The best royal biographies to buy this Christmas
After six compelling, often controversial, but never not utterly- captivating years, The Crown has finally reached its conclusion. If the Netflix show, which has charted the multifaceted lives of the Windsors from the earliest days of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign until the mid-noughties, has whetted your appetite for more of the royal family, there are myriad tomes on the comings and goings of the palace to delve into.
From investigative summaries to stories from the ultimate insiders - by way of one rather sensational rarity, an autobiography- here are the best royal biographies to read on the royals now.
Lady in Waiting, Anne Glenconner
This critically acclaimed volume is a moving and fascinating account of the life of Lady Anne Glenconner, who had a front row seat to some of the most extraordinary moments of royal life. A maid of honour at the Queen’s coronation and a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret, she was also wife to Lord Glenconner, the owner of Mustique which, under their tenure, became a playground of the rich and famous. A story of privilege twinned with acute tragedy, Glenconner’s book is a vivid account of the inner workings of royal life, told through her own unique experience.
Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner | Waterstones
Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, Gyles Brandeth
The witty voice of Gyles Brandeth, the noted author, rings out throughout this thoughtful biography of the late Queen. Compiled from conversations and encounters with the monarch throughout his life, Brandeth, who was a friend of the late Prince Philip, brings truly personal insight into this comprehensive biography, which spans the entirety of her reign.
Elizabeth by Gyles Brandreth | Waterstones
The Queen Consort, Penny Junor
Previously published in 2017 as The Duchess, this incisive biography dissects the life of one of the most divisive women in the royal family – and once the most famous ‘other’ woman in Britain. Junor’s assessment of Camilla, now Queen Consort, is refreshing and detailed, and paints a picture of complexity, thwarted love and, ultimately, redemption. The updated edition includes Camilla’s new role as consort to the King, her responsibilities surrounding the Queen’s funeral, and her own coronation.
The Palace Papers, Tina Brown
One of the most famous chroniclers of royal life, the former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown made a barnstorming return to form with this 2022 volume. Charting the most contemporary complexities of the house of Windsor, from the impact of Meghan and Harry’s departure to the relationship between William and Kate and, ultimately, the evolution of the family in its latest incarnation. The Palace Papers is one of the most detailed and compelling reads on modern monarchy.
The Palace Papers by Tina Brown | Waterstones
Elizabeth and Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters, Andrew Morton
The royal sisters, Elizabeth and Margaret, received a nuanced and detailed depiction in Netflix’s The Crown. Undeniably one of the most significant relationships of the late monarch’s life, this sisterly bond is given equal affection and attention in Andrew Morton’s book. A brilliant read for anyone fascinated by the pair, it is also an intriguing filter through which to view the inner workings of the house of Windsor.
Elizabeth & Margaret by Andrew Morton | Waterstones
The Diana Chronicles, Tina Brown
Brown’s legacy of royal tomes is so strong that she features twice on this list. Her most famous is undeniably this, The Diana Chronicles. A personal friend of the late princess, Brown’s book remains the benchmark for Diana biographies, depicting a level of unprecedented insight that brings the iconic royal to life in a way that was never captured before and has rarely been achieved since.
The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown | Waterstones
Spare, Prince Harry
A book which needs no introduction, Prince Harry’s explosive memoir is a truly unique book. Not only do royals very rarely, if ever, pen autobiographies, rarely have they ever been as shockingly candid, nor as incendiary. Any royal reading list would be incomplete without this bestselling doorstopper, which was one of the most hotly anticipated and controversial publications of the 2023.
Spare by Prince Harry | Waterstones
Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII, Jane Marguerite Tippett
This fascinating book is a labour of love from archivist and historian Tippett, who has compiled the volume from the previously unseen writings of the uncrowned monarch. The writings were the unpublished notes for the 1951 memoir the Duke of Windsor created with his ghost-writer Charles Murphy, but, as Tippett shows, they reveal far more than his published memoir ever could. This is an extraordinary book which aims to shed new light on this often maligned figure who irreversibly changed the course of royal history.
