15 Captivating Books about the Royal Family
If you have followed us for a while, you know my obsession with the British royal family runs deep. Do you know anyone who has read more books about the royal family than me?
From Wallis Simpson to Prince Harry, the drama in the Windsor household is neverending. Which means these royal family books have plenty of material. Below you’ll find some of my favorite books about the royal family.
The list is a mix of non-fiction and fiction depending on what you are looking for the most. And we’ve even linked to other lists with books about the royal family if you want to explore this topic further.
*This books about the royal family post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you.
Non-Fiction Books about the Royal Family
The Making of a King by Robert Hardman
There has been LOTS of drama in the royal family so far this year, so it seems like the perfect time to dive into a royal read
My latest favorite is by Royal correspondent, Robert Hardman. It focuses on the transition from QEII’s rule to King Charles III ascension to the throne.
It covers the illness of the Queen, the day she passed, her funeral, the King’s ascension, and the time between her passing and his coronation. There are lots of details about the very brief period – but this royal family book also paints a picture of the King’s ideals and values.
Why I Loved it: It rebuttals quite a few of the claims made by Prince Harry in Spare – making it a must-read in the world of modern monarchy nonfiction. #gifted by Dreamscape Media
Find this book In: Books about the Royal Family / Royal Reads / Beach Reads 2024
Spare by Prince Harry
I’m still reeling from the revelations and truths woven throughout Prince Harry’s narrative. His candor in taking us from the death of his mother to the death of Queen was refreshingly real and often poetic, no doubt thanks to the incredible skills of his ghostwriter.
I was struck by how much I had believed the press’s story of his life; accurate or not. To think that an entire family’s stories could be so fabricated or twisted into untruth was astonishing.
In revealing his own truths, however, he illuminated the dreadful antics of his family. Wills, Charles, Camilla, and the courtiers do not come out of this book without tarnish – and with good reason. There is so much to talk about, this is our book club book for next month.
At the end of the day, it’s hard not to judge everyone for lack of compassion but it’s a generational cycle that needs to be broken. I felt proud to see Harry putting in the work to make sure his own children don’t go through what he did.
This is a must for fans of books about the royal family and stories about royalty. This book is a best book for book clubs and a perfect pick from beach reads. Even if you don’t usually read memoirs, this is one of the best non-fiction books of 2023.
The Palace Papers
Author: Tina Brown
Year: 2022
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 15+
Plot
This was like reading a JUMBO issue of People magazine. All gossip in the best way! This book covers every royal scandal from the Duke of Windsor and Wallace Simpson to Megan and Harry leaving, and Everything in between. You get juicy details of everything like Diana’s years and Prince Philip’s racist comments.
It’s perfect for our Beach Reads 2023 list! Tina Brown goes deep into the scandals of the British Royal Family over the past 40 or so years. I didn’t learn anything new, but I loved hearing the hot gossip laid out in book form.
Why Kirsten loves it
You know that I am a royal lover and this book is right up my alley. Is there anything more fun than reading about a real royal scandal?
Find this book in: Ultimate Beach Reads 2023 / 15 Captivating Books about the Royal Family / 14 Delightful Books About Queen Elizabeth II / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read
Unruly by David Mitchell
Comedian David Mitchell’s hysterical take on the history of the British royal family goes back to the very beginning of the empire. It’s a charming non-fiction royal family book unlike any other.
I had no idea about the chaos of the early monarchy or the ruthlessness of the early Kings. It covers until about Elizabeth the 1st, with many Ethelreds and Tudors within the pages.
Long Live the Queen by Bryan Kozlowski
I absolutely adore this non-fiction book about Queen Elizabeth II’s life. Told in 23 chapters each about a rule the Queen lives by, it’s one of the most unique looks into the Queen’s life I’ve ever read. Instead of a boring biography, we are treated to moments and stories of the Queen’s life relevant to the “rule” being discussed.
When looking at why one’s life needs order, we see the various influences which created a
Elizabeth the Queen by Sally Bedell Smith
After reading Prince Harry’s memoir, I was keen to read a book about Queen Elizabeth II. Sally Bedell Smith examines not just the events of the Queen’s life but the people she was surrounded by as a way to explain how Elizabeth was shaped into a beloved monarch.
While the book was originally published in 2012, I found the background knowledge within the pages to be helpful in framing the events Harry explores in his own book about the royal family.
Fashion Books about the Royal Family
HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style
Author: Elizabeth Holmes
Year: 2020
Genre: Nonfiction
Age Range: 12+
Plot
I’m an avid follower of Elizabeth Holmes’ account (you should be too) where she explains the significance of the Royal Family’s wardrobe. The nuance and attention to detail the Royals use when
Why Kirsten loves it
Elizabeth breaks it down in an accessible and understandable way. I’m thrilled that her book delivers everything I’ve come to expect from her and more. This in-depth look at The Queen, Diana, Catherine, and Meghan is informative and beautiful. It is the perfect coffee table book for any fashion lover.
