Game of Crowns

Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne

By: Christopher Andersen

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

The number-one New York Times best-selling author of William and Kate and The Day Diana Died takes a compulsively listenable look into the relationships and rivalries of Queen Elizabeth, Camilla Parker Bowles, and Kate Middleton.

One has been famous longer than anyone on the planet - a wily stateswoman and an enduring symbol of a fading institution. One is the great-granddaughter of a king's mistress and a celebrated homewrecker who survived a firestorm of scorn to marry her lover and replace her archrival, a beloved 20th-century figure. One is a beautiful commoner, the university-educated daughter of a self-made entrepreneur, a fashion idol, and wife and mother to two future kings.

Master biographer Christopher Andersen takes listeners behind palace walls to examine the surprising similarities and stark differences among three remarkable women - Queen Elizabeth; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; and Princess Kate. Andersen reveals what transpires within the royal family away from the public's prying eyes; how the women actually feel about each other; how they differ as lovers, wives, and mothers; and how they are reshaping the landscape of the monarchy in this addictive listen that will shock even those who are spellbound by the royal palace.

©2016 Christopher Andersen (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

Very interesting

Anyone who loves following the royal family will enjoy this book. It solidifies my thought that William and Kate, not Charles and Camilla, should take the throne after the the Queen departs.

good read

loved all the great info. was sometimes hard to follow because it kept jumping around from past to present

Salaciously delicious!

If you love history, but more importantly love learning tidbits about “the longest running reality show” in history, then this book is for you! I learned lots of new backstory on Camilla and Kate, and their jockeying for position to be the new Queen.

Liz's Girls

Author Christopher Andersen tackles the subject of the Royals from an interesting angle, examining the motives and the manoeuvres of the women bound to the crown by fate and by love. The material is a tad dated (2016) but offers a compelling look-around for those who remain interested in the comings and goings of the Windsors and their assorted consorts. There are a few juicy tidbits but no big surprises.

Narrator Simon Prebble does his usual superlative job.

Trashy Fun

What made the experience of listening to Game of Crowns the most enjoyable?

A slightly more literate version of the Daily Mail

What did you like best about this story?

Gossip par excellence

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Always the Best - reading the phone book, or anything else

Any additional comments?

Wish it could have gone on twice as long!

Great book to listen to!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Since the arrival of Megan Markel on the royal family, I have been more interested in them. It’ll be interesting to hear this authors take on MM joining the family. I listen to this book in one day.

More recap than bio.

I have read many many many royal biographies, and while there is nothing really new in this book, I still enjoyed it.

It felt more like a recap as opposed to a real in-depth biographical examinations of their lives, a beginner’s look, so it did feel a bit like tittle-tattle. Salacious gossipy bits like Philip’s philandering, Charles’ love child and William’s smoking were presented as fact instead of rumour; I feel it must all be taken with a grain of salt.

The “what if” scenarios at the start of the book going through the events that will supposedly follow the Queen’s death were interesting.

Much more Gossip than I Expected

I thought this would be less titillating and more biographical, especially regarding Camilla and Catherine.

There was a little bit of new information, mainly about various scandals and shortcomings. The narrator was the best part of the book for me.

Ok Listen

I thought much more reveling details would emerge. However, it was interesting enough to finish.

good story..

loved this started off strange but it was great...good listen for the holiday time reads.