Royal Historical Fiction
Readers have been captivated by the British Royal family for years. They have been in tabloids and news stories as gossip fodder for centuries, as commoners like us live vicariously through their stories. But behind the scenes is even more exciting than what’s in the news, which is why royal historical fiction is so popular!
Ever since I first discovered Philippa Gregory back in high school, I’ve been captivated by what the royals got up to in the past. From the Tudors to Wallis Simpson, there have been plenty of royal figures worth learning more about! Perhaps that’s why I adore royal reads!
The Best Royal Historical Fiction
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Royal Historical Fiction
Before the Crown by Flora Harding – Jump to Section
The Best Book with Secondary Royal Characters
The Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson- Jump to Section
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Royal Historical Fiction
Before the Crown
Author: Flora Harding
Year: 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
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!
Why Kirsten loves it
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!
Find this book in: Best Biographical Fiction Novels / Books About the Royal Family / Books About Queen Elizabeth II / Books Like the Crown / Royal Historical Fiction
An Indiscreet Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria’s Defiant Daughter
Author: Georgie Blalock
Year: 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Well before Princess Diana, Meghan Markle, and Wallis Simpson, there was another royal rebel – Lady Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. And what a rebel she was! Why are there not more royal reads about her?
In the late 1800s, Louise, an artist and sculptor, was seen as quite rebellious. She took courses for the arts at a public school, talked back to the queen, and even had pre- and extramarital affairs! Quite the scandal for the time.
Why Kirsten loves it
I loved getting a look at one of the lesser-known (to me) royal figures. I hope to learn about more of Queen Victoria’s offspring in the future.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction Novels / Books About the Royal Family / Royal Reads / Royal Historical Fiction
The Other Boleyn Girl
Author: Philippa Gregory
Year: 2001
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #9, New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The modern-day monarchy has NOTHING on Henry VIII’s England. That man was a serial philander who literally changed the course of history over his love of Anne Boleyn. While everyone knows about Anne, this particular story is about Mary, her sister whom he fell in love with first. We see the entire sequence of events through the eyes of Mary, the only member of Anne’s family to survive.
Trigger Warnings
Miscarriage, Incest
Why Kirsten loves it
This story solidified my love for Philippa Gregory and my love for the Tudors. I seriously credit this book with my interest in the royal family. This fictionalized account of Anne Boleyn was captivating and so informative. When I had the chance to visit Hampton Court palace I recalled all I learned from this story!
Find this book in: Best Long Books / Royal Historical Fiction
The Queen’s Fortune
Author: Allison Pataki
Year: 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I devoured the story of Napoleon, his former lover, and the dynasty that he helped her create with her eventual husband, who happened to be his #1 frenemy. They didn’t know what frenemies were back then, but Napoleon and Bernadotte were the OGs.
Why Kirsten loves it
The Queen’s Fortune had everything I love in a historical fiction novel – royalty, drama, a touch of romance, a strong female protagonist, and action. This book starts out all action and it doesn’t let up!
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction Novels / Books Set in France/ Royal Historical Fiction
Plot
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.
Trigger Warnings
Sexual Assault
Why Kirsten loves it
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.
Find this book in: Books With Secret in the Title / Best Biographical Fiction Novels / Books About the Royal Family / Books about WWII / Royal Reads / Books like the Crown / Beach Reads 2021
The Girl in White Gloves
Author: Kerri Maher
Year: 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The storyline is split between Grace’s rise to Hollywood stardom and her future as a settled princess. Kerri Maher brought Grace Kelly to life in this biographical fiction book about her life. I had no idea about her home life struggles, her many romances, or the state of her marriage to Rainer.
Why Kirsten loves it
I adored this royal read about Grace Kelly and had trouble putting it down. The writing was so captivating that I found myself sneaking pages on my Kindle all over town.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction / Books Like Evelyn Hugo / Books with a color in the Title / Books Like the Crown / Old Hollywood Books / Royal Historical Fiction
The Romanov Empress
Author: C.W. Gortner
Year: 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
If you are into Historical Fiction or books about royalty, this is a great one for your list. I had no idea that the Tsarina Maria was such a force. She was the famed Tsar Nicholas’s mother and a key player in the Imperial court of Russia right up until the Revolution.
