The Royal Palaces: Secrets and Scandals

by Kate Williams, James Oses (illustrator)

Royal expert and TV historian Kate Williams opens the doors to 30 palaces, castles, and houses that have been connected with the British royals over the centuries.

Well known for her expert insights in the media and on countless royal documentaries, Kate takes you on a tour of the UK’s most fascinating palaces, past and present, to unveil the scandalous and little-known stories hidden between their walls.

Included in the book are such famous royal residences as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but also lesser-known locations such as Falkland Palace and Beaumaris Castle. Covering the breadth of British history, there are tales from the Medieval era to the present.



Among the palaces included

Hatfield House, where young Elizabeth I held court before finding out she would become queenWhitehall Palace and Banqueting Hall, home to Charles II's secret laboratory, where he tried to create an elixir of youth using human skullsGlamis Castle, the inspiration for Shakespeare’s MacbethGreenwich Palace, where Elizabeth I survived an assassination attempt when poison was placed in her saddleFrogmore House, a long-time royal residence used by Queen Charlotte, King George V and Princess AlexandraOsborne House, designed by Prince Albert in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzoWindsor Castle, the famous residence of Queen Elizabeth II before her death
Revel in the glory and glamor of royal life, as well as the salacious scandals that defined these palaces. The book is vividly brought to life by numerous beautiful illustrations by James Oses, and will be irresistible to anyone interested in British royalty and the history of Great Britain.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2024

About the author

Hello! Thank you for visiting my page. It's a great privilege to be on here - and to say hi to readers. Thank you very much for all your support and interest in my books! My twitter account is @katewilliamsme and I have a facebook page for Kate Williams author, come and say hello! I'm always thrilled to hear from you and your thoughts about my work.

I grew up in a very modern house in a dormitory village in the Midlands- and as a consequence became completely obsessed by the past. When I was about six, we got a new washing machine - and I took the huge cardboard box, covered it in silver foil and told my little brother it was a time machine. I used to rumble it about and tell him 'Look! We're in Egypt in the time of the pyramids - but you can't get out!' So he had to listen to all the stories inside, my poor brother...


'One of Britain's best young historians', Independent.
'Historian Extraordinaire', The Today Programme, Radio 4
'Queen of historical fiction' and 'History at its best', Guardian
'Unforgettable', (the book, not me!), The Lady.
'Gripping, seductive', The Times


I'm still looking for that time machine - and still living in it, really as I am obsessed by history.

Thanks so much for coming with me in my time machine.....

My latest novel, Edge of the Fall, is about the DeWitt family in the 1920s as they try to make sense of their lives in the aftermath of the war. It's the Flapper Age - and everything is in flux. As Kirkus puts it, there is ' a beautiful socialite threatened by a stranger, a murder trial and a baby born out of wedlock' - 'strange disappearances, unexplained deaths, dramatic births and a juicy court case' Grazia


'Brilliant', Daily Mail
'Gripping from the first page', 'Thrilling' 'a must read', Grazia
'Imbued with a sharp awarenss of the devastating effects of war in any era, Williams' novel presents sympathetic characters who transcend history', Kirkus


My previous novel, The Storms of War, is the first in a trilogy about the de Witt family. The first explores their lives from 1914-1918, as the youngest girl, Celia, sees her perfect world crumble and change. I've wanted to write about the wars since I visited the trenches in France when I was ten on a school trip. I was fascinated by how small they were - and how men could ever live in such places. I really wanted to go into the lives of Germans - the Victorians couldn't get enough of them. Then - almost overnight - they were the enemy and people saw German spies everywhere and the newspapers demanded that all Germans in the country be imprisoned. At the beginning of the book, Rudolf and Verena have four children - and their lives will never be the same again.


'Quietly impressive...hard to put down....Gripping, thoughtful, heartbreaking and above all human', Kirkus (starred review)
'truly affecting...richly detailed, light of foot..tantalises with loose ends and disturbs with shocking shadows', Independent
'Fans of Dowton Abbey will love it, as do I', Alison Weir
'Vivid....fascinating,' Observer


My most recent history book was in 2013, Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon (UK) and 'Ambition and Desire: the Dangerous Life of Josephine Bonaparte' (US). It has been optioned by Ecosse Films (Nowhere Boy, Mrs Brown) and they are working on the script now.

'I send you a thousand kisses, but send me none back because they set my soul on fire', wrote Napoleon to Josephine.


