Next week something happens that hasn't happened in many of our lifetimes. Britain will crown a new monarch. I certainly hope that it's not a once in a life time experience for me, I'm younger than William and certainly hope I outlive Charles. BUT...seeing as they haven't crowned a new monarch in 70 years...it's certainly the first one many of us could witness, even via the TV.
I got up early to watch Will & Kate's wedding and then Harry & Meghan's wedding (even in NYC for that one!). I got up at approximately my normal time (which has gotten earlier) to watch the Queen's funeral and I plan to get up early to watch the coronation. Would it hurt them to have a nice afternoon ceremony? Because all of these around 11am makes it pretty darn early and I'm even in the eastern time zone! Am I also debating if I should buy a fascinator?? Yes, I certainly am. Although, the time to buy one really should have been before those weddings so I at least could have gotten some more wears out of it...although I could certainly hold on to it for the next coronation...(did just last week I write a post about getting rid of things...yes.........I did....)
Anyways, in light of all the extra royal coverage I will be consuming in the next few weeks, here's a wide ranging book list of royal or royal adjacent reads! Can honesty say I didn't realize I had read so much non-fiction about the royals until I put together this list. I have my interests apparently!!
Fiction
The Royal We and The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
These are fun books loosely based on the love story between Kate Middleton and Prince William, they even dress their fictional Kate, named Bex here, in some of the same outfits. This was much more researched and less fan-fictiony than I was expecting when I first picked them up. Now I've read the first 3 times I think! A fun fictionalization that diverges from the true story once it really gets going.
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
This is a little novel that I think I read in one sitting many years ago. In it there is a mobile library that is parked outside of the palaces, Windsor maybe?, when it receives an unexpected visitor who is out walking her dogs. The Queen returns to get more books, and then more, eventually reading so much that she doesn't have time to do any of her duties. A charming little story.
The Gown by Jennifer Robson
A fictionalization based on facts of the dress makers who made the Queen's wedding dress in 1947. The Queen, I believes, makes a few quick appearances but she is mostly referenced while the real story revolves around the women working on her dress and a woman nearer present time who has a scrap of lace and a mystery she is trying to solve. Informative, especially about life in London shortly after the end of World War II but also enjoyable.
The Coronation Year: A Novel by Jennifer Robson
This one I haven't read yet although I do have it checked out from the library (saving it for coronation weekend!). This one covers the Queen's coronation from the perspective of 3 bystanders to the parade route. It'll be interesting to juxtapose how the coronation is presented in this book versus what I will be watching with Charles'.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
This is, by far, the most open door story on the list, very much in line with other Jasmine Guillory that I've read. The mother of Meghan's stylist accompanies her daughter to England over the Christmas season while her stylist daughter is helping Meghan with her many needed outfits (this is before Harry & Meghan left for California). My biggest quibble with the royal content here was that it seemed like Meghan spent A LOT of time trying on clothes, A LOT, like multiple hours over multiple days and that seemed a bit...excessive, even for a royal holiday. But still interesting.
Non-Fiction
Spare by Prince Harry
This has to be the one to lead this list because of the buzz factor alone. I got this about a week after publication from the library and got through it pretty quickly, had to see if what was in the book, matched all the BIG NEWS STORIES about it. Very interesting behind the scenes of palace and royal life. I do believe that most of the stories in the book happened as he say they did. But I also believe that there are many sides to every story and we'll probably never hear Charles or William air their sides of all of this. Certainly a lot of trauma in Harry's life, especially related to his mother's death, a lot of hurt, but I did take it all with a bit of a grain of salt.
HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by Elizabeth Holmes
Elizabeth has been my favorite royal commentator for over 3 years now, even when I don't agree with all of her views. She breaks down the fashion of Kate and Meghan and explains why they (likely) wore this color or that jewelry or whatever. It is FASCINATING. And she'll be in London for the coronation. This book covered the fashion of Kate, Meghan, the Queen, and Diana. So interesting how they had similarities and differences over many decades.
