Courtiers : intrigue, ambition, and the power players behind the house of Windsor /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The gripping account of how the Royal family really operates, from the journalist who has spent years studying them. Who really runs the show and, as Charles III begins his reign, what will happen next?

Throughout history, the British monarchy has relied on its courtiers - the trusted advisers in the King or Queen's inner circle - to ensure its survival as a family and a pillar of the country. Today, as ever, a carefully selected team of people hidden from view steers the royal family's path between public duty and private life. Queen Elizabeth II, after a remarkable 70 years of service, saw the final seasons of her reign without her husband Philip to guide her. Now, a newly ascended Charles seeks to define what his future as King, and that of his court, will be.

The question of who is entrusted to guide the royals has never been more vital. Yet, as the tensions within the family are exposed to global scrutiny like never before, the task these courtiers face has never been more challenging. With a dark cloud hanging over Prince Andrew as well as Harry and Meghan's controversial departure from royal life, William and Kate - equipped with a very 21st century approach to press and public relations - now hold the responsibility of making an ancient institution relevant for the decades to come. In fascinating and explosive detail, Valentine Low explores the previously unknown relationship between modern courtiers and the royal family.

Courtiers pulls back the veil to reveal an ever-changing system of complex characters, shifting alliances, and a battle of ideas over what the future of the institution should be. This is the inside story of how the monarchy really works, at a pivotal moment in its history.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

A behind-the-scenes look at the royal advisers to the British monarchy. Where once the royal courtiers were men exclusively in black suits who came from the aristocratic dynasties and the elite schools in England, longtime royal correspondent Low shows how current-day courtiers reflect the changing nature of the British monarchy itself. As portrayed in The Crown, longtime advisers to the monarchy--e.g., Alan "Tommy" Lascelles (1887-1981), who "began his service under Edward VIII when he was still Prince of Wales"--were palace insiders with real power (and outsize personalities). Lascelles served three kings, and as a veteran courtier, he was "just the man to break in the new Queen." In the early 1960s, Richard Colville, the queen's hardened stickler for tradition, was replaced by William Heseltine, who brought in a refreshing transparency with the media and initiated the attitude that "the palace would have to be less insular and more forward-thinking." While the queen had a straightforward relationship with her courtiers--one former secretary noted, "the worst she'll say is: 'Are you sure' "--King Charles is less direct and prone to "internal backstabbing." Edward Adeane did not get along with Princess Diana and tried to keep Charles from making his incendiary speech against the "brutalist trend in modern architecture" in May 1984; Adeane resigned soon after. Mark Bolland, who arrived in the late 1990s, deserves "much of the credit for the way Camilla has been transformed from supposedly the most hated woman in Britain to the country's future Queen." The queen's most recent private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, attempted, unsuccessfully, to consolidate the offices of the many royals. The author also delineates Prince Andrew's press mishaps as well as Harry and Meghan's attempts to create their own narrative. Ultimately, concludes Low in this detail-heavy narrative, "the courtier is there to guide, to open doors: it is up to the royal whether they walk through." Red meat for royal watchers; tedious for others. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Valentine Low is a journalist at The Times who has been writing about the royal family for over a quarter of a century. He is known for his insight and his scrupulously fair coverage, and makes regular appearances on international television as a royal commentator. His exposure of the bullying allegations against the Duchess of Sussex attracted global attention. Valentine previously worked at the London Evening Standard for over twenty years, reporting from all around the world. He lives in West London.