we will never see again.Trade ReviewA clear ... admirable account of the Queen’s life. * Telegraph *Andrew Morton has thrown up some tasty morsels. * The Times *The man who told the world the Princess’s story charts the mental anguish of the monarch as her sons’ marriages disintegrated * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe prequel to The Crown: the first truly candid portrait of George V and Mary, the Queen''s grandparents and creators of the modern monarchyShortlisted for the Elizabeth Longford Historical Biography prize and the History Reclaimed Book of the Year prizeThe lasting reputation of George V is for dullness. However throughout his reign, the monarch navigated a constitutional crisis, the First World War, the fall of thirteen European monarchies and the rise of Bolshevism. The suffragette Emily Davison threw herself under his horse at the Derby, he refused asylum to his cousin the Tsar Nicholas II and he facilitated the first Labour government.How this supposedly limited man steered the Crown through so many perils is a gripping tale. With unprecedented access to the Royal archives, Jane Ridley has been able to reassess the many myths associated with this dramatic period for the first time.''Wonderful... Never a dull paragraph'' Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The Times''Magnificent... An evocative and touching portrait of a surprisingly impressive man'' Philip Hensher, Spectator''A big, beautiful beast of a book. Fair, thorough and unexpectedly funny'' Lucy WorsleyTrade ReviewMost biographers would shy away from the notoriously dull George V. Not so Ridley, whose biography of the stamp-collecting, bird-shooting king is top-notch -- Robbie Millen * The Times, *Books of the Year* *Superb -- Iona McLaren * Daily Telegraph, *Books of the Year* *Jane Ridley's George V is so sparklingly incisive about both the king and Queen Mary that it almost counts as a double biography. The pheasant-shooting, stamp-collecting, moderating monarch and his bejewelled, shopaholic consort are beautifully portrayed in all their complexities -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Spectator, *Books of the Year* *Superb . . . a perfectly candid portrait of our present Queen's grandfather: demythologised, certainly, and with spades called spades, but not trivialised, and not denied full credit for the massive amount he achieved . . . Ridley's convincing thesis [is] that George V was the true begetter of modern constitutional monarchy . . . this book makes it clear we were lucky to have him -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph *There have been few monarchs quite as discreet and inscrutable as George V . . . There's much to enjoy here about George's nerdy, hypochondriacal and rather humourless character. Yet, as Ridley portrays with great fairness, he somehow managed to be a king loved and revered by the people . . . Ridley has a wonderful ability to push the story along, luring us with salient details . . . riveting . . . Never a dull paragraph -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * The Times *

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Book SynopsisIn this eye-opening companion to Netflix's acclaimed series The Crown, renowned biographer and the show's historical consultant, Robert Lacey takes us through the real history that inspired the drama. Covering two tumultuous decades in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, Lacey looks at the key social, political and personal moments and their effects - not only on the royal family, but also on the world around them. From the Suez Canal Crisis and the US/Russia space race to the legacy of the Duke of Windsor's collaboration with Hitler, along with the rumoured issues with the royal marriage, The Crown provides a thought-provoking insight into the historic decades that the show covers, revealing the truth behind the on-screen drama.Extensively researched and complete with beautifully reproduced photographs, this is a unique look behind the history that inspired the show and the years that would prove to be the making of the Queen.

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Book SynopsisA thrilling new account of the tragic life and troubled times of Henry VI. 'The best life of Henry VI now in print' DAN JONES. 'Vivid, absorbing and richly detailed' HELEN CASTOR. 'A well-crafted moving account of a tragic reign' MICHAEL JONES. First-born son of a warrior father who defeated the French at Agincourt, Henry VI of the House Lancaster inherited the crown not only of England but also of France, at a time when Plantagenet dominance over the Valois dynasty was at its glorious height. And yet, by the time he was done to death in the Tower of London in 1471, France was lost, his throne had been seized by his rival, Edward IV of the House of York, and his kingdom had descended into the violent chaos of the Wars of the Roses. Henry VI is perhaps the most troubled of English monarchs, a pious, gentle, well-intentioned man who was plagued by bouts of mental illness. In Shadow King, Lauren Johnson tells his remarkable and sometimes shocking story in a fast-paced and colourful narrative that captures both the poignancy of Henry's life and the tumultuous and bloody nature of the times in which he lived.Trade ReviewJohnson is to be commended for doing something different, putting [Henry VI] back where he belongs. It is Henry's character, scrupulously and sensitively drawn by Johnson, that did most to shape the extraordinary and dramatic events of his reign * The Times *[Lauren Johnson's] intention is to rediscover the man behind the myths and she has succeeded. Johnson has written a long, scrupulously researched book, but an eminently readable one * New Statesman *A lively telling of a hapless reign * Strong Words *Enthrallingly told... [Lauren Johnson] gives us a convincing picture of Henry, a gentle man unsuited to his position, and of his bloody and brutal times... The Shadow King is a scholarly work aimed at the common reader - and the common reader is richly rewarded' * Wall Street Journal *This evocative life of Henry VI shows how betrayal and defeat drove him out of his wits... An involving account of a still undersung saga' * Daily Telegraph *Unanimously impressed... Praised its courage in portraying a less obvious protagonist than bigger and bloodier characters' * The Oldie *A vivid, unusual story, and Johnson tells it well * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThis book explores an England in the aftermath of Magna CartaTrade ReviewDarren Baker paints an unforgettable portrait that allows every reader of this book to come away with a deeper understanding of medieval kingship and the determination of one king in particular to survive and save his dynasty in very difficult political circumstances. -- Michael Clanchy

