The Windsor Diaries: A childhood with the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret
£8.40£23.80 (-65%)
**SPECTATOR BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020**
**TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020**
**SUNDAY EXPRESS BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020**
‘A must if you love The Crown’ Good Housekeeping
‘For a glimpse into the lives of the young princesses these diaries are riveting’ Daily Mail, Christmas Books 2020
‘A wonderful book’ A. N. Wilson, Spectator, Books of the Year 2020
‘A new perspective on “Lilibet” as she fell for her future husband’ Sunday Express, Books of the Year 2020
‘Funny, astute, poignant and historically fascinating’ The Times
‘A compelling and revealing insight into the teenage life of the then Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret’ Richard Kay, Daily Mail
‘I loved reading this, so reminiscent of my own childhood’ Anne Glenconner, author of Lady in Waiting
‘Alathea found herself living in Windsor with the Princesses throughout the Second World War. She captures that tiny, peaceful island in a world on fire’ Charles Moore, Spectator
‘This is an enthralling book . . . often funny and sometimes truly moving’ The Oldie
‘Fascinating insight into Elizabeth as a teenager’ OK! Magazine
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The Windsor Diaries are the never-before-seen diaries of Alathea Fitzalan Howard, who lived alongside the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at Windsor Castle during the Second World War.
Alathea’s home life was an unhappy one. Her parents had separated and so during the war she was sent to live with her grandfather, Viscount Fitzalan of Derwent, at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. There Alathea found the affection and harmony she craved as she became a close friend of the two princesses, visiting them often at Windsor Castle, enjoying parties, balls, cinema evenings, picnics and celebrations with the Royal Family and other members of the Court.
Alathea’s diary became her constant companion during these years as day by day she recorded every intimate detail of life with the young Princesses, often with their governess Crawfie, or with the King and Queen.
Written from the ages of sixteen to twenty-two, she captures the tight-knit, happy bonds between the Royal Family, as well as the aspirations and anxieties, sometimes extreme, of her own teenage mind.
These unique diaries give us a bird’s eye view of Royal wartime life with all of Alathea’s honest, yet affectionate judgments and observations – as well as a candid and vivid portrait of the young Princess Elizabeth, known to Alathea as ‘Lilibet’, a warm, self-contained girl, already falling for her handsome prince Philip, and facing her ultimate destiny: the Crown.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton (8 Oct. 2020) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 368 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 152932808X |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1529328080 |
| Dimensions | 15.4 x 3.8 x 23.6 cm |
by David Allott
have only just skimmed thought the book and very much look forward to reading it this weekend. gives a very good insight into a forgotton world, very much hope more of the diaries will be published soon
by Anne Teesdale
An excellent insight into the young lives of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. The book is written with refreshing candour, by the authoress,- showing her true feelings, and the genuine lifestyle which had been organised for these famous and inspiring young members of our wonderful Royal Family, during the anxious times of WW2.
by Frances Harvey
I thought this book was extremely interesting not only about the two princess but about the lives of the upper class during the Second World War. It is very inciteful but made me feel very sorry for Alathea. what a miserable life for a young girl with her mother disliking her so much. As Alathea said in her diary, if it was a different time she would have been taken into care. The Royal Family were very kind to her and included her in so many activities and parties. Would have liked a second book of her diaries showing how her life turned out.
Great book.
by Ruth Lacy
This was an interesting book that improved as it went along and the girl matured. If you know the places involved you will find it a fascinating read.
by Amazon Customer
Love the insights into the life of the Queen as a child. Easy to read.
by Maridadi
Interesting behind the scenes look at royalty and the politics of the day.
A window on the young princesses and their seemingly boring lives of that time
Insights into the rather sad and disturbed world of the author
Quite a sad account of a frustrated life.
by Ninaminacat
Alathea Fitzalan Howard’s wartime diaries have been edited by her niece by marriage to concentrate on her relationship with the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret; the drawing and dancing lessons which she was invited to take with them, the occasions she took tea with the royal family, the dances which the two older girls attended etc. The result is a unique piece of social history which simultaneously provides a fly-on-the-wall view of some aspects of the lives of the princesses and a personal account of Alathea’s war work as a VAD nurse. It’s fascinating to see how Alathea adapted to the rigours of her new life with its strict order and structure and how deeply she lamented having to exchange some of her regular contact with the princesses for scrubbing hospital floors. I liked the way that details of Alathea’s interests and ambitions brought her to life; her interest in fashion came through clearly as did her hope to become a lady-in-waiting.
The epilogue, written by her niece, answers succinctly many of the questions which you might have about the rest of Alathea’s life.
by Kathy M
Some insights into the war years of the royal family at Windsor as well as life of an upper class girl during WWII through the eyes of their neighbour Alathea. The latter’s life is very sad and depressing. A lonely and love deprived girl who never found real fulfilment nor purpose or love in life. I put the book down feeling upset for her. The book is written in diary entries from 1940–1945 which mainly consists of Alathea’s visits to have tea/ watch films/ take drawing or dancing lessons with the two princesses. A book that reads quickly and easily but somehow repetitive.