In 2012, my book about Elizabeth II, 'Young Elizabeth' was published, exploring the Princess's life before she became Queen - and how the abdication of Edward VIII changed her world. In 2011, I co-wrote The Ring and the Crown with Alison Weir, Tracy Borman and Sarah Gristwood about the history of royal weddings.

My previous novel,The Pleasures of Men, about Catherine Sorgeiul, a young woman in 1840 who terrifies herself with her obsession with a murderer, appeared in 2012. I began writing the book while living in Paris, one

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author explores 30 royal residences, ranging from the still in use to those in ruins, and shows that they are full of stories and were intended for a variety of purposes, but they all share one thing - they are part of the story of the monarchy and the countries of Great Britain.

I’m British by birth and have loved visiting/touring 9 of these 30 royal residences. I have Frogmore House on my bucket list.

✔️Kensington Palace (only stood outside gates as a teenager hoping for a glimpse of Harry or William)
✔️Hampton Court
✔️Holyrood House
✔️Buckingham Palace
✔️Tower of London
✔️Edinburgh Castle
✔️Hatfield House
✔️Stirling Castle
✔️Windsor Castle
Frogmore House

I enjoyed learning about the original owners, the purpose for each home, details such as number of bedrooms etc, and information on determined and devilish break-ins, murders and attempted kidnappings.

I think the facts about Buckingham Palace surprised me the most. I had no idea how self-sufficient this ‘fortress’ is and was in awe of the number of staff bedrooms!

[Mary-Lisa Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling all royal & scandal lovers! THE ROYAL PALACE: Secrets and Scandals by Kate Williams is here for your reading pleasure! You will go on a riveting journey discovering the history of UK's palaces from the medieval times to the present, with a healthy seasoning of scandals that will entertain you!

This book boasts stunning illustrations that elevate your reading experience. They were quite gorgeous, making my visual experience a lovely one! The information offered by the author was pretty thorough. I already knew quite a bit, but it was nice to read about these landmarks again in this well-rounded copy. My favourites are Falkland Palace and Glamis Castle. The little 'scandalous' tidbits made this an entertaining book. Be prepared for a little: "oh my, I did not know that!" as you are reading.

As a child, I dreamed of castles and knights in shining armour, so this was a fun read for me, taking me back to my 'whimsical' days. I consider it a perfect gift for those interested in this topic, as well as a great addition to your bookish coffee table offerings.

5/5

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A royal romp! A great read with origins, stories, and as the title says, "secrets and scandals" about royal-held properties and how they came to be in those hands (not very often a square deal, actually - but that's all long in the past, right?).

A hint at the entertaining illustrations that will be in the final editions, ink and bright watercolor drawings that are attractive and pert. Would be a swanky improvement to any common space "for company only" presentation.

*A sincere thank you to Kate Williams, Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

[Becca Packer · Rating 2 out of 5]

sigh.
Where do I start...
-Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022. not September 11.
-Benjamin Franklin was never a US president.
-Margaret Tudor was married to James IV of Scotland not Mary Tudor (she went to France)
-The Magna Carta was never signed. It was sealed. Call it semantics.
-George IV and William IV were brothers. Not father and son.
-Silver Wedding anniversary is 25 years...not 45. So yes, the fire at Windsor started on her wedding anniversary but not her silver anniversary.

You will however learn that King George III and Charlotte had a lot of children, but those children failed miserably at producing a legitimate heir. and in case you forget this story she tells it SEVERAL more times.

This book needed an editor. Badly. Not just to fact check everything, but there were so many repeated sentences and the same stories being told over and over again within a paragraph of each other.

Anyway I was shocked to learn the author graduated from Oxford and is now a professor at the university of Reading, which just proves you can do a lot of things and still not know how to fact check. Her students are very lucky.

