'Courtiers' by Valentine Low

RandomPenguinHouse · 2022-09-27T09:09:21+00:00

Extracts of this were being discussed on a previous thread ('The Times) which just finished. I'm interested in buying this book, despite never having ever bought any other book about the Royal Family and never having watched The Crown. I'm interested however in the archaic rituals of the Royal Court and how it works as an employer, and also how the courtiers advise. Yes the excerpts were focused on Harry and Meghan but presumably that's just for clicks given the relevant timing, and that the book goes well beyond that. Poignant that in the synopsis for it on The Foyles website it says: ^The Queen, after a remarkable 70 years of service, is entering the final seasons of her reign without her husband Philip to guide her. Meanwhile, Charles seeks to define what his future as King will be, with his court wielding ever greater influence as he plans for his imminent accession.^ https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/biography/courtiers,valentine-low-9781472290908 Anyone else thinking of buying this?

SilverLiningPlaybook · 27/09/2022 10:23

There is already a thread running on this.

Original poster

RandomPenguinHouse · 27/09/2022 10:26

Oh sorry I didn't see. Would you mind linking @SilverLiningPlaybook ?

I can get this deleted.

OP posts:

Original poster

RandomPenguinHouse · 27/09/2022 10:27

OK I've seen your thread now, it didn't come up in the list of threads before, I checked before starting mine.

This is specifically about the book generally rather than the Times articles but I'm happy to get this deleted.

OP posts:

SilverLiningPlaybook · 27/09/2022 10:29

oh I see. No worries. We can have two!

oakleaffy · 27/09/2022 10:49

I don’t buy RF books , but do listen to excerpts, especially narrated, while doing other things.
One,” Funding Freedom “was so cloyingly saccharine that it was hard to listen to .
Was it narrated by Scobie?

Books and interviews do seem to be used as brickbats by members if the RF to hurl at each other .

One would have assumed that lawyers will have looked through the books for any potentially libellous content.

The tantrums and bullying allegations from H&M don’t look good.

Especially M bullying other women.

It’s probably no coincidence that M’s mouthpiece is a male ( Scobie).

If the Valentine book is made into an audiobook I’ll probably listen to it, it is bound to be dissected to the nth degree on you tube.

It was interesting that Lady Colin Campbell broke the news that The Queen had died hours before it was announced on the News.

Campbell must have inside information.
She always says she does have rock solid “Sources” .

Snog · 27/09/2022 11:12

I can't see the other thread - is it in a different topic?

goldierocks · 27/09/2022 11:34

I thought I'd add the share tokens for The Times serialisation (taken from Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown by Valentine Low, to be published by Headline Books on 6th October), for anyone who'd like to read them.

SilverLiningPlaybook · 27/09/2022 11:35

Snog · 27/09/2022 11:12

I can't see the other thread - is it in a different topic?

i asked for it to be deleted for the sake of simplicity.

DFOD · 27/09/2022 11:47

goldierocks · 27/09/2022 11:34

I thought I'd add the share tokens for The Times serialisation (taken from Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown by Valentine Low, to be published by Headline Books on 6th October), for anyone who'd like to read them.

Thanks for these.

There is a lot of content.

RaRaRaspoutine · 27/09/2022 11:54

"It’s probably no coincidence that M’s mouthpiece is a male ( Scobie)." You're not making the stunning point you seem you think you are making.

Arbesque · 27/09/2022 11:57

There seems to have been a fairly toxic atmosphere in Charles' office at times. Not bullying, but back stabbing and jostling for position.

DFOD · 27/09/2022 12:07

I think it’s interesting that MM’s people (US agent, lawyer etc) were very present in those months….I suspect they had huge influence on moving / encouraging H&M out of the RF in order to continue their own personal financial gains.

scissorsandsellotape · 27/09/2022 12:08

goldierocks · 27/09/2022 11:34

I thought I'd add the share tokens for The Times serialisation (taken from Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown by Valentine Low, to be published by Headline Books on 6th October), for anyone who'd like to read them.

This is super kind thank you

Thesummeriwas16 · 27/09/2022 12:10

goldierocks · 27/09/2022 11:34

I thought I'd add the share tokens for The Times serialisation (taken from Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown by Valentine Low, to be published by Headline Books on 6th October), for anyone who'd like to read them.

Thank you so much for this!

DFOD · 27/09/2022 12:10

oakleaffy · 27/09/2022 10:49

I don’t buy RF books , but do listen to excerpts, especially narrated, while doing other things.
One,” Funding Freedom “was so cloyingly saccharine that it was hard to listen to .
Was it narrated by Scobie?

Books and interviews do seem to be used as brickbats by members if the RF to hurl at each other .

One would have assumed that lawyers will have looked through the books for any potentially libellous content.