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Book SynopsisDraws startling parallels with Meghan Both were 34 when they met their princes, both are adored children of strong, single mothers, both have a pared-down style and an electric presence and both are evidently worshipped by their Royal partners.' S MagazineThe intimate biography of one of the most misunderstood women in British royal history.Life has always been made difficult for those marrying into England's royal family. In 1936, just months into his reign, King Edward VIII proposed to Wallis Simpson, a divorced American woman. Gossip ran wild, and that cacophony of speculation and distrust both hid the real Wallis, and forced Edward into abdicating so that he might marry the woman he adored.In this intimate biography Anna Pasternak seeks to understand Wallis and her relationship with Edward and The Crown. Using testimony from her closest friends, she shows the warm, loyal, intelligent woman who was written off and undermined by the powerful, often manipulative men of the EstablishTrade Review‘Pasternak interviews fresh people … These people bring fresh observations … What makes the book unputdownable is Pasternak’s lively and detailed retelling of this ever-fascinating, ridiculously poignant love story.’ The Times ‘A sympathetic biography … Pasternak’s empathetic study of Wallis attempts to redress the balance and emphasises her intelligence, independence and unwillingness to ruin the life of the man she loved … With such aggressive press coverage of Meghan Markle, it is useful to be reminded that perceived royal interlopers have always been treated harshly.’ Observer ‘Puts Wallis Simpson in a new light and draws startling parallels with Meghan … Both were 34 when they met their princes, both are adored children of strong, single mothers, both have a pared-down style and an electric presence and both are evidently worshipped by their Royal partners.’ S Magazine ‘Rather like a romantic novel … Occasional bursts of Mills & Boon style … One reads the letters from her to her besotted King – as he then still was – begging him not to give up his throne; she certainly was no social mountaineer.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Explains why colourful, excitable characters have struggled to fit into the Royal family’ Daily Telegraph ‘The best book about the Windsors for decades – because it's true.’ Petronella Wyatt ‘An enchanting love story, wonderfully told’ Sir Ronald Harwood ‘Anna Pasternak does not spare an ounce of drama nor detail …. a profoundly moving meditation on love, loyalty, and, ultimately, forgiveness’ Amanda Foreman

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Book SynopsisINSTANT INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER * NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * ONE OF THE TOP 10 BEST-SELLING ROYAL BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL TIMEWhen news of the budding romance between a beloved English prince and an American actress broke, it captured the world's attention and sparked an international media frenzy.When news of the budding romance between a beloved English prince and an American actress broke, it captured the world's attention and sparked an international media frenzy.But while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued to make headlines from their engagement, wedding, and birth of their son Archie to their unprecedented decision to step back from their royal lives few know the true story of Harry and Meghan.For the very first time, FINDING FREEDOM goes beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan's life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond. As members of the select Trade Review‘Utterly gripping’ Daily Telegraph ‘Essential reading’ The Mail on Sunday ‘Well-written, impeccably sourced and a fascinating deep dive into one of the most exciting chapters in royal history’ Vanity Fair ‘Lifts the lid on the complex relationships in Britain’s most famous family’ Telegraph ‘Lays bare the devastating family rifts that led to [Harry and Meghan] quitting the UK’ The Sun ‘An important contribution to the understanding of the biggest crisis in the royal family for more than 20 years’ The Times ‘Revelatory’ Daily Express ‘Fascinating’ OK! ‘Explosive’ Bella ‘Brilliant read’ HELLO! ‘A must-read’ Independent ‘An important historical narrative’ Metro

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England''s rulers - now in paperback''After my death'', George V said of his eldest son and heir, ''the boy will ruin himself in 12 months''. From the death of his father in 1936 to the constitutional crisis provoked by his proposal to the then-married American socialite Wallis Simpson and his subsequent abdication, Edward VIII reigned for less than year. In choosing the woman he loved over his royal birthright, Edward fulfilled his father''s prophecy and instigated the monarchy''s most significant upheaval of the twentieth century. Retitled ''Duke of Windsor'' and essentially exiled, Edward has remained a controversial figure ever since. Through his correspondence with, amongst other confidants, Winston Churchill, Piers Brendon traces Edward''s tumultuous life in this superb, pacey biography.

