A collection of the best books on the British Royal family. Andrew Morton, prince of royal biographers, author of the groundbreaking Diana: Her True Story, and Meghan, A Hollywood Princess, recommends The Queen by Ben Pimlott as the most interesting portrait of the current Queen. For a picture of the Queen's younger sister, Craig Brown's recent biography, Ma'am Darling: 99 glimpses of Princess Margaret offers an original and entertaining take on royal biography as a genre.
On the next generation of the royal family, we have the best Diana books and Royal journalist Katie Nicholl recommends Charles and Camilla Portrait of a Love Affair by Giles Brandreth. For the younger generation, she recommends William and Harry by Ingrid Seward and Kate by Claudia Joseph as good introductions.
Robert Lacey recommends the biography of George V (the current Queen’s grandfather) by Kenneth Rose as a great read, and Hugo Vickers concurs that it is one of the best royal biographies. Lacey also recommends Crown and People by Philip Ziegler, which charts the evolution of popular support for the monarchy in the democratic age.
Memoirs actually authored by members of the royal family are few and far between. But the current Queen’s aunt, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, did write her memoirs, and royal biographer Hugo Vickers recommends them as both insightful and entertaining. Princess Alice died at the age of 102 in 2004, so she will have known almost every member of the royal family in the 20th century.
The best books on Modern Day British Royals, recommended by Katie Nicholl
The Mail on Sunday’s Royal Correspondent, Katie Nicholl, looks at how the histories of the previous generation have shaped Princes William and Harry. She picks the best books on the British royals.
The best books on The Queen, recommended by Robert Lacey
The royal biographer Robert Lacey considers Queen Elizabeth II, her legacy, her family history, and her ambivalent relationship with Princess Diana.
The Best Royal Biographies, recommended by Hugo Vickers
Hugo Vickers talks about what makes a good royal biography, and how he helped Helena Bonham Carter prepare for her film role as the Queen Mother
The best books on British Royalty, recommended by Andrew Morton
Bestselling celebrity biographer Andrew Morton recommends the best books on the British royal family and the publishing of his own book, Diana, Her True Story—In Her Own Words, viewed by many as the definitive book on Princess Diana.