Trigger Warnings
Grief, Child Death
Why Kirsten loves it
I loved listening to the inner workings of the royal marriage market and how the Russian aristocracy behaved. I’m more of an anglophile in general, but I really liked expanding my horizons to other monarchies around the world.
Find this book in: Royal Reads / Romanov Books / Biographical Fiction / Royal Historical Fiction
The Other Windsor Girl
Author: Georgie Blalock
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I knew a little about Princess Margaret from what I gleaned from
Why Kirsten loves it
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 will give you a different perspective on being a royal.
Find this book in: Books Like The Crown / Books About Queen Elizabeth II / Books Like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo / Books About the Royal Family / Biographical Fiction Novels
Secondary Royal Characters
The Coronation Year
Author: Jennifer Robson
Year: 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The coronation is happening at just the right time for Edie Howard to save her beloved hotel. But things start going awry with threats to the hotel and the Queen herself that have Edie and her long-term residents in the middle of the danger.
Why Kirsten loves it
With interesting facts about the coronation, a romance sub-plot, and the thrilling race to ward off danger, this is the perfect royal read for fans of QEII!
Find this book in: Hotel Novels / Books About QEII / Royal Historical Fiction
The Rose Code
Author: Kate Quinn
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of The Alice Network
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
While the main portion of this story features 3 code breakers at Bletchley during WWII, one of the main characters is dating Prince Philip. You know, the same Prince Philip who eventually marries the queen?
It’s a dual-timeline story and one of those storylines is set against the backdrop of Philip’s wedding to QE2.
Trigger Warnings
Death, child death, forced institutionalization
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a Kate Quinn royal novel, so the writing and story are both top-notch.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Mystery Books / Books Like The Alice Network / Royal Reads / Books With Color in the Title / Best Books of 2021 / Books With Flowers in the Title / Books About Women in STEM
The Woman Before Wallis
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Lady Thelma Furness was the woman before Wallis Simpson. History remembers Wallis as the woman for whom King Edward VIII gave up his throne. In this book, we get to see King Edward’s relationship with Thelma and why it unraveled, leading him into Wallis’s arms.
Why Kirsten loves it
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 is one of my favorite books about royals.
Find this book in: Books About the Royal Family / Beach Reads 2021 / Royal Reads / Royal Historical Fiction
Meet Me in Monaco
Author: Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I was so excited to get a copy of this story which is set against the backdrop of Grace Kelly’s wedding to the Prince of Monaco. Grace is making her final appearance as a Hollywood starlet at the Cannes Film Festival before her wedding. She’s ready to escape the spotlight and hides in Sophie’s perfume shop. There, the two women bond – but the story is more about Sophie. As Sophie is helping to hide Grace, she bumps into a photographer, James, and sparks fly.
Why Kirsten loves it
It was a second-chance romance, a story of female friendship, and it was fantastic. It’s hard for me to figure out which character I loved the most – possibly Grace herself. Just know that Grace is more of a minor character in the story. I listened to parts of it on audiobook as well, and I can recommend that one too! Gifted by Harper Collins
Find this book in: Old Hollywood Books / Royal Reads / Books about Weddings / Royal Historical Fiction
The Golden Hour
Author: Beatriz Williams
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling author of The Summer Wives
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This historical fiction story takes place in the Bahamas during WWII. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor are prominently featured, though the main story revolves around the murder of a man named Harry Oaks, life in Nassau, and the romance between the female lead and her beau.
There is also a bit of a flashback-type story that plays out in parts, too. It’s set in a tropical location, which sets it apart from most historical fiction stories.
Why Kirsten loves it
It’s a lovely little royal novel that had me flipping pages quickly and kept me entertained by the pool.
