Yes, we have all inevitably thought, when the moment came when Charles III declared himself king of the English, of Joffrey during ‘Song of Ice and Fire‘, George RR Martin’s (for the moment) unfinished saga of novels. However, there is much more to read to understand who Prince Charles is, Camilla, why the Coronation is such an important event and, above all, why we should care so much about what happens from now on. Be careful, because for most of them you will need to know English. Oh, my god!
The Palace Papers, by Tina Brown
Tina Brown already told the story of Britain’s most famous family through Lady Di, cutting off at the time of her death. Now she picks up from there and moves on, ending with the passing of Prince Phillip. From dead to dead, wow. The biggest fans of the affairs and troubles inside the palace probably already know everything the essay is going to tell, but for those who don’t, it’s a perfect approach made by a person who isn’t the biggest fan of the Crown, but shares a common enemy with it – Meghan Markle.
‘Coronation: A history of the British Monarchy’, by Roy Strong
Who knows? You may be interested to know all the details about the British Coronations and go beyond the typical Wikipedia article. Keep in mind that the first one for which we have specifics took place on January 6, 1066, when King Harold II rose. His reign lasted eleven months because, well, it was the time to die early. Ah! Tradition has it that he did so because of an arrow in the eye. When it comes to dying, this is one of the best ways.
Prince Harry’s ‘In the Shadows
When Harry said he was leaving the royal family to live in the United States with Meghan, many sensed that from then on he was going to dedicate himself to capitalize on his life. And there are few more profitable ways to do it than selling a memoir in which he recounts his drama locked in a golden cage full of riches and very little freedom. If you like the fun but also the more or less amusing jokes, don’t even think about it: the rich also cry.
‘The royal we’ and ‘The heir affair’ by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
These are not two essays, but two fictional novels based on reality that tell the story of Kate, an American girl who ends up dating the crown prince. This alone would ensure thousands of units sold, but the authors also put a lot of love and care into the novel: the only criticism is that at the end they decide to diverge from history to tell pure fiction. Without much surprise, the sequel would not please fans too much.
‘Harmony: A new way of looking at our world’, by the Prince of Wales
Deep down I am very grateful that Felipe VI has never given him the urge to write or that Froilán does not feel like telling his life story, because in the United Kingdom there are plenty of books written by the royal family. As proof, this ‘Harmony’, perpetrated by Carlos, in which he tries to raise awareness about the protection of nature and talks about climate change and other problems of our society. Just from the mouth most qualified to speak: the King of England.
‘Kohinoor,’ by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand
Among so much beautiful history and fairy tales, there is always time for a history lesson. Koh-i-noor is a 108-carat diamond that Queen Victoria appropriated in 1877. Elizabeth II refused to return it, partly because, David Cameron said, if she did, the next step would be for all countries to try to get their possessions back from the British Museum. Which wouldn’t be a bad idea, all things considered. This book tells the story of the diamond, its supposed curse and why Camilla has decided not to wear it in her crown. A gem of a book, wow.
‘Coronation year’, by Jennifer Robson
The Coronation of Charles III has already taken place and will not be talked about for years as much as that of Elizabeth II. This fictional novel is about the residents of a London hotel who come together in an unexpected thriller for the subject matter. 1953, Blue Lion hotel, several people trying to get away with antagonistic goals. Not all will end well (except for the queen, who, spoiler alert, will end up reigning until 2022).
