I have pre-ordered Andrew Lownie's Book (out I think 14th August) A thread for those interested in "Entitled"

[BasiliskStare]

So for those interested in this book about the Yorks. I will read it and interested to hear from others who have or to give an opinion.

No spitting , no gouging 😂

Placemarking! Also, that’s my local Waterstones 😂

The audio book is 12 hours long!!!!

I’m bored already…..

LOL at the portmanteau Prince+Nonce = Pronce!

(was that deliberate, or a typo?[

One obvious thing I hadn’t thought of about the audio book-no footnotes or references. Damn.

It starts with a humdinger on Page 1 about PP and Fergie's mother. There is no way this book would have been published if QEII and Prince Philip were still alive.

This was what put me off buying it - in the Times interview he said this was a story that was well known in his family, because his wife was brought up with Sarah Ferguson.

In other words, family gossip. Not what I expect from a dispassionate investigation into Prince Andrew.

I'm interested because I'm told his previous books have been good, so will be following the thread.

@bluegreygreen Perhaps it’s to show what a dissolute environment Andrew was brought up in, which itself became small beer compared to the safeguarding failures and sexual abuse he allegedly endured (which he may well have internalised as boastful achievements, given his ‘golden child’ status).

That said, I’ve loathed the whole York clan for many years and I’ll be interested in what the evidence looks like all laid out in one place regarding their financial shenanigans.

But I don’t think Andrew’s parents will come out of this looking good. They had the money and the brains to safeguard him and train him better for his position. So why didn’t they? I hope the book reveals this. It’s all connected somehow. If I were writing a retrospective safeguarding report I’d be digging deep into the ‘family script’ element.

@TheAutumnCrow Perhaps you're right - to me it has an element of sensationalism for the sake of it, against people not here to defend themselves. I'm sure there was plenty of other material to use!

I'm also unconvinced that someone who describes himself kicking Andrew any time they met in rugby because everyone hated him is the best person to conduct an unbiased investigation.

Despite this, anything that sheds light on Andrew's dealings has to be good. If it shed light on the dealings of more important men who still seem to be immune it would be even better.

I have been listening to it for a couple of hours. The childhood stuff is interesting and not entirely unsympathetic. The author has quite a soothing voice, but the pronunciation of some place names is a bit awry imo.

Do you share my frustration about the lack of references?

I was a bit surprised by the Prince Philip / Susan Barrantes affair presented as a fact with no evidence. Don't recall it even as a rumour before.

Started book. In the Acknowledgement chapter at the beginning, Lownie has pages of names divided by who helped him with particular sections - Gordonstoun, etc. so you can see who he spoke with although not necessarily their actual quote.

The PP and SB relationship is mentioned twice. SB was evidently frustrated by her husband's infidelities.

Both Andrew and Sarah had terrible grades in school. Sarah was apparently very personable but Andrew seems like he was always socially awkward.

I am sure that it is cultural, but when I look at photos of Andrew, I am not overwhelmed by his physical attractiveness.

I don't recall that Andrew was thought to be outstandingly attractive by anyone apart from some newspapers. The Royal Family documentary was shown on our wedding day in 1969 and I remember my family thought he seemed to be a bit of a spoilt brat at the time.

I'm about half way through. The tone of the book is different, I think , to those excerpts in the DM . @bluegreygreen - I've got past his school days and didn't see anything about AL kicking him ( people will let me know if I missed it) . Was that from an excerpt or an interview about the book with AL.
Yes the SB think just mentioned almost in passing, "they mixed in the same social circles at the time" ( sic. )

Anyway - ploughing on . 😂

The kicking bit was in an interview. I just got to the marriage. Andrew comes across as a loner and very awkward with people. He was described as a bully at Gordonstoun, but apparently that place had a bullying culture. Maybe it was a defense? People keep describing A as private and hard to know. Loads and loads of teddy bears, even as an adult.

Sarah seems like she could have a great career in PR. Connects well, personable. However, willing to put up with sleazy male behavior.

The most shocking bit so far is that they spent £300 a week on vegetables from Waitrose and let the ones in the garden go to waste. 😮

😲 That is nothing short of criminal behaviour in my book!

@BasiliskStare It was from the Times interview with Lownie - he was talking about having been to a school close to Prince Andrew and mentioned that any time they played rugby against his school they always kicked Andrew because they hated him.

In the marriage. Andrew off in Navy. Actual people, with actual names, quoted about him. Very mixed naval reviews. He worked hard, he had someone cleaning his room for him. He was quiet and shy, he was a bully. Someone got asked to write a paper for Andrew so he could pass a course.

i read extracts in the Mail, enough to know I don’t want to waste any money in the book. Will follow though for comments.

Wendy Berry, a royal housekeeper, not a fan of Sarah. Sarah quite entitled towards staff. Sarah and Andrew vacationing with expenses paid by someone else. Sarah getting money to give to her mother, and throwing dinners to financially support her father.

Sarah also miserable that Andrew is in Navy and doesn't write enough. Apparently not cut out to be naval wife.

On one vacation, Andrew stayed in the hotel, read books, and watched TV. This drove Sarah crazy.

Crikey. Did he explain if and why they hated him in particular so much at that point? And was this an extra kicking in the scrum or a ‘normal kicking’?

(Rugby Union in boys’ schools used to be (IMO) bloody horrific for some boys. Probably still is in some settings.)

He didn't explain it - will see if I can find the link to the interview

@BemusedAmerican

Sarah seems like she could have a great career in PR. Connects well, personable

I met S a small number of times, briefly, through work and would agree with that observation....I also have to say those who had a bit more contact with her than I did on the day(s) also came away impressed.

No idea about the behind the scenes family and financial stuff, some things are obviously kept well hidden.