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Book Synopsis''He had brought nothing but trouble to the navy: how would he fare as King?''Known as the ''Sailor King'', William IV was sent to join the navy by his father to discipline him, but instead became notorious for his calamitous years of service, his debts and his relationship with the actress Mrs Jordan. Yet, as Roger Knight''s biography shows, William also helped see the country through the great constitutional crisis of its age, enabling the smooth succession of his niece Victoria.

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Book SynopsisKing of Britain for sixty years and the last king of what would become the United States, George III inspired both hatred and loyalty and is now best known for two reasons: as a villainous tyrant for America''s Founding Fathers, and for his madness, both of which have been portrayed on stage and screen.In this concise and penetrating biography, Jeremy Black turns away from the image-making and back to the archives, and instead locates George''s life within his age: as a king who faced the loss of key colonies, rebellion in Ireland, insurrection in London, constitutional crisis in Britain and an existential threat from Revolutionary France as part of modern Britain''s longest period of war.Black shows how George III rose to these challenges with fortitude and helped settle parliamentary monarchy as an effective governmental system, eventually becoming the most popular monarch for well over a century. He also shows us a talented and curious individual, committed to music, art, architecture and science, who took the duties of monarchy seriously, from reviewing death penalties to trying to control his often wayward children even as his own mental health failed, and became Britain''s longest reigning king.Trade ReviewThis volume forms part of the Penguin Monarchs series, an impressive collection of short biographies written by renowned historians ... Their aim is not simply to summarise, but to offer genuine insights in accessible format. Black's analysis of George III is a welcome addition. [He] ... manages to pepper his trim narrative with lovely frills. The mark of a good short book is its ability to inspire curiosity and further investigation. Black achieves just that. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *Black brilliantly demolishes the paranoiac Whig view of George as trying to accrete powers to himself unconstitutionally. The George who emerges is a far more attractive figure than the Whig historians depicted, let alone Thomas Jefferson with his 28 histrionic and inaccurate accusations against George in the Declaration of Independence, and especially Lin-Manuel Miranda's hilarious but profoundly historically incorrect caricature. -- Andrew Roberts * The Critic *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the inspiring story of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, in this fascinating kids'' biography.At just 25 years of age, Princess Elizabeth succeeded King George VI to the British throne. This compelling book looks at Elizabeth''s life, both as a public and private figure. It traces her early years as a princess, her experiences in the women''s army during World War II, her coronation, her life as Queen both at home and in the public eye, her death at Balmoral and the events of her funeral. Learn how Elizabeth worked alongside 15 British prime ministers, met leaders from around the world, and remained a stable presence as head of the British royal family.DK Life Stories goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history''s most inspiring people. Full-colour photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement age-appropriate, narrative text. Definition boxes, information sidebars, and inspiring

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Book Synopsis‘What do you do?’ a guest inquired of the Queen at a Buckingham Palace garden party. ‘I had no idea what to say,’ the Queen told friends afterwards.  This specially updated edition, released to mark the passing of the late and much-missed monarch, is a collection of warm, amusing recollections from the royal household celebrating the lighter side of palace life. As the longest reigning monarch of this realm, the Queen represented stability, hope and continuity. We loved her because she was always there, didn’t make a fuss and was dedicated in her duty even in old age. But alongside her stoic and sensible exterior, she was also renowned for a playful and keen sense of humor, as seen when she delighted audiences all around the world by inviting Paddington Bear for tea to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.How exactly did the Queen reactwhen she found Table of ContentsForeword vii No Airs and Graces The Life of State – Not Always as Expected With the Truly Powerful Not Quite How We Should be Treated Our Jewels and Clothes Our Feminine Allure Married Life Royal Dining We Are Royal After All Staff With the Church Our Realms and Interests Over the Seas Our Wild Side What We Like and What We Don’t Like The Early Days What is Ordinary Life Like? Our Animal Kingdom Royal Mother Our Eye for Detail Cost Cutting Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press Within the Family House and Garden Sources