Why does it get 2 stars you are wondering? Because I liked the Illustrations. Well done James Oses.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love England’s Royals history this is a very fun book. The focus is on 30 castles, palaces, and great houses that have belonged to the British rulers. The book promises scandals and secrets. I’ve read a lot of books on royal history so I didn’t feel I learned anything big I didn’t already know. The book goes by location and while there are no photos I love the illustrations by James Oses. The history for individual sights is chronological but the book can be a little confusing. Some rulers are connected to multiple locations which throws off the flow. But because the book is about the location, I don’t know of a better way to present the information. I have traveled to England and Scotland and was happy to see I’ve been to ten of the thirty sights covered. I found the book informative and it has given me ideas for places to visit in the future. My one suggestion would be to have a map especially for those outside of London. Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group-White Lion for the temporary ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[Nathalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and interesting overview of a lot of UK castles. The subtitle is "Secrets and Scandals" but I don't really feel I've read a lot of secrets and scandals, more of an overview which royals resided in which castles.
The book is very nicely illustrated.
Sometimes it was a bit confusing because the events at each castle weren't always told chronologically.
Overall a fun read but would liked to have read more of the secrets and scandals.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing-White Lion for access to the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

The illustration style for this book was amazing. I loved the effect it evoked.

While this book has a lot of historical information, I had a problem with the layout. First, this book would have benefited from having maps at the beginning. Trying to figure out where these palaces are or were was difficult and I had to resort to Google to figure it out.

The organization of the information itself was difficult to follow. Starting with Buckingham Palace, while the most known among non-royal fans, was difficult to follow since a lot of other palaces were dropped in that entry. I wish the order of the entries had been in chronological order or another way because it was difficult to figure out the reasoning behind the layout. Also, there was a lot of hopping within entries that disrupted the flow. The author would be talking about one thing, then we get a paragraph about something else, then back to the original thing. At first, I thought it was a mix-up for an entry or two but there ended up being multiple entries and I concluded it must be the author’s writing style.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, however not without flaws. First the good I liked the fact that this book featured some lesser known castles and palaces and the illustrations are pretty beautiful. However the text of this book features a lot of information that I have already read in better written books. Also the text could do with a good copy edit as there were repeat sentences one after the other explaining the same point and there were a good few typos. A good coffee table book for people with an interest in royalty and historic houses of Britain.

[KAdelaide · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. My review includes Spoilers.

A great book. Very easy to read, I was originally just going to read about places I've visited, or heard about. I ended up reading the whole thing as it was so fascinating.  I would have appreciated more photos rather then illustratrations, however the book was so good, it doesn't matter.  I can find photos elsewhere. 

Highlights I found intriguing:

Tower of London - I knew was a zoo for a while, but i didnt know that the Royals were gifted plenty of lions, and the public could visit the zoo for 9 pence- or a cat or a dog to feed the lions! The polar bear would get fish from Thames, whilst always chained up. And the elephant died- they fed it red wine!

St Edwards Crown weighs over 2kg, and Queen Elizabeth II once said ,"it's so heavy, it can snap your neck". Only sovereigns were ever crowned with it-but also Anne Boleyn- whom was heavily pregnant at the time, with everyone hoping it was a boy.

The Cullinan diamond is the biggest ever discovered, it was divided into 9 large diamonds (and 90 little ones)- one is in the sovereigns sceptre and one in front of the Imperial State crown.

Edinburgh Castle - The location of "The Black Dinner" (is this what Game of Thrones "Red Wedding" was based on?) The Black Dinner 1507, 2 young sons of the powerful Douglas family were ex$/cuted in presence of the 10yo King James II in order to "temper the power of his rivals".

Balmoral Castle- Queen Victoria's friend, John Brown was very important to her, and there was much resentment from her children when he was alive. She had a statue of John Brown built after his death and put in a prominent place at Balmoral. Upon Queen Victoria's death, his statue was moved to an obscure place of the Balmoral estate. Queen Victoria requested to be buried with a photo of John Brown, a lock of his hair and his mother's wedding ring. Queen Victoria's children disposed of many of John Browns things, that were kept by Queen Victoria including diary entries.

Windsor castle- Elizabeth I built the Long gallery, so she could go for long walks without getting wet.

Windsor castle, during WW2 the crown jewels were hidden in a biscuit tin, under a trapdoor, known to only a few in case of invasion- the big jewels Black Princes Ruby and St Edwards Sapphire (said to be taken from Edward The Confessors ring in 1163) were removed and placed in the tin....Princess Elizabeth had no idea they were hidden there!

I always thought it was the crowns that were hidden. No, it was the jewels.

Elizabeth and Margaret hid in cellar of Windsor Castle during bomb raids.

Frogmore Cottage, the lake was covered in frogs!

