The Palace Papers

April 30, 2022

Brown (the former Tatler and Vanity Fair editor in chief, and author of The Diana Chronicles and The Vanity Fair Diaries) uses research and interviews to chronicle the events of the British monarchy since Princess Diana's 1997 death. The book backtracks somewhat to discuss Queen Elizabeth's courtship and marriage to Prince Philip and the rocky marriages of their children, but Brown focuses more on contemporary events like the weddings of Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan. Brown investigates the scandals of Sarah, Duchess of York; the deaths of the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and Prince Philip; and Harry and Meghan's move to the United States. She also looks into accusations against the disgraced Prince Andrew and his association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Brown vividly describes the events and the personalities of the royal family, captures the essence of royal life, and shares numerous amusing anecdotes, but is also somewhat bristly and reveals her biases. For instance, she blames the Spencer family (not infidelity) for the breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage. It's also clear that Brown is not a fan of Harry or Meghan: her book often refers to Harry as "emotionally fragile" and uses Meghan's estranged father as a primary (and negative) source. VERDICT An intriguing account of the royals that should provoke much discussion (and many arguments). Fans of the British royals and royal history will be seeking out Brown's book, particularly as 2022 is Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee year.--Lucy Heckman

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2022
Veteran journalist Brown examines the alternating currents of "deep dullness" and pitched controversy surrounding the House of Windsor. "We don't want another Diana." Thus runs a mantra among Britain's royal family, whose more retiring members--most notably Queen Elizabeth II--harbor a deep fear of scandal. Yet, as Brown's account opens, scandal and controversy emerge as the coin of the realm, in this case with the brouhaha surrounding Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle, marked by "the Palace's inaction at her character assassination by the press." As the author remarks, the royal family, headed by a 96-year-old with a 74-year-old waiting to assume the throne, "cannot be expected to be nimble." Indeed, many of its members are downright boring, if dutiful, in contrast with rebels such as Diana and Meghan, to say nothing of disgraced figures such as Andrew and Fergie. In the case of Diana's gruesome death, writes Brown, "the Queen's usual impeccable sense of how to do the right thing...was beset by the need for a new kind of emotional response that met the moment of the crisis," which Elizabeth couldn't muster. Indeed, she emerges as remote, even cold, some of which, Brown allows, can be traced to the requirements of rule, some to a marked distaste for confrontation. So it was that she ordered Charles to delay his wedding to Camilla Bowles by a day in deference to the funeral of Pope John Paul II, at which "the otherwise stalwart Camilla went into meltdown." Brown, superbly equipped to dig deep into the Windsors, turns in scathing, nicely gossipy portraits of some of them, especially Andrew, a corrupt, venal "horndog eternally on the hunt," mixing them with quietly admiring portrayals of figures such as Kate Middleton, who exemplifies "duty and loyalty to the Crown" and an avenue to a brighter future. Fascinating and fast-paced, Brown's blockbuster is a must for royal watchers.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.