The Windsor Diaries
A childhood with the Princesses
by Alathea Fitzalan Howard
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Pub Date 6 May 2021 | Archive Date 6 May 2021
Hodder & Stoughton | Hodder Paperbacks
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Description
**SPECTATOR BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020**
**TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020**
**SUNDAY EXPRESS BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020**
'A new perspective on "Lilibet" as she fell for her future husband' Sunday Express, Books of the Year
'For a glimpse into the lives of the young princesses these diaries are riveting' Daily Mail
'A must if you love The Crown' Good Housekeeping
'A wonderful book' A. N. Wilson, Spectator, Books of the Year
'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
'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.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781529328103 |
| PRICE | £10.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 368 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
jean luc e, Librarian
A captivating look at the war years in England through the diaries of Alathea Fitzalan Howard and her relationship with the future monarch and her sister Margaret.
The author started keeping a personal diary at 16 when she was sent to live with her grandfather at Windsor at the beginning of the conflict in late 1939.
A companion to the princesses between 1940 and 1945, her personal narrative is an incredible treasure trove of anecdotes and vignettes about the royals during the War and an opportunity to get a more intimate glimpse at Elizabeth's life during WWII. A delightful look at wartime England and its monarchy that should definitely be enjoyed by many royal buffs.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the opportunity to read this wonderful book
Jane D, Reviewer
These diaries give a fascinating insight into the lives of Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret during the war years. I enjoyed the references to the clothes that Alathea wore at that time.
Kay C, Reviewer
A beautiful diary read, I really felt part of what was going on.
Alathea's life as a teenager growing up during WW2 is fascinating, the way her friendships evolved during wartime, how her life changed and her difficult relationship with her mother (who is critical and undermining) alongside her younger sister and importantly the King, Queen and young princesses is absorbing and interesting.
Alathea's affection for Elizabeth and Margaret, and their parents is warm and genuine, and her heartfelt pain over her dream of becoming a lady in waiting is heartwrenching, as is her unrequited love for Hugh.
I really enjoyed this book, and learned a lot about how it felt to live during that time, even though she lived in privilege, the only small issue I had with ecopy was having to lose my place whilst searching the appendix at the end for Information on names, initials etc, but this would not be any issue for a paper copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the advance copy, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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