Books To Read If You Love the Royals

 

With the recent passing of the incomparable Queen Elizabeth II, there's been a lot of focus on the British Royal Family.  I've received some questions about what books to read if you love stories about royals, so I thought I would update my list, which, believe it or not, hasn't been updating since 2015! I've linked my review when possible and include a wide variety of Royal stories, not just the British Royal Family!

The British Royal Family:

 

The People's Princess by Flora Harding - This one focuses on Lady Diana and her engagement to Prince Charles.

The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull - The lesser known story of Thelma Morgan and her relationship with Prince Edward.

In Royal Service to the Queen by Tessa Arlen - The story of Queen Elizabeth II's beloved governess.

The Other Windsor Girl by Georgie Blalock - This historical novel is all about Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister.

 

 

Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words by Andrew Morton - I listened to this audio book and was totally sucked in! It's a great companion to the latest season of The Crown.

Before the Crown by Flora Harding - This novel focuses on Elizabeth and Philip's courtship.

 

HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by Elizabeth Holmes - If you are a Royal style enthusiast, this is the go-to book filled with a ton of beautiful photographs.

 

 

Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith - A fascinating biography of Elizabeth II. I really enjoyed it!

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin - A historical novel about the intriguing life of Queen Victoria just as she arrives to the throne. If you enjoy the TV show Victoria, this is a must read!

Lady Catherine, the Earl and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona Carnarvon -If you love Downton Abbey, you'll enjoy this book about the real people that resided there.

Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman - I adored this biography about Georgiana Spencer, the great-great-great-great-aunt of Diana.  A fascinating woman!

 

 

War of the Roses:

(Books 1-7 are from Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series)

 

 

1.  The White Queen - This is my favorite novel of the series. If focuses on Elizabeth's Woodville's rise at court and the War of the Roses.

2.  The Red Queen - This novel is from Lady Margaret Beaufort's perspective and she is one bad ass lady.  She will do anything to put her son Henry Tudor on the throne. 

3.  The Lady of the Rivers - This book reads like a prequel to The White Queen. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Jacquetta, Elizabeth Woodville's mother, and her "second sight."

4.  The Kingmaker's Daughter - The story follows Anne Neville, who is the daughter of the Earl of Warwick, otherwise known at The Kingmaker. He uses his daughter as a chess piece, which makes for an entertaining novel. 

5.  The White Princess - This novel focuses on Elizabeth of York, who is the daughter of Elizabeth Woodville (The White Queen) and mother to the infamous Henry VIII.  It's a captivating glimpse into her life as well as her political marriage.

6.  The King's Curse - When compared to the other books in the series, I thought this book was just ok. It is from Lady Margaret Pole's perspective, cousin to Elizabeth of York, so it's interesting to see how everything played out at court through someone on the sideline's view point.  This novel also focuses on the alleged Tudor curse. 

7.  Women of the Cousins' War  - A nonfiction read about the women involved in the War of the Roses.

 

 

 

8.  The Last White Rose by Alison Weir - A book focusing on Elizabeth of York, the mother of Henry VIII. 

The Tudors:

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory - This is one of my favorite novels from the series. It focuses on Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife.  We all know what happened, but getting it from Katherine's perspective is very interesting. 

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - This is one of Gregory's best novels focusing on the infamous Anne Boleyn and her sister, Mary.  

 

 

 

The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory - It's all about Kateryn Parr, who is forced to marry Henry VIII.

 

Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory - This historical tale focuses on Katherine of Aragon, Margaret Tudor, and Mary Tudor.

 

The Six Wives by Henry VIII by Alison Weir - A non-fiction book, but a fascinating read! I mean does it get more entertaining and unbelievable than Henry VIII?

 

The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory - The story of Lady Jane Grey and her sisters.

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir - Another novel focusing on Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen.

Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle - A novel all about Katherine Parr, Henry VII's last wife.

 

A Dangerous Inheritance by Alison Weir focuses on Lady Katherine Grey, Lady Jane's younger sister, and also deals with the mystery surrounding Princes in the tower.

Other Royal Families: 

 

The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick - It's the first novel in a trilogy about Eleanor of Aquitaine, a 12th century icon.

The Accidental Empress  by Allison Pataki - This historical novel focuses on Empress Elizabeth of Austria; it's a fascinating glimpse into her life.

 

Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Alison Pataki - Book two in the Sisi series following her marriage to Franz.

 

Inspired By The Royals:

 

 

 

The Royal We and The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan - A modern day royal tale inspired by Kate Middleton and Prince William's real-life romance).

American Royals Series by Katharine McGee - A re-imagining of the United States if we had a Royal family stemming from the Washingtons.

 

 

 

On the TBR List: 

 

 

The Queen's Secret by Karen Harper
Elizabeth and Margaret by Andrew Morton

 

 

 

The Palace Papers by Tina Brown
The Empress by Gigi Giffis 

 

So, what do you think? Have you read some of these Royal reads? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.