Once a King by Jane Marguerite Tippett | Waterstones
After six compelling, often controversial, but never not utterly captivating years, The Crown has finally reached its conclusion.
If the Netflix show, which has charted the lives of the Windsors from the earliest days of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign until the mid-noughties, has left you wanting more of the royal family, there are myriad tomes on the comings and goings of the palace to delve into.
From investigative summaries to stories from the ultimate insiders – by way of one rather sensational rarity, an autobiography – here are the best royal biographies to read on the royals now.
Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, Gyles Brandeth
The witty voice of Gyles Brandeth, the noted author, rings out throughout this thoughtful biography of the late Queen. Compiled from conversations and encounters with the monarch throughout his life, Brandeth, who was a friend of the late Prince Philip, brings truly personal insight into this comprehensive book, which spans the entirety of her reign.
Lady in Waiting, Anne Glenconner
This critically acclaimed volume is a moving and fascinating account of the life of Lady Anne Glenconner, who had a front row seat to some of the most extraordinary moments of royal life. A maid of honour at the Queen’s coronation and a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret, she was also wife to Lord Glenconner, the owner of Mustique which, under their tenure, became a playground of the rich and famous. A story of privilege twinned with acute tragedy, Glenconner’s book is a vivid account of the inner workings of royal life, told through her own unique experience.
The Queen Consort, Penny Junor
Previously published in 2017 as The Duchess, this incisive biography dissects the life of one of the most divisive women in the royal family – and once the most famous ‘other’ women in Britain. Junor’s assessment of Camilla, now Queen Consort, is refreshing and detailed, and paints a picture of complexity, thwarted love and, ultimately, redemption. The updated edition includes Camilla’s new role as consort to the King, her responsibilities surrounding the Queen’s funeral, and her own coronation.
The Palace Papers, Tina Brown
One of the most famous chroniclers of royal life, the former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown made a barnstorming return to form with this 2022 volume. Charting the most contemporary complexities of the house of Windsor, from the impact of Meghan and Harry’s departure to the relationship between William and Kate and, ultimately, the evolution of the family in its latest incarnation, The Palace Papers is one of the most detailed and compelling reads on modern monarchy.
Elizabeth and Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters, Andrew Morton
The royal sisters, Elizabeth and Margaret, received a nuanced and detailed depiction in Netflix’s The Crown. Undeniably one of the most significant relationships of the late monarch’s life, this sisterly bond is given equal affection and attention in Andrew Morton’s book. A brilliant read for anyone fascinated by the pair, it is also an intriguing filter through which to view the inner workings of the house of Windsor.
The Diana Chronicles, Tina Brown
Brown’s legacy of royal tomes is so strong that she features twice on this list. Her most famous is undeniably this, The Diana Chronicles. A personal friend of the late princess, Brown’s book remains the benchmark for Diana biographies, depicting a level of unprecedented insight that brings the royal to life in a way that was never captured before and has rarely been achieved since.
Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII, Jane Marguerite Tippett
This fascinating book is a labour of love from archivist and historian Tippett, who has compiled the volume from the previously unseen writings of the uncrowned monarch. The writings were the unpublished notes for the 1951 memoir the Duke of Windsor created with his ghost-writer Charles Murphy, but, as Tippett shows, they reveal far more than his published memoir ever could. This is an extraordinary book which aims to shed new light on this often maligned figure who irreversibly changed the course of royal history.
Spare, Prince Harry
A book which needs no introduction, Prince Harry’s explosive memoir is truly unique. Not only do royals very rarely, if ever, pen autobiographies, but never in history have they ever been as shockingly candid, nor as incendiary. Any royal reading list would be incomplete without this bestselling doorstopper, which was one of the most hotly anticipated and controversial publications of the 2023.
You Might Also Like