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Book SynopsisAlison Weir is one of Britain's top-selling historians. She is the author of numerous works of history and historical fiction, specialising in the medieval and Tudor periods. Her bestselling history books include The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Elizabeth of York and The Lost Tudor Princess. Her novels include Innocent Traitor, Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession. She is an Honorary Life Patron of Historic Royal Palaces and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She lives and works in Surrey.Trade ReviewOne of our best popular historians...with an impressive scholarly pedigree in Tudor history * Independent on Sunday *It is testament to Weir's artfulness and elegance as a writer that The Lady in the Tower remains fresh and suspenseful, even though the reader knows what's coming... One of the pleasures of The Lady in the Tower is that it invites the reader into the historiographical process as Weir's emphasis on primary sources allows us to evaluate them alongside her * Independent *Weir...knows her sources well. She writes in an engaging way and adopts an even-handed approach * Irish Times *This is vintage Weir: a thrilling episode of history superbly related and treated with penetrating analysis and a great dollop of common sense -- Jessie Childs * Literary Review *The research is exhaustive... It would be hard to imagine a more thorough examination of any comparable historical issue... Weir is to be congratulated on her impartiality and sound judgement * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisElegant and sophisticated biography of Princess Margaret, the controversial sister of Queen Elizabeth II, the Princess Diana of her day'A fascinating insight into the life of the party girl who became an icon in postwar Britain' DAILY EXPRESSTrade ReviewThis sympathetic but unsentimental biography explores the paradoxical nature of a fascinating, infuriating woman * MAIL ON SUNDAY *A fascinating insight into the life of the party girl who became an icon in postwar Britain * DAILY EXPRESS *It has an engaging sense of immediacy that goes some way towards balancing the sadness that Margaret's life inspires in retrospect * DAILY TELEGRAPH *She was a witty, intelligent, stimulating companion - happily Tim Heald captures all these qualities in his admirably well-balanced biography * LITERARY REVIEW *A sympathetic tribute and an exploration into a tormented soul * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *An entertaining and reliable book * GUARDIAN *An insightful, enjoyable book * DAILY TELEGRAPH *This sympathetic but unsentimental biography explores the paradoxical nature of a fascinating, infuriating woman -- Simon Shaw * MAIL ON SUNDAY *A fascinating insight into the life of the party girl who became an icon in postwar Britain * DAILY EXPRESS *A sympathetic tribute and an exploration into a tormented soul * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisA concise, informative history, of Britain's 56 sovereigns from Alfred the Great in the 9th century to our reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Beautifully illustrated, this book also includes family trees and details of where and when each monarch was born, where they were crowned, the dates they reigned and where they are buried.Table of ContentsFamily Tree, Introduction, Early Kings of Wessex, 2 Family Trees,Later Saxon and Danish Kings, Family Tree, Information on Kings and Queens to present day

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Book SynopsisQueen Elizabeth II is descended from King Egbert through 12 centuries of monarchs. Showcasing all the family trees, from the Anglo-Saxons to the Windsors, this useful guidebook explains the fascinating process on how power transferred from one monarch to the next.

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Book SynopsisTHE BESTSELLING BOOK THAT INSPIRED THE OSCAR AND BAFTA AWARD-WINNING FILM One man saved the British Royal Family in the first decades of the 20th century - amazingly he was an almost unknown, and certainly unqualified, speech therapist called Lionel Logue. Logue wasn''t a British aristocrat or even an Englishman - he was a commoner and an Australian to boot. Nevertheless it was the outgoing, amiable Logue who single-handedly turned the famously nervous, tongue-tied, Duke of York into the man who was capable of becoming King. Had Logue not saved Bertie (as the man who was to become King George VI was always known) from his debilitating stammer, and pathological nervousness in front of a crowd or microphone, then it is almost certain that the House of Windsor would have collapsed. The King''s Speech is the previously untold story of the extraordinary relationship between Logue and the haunted young man who became King George VI, drawn from Logue''s unpubTable of ContentsAcknowledgments. Introduction. God Save the King. The 'common colonial'. Passage to England. Growing Pains. Diagnosis. Court Dress with Feathers. The Calm Before the Storm. Edward VIII's 327 Days. In the Shadow of the Coronation. After the Coronation. The Path to War. 'Kill the Austrian House Painter'. Dunkirk and the Dark Days. The Tide Turns. Victory. The Last Words. Notes. Index.

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Book SynopsisAll the pomp and circumstance of over 100 years of royal events come together in this colourful and evocative Royal Scrapbook, which celebrates the coronations, weddings and jubilees over five reigns, beginning with Queen Victoria''s Diamond jubilee and ending with a celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II''s Golden Jubilee. Here are all the souvenirs, from badges and bunting to pencils and money boxes, which have captured the flavour of each memorable moment: souvenirs that have been treasured and handed down from one generation to the next. Included are not only the more enduring items: the commemorative flags, mugs, jigsaws and chocolate tins but also the ephemera, whether milk bottle tops, sweet wrappers or paper hats.Now for the first time, this Royal Scrapbook brings together over 1,000 images magnificently illustrating royal festive occasions, for us to relive either with wonder or nostalgia. Once again material from the Robert Opie collection illuminates the past in a remarkable way.

