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The best royal biographies to read now

Finished The Crown ? Here are eight of the most engaging books on the Windsors to keep you going...

After six compelling, often controversial, but never not utterly captivating years, The Crown has finally reached its conclusion.

If the Netflix show, which has charted the lives of the Windsors from the earliest days of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign until the mid-noughties, has left you wanting more of the royal family, there are myriad tomes on the comings and goings of the palace to delve into.

From investigative summaries to stories from the ultimate insiders – by way of one rather sensational rarity, an auto biography – here are the best royal biographies to read on the royals now.

Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, Gyles Brandeth

The witty voice of Gyles Brandeth, the noted author, rings out throughout this thoughtful biography of the late Queen. Compiled from conversations and encounters with the monarch throughout his life, Brandeth, who was a friend of the late Prince Philip, brings truly personal insight into this comprehensive book, which spans the entirety of her reign.

Lady in Waiting, Anne Glenconner

This critically acclaimed volume is a moving and fascinating account of the life of Lady Anne Glenconner, who had a front row seat to some of the most extraordinary moments of royal life. A maid of honour at the Queen’s coronation and a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret, she was also wife to Lord Glenconner, the owner of Mustique which, under their tenure, became a playground of the rich and famous. A story of privilege twinned with acute tragedy, Glenconner’s book is a vivid account of the inner workings of royal life, told through her own unique experience.

The Queen Consort, Penny Junor

Previously published in 2017 as The Duchess , this incisive biography dissects the life of one of the most divisive women in the royal family – and once the most famous ‘other’ women in Britain. Junor’s assessment of Camilla, now Queen Consort, is refreshing and detailed, and paints a picture of complexity, thwarted love and, ultimately, redemption. The updated edition includes Camilla’s new role as consort to the King , her responsibilities surrounding the Queen’s funeral, and her own coronation.

The Palace Papers, Tina Brown

One of the most famous chroniclers of royal life, the former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown made a barnstorming return to form with this 2022 volume. Charting the most contemporary complexities of the house of Windsor, from the impact of Meghan and Harry’s departure to the relationship between William and Kate and, ultimately, the evolution of the family in its latest incarnation, The Palace Papers is one of the most detailed and compelling reads on modern monarchy.

Elizabeth and Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters, Andrew Morton

The royal sisters, Elizabeth and Margaret, received a nuanced and detailed depiction in Netflix’s The Crown . Undeniably one of the most significant relationships of the late monarch’s life, this sisterly bond is given equal affection and attention in Andrew Morton’s book. A brilliant read for anyone fascinated by the pair, it is also an intriguing filter through which to view the inner workings of the house of Windsor.

The Diana Chronicles, Tina Brown

Brown’s legacy of royal tomes is so strong that she features twice on this list. Her most famous is undeniably this, The Diana Chronicles . A personal friend of the late princess, Brown’s book remains the benchmark for Diana biographies, depicting a level of unprecedented insight that brings the royal to life in a way that was never captured before and has rarely been achieved since.

Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII, Jane Marguerite Tippett

This fascinating book is a labour of love from archivist and historian Tippett, who has compiled the volume from the previously unseen writings of the uncrowned monarch. The writings were the unpublished notes for the 1951 memoir the Duke of Windsor created with his ghost-writer Charles Murphy, but, as Tippett shows, they reveal far more than his published memoir ever could. This is an extraordinary book which aims to shed new light on this often maligned figure who irreversibly changed the course of royal history.

Spare, Prince Harry

A book which needs no introduction, Prince Harry’s explosive memoir is truly unique. Not only do royals very rarely, if ever, pen autobiographies, but never in history have they ever been as shockingly candid, nor as incendiary. Any royal reading list would be incomplete without this bestselling doorstopper, which was one of the most hotly anticipated and controversial publications of the 2023.

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19 Books About the Royal Family

Here, some of our favorites, from a stunning coffee table book of photos from Queen Elizabeth's life to a fictionalized look at royal love stories.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Whether you have a new-found interest in the British royal family ahead of King Charles's coronation , or you've watched every episode of The Crown , there's a book out there that will pique your curiosity about the Windsors. Here, some of our favorites, from a stunning coffee table tome of photos from Queen Elizabeth's life to a fictionalized look at royal love stories.

This list wouldn't be complete without Prince Harry's new memoir, Spare . In the bombshell book, he reveals never-before-told stories about his childhood, his time in Afghanistan, and what life in the royal family is really like. It's a must read.

The Palace Papers

A recent addition to this list is Tina Brown's The Palace Papers , which promises "the truth and the turmoil" of life inside the House of Windsor.

Anne de Courcy Snowdon

This semi-authorized biography offers unprecedented insight into the life of Princess Margaret's husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones . Anne de Courcy spoke with Lord Snowdon for the book (along with several others close to him), and it's a no-holds-barred look at both his art and his often-scandalous relationships.