Find this book in: Good Nonfiction Books for Beginners / Fashion Books / Books about the Royal Family / Books about Queen Elizabeth II
The Other Side of the Coin
Author: Angela Kelly
Year: 2019
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: Sunday Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Angela Kelly is the Queen’s headdresser and long-time companion. She details her process for dressing the queen, talks about some of her most iconic looks, and even reveals a few personal stories about her time with Her Majesty.
Why Kirsten loves it
I had palace fever this month while working on our Royal Reads post, so it’s no surprise that when my library hold for this autobiographical audiobook came through, I dove right into it. I absolutely loved this inside look about life with the Queen. I really felt like I learned about the Queen’s personality through this book.
Find this book in: Books About Queen Elizabeth II / Books about the Royal Family / Good Nonfiction Books for Beginners / Nonfiction Books about Fashion /
Historical Books about the Royal Family Featuring Wallis Simpson
The Duchess by Wendy Holden
This intimate look at Wallis Simpson was wonderfully written. Never have I had compassion for the Duchess of Windsor in the way I did when I read this historical fiction biography.
Holden’s portrayal of this controversial historical figure focused on the time period when Wallis and King Edward fell in love, but also the time period after his death.
I actually felt bad for both the king, who clearly didn’t want the crown, and the woman he both loved and used to get out of his royal duties. There is so much to talk about it this book about Wallis Simpson, which is why we love this book for book clubs.
Love royal reads? Check out the dozens we’ve rounded up here!
Another Woman’s Husband by Gill Paul
I had only a vague understanding of who Wallis Simpson was going into this royal novel, and boy was she a pistol. Cold, calculating, and selfish, I loved to hate her. It was so interesting to see her machinations from another point of view.
She was ruthless in her pursuit of what she wanted. Gill Paul also wove in a mystery set in London at the time of Princess Diana’s death which I found to be well done too. This is one of our favorite historical fiction books about the royal family in more recent parts of history.
The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull
Set after World War 1 in London, this book is perfect for those who loved the royal pageantry of the first Downton Abbey movie.
Lady Thelma Furness was the woman before Wallis Simpson. History remembers Wallis as the woman for whom King Edward VIII giving up his throne. In this book about Wallis Simpson and Thema, we get to see King Edward’s relationship with Thelma and why it unraveled leading him into Wallis’s arms.
Thelma is herself the aunt of Gloria Vanderbilt and a great-aunt to Anderson Cooper. There was a lot of juicy info in this historical fiction. It was also great on audio!
Historical Fiction Books about the Royal Family Featuring Queen Elizabeth II
Before the Crown by Flora Harding
After all the royal reads I’ve read over the years, I can’t believe this is my first story about The Queen’s romance with Prince Philip. With the Jubilee coming up now in England, this was a perfect fictionalized biography to read!
I was wondering about how Philip won the heart of then Princess Elizabeth, and this fictional story filled in some fun details. Think of it as a prequel to the first episode of The Crown in the best way!
Every royal-obsessed person needs to add this pick from Books about Queen Elizabeth II to their TBR list and check out our list of books like the crown!
The Royal Governess by Wendy Holden
Well, this was a juicy bit of royal historical fiction!!! I had no idea that Crawfie, Queen Elizabeth II’s governess wrote a book about their time together later in her life, essentially banning her from the royal fold.
This work of historical fiction is based on the information gleaned from that book as well as Mary Crawford’s own history. It was so interesting to see the lives of the Queen and her sister through the eyes of their governess. This is perfect for royal lovers!
For more books about the royal family like these, check out our list of 12 books about QEII.
More Historical Fiction Books about The Royal Family
The Other Windsor Girl by Georgie Blalock
I knew a little about Princess Margaret from what I gleaned from
She actually reminded me a lot of Wallace Simpson. She was most definitely a royal rebel. She’s still not my favorite royal but this historical fiction biography helped me understand her life, personality, and pressures. This book about QEII will give you a different perspective on being a royal.
The Queen’s Secret by Karen Harper
I don’t think enough is written about Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. She was a dynamic lady who was a guiding light for her husband, King George, as well as Queen Elizabeth. This biographical novel focuses on her work behind-the-scenes during WWII.
We get an inside look at the issues between her husband and his brother, King Edward, who abdicated to be with Wallis Simpson. Churchill’s relationship with the then Queen consort is also examined. We love the unique perspective of this pick from books about WWII.
Did you find any books about the Royal Family to read this year?
Check out these posts for more books about the Royal Family.
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Royal Reads: The Ultimate List of 42 Books about Royalty
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