The tantrums and bullying allegations from H&M don’t look good.

Especially M bullying other women.

It’s probably no coincidence that M’s mouthpiece is a male ( Scobie).

If the Valentine book is made into an audiobook I’ll probably listen to it, it is bound to be dissected to the nth degree on you tube.

It was interesting that Lady Colin Campbell broke the news that The Queen had died hours before it was announced on the News.

Campbell must have inside information.
She always says she does have rock solid “Sources” .

“Funding Freedom”

Hilarious was that a typo or deliberate?

Thesummeriwas16 · 27/09/2022 12:20

I'd really like to think this article is true.

Prince Harry and Meghan torn over their future

Readinginthesun · 27/09/2022 12:34

I tend not to believe anything in Heat however I think there might be a bit of truth in this .

Although Harry might be wanting to repair some bridges , I simply cannot imagine Meghan returning to Royal life. How could she after the allegations and implied threats ?

Croque · 27/09/2022 12:36

There always was - and still is - a growing divergence in their interests and little in common beyond, perhaps, sexual chemistry (which may have waned now that they are raising young children). PH looks wounded and frustrated all the time. M looks aware of this but focuses on controlling the narrative of what she thinks is seen as a fairytale romance. There is not much common ground for such a relationship to go the distance. Most people get it out of their system in their 20s. Harry led a sheltered life with a skewed outlook but she never. If she cared more about the man rather than the title then she would have held off from cashing in on that connection once they had settled in California.

Croque · 27/09/2022 12:41

It is almost as though her demands upon him to have her wishes prioritised will deepen the estrangement and prevent him from re-building bridges. It is too lucrative to let go of the battlezone narrative - H and herself against the world. All about the PR money spinners and optics with very little grounding in reality, as usual. I would be ripping my hair out if I were in his position, not feeling the love.

Serenster · 27/09/2022 12:43

I think it’s interesting that MM’s people (US agent, lawyer etc) were very present in those months….I suspect they had huge influence on moving / encouraging H&M out of the RF in order to continue their own personal financial gains.

This was a point that Tom Bower made, that really struck me - that Meghan’s US team were telling her of the all the commercial deals that they were being approached about, and could make for her. And of course they had a direct financial interest in getting her to do so, as they received a cut of any deals they arranged. I wonder if the fact that their advice might be biased was something she and Harry considered.

I was also fascinated to read that the Sussex Royal website was being run in the US, and not by her Palace Team.

StartupRepair · 27/09/2022 12:48

I think for Meghan much of it has been about the money and what she saw as a huge opportunity for them to cash in.

SilverLiningPlaybook · 27/09/2022 13:03

Croque · 27/09/2022 12:41

It is almost as though her demands upon him to have her wishes prioritised will deepen the estrangement and prevent him from re-building bridges. It is too lucrative to let go of the battlezone narrative - H and herself against the world. All about the PR money spinners and optics with very little grounding in reality, as usual. I would be ripping my hair out if I were in his position, not feeling the love.

I think this absolutely hits the nail on the head. I think this relationship will continue until such time as Harry is no longer a means to an end. He will tie himself in knots trying to be all things to her and keep her onside, , but I think it will take more and more out of him to the point there will be some kind of collapse. You can see the strain in his face and body language already.

I think she never had any intention of sticking around in the RF. It was always a means to monetise her own image .

SilverLiningPlaybook · 27/09/2022 13:04

Croque · 27/09/2022 12:36

There always was - and still is - a growing divergence in their interests and little in common beyond, perhaps, sexual chemistry (which may have waned now that they are raising young children). PH looks wounded and frustrated all the time. M looks aware of this but focuses on controlling the narrative of what she thinks is seen as a fairytale romance. There is not much common ground for such a relationship to go the distance. Most people get it out of their system in their 20s. Harry led a sheltered life with a skewed outlook but she never. If she cared more about the man rather than the title then she would have held off from cashing in on that connection once they had settled in California.

Agree with this too.

Dinoteeth · 27/09/2022 13:07

I think there could be a bit of truth in that Heat article too.
It must have hurt Harry being treated like an outsider by his Dad and Brother and seeing them growing closer together. But I honestly can't blame them for not trusting Harry. It will take a lot of time and effort to rebuild that trust.

ajandjjmum · 27/09/2022 13:35

I have little or no respect for the way that Harry and Meghan have gone about 'finding freedom', but I do have sympathy for them at present, purely because of how disconnected they (mainly Harry) must feel. There are times when we all think the grass is greener, but they must feel totally alone.

Having said that, I feel sure that my sympathy will wane once the next podcast or Harry's book is released, having little digs wherever possible.

I hope Auntie Anne had the opportunity to have a few words.