Angela Kelly The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe

Very few people know what life is really like inside Buckingham Palace , but a new book titled The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe , offers readers a window into that world. Queen Elizabeth granted personal permission to Angela Kelly , who has served as her dresser and confidant for 25 years, to write not only about royal fashion, but also about their experience working together. If you've already read this book, you might want to pick up a new copy; Kelly has written additional chapters for the text, which detail what life was like during the pandemic for the royal household .

Victoria Murphy The Queen: A Life in Pictures

Released just in time for the Queen's 95th birthday in 2021, this stunning coffee table book marries gorgeous photography with thoughtful insight into the British monarch's remarkable life and reign.

Celadon Books HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style

Elizabeth Holmes began sharing her thoughts about Kate Middleton's style on her Instagram stories; soon, that became the inspiration for HRH , which dives into the royal fashions of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, Meghan Markle, and, of course, Kate Middleton.

"It will be a beautiful picture book, one I hope that readers will want to display in their homes. But that style will be paired with plenty of substance; I expect it will be something people take the time to sit and read, too," Holmes told T&C .

Robert Lacey The Crown: The Official Companion, Volume 2

If you tend to pause The Crown after every scene to look up exactly what historical event the characters are talking about, this book, by the show's historical advisor Robert Lacey, is the one for you.

Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks The Royal We

Prefer your royal reading to be a work of fiction? Consider picking up The Royal We . Written by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan of "Fug Girls" fame, which chronicles American Bex Porter as she falls in love with the heir to the British throne.

Elizabeth and Philip: A Royal Love Story

This special edition of Town & Country highlights the Queen's 70+ year relationship with Prince Philip, revealing their love story with rarely seen photos of the royal couple.

Craig Brown Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret

Craig Brown's Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret is a royal biography unlike any another. Come for the Instagram-worth cover, and stay for a few chapters where Brown veers away from history to dwell in what could have been for the Queen's sister.

Sally Bedell Smith Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life

Ahead of Charles's coronation, take a look at Sally Bedell Smith's biography of the longtime heir to the throne, who spent his whole life waiting in the wings, only to become King at the age of 73.

Andrew Morton Meghan: A Hollywood Princess

The Duchess of Sussex is now one of the most widely-known women in the world, but she didn't grow up in the royal spotlight. In his aptly titled tome Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, Andrew Morton shares her story before she met Prince Harry.

The Mountbattens: The Lives and Loves of Dickie and Edwina Mountbatten

It's easy to forget just how profound Lord Mountbatten's influence over the royal family truly was—but this dual biography will disabuse you of any notion that he might be a peripheral figure in the House of Windsor's ever-complicated story. And on top of that, The Mountbattens: Their Lives and Loves rescues Edwina, Mountbatten's remarkable wife, from obscurity. You might dislike "Uncle Dickie" even more after reading this book, but you'll have gained a newfound appreciation for the inimitable Edwina.

Tina Brown The Diana Chronicles

Two decades after her death, Princess Diana's enormous influence on the modern royal family is still evident, and Tina Brown's biography of the late Princess of Wales is a must-read for anyone with even an inking of curiosity about the House of Windsor.

Anne Glenconner Lady in Waiting

This memoir by Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting, Anne Glenconner, reveals exactly what the royal family is really like when the cameras stop rolling, offering particular insight into the life of the Queen's sister.

Ashley Hicks Buckingham Palace: The Interiors

If you're more interested in the royal real estate than the major players in the King's family, consider picking up this gorgeous coffee table book, which takes readers inside the monarch's London residence.

Anne Edwards Royal Sisters: Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret

Princess Margaret's interactions with her sister, Queen Elizabeth, bring about some of the most intriguing plot points in The Crown , and this book focuses solely on their wholly unique sibling relationship .

Dey Street Books Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family

For a more modern tale of royal drama, look no further than Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's deep dive into Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's infamous exit from the Firm.

Simon & Schuster Diana: Her True Story--in Her Own Words

Season four of The Crown introduces viewers to a young Lady Diana Spencer—and season five details the writing of this pseudo autobiography, which at the time, caused quite the stir upon its release, as it paints an intimate, and difficult, portrait of royal life.

Caroline Hallemann is the Digital Director at Town & Country, where she covers culture, society, and entertainment, as well as the British royal family, among a variety of other topics. Prior to leading the digital team at T&C, she served as the brand's Senior News Editor and Digital News Director, and has previously held positions at Travel + Leisure, DailyCandy, and Parenting Magazine. Caroline is also currently writing a book about the Kennedy family and the British royals, and she lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and their son, Tommy. You can find her on Instagram at the handle @challemann and on TikTok at @carolinehallemann.

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Amazon Best Sellers

Our most popular products based on sales. updated frequently., best sellers in royal historical biographies.

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