Tina Brown is the former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. In 2007, she wrote The Diana Chronicles. Her most recent book, The Palace Papers, covers the years between the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It delves into the House of Windsor telling ‘the truth and the turmoil’. Brown expands on many stories from the past and includes comments by ‘those who know’ on recent scandals. It’s a hoot. A must-read for devoted Royalists and an entertaining bit of serious gossip for others.

The ABC of policing should be in the reader’s thoughts – accept nothing; believe no-one and challenge everything – as Brown quotes aristocrats, friends, courtiers and those below stairs.

It’s often humorous; Camilla with her ‘cruise ship-sized Lady Bracknell headgear’; Beatrice with what seemed to be a ‘vast pink octopus or antlers towering on her head’; and an impeccably dressed Buckingham Palace staff member referred to as ‘The Bidet’. You know what it’s called but you don’t know what it’s for.

An unforgettable quote was included in a message written by the Queen and read from the pulpit during the memorial service in New York for those who died during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre: nothing can take away the feelings of anguish and pain. Grief is the price we pay for love.

Brits seem divided on how they feel about Charles and Camilla. They seem to, however, have faith that William will be a prudent, cautious, decent monarch and Kate a confident, supportive consort. The House of Windsor must modernise at an acceptable pace to survive. Meghan was beloved by the public when she married Harry but possibly wanted to change things too quickly.

Reviewed by Clive Hodges

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tina Brown is an award-winning writer and editor-in-chief of Tatler, Vanity Fair, and the New Yorker; founder of the Daily Beast and the live event platform Women in the World summits. In 2017 she published The Vanity Fair Diaries, chosen as one of the best books of the year by Time, People, Amazon.com, the Guardian, the Economist, Entertainment Weekly and Vogue. She lives in New York City.