Best and Worst Royal Biographies

[GloiredeDijon]

I posted this in What We Are Reading but then thought I might get more suggestions here.

I am currently mostly reading various biographies and enjoy finding out more about our royal family.

So far I have read:
Entitled by Andrew Lownie
The Traitor King by Andrew Lownie
The Palace Papers by Tina Brown
The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
Betrayal by Tom Bower
Lady In Waiting by Anne Glenconner

About to start Queen Elizabeth II by Robert Hardman

I also have a copy of Spare, passed on to me by somebody else, but I couldn’t get past the first couple of chapters as it was just so self pitying that it made my teeth itch.

Any reviews for books you have personally read please?

I know there are lots of others available but wanted a steer to the good ones and to hear about any to avoid.

Yes, Lady Colin seemed quite unhinged at points of the H & M book. I don't like them but it's wrong and unethical to make wild claims like Meghan not really having children.

Regarding books by Lady Colin Campbell I believe her book about Diana is accepted as quite accurate because Diana was very friendly with her but the other books are rather more speculative.

I've read "Ma'am Darling" about Princess Margaret and "A Voyage Round the Queen" about TLQ, both by Craig Brown.
Neither are traditional biographies; both consist of lots of vignettes/incidents but I found them interesting and, at times, lol funny. Loved the description of Margaret's old-fashioned upper class accent turing "Yes" into "Eaaaars" on Desert Island Discs. There are also some mad, but funny, imagined pieces too such as a Christmas message from "Queen Margaret".
I've also read "Shadows of a Princess" by Patrick Jephson who was Diana's private secretary during the War of the Walses time. I enjoyed it, possibly because it seemed to confirm a lot of my preconceptions about her.

Not a royal biography, but The Last Curtsy by Anne Glenconner is a lovely snapshot of a bygone age. All of her books are entertaining, she’s had quite a life and is an engaging character. Princess Margaret pops up regularly for those of us looking for a royal fix.

I’d say many of the books mentioned here are an entertaining read but are gossipy rather than a historical record.

I’m looking forward to Robert Hardman’s new book about QE2, he’s all over the place promoting it at the moment.

@LaMarschallin this is on my wish list so good to know you enjoyed it

@everardshutthatdoor do you mean The Final Curtsy by Margaret Rhodes?

Also looking at Heirs and Graces by Eleanor Doughty

Was it Margaret Rhodes? Thank you for setting me straight! It was a lovely read, I bought it for my mother as it was more of her time and thoroughly enjoyed it myself. I don’t know how that led me to the Glenconners but it did.

edited to say that’ll teach me for relying on my memory instead of actually checking.

Either way it looks great so thank you. Added to my list.

I read Margaret Rhodes' book and also Anne Glenconner's two memoirs, and reference to these reminded me that I really enjoyed Daughter of Empire by Lady Pamela Hicks.