The Royal Governess The Royal Governess

The Royal Governess

A Novel of Queen Elizabeth II's Childhood

    • 4.1 • 89 Ratings
    • $12.99
    • $12.99

Publisher Description

During the childhood years of Queen Elizabeth II, one of the most famous women who ever lived, a young governess helped shape her into the icon the world knows today.
 
In 1933, twenty-two-year-old Marion Crawford accepts the role of a lifetime, tutoring the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose.  Her one stipulation to their parents is that she bring some doses of normalcy into their sheltered and privileged lives.
 
At Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral, Marion defies stuffy protocol to take the princesses on tube trains, swimming at public baths, and on joyful Christmas shopping trips at Woolworth’s. From her ringside seat at the heart of the British monarchy she witnesses the trauma of the Abdication, the glamour of the Coronation, the onset of World War II. She steers the little princesses through it all, as close as a mother.
 
As Hitler’s planes fly over Windsor, she shelters her charges in the castle dungeons (not far from where the Crown Jewels are hidden in a biscuit tin). Afterwards, she is present when Elizabeth first sets eyes on Philip, her future husband.
 
But being beloved confidante to the Windsor family comes at huge personal cost. Marriage, children, her own views: all are compromised by proximity to royal glory. In this majestic story of love, sacrifice and allegiance, bestselling novelist Holden brings to life the early years before Queen Elizabeth II became monarch.
 
“This captivating page-turner whisks readers back in time to Buckingham Palace in 1933…A majestic story that delves into the incredible life of Queen Elizabeth II before she took her place on the throne.”—Woman’s World

GENRE
Fiction & Literature
RELEASED
2020
August 25
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
432
Pages
PUBLISHER
Penguin Publishing Group
SELLER
PENGUIN GROUP USA, INC.
SIZE
2.6
MB

Customer Reviews

74tt1 ,

Fascinating!

What a wonderful read!

WestiesMama ,

Boring!

I will start with the disclosure that I did not finish this book. I slogged halfway through before I thought I’d die of boredom. There is just no way to write a book about the main character constantly whining about everyone else and have it be anything but boring. If the story’s protagonist is a judgmental, self-righteous, complaining nag, then perhaps the story doesn’t need to be written. Just my opinion.

Mary Ward Taylor ,

Governess to Princess Elizabeth and Margaret

After being their devoted governess for 16 years, upon retirement she goes against the express wish of the queen mother and writes a tell-all book. She made money, but was shunned from royalty from that time on.

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