If, like me, you’ve binge-watched all three seasons of The Crown on Netflix, you may be looking for something else to pass the time while you anxiously wait for season four and its promise of Princess Diana and (hopefully) more corgis.
While The Crown is ostensibly about Queen Elizabeth II’s rise to the throne at the young age of 25 and her immersion into the world of politics, for me the more interesting character is her younger sister, Princess Margaret. Long before the tabloids reported on the comings and goings of Harry and Meghan or William and Kate (not to mention their fashion choices), Princess Margaret was a regular in the gossip columns of the 1950s thanks to her glamorous gowns, socialite friends and high-profile romances.
The Other Windsor Girl by Georgie Blalock chronicles Princess Margaret’s twentysomething years as seen through the eyes of her second lady-in-waiting, the Honorable Vera Strathmore. Vera is the daughter of a noble who has a title but lacks money. She dreams of moving to New York and becoming a writer, and secretly writes romance novels under a pseudonym. Vera is first introduced to Princess Margaret by her cousin Rupert at the princess’s request after she reads one of Vera’s novels. The two become friends by bonding over their shared loneliness — Vera still mourns her fiancé who was killed in World War II, while Margaret mourns the loss of her sister via her marriage to Prince Philip, fearing she will never find someone to love herself.
Vera finds herself entranced by the beautiful princess, with her quick wit, sharp tongue, and penchant for cigarettes and whiskey. When Vera is offered the chance to become Princess Margaret’s second lady-in-waiting, it seems like an offer that is too good to refuse, even if it means giving up her fledgling writing career. But Vera soon discovers that managing the life of a princess who is far from dutiful is quite the challenge. Princess Margaret is used to getting what she wants, and that includes marrying Captain Peter Townsend, a divorced man whom Vera knows the Queen and her advisers will never approve of. Throughout her tenure with the princess, Vera finds herself sacrificing her own desires for those of the princess and must decide whether a life of privilege and prestige is worth the price.
Although Princess Margaret often seems spoiled and short-tempered, I still felt sympathy for her. Despite being born into royalty and the immense wealth and privilege that comes with it, her life was not really her own. In the book, she laments that, had her uncle King Edward VIII not abdicated the throne to marry a divorced American, thereby changing the course of history, she could have been free to pursue a career of her choosing. Instead, her job is to look pretty while attending ribbon cuttings and other such events and making conversation with people who bore her. It‘s definitely a much easier life than what most people experience, but the lack of privacy and ability to choose her own husband were nonetheless difficult for her to bear.
As I was reading the book, I found myself getting swept up in the world of balls, high fashion, and clandestine romances that Princess Margaret and her friends inhabit. Reading historical fiction, especially during the stressful times we are experiencing due to COVID-19, is a great way to escape from today’s headlines and unwind with a hot cup of tea. While The Other Windsor Girl is Georgie Blalock’s first novel published under her own name, she has written a number of historical romance novels under the pen name Georgie Lee. Several of them are available to borrow for free through Hoopla Digital.
If you’re looking for more royal reads, here are just a few of the many titles available instantly through Hoopla Digital:
The Final Curtsey: A Royal Memoir by the Queen’s Cousin, by Margaret Rhodes: Margaret Rhodes was Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin. During World War II, she stayed at Buckingham Palace while working for MI5. In 1990, she became a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother, who regarded her as a third daughter, until her death in 2002. Her book includes many anecdotes and personal photographs.
Royal Love Stories: The Tales Behind the Real-Life Romances of Europe’s Kings & Queens by Gill Paul and Camilla Tominey: If royal romance is your thing, this book is for you. While some stories are happily-ever-afters, like Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna, not all royal couples are so lucky. The book includes personal accounts and letters.
Before Wallis: Edward VIII’s Other Women by Rachel Trethewey: King Edward VIII is best known for abdicating from the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, but she was not the only woman he loved. Before Wallis, there was Rosemary Leveson Gower, the woman Edward loved but was forbidden to marry; Freda Dudley Ward, a married woman who was Edward’s mistress; and Thelma Furness, another married woman who ultimately introduced Edward to Wallis.
The Duchess: Camilla Parker Bowles and the Love Affair that Rocked the Crown by Penny Junor: Like his aunt Princess Margaret before him, Prince Charles was denied the chance to marry the person he loved. Whether it was because the match was forbidden by the Queen or because Camilla chose another man, either way Charles and Camilla had a long road to finding the happiness they now enjoy. Author Penny Junor documents Camilla’s rise from being seen as the woman who wrecked a royal marriage to a popular princess consort who has helped her husband finally feel comfortable in his position.
Diana: A Portrait in Her Own Words by Bill Adler: Princess Diana was once one of the most photographed people in the world, but seldom heard from. Author Bill Adler has gathered a collection of Diana’s most significant quotes in an effort to shed light on the personality behind the princess.