Find this book in: Books Like the Crown / Royal Reads / Books with Colors in the Title / Books Set in Tropical Locations / Royal Historical Fiction
Another Woman’s Husband
Author: Gill Paul
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor’s love story changed the trajectory of the British royal family, and this story dives into Wallis’s biography.
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.
Why Kirsten loves it
Wallis was ruthless in her pursuit of what she wanted, as this story conveys well. 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.
Find this book in: Books About the Royal Family / Royal Reads
The Gown
Author: Jennifer Robson
Year: 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: International Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I thought this was going to be a wedding book about Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip based on the cover, but I was wrong. Instead, it was about a couple of seamstresses who worked on the now-Queen’s wedding dress.
This dual-timeline story details the making of the famous wedding dress via the story of Norman Hartnell’s embroiderers, Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, who are working on the top-secret garment. Meanwhile, in 2016, Heather Mackenzie has uncovered embroidered flowers in the grandmother’s belongings and is seeking their origin.
Trigger Warnings
Antisemitism, Rape
Why Kirsten loves it
Part historical fiction, part romance, part mystery – this pick from books about Queen Elizabeth II reminded me a bit of The Lost Vintage. This story is definitely not a royal romance but instead offers brief glimpses into the wedding dress-making process.
Find this book in: Books About Queen Elizabeth II / Novels About Fashion / Books About Weddings
The Royal Governess
Author: Wendy Holden
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Royal Outsiders #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
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.
Why Kirsten loves it
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!
Find this book in: Books About the Royal Family / Books About Queen Elizabeth II / Fiction Books About Writers
Plot
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.
Trigger Warnings
Abuse, Infidelity
Why Kirsten loves it
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 I love this book for book clubs.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction Novels / Books About the Royal Family
YA Historical Fiction
A Queen’s Game
Author: Katherine McGee
Year: 2024
Genre: Young Adult Historical Romance
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a YA historical romance that is based on the true events of 19th-century Europe. Three princesses: Alix of Hesse, Helen D’Orleans, and May of Teck will find themselves looking for love in the ballrooms of the Victorian era. Each woman is looking for a husband and it may not be the man their parents (or the Queen) want them to marry!
Why Kirsten loves it
American Royals is one of my favorite series so I knew I needed to read McGee’s first historical fiction story and boy was it a doozy! I felt for each of these ladies and their various love triangles… or hexagons? Honestly, their romances and potential matches overlapped so much that I’m not sure what shape they would make in the end!
I’ve long been a fan of historical fiction, but McGee made this story feel like the Gossip Girl version of real events. It got juicy and fun and damn would it make an excellent show! It’s Bridgerton for teens and I can’t recommend it more highly! The sequel is gonna be just as great!
Why Jackie loves it
I loved reading about three princesses in a royal love triangle that seemed more like a reality television show than based on real people. The story, the romance, and the love tangles were utterly unputdownable. I completely agree with Kirsten’s description of Bridgerton for teens.
Find this book in: Royal Reads / Best New Children’s Books of 2024 / Royal Romance Books / YA Royalty Books / Royal Historical Fiction
Plot
This is an LGBTQ graphic novel that I read in a few hours. Prince Sebastian is a prince by day and Princess Crystallia by night. The only one who knows his secret is his seamstress who hopes to make a name for herself with her fashion.
Trigger Warnings
Homophobia, Transphobia
Why Jackie loves it
My son read it twice because he “loved the message that it’s okay to be yourself”. I don’t normally read graphic novels, but, I loved it!!! What a wonderfully inclusive, feel-good story.
Find this book in: Novels About Fashion / Best Books for 13-year-olds / YA Historical Fiction Books / YA Royalty Books / Royal Historical Fiction
Expert Tip
Looking for a royal historical fiction that you will love? Here are some tips
- Jackie and I have read all the books on this list. Take a look at the descriptions of each book and why we liked it.
- Have a look at the time period for each book. This will help you with choosing a book from an era you love.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best royal historical fiction?
There are so many fantastic books on this list. The Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson is a must-read, and so is The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.
