20 February 20241 MIN READ
For hundreds of years, the public fascination with the royals has endured. From the olden days of court gossip and scandal to modern media frenzy and The Crown, we simply can’t get enough of the British Royal Family.
Of course, in recent years the spotlight has shone more brightly than ever, as the royals have endured a rollercoaster ride of historic change. We’ve witnessed the catastrophic rise and tragic death of Princess Diana, the Jubilee celebrations and the passing of the much-beloved Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of Charles III, the birth of new heirs, and a landmark moment when Harry and Meghan decided to step down from royal life.
And it’s not just modern royalty that has seen exciting moments. In 2022, Hever Castle marked 500 years since Anne Boleyn’s debut at the English court, historians discovered secret messages in the back of Anne Boleyn’s personal Book of Hours, and a brand-new exhibition of Henry VIII’s wives is set to open in June 2024 at the National Portrait Gallery.
Whether you’re a lifelong history lover with a penchant for royal scandal or you’re keen to get more insight into this exclusive world, we’ve compiled a list of 9 must-read biographies from notable historians including Nicola Tallis and Andrew Morton. Make yourself a cup of tea and settle in!
England’s longest reigning monarch and a beloved global icon, Queen Elizabeth II lived a truly remarkable life. After ascending the throne at just 25 years old, the Queen shepherded in modern Britain, acting as matriarch to the nation for over seven decades and working with fifteen Prime Ministers from Churchill to Liz Truss.
In this insightful biography, veteran royal biographer Andrew Morton charts Elizabeth’s life, from her early days as a young monarch dedicated to serving her nation through the turmoil and tragedies of royal life, a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, and a record-breaking Platinum Jubilee. Recently updated with a compelling new epilogue bringing the Queen’s story to its close, this definitive account offers revelatory insights into the life of an inimitable woman, the likes of whom we will never see again.
From one courageous icon to another, Nicola Tallis’ Uncrowned Queen takes a closer look at one of the most influential women in English history: Margaret Beaufort. As the battle for royal supremacy raged between the houses of Lancaster and York, Margaret saw an opportunity to secure her beloved – and estranged – son the throne. Against all odds, her son was crowned King Henry VII, and Margaret became the most powerful woman in England and a founding ancestor of the British Royal Family as we know it today.
This biography paints a compelling portrait of a woman driven by religion and ambition, which led to the founding of one of England’s most famous dynasties, The Tudors. Providing a fresh and revelatory perspective on a complicated character, Tallis unmasks the many myths and reveals the real woman: an independent and vibrant character, who would risk everything to become Queen in all but name.
The number one Sunday Times bestseller and the inspiration behind season 5 of The Crown, this seminal biography was first published over 30 years ago, and it changed the way the public viewed the British Royal Family. Never before had a senior royal spoken in such a raw, unfiltered way about her marriage, her hopes and fears, and her extraordinary life inside the House of Windsor.
An icon in life and a legend in death, Diana continues to fascinate and in this fully updated edition, veteran royal biographer Andrew Morton revisits the secret tapes he and the late princess made, revealing startling new insights into her life and mind. With millions of copies of the book sold worldwide, this is the closest you will ever come to reading Diana’s autobiography.
Another brilliant biography written by Andrew Morton, William & Catherine explores the lives of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the future King and Queen of England. This full-length biography was written to celebrate the long-awaited engagement of the couple and provides unique insight into their love, their wedding, and their life together.
Morton brings unrivalled insight into the royal family, given his experience following and writing about the prince’s life since his birth. This beautifully produced biography features colour photographs throughout, and a special section devoted to the incredible wedding which was watched by 162 million people, making it a celebration and a keepsake of one of the history’s most eagerly awaited royal weddings.
Two of England’s most famous monarchs have shared a name, Elizabeth. Elizabeth I’s story – daughter of Anne Boleyn and the ‘Virgin Queen’ – is well known, but what most people don’t know is that queenship was by no means a certain path. This iconic future monarch spent her early years in disgrace, navigating family rifts, uncertainty, and even accusations of treason.
When Elizabeth became queen, she had already endured more tumult than many monarchs experienced in a lifetime. This immensely detailed biography charts Elizabeth’s turbulent and unstable upbringing, exploring the dangers and tragedies that plagued her early life. Nicola Tallis draws on primary sources written by Elizabeth and her contemporaries, providing an extensive and thorough study of an exceptionally resilient young woman whose early life would shape the queen she later became.
It’s the stuff of fairy tales. A young American woman meets a handsome English prince and marries him. In this fully revised and updated biography, Andrew Morton navigates the astonishing journey of Meghan Markle, charting the twists and turns of the royal saga that saw Harry and Meghan transformed from the golden couple to outsiders of the British Royal Family.
Morton draws on exclusive interviews with those closest to Meghan to uncover the story of her life, from her fractious childhood growing up in the Valley in LA, through her previous marriage and divorce, her struggles in Hollywood, her work as a humanitarian ambassador, her life as the Duchess of Sussex – and the seemingly bottomless rift that has developed between the Sussexes and the House of Windsor.
With great power comes great scandal. Wallis in Love shines new light on another American divorcee who found herself at the heart of one of the 20th century’s most controversial royal scandals, revealing new information and sources that will transform your perception of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor.
From her relatively lowly beginnings in America, to her rise through the social ranks and her determination to one day beat men at their own game – and the ultimate conquest of the Prince of Wales – Morton paints a vivid and multi-faceted picture of a woman, who may have won the jewel in the British crown but very possibly at the expense of her true happiness.
In early modern England, those who set their sights on the crown found themselves in grave danger. In 1554, after less than two weeks of tumultuous queenship, 17-year-old Lady Jane Grey found herself on the scaffold awaiting death. But how did she get there, and why?
In this dramatic retelling of an often-misread tale, historian Nicola Tallis explores a range of evidence that had never before been used in a biography to sweep away the many myths and reveal the moving, human story of an extraordinarily intelligent, independent and courageous young woman. Essential reading for any avid historian and those interested in the British Royal Family.
Last but most certainly not least, we give you Elizabeth & Margaret, a sensational biography of Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret and an intimate look into the world of the Windsors. From the idyll of their cloistered early life, through to the divergent paths they took following their father’s death and Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne, this book explores their relationship over the years.
This captivating biography offers unique insight into these two drastically different sisters – one resigned to duty and responsibility, the other resistant to it – and the lasting impact they have had on the Crown, the royal family, and the way it has adapted to the changing landscape of the 20th century.
If you enjoyed this blog about British Royal Family biographies, we highly recommend you check out our blog, where you can find even more recommendations from the O’Mara team.