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Book SynopsisPolitical journalist Andrew Marr's vivid account of the Queen and her reign over Great Britain and the Commonwealth.Trade ReviewMarr's writing is persuasive, liberal, energized * Observer *Marr has a gift for narrative and précis, a pithy turn of phrase and an ability to unearth the familiar * The Times *Absorbing . . . particularly acute on the political aspects of constitutional monarchy, but he also writes perceptively about individual members of the Royal Family. * Mail on Sunday *Contain[s] a lot of information which will be new to any but the most dedicated student of the monarchy . . . Marr is particularly interesting on the relationship between the Queen and the BBC. -- Philip Ziegler * Spectator *An exploration of the day-to-day duties of the monarch and her family. * Daily Telegraph *Offers the reader a history of the Queen’s reign viewed from the outside, with a particular emphasis on her relations with her prime ministers and the connection between political developments and the monarchy’s shifting fortunes . . . an overwhelmingly positive endorsement of the Queen’s remarkable record. -- Matthew Dennison * Express *A fresh perspective . . . Marr looks at the people and broader historical trends who have shaped Elizabeth II’s approach to her reign . . . fascinating -- Carolyn Harris, author of Raising Royalty Table of ContentsAcknowledgements - i: Preface and Acknowledgements Section - ii: What the Queen Does Unit - Part One: Dynasty is Destiny: How the British Monarchy Remade Itself Unit - Part Two: Lilibet Section - iii: Interlude - The Queen in the World Unit - Part Three: The Queen at Work Section - iv: Interlude - Britannia and the Waves Unit - Part Four: Off With Her Head! The Queen in the Sixties Section - v: Interlude - Money Unit - Part Five: Into the Maelstrom Section - vi: The Future Section - vii: Notes Section - viii: Select Bibliography Acknowledgements - ix: Picture Acknowledgments Index - x: Index

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Book SynopsisNew B-format paperback - A fresh look at Anne of Clevesâ life as a German noblewoman, and the Continental politics that affected her marriage. Did the doomed union really cause the fall and execution of Thomas Cromwell?

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Book SynopsisExplores how events in James II & VII's younger life shaped James the King.

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Book SynopsisElizabeth I is arguably one of the greatest monarchs that ever lived. Against an uncertain political and religious backdrop of post-reformation Europe, she ruled at the conception of social modernisation, living in the shadow of the infamy of her parents' reputations and striving to prove herself an equal to the monarchs who had gone before her. This book seeks to explore some of the key events of her life, both before and after she ascended the English throne in late 1558. By looking at the history of these selected events, as well as investigating the influence of various people in her life, this book sets out to explain Elizabeth's decisions, both as a queen and as a woman. Amongst the events examined are the death of her mother, the role and fates of her step-mothers, the fate of Lady Jane Grey and the subsequent behaviour and reign of her half sister Mary Tudor, along with the death of Amy Dudley, the return of Mary Queen of Scots to Scotland, the Papal Bull and the Spanish Ar

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Book SynopsisThe true story of Prince Charles Edward Stuart and his fight for the right to the throne.

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Book SynopsisA colourful new account of the life and legacy of Anne Boleyn, as told through pictures and illustrations.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores who King James was as an individual by looking at key events and relationships that shaped him.

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Book SynopsisPower and Glory brings us to the dramatic conclusion of Larman''s ''Windsors trilogy''.It begins with the fallout from the revelation of the Duke of Windsor''s wartime treachery, and ends with the Coronation of Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. In between, it depicts a monarchy - and a country - struggling to cope with the aftermath of World War Two, in an era where old certainties have been replaced by the rise of a new, uncertain world, and where love, tragedy and modernity battle for supremacy.The book draws on extensive unpublished correspondence between major members of the Royal Family including George VI, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Windsor, the Prime Ministers Clement Attlee and Winston Churchill, and previously unseen diaries and memoranda from courtiers, personal secretaries and leading politicians, exploring everything from the King''s declining health to the (often negative) reactions to Elizabeth''s marriage to Prince Philip and Coronatio

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Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - The fateful Tudor triangle: a reigning queen, an exiled queen, and the countess who was obliged to be her jailer. And Bess of Hardwick had a close relationship with two more queens!

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Book SynopsisA social history of a fifty year period, spanning the Regency into the Victorian era

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Book SynopsisWhen Queen Victoria's second daughter Princess Alice married the Prince Louis of Hesse and Rhine in 1862 even her own mother described the ceremony as more of a funeral than a wedding' thanks to the fact that it took place shortly after the death of Alice's beloved father Prince Albert. Sadly, the young princess' misfortunes didn't end there and when she also died prematurely, her four motherless daughters were taken under the wing of their formidable grandmother, Victoria. Alix, the youngest of Alice's daughters and allegedly one of the most beautiful princesses in Europe, was a special favourite of the elderly queen, who hoped that she would marry her cousin Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and one day reign beside him as Queen. However, the spirited and stubborn Alix had other ideas

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Book Synopsis'[A] pacy, frictionless read' Sunday Telegraph'Cinematic. . . an entertaining and persuasive study of the royal family' Publisher's Weekly'Patterson treats the princess as a person and tells the story from a mother's perspective' Kirkus______________________________Twenty-five years after her tragic death, James Patterson tells the heartbreaking true story of Princess Diana's life as a mother and a global icon.At the age of thirteen, she became Lady Diana Spencer.At twenty, Princess of Wales.At twenty-one, she earned her most important title: Mother.As she fell in love, first with Prince Charles and then with her sons, William and Harry, the world fell in love with the young royal family - Diana most of all.With one son destined to be King and one needing to find his own way, she taught them lessons about royal tradition and also real life. 'William and Harry will be properly prepared,' Diana once promised. 'I am making sure of this.'Even after her tragic death, the strength of her love for her sons remains an enduring inspiration, not only for the two princes, but for the entire world.______________________________Praise for James Patterson'The master storyteller of our times' Hillary Rodham Clinton'One of the greatest storytellers of all time' Patricia Cornwell'Truly astonishing' Bob Woodward