101 Reasons Why We Love the Queen by E. Dunne & H. Sutcliffee
Quick read about 101 things to love about the late Queen. A quick read with charming illustrations, I believe. Nothing ground breaking but still fun.
Elizabeth II: A Queen for Our Time by Chris Jackson
I've been following Chris Jackson's work for some time, he's been photographing the royals for nearly 20 years (and it married to Kate's longtime stylist). This was his second book, came out in 2022 I think? A lot of fun and so well staged pictures of the Queen with some stories behind them. Could have used a little extra editing, it was either this or the next one that identified misidentifies Laura or Barbara Bush as the other. That should have been an easy catch by an American...
His first photography book about the whole royal family. Fantastic pictures, many you've probably seen if you've followed the royals at all. Easy to read but fun to see.
Royal Trivia: Your Guide to the Modern British Royal Family by Rachel Bowie and Roberta Fiorito
I've read enough about the royals that I already knew much of this trivia and I thought it was a bit of a strange format for the book, just list the facts, don't make little fake quizzes. But I picked up a few new things.
The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe by Angela Kelly
Angela Kelly was a longtime stylist for the late Queen and a close confident as well. Harry has less than favorable things to say about her but I still found this look at what it took to dress the Queen rather fascinating. Kelly had the permission of the Queen to write this book and it was obvious the care she took for the Queen.
Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe by Angela Kelly
This was just about the Queen's wardrobe for her 60th Jubilee in 2012. I have strong memories of that one since we watched much of the coverage while we were still in the UK, leaving London just a day or two before it all really started.
William and Kate: A Royal Love Story by Christopher Andersen
This is unauthorized and so can't be 100% true but I still breezed through it. I read it quite a few years ago, after they were married (this was published before), and had heard much of it. But I still appreciated it.
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand
The first telling of Harry & Meghan's royal exit. I blew through this one as well, figuring they had something to do with the writing of it because there is no way even a friend could pass on some of the details that were in the book (it later came out that they did, indirectly, have input). Fascinating to read about how super rich people date but then their royal exit was a bit rushed, I think it was published just a few months after that so it felt crammed in at the end.
The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown by Katie Nicholl
This was a very recent read and one that immediately felt dated because it was written before the Queen died but came out after and so much changed in that time. Even by the time I read it earlier that year, things had changed since it was published like Harry & Meghan's kids using their royal titles and Edward getting the Duke of Edinburgh title. And I think it could have been organized better, it felt rather disjointed.
The Day Diana Died by Christopher Andersen
I don't even remember reading this one but apparently I did, many years ago. More details of the day Diana died, a day I remember but at the time I was 14 and didn't care about all the details. The internet was also a baby then and so there weren't the constant news stories there.
Picture Books
The Corgi and the Queen by Caroline L. Perry, illustrated by Lydia Corry
I just read this one recently to the boys, about the Queen and her beloved corgis. It had very sweet pictures as well.
The Queen's Hat, The Queen's Handbag, and The Queen's Present by Steve Antony
The Queen apparently loses many things which takes her on adventures around London and then England. (I forget where the Present takes her, I've only read that one once). The royal guards are following the Queen all over the place as she chases after her lost items and on every page you can find the butler who is trying to serve tea. Very quick but cute. We checked these out again after she died last fall.
The Duchess and Guy: A Rescue-to-Royalty Puppy Love Story by Nancy Furstinger, illustrated by Julia Bereciartu
And finally, a picture book about Meghan and her rescue dog who moved to London with her (and then moved back to the States). I don't know what it is about royal women and their dogs that inspire picture books.
The Bench by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, illustrated by Christian Robinson
This isn't about the royals, per say, but it is a picture book written by Meghan. I almost bought this when it first came out...but didn't. Just charming story with great pictures about the parent-child bond.
Let me know if you've read any of these or decide to pick one up! Also, should I buy a fascinator?? I need justification for that purchase.
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