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Book Synopsis'Lovely... delivers the warmest of glows' - Telegraph 'Who wouldn't love this chocolate-box delight of insights and snapshots of The Queen...A treasure chest' - Good Housekeeping In 2022 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated seventy years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth. She was Britain's longest reigning monarch and the very first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.A Queen for All Seasons is a perceptive, touching and engaging tribute to this unique woman: a treasure chest of first-hand writings, insights and snapshots of The Queen during key moments of her reign and life, through to her death in September 2022. Joanna Lumley guides us as we meet Princess Elizabeth in 1952, aged just twenty-five, and about to become Queen, and brings us through to the twenty-first century when, in the role of matriarch, The Queen kept the national ship steady through seven decades, including in moments of crisis and suffering. Together this forms a vibrant portrait of the woman herself and the extraordinary role she played.Trade ReviewLovely...Delivers the warmest of glows * TELEGRAPH *You couldn't ask for more cheerful company than Joanna Lumley to lead you through an anthology of the Queen...moving * Daily Mail *A fascinating portrait of Her Majesty * My Weekly *You'll find interesting snippets about protocol, fashion and events - its definitely one to pull out after the Queen's Speech on Christmas Day. * PRESS ASSOCIATION *A touching tribute to a remarkable woman * Woman *Full of golden memories from people of all walks of life, it offers a wonderful and unique insight into Her Majesty's life * THE PEOPLES FRIEND *Who wouldn't love this chocolate-box delight of insights and snapshots of The Queen...A treasure chest * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *

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Book Synopsis'A gripping tale of royal feuds and divided kingdoms' - AMANDA FOREMANParis, 1572. Catherine de' Medici, the infamous queen mother of France, is a consummate pragmatist and powerbroker who has dominated the throne for thirty years. Her youngest daughter, Marguerite, the glamorous 'Queen Margot', is a passionate free spirit, the only adversary whom her mother can neither intimidate nor fully control. When Catherine forces the Catholic Marguerite to marry the Protestant Henry of Navarre, she creates not only savage conflict within France but also a potent rival within her own family. Treacherous court politics, poisonings, international espionage and adultery form the background to a extraordinary story about two formidable queens, featuring a fascinating array of characters including such celebrated figures as Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots and Nostradamus.Trade ReviewA gripping tale of royal feuds and divided kingdoms -- AMANDA FOREMANGoldstone upends conventional thought with this well-researched and well-written book, arguing that Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589), the French queen mother, was less Machiavellian in nature than generally believed and that she reacted to geopolitical situations with disastrous results for both her family and France ... Goldstone's witty comments make this historical family drama as easy to read as the best fiction, but it's all the more tragic for being true * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *This engrossing, action-packed narrative immerses readers in a tumultuous period of European history * LIBRARY JOURNAL *A thrilling tale packed with historical details and shocking revelations. Nancy Goldstone writes with cinematic clarity and vividly brings to life two indomitable women whose ambitions changed the course of European history -- IVANA LOWELLNancy Goldstone leads her reader with a very sure hand through the most dramatic events of Renaissance France. Her narrative is so gripping that THE RIVALS unfolds like a thriller -- ANKA MUHLSTEINOne of the challenges facing any historian of this period is the sheer profusion of themes that need to be handled ... What makes Goldstone's biography so enjoyable is that she manages, thanks to the clarity of her presentation, to lead readers through this labyrinth with a sure and steady hand ... She is a popular historian whose writing is based on very serious research, with a gift for telling the most complicated tale in vivid, accessible prose * NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS *

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Book SynopsisDim and dimmer? You decide! Spares Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have rarely been out of the news since 2019. They both have proved to have a rare knack for creating a royal soap opera and turning their humdrum lives into a major embarrassment to their family. Royal author Nigel Cawthorne unravels their princely lives in this dual portrait and asks. Join this frank and hilarious celebration of this royal double act. Covering all the stations of the cross for royal pain from wives, money, relatives, having to scrounge for millions, being turfed out of the HRH club.Trade ReviewPrevious praise: 'Excruciating'. Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisA brilliant portrait of the most famous woman in the world and her place in it, written by the renowned royal biographer and author of Queen of Our Times, Robert Hardman._____________________________'Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world - and won. The Crown is fictional. Here is the real thing.' - Andrew Roberts'In Queen of the World Robert Hardman anatomizes from almost every conceivable angle the workings of soft power in creating the present Queen's global role ... His book is a veritable reference work and cornucopia, overflowing with significant anecdotes, people, traditions and incidents.' - Times Literary Supplement_____________________________On recent world history, one leader stands apart. Queen Elizabeth II saw more of the planet and its people than any other head of state, and engaged with them like no other monarch in British history. After her coronation, she visited over 130 countries across the ever-changing globe, acting as diplomat, stateswoman, pioneer and peace-broker, while also managing the responsibilities of a mother and grandmother, and her sixty-four-year marriage to the late Prince Philip.She transformed her father's old empire into the Commonwealth, her 'family of nations', and came to know its leaders better than anyone. In 2018, they would gather in her own home to endorse her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, as her successor.With extensive access to the Queen's family and staff, Hardman tells a true story full of drama, intrigue, exotic and even dangerous situations, heroes, rogues, pomp and glamour - and, at the centre of it all, the woman who genuinely won the hearts of the world for seventy glorious years._____________________________'Superb' - Peter Hennessy'Hardman's book, filled with new details, will be an essential source for any historian of modern Britain. It's also a glorious read' - William Shawcross, SpectatorTrade ReviewHardman’s book, filled with new details, will be an essential source for any historian of modern Britain. It’s also a glorious read * William Shawcross, The Spectator *A magisterial book… Robert Hardman brings together every intriguing detail he’s gleaned about how the Queen reigns. * Daily Mail *This is not only the best biography of the Queen in years, it is also laugh-out-loud entertainment * Daily Express *Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world – and won. The Crown is fictional. This is the real thing. -- Andrew RobertsBy far our most authoritative royal specialist, Hardman is a supremely entertaining storyteller and guide as well outstanding political analyst of the Queen's career as international titan of power and tact. Often hilarious, sometimes moving, always as acute as he is fascinating, there's never a dull moment in the untold diplomatic career of the most famous woman in the world, who has known everybody from monsters like Ceaucescu and Amin to heroes like Mandela and JFK. -- Simon Sebag MontefioreWatching The Crown was entertaining but reading Robert Hardman’s Queen of the World was riveting — and true. -- Alice ThomsonSuperb * Peter Hennessy *Rich in anecdotes and insights * Sunday Times *Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world – and won. The Crown is fictional. Here is the real thing. -- Andrew RobertsVivid and superlatively well-informed, this is a compelling account of a monarch in perpetual motion * The Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe royal family say they can do without many things, but not their animals. For countless monarchs and their consorts, dogs, cats, horses and even the occasional parrot have acted as constant, faithful companions, unquestioning allies and surrogate children. With intimate anecdotes and fascinating detail, royal expert Brian Hoey describes the mini palaces provided for the Queen's pampered corgis; Princess Anne's badly behaved bull terriers; the wild animals - including crocodiles, hippopotami and an elephant - presented to princes and princesses; a regal passion for all things equine; and the pigeon awarded a military medal for its efforts in the Second World War.Trade Review"This is a book about a very British family besotted with all creatures great and small." - Majesty Magazine Book of the Month "Brian Hoey's long familiarity with the lives of the royal family lends his chronicle intimacy." - The Good Book Guide

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Book SynopsisUnseen behind the throne, two sides of the royal bloodline competed for influence, and egregious family secrets had to be protected. Meanwhile, in public, a succession of family ruptures put the monarchy under unprecedented scrutiny from the world's media. From the turbulent loves of Princess Margaret to the tragic saga of Princess Diana, from the torments of Prince Charles to the arrival of Meghan Markle, tensions gripped the House of Windsor. Through all this, Elizabeth II remained steadfast in her values while many of those around her seemed to lose their moorings. Clive Irving's gripping account casts new light on seventy tempestuous years of British history, exploring how the Queen, uncomfortable with the pace of the social and cultural changes in her nation, and often seeming out of touch, resolutely kept the monarchy stable in a rapidly changing world. With unparalleled insight, Irving examines the pivotal events of the Queen's reign and then steps above them to assess her role in the royal family's Faustian pact with the media. The final irony is, as Irving's carefully measured scrutiny shows, that in the last decades of her reign the Queen endures to become one of the most admired people in the world while remaining one of the least known and understood. She will likely be the last Queen of the United Kingdom.Trade Review"Clive Irving's immensely readable book brings real authority, context and personal insight to our understanding of the Queen. As a newspaperman in the center of the coverage for decades, he has a wonderful eye for the illuminating detail and a sense of history that pulls together the threads of social and political change, never losing sight of the remarkable woman at the center of his enquiring gaze. The Last Queen is as entertaining as it is essential, and I read it with gusto." - Tina Brown “Irving puts his mark on a familiar story with his confident assessments and insider perspective on the British press. Royal watchers will delight in this richly detailed appraisal of the world’s oldest reigning monarch.” - Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisThey’re not like us, the royal family. Or are they? We simply don’t know and we’re all desperate to find out. This A-Z of royalty is the practical miscellany of the royal family that everyone’s been waiting for. Did the Queen Mum really give all her clothes to charity? Hundreds of people send Her Majesty boxes of chocolates on her birthday, but what happens to them? Where are the best places to go to see the royal family? Does the Queen hold a driving licence and did she pass a test? What are the correct days and hours when it is permitted to fly a flag above Buckingham Palace? Including fascinating facts on abdication, birthdays, Christmas, dining, equerries, fashion, garden parties, hairdressers, insignia, the Jewel House, Kensington Palace, liveries, maids of honour, nannies, orbs, protection squads, the Queen’s piper, racing, Snowdon, tartans, the Union Jack, Queen Victoria, weddings, the X-ray machine at Buckingham Palace, yachts and Meghan Markle, this is an unstoppable, unbeatable little guide to our great monarchy.

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Book SynopsisFor more than 300 years, Kensington Palace has played host to a colourful cast of kings, queens and assorted aristocratic hangers-on. A stone’s throw from the bustling streets of central London, this grand building has served as the stage for some of the most dramatic and bizarre events in the history of the royal family. It was here that the young Queen Victoria was held a virtual prisoner for eighteen years; and it was here that George II installed both his wife and his mistress, giving the latter rooms so damp that there were said to be mushrooms growing on the walls. More recently, the palace has witnessed an extraordinary series of scandals, from Princess Diana’s bombshell TV interview with a journalist smuggled into the palace disguised as a salesman, to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s shock departure – first for Frogmore Cottage, and then for America – amid rumours of a rift with William and Kate. With exclusive interviews with palace staff past and present, fascinating historical details and a fully updated postscript considering what life after Kensington holds for Harry and Meghan, Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle offers a rare behind-the-scenes insight into one of Britain’s most iconic residences.Trade Review"A sparkling account of the often very unregal goings-on at the palace. Richly laced with insider gossip, this is behind-the-scenes royal history at its most entertaining." - Jane Shilling, Daily Mail "A fascinating must-read." - Bella

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Book SynopsisBeatrice Mary Victoria Feodore, later Princess Henry of Battenberg, was the last-born – in 1866 – of Victoria and Albert's children, and she would outlive all of her siblings to die as recently as 1944. Her childhood coincided with her mother's extended period of mourning for her prematurely deceased husband, a circumstance which may have contributed to Victoria's determination to keep her youngest daughter as close to her as possible. She would eventually marry Prince Henry of Battenberg in 1885, but only after overcoming her mother's opposition to their union. Beatrice remained Queen Victoria's favourite among her five daughters, and became her mother's constant companion and later her literary executor, spending the years that followed Victoria's death in 1901 editing her mother's journals and voluminous correspondence. Matthew Dennison's elegantly written biography restores Beatrice to her rightful place as a key figure in the history of the Victorian age, and paints a touching and revealing portrait of the life and family of Britain's second-longest-reigning monarch.Trade ReviewEmotionally sympathetic and beautifully written, its detail meticulous... Confidant and disarmingly impressive debut' * DailyTelegraph *An engrossing tale of a mother and daughter who were also a queen and her subject * Good Book Guide *Beautifully written * Tatler *Readable and empathetic biography * Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe Queen was Britain's longest-reigning monarch and one of the most famous women in the world. But what was she really like? This enthralling story of the life of Queen Elizabeth II is full of photographs and facts that capture the drama and grandeur of her reign, from her childhood during the Second World War and her coronation to the very last days of her reign.Perfect for older fans of Little People, BIG DREAMSTable of ContentsChapter 1 Happy familiesChapter 2 Heir to the throneChapter 3 Love & marriageChapter 4 Head of StateChapter 5 Family strifeChapter 6 A job for life

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Book SynopsisFully revised and updated.Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving monarch in British history, with a reign even longer than Queen Victoria. Her extraordinary life is expertly portrayed by Jennie Bond, former BBC royal correspondent, in this magnificent visually led biography. On February 6, 1952, Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, became Queen on the death of her father, King George VI. The reign that was to see major changes both in the country and Commonwealth and in the role of the monarchy began far away from Britain in a game reserve in Kenya.Elizabeth: A Celebration in Photographs, looks at this remarkable period in the history of Britain's monarchy in lavish and fascinating detail, featuring over 250 photographs. Constantly under scrutiny the entire time she was on the throne, this book presents a balanced and absorbing account of the Queen's life and of her role as the head of state in a country and a world that have changed almost beyond recognition in the seventy years she held the throne.Table of ContentsFamily Tree • Introduction • Princess Elizabeth • New Queen • First Decade • The Second Decade • The Third Decade • The Fourth Decade • The Fifth Decade • The Sixth Decade • Chronology • Index • Acknowledgements.

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Book SynopsisThe murder of the Princes in the Tower is the most famous cold case in British history. Traditionally considered victims of their ruthless uncle, there are other suspects too often and too easily discounted. There may be no definitive answer, but by delving into the context of their disappearance and the characters of the suspects, Matthew Lewis examines the motives and opportunities afresh, as well as asking a crucial but often overlooked question: what if there was no murder? What if Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, survived their uncle’s reign and even that of their brother-in-law Henry VII?In this new and updated edition, compelling evidence is presented to suggest the Princes survived, which is considered alongside the possibility of their deaths to provide a rounded and complete assessment of the most fascinating mystery in history.

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