Elizabeth II mum, was asked by her husband 3 times to marry him. She declined twice. She was reluctant to marry into the Royal family! Ironic really as she was devoted to the Royal Family.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Royal Palaces: Secrets and Scandals is an enjoyable book about royal houses and the secrets behind their walls. Author Kate Williams discusses some royal palaces, including Hatfield House, Whitehall Palace and Banqueting Hall, Glamis Castle, Greenwich Palace, Frogmore House, Osborne House, and Windsor Castle.

James Oses beautifully Illustrates the book throughout. As I read it, I learned so much about the royal family's history, the role of these lovely places, and who designed and built them. The delightful illustrations James Oses provided also helped me engage with the book from the first page and continue to the end. Royal Palaces: Secrets and Scandals was well-written and researched by Kate Williams.

I recommend this book.

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read!

The author was able to take readers along a journey via all the British royal houses and palaces. Pointing out the different historical information, fun facts, current cultural importance, and more. Easy and a joy to read, while learning quite a few different things.

The illustrations are amazing and really lifted the whole book up. Dare I say it that they were my favourite part of the book?

It made me laugh that of course a British book is called "The Royal Palaces" and not "The British Royal Palaces" or something along those lines. This is not a negative point, but in line with how they see themselves and others.

I will be sure to keep an eye out for a hardcopy of the book, this conservation architect working with royal buildings definitely needs one!

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

[Sarah Weeks-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

As interesting as this could have been, there were far too many glaring mistakes that should have been caught. Historically speaking, the date of Elizabeth II's death is wrong, William IV is described once as George IV's son (they were brothers, it's quite an important fact), and Benjamin Franklin was not a US president. The illustrations were beautiful but, otherwise, the book was a mess.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to its subtitle, this book outlines many salacious stories of England's late ruling families, as well as interesting selections from the histories of the homes they once occupied. From the Welsh ruins of Beaumaris Castle, to the foreboding Tower of London, the specters of each location enrich Williams' accounts of love, war, tragedy, and perseverance. Paired with charming illustrations, this is certainly an easy selection to tuck into, and let one's imagination do the rest. A fairly easy read, it is one I would recommend to anyone who is interested in learning a little more about the royals who have shaped the histories of England, Scotland, and Wales.

Many thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid look at 30 British Royal palaces, castles, and houses, with beautiful illustrations that make them come alive with glorious color. Filled too with intriguing historical and often little known stories that will keep readers rapt. Highly recommended!

[Cassie Hawkings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me access to this beautiful book.

Kate Williams does an incredible job explaining the various castles, houses and palaces of the British Royal Family. She writes in such a way that even the casual history buff understands what is being talked about.

What makes this book so unique is the beautifully drawn water colour paintings that decorate the various pages, depending on what building is being addressed.

This book, when it is released will make an incredible coffee table book.

The reason I am giving this book four stars is because download format is very important to me and it is a shame that this book does not come in Kindle format.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Fascinating bit of history and yes, scandalous bits, too, that will definitely hold any history buff's attention. Whether history buff, intrigued by British history and eager to learn more secrets about notables and nobles, not to mention royalty, there's something for everyone, even those who come for the architecture. You're in for a treat.

Let's just say, I took pages of notes as I read, at least initially. Ultimately I got so caught up in it all that the notes largely fell by the wayside. Don't worry, though. I'm not going to flood you with the product of my note taking. There are too many facets to them to give you the full picture..... and the watercolor artwork is wonderful.... so I'll restrain myself. I will, however, do something I rarely do on the blog and share part of the official book blurb, much as I always feel like that's cheating:

"Included in the book are such famous royal residences as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but also lesser-known locations such as Falkland Palace and Beaumaris Castle. Covering the breadth of British history, there are tales from the Medieval era to the present.

Among the palaces included are:

Hatfield House, where young Elizabeth I held court before finding out she would become queen
Whitehall Palace and Banqueting Hall, home to Charles II's secret laboratory, where he tried to create an elixir of youth using human skulls
Glamis Castle, the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Greenwich Palace, where Elizabeth I survived an assassination attempt when poison was placed in her saddle
Frogmore House, a long-time royal residence used by Queen Charlotte, King George V and Princess Alexandra
Osborne House, designed by Prince Albert in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo
Windsor Castle, the famous residence of Queen Elizabeth II before her death

Revel in the glory and glamor of royal life, as well as the salacious scandals that defined these palaces. The book is vividly brought to life by numerous beautiful illustrations by James Oses, and will be irresistible to anyone interested in British royalty and the history of Great Britain."

As for my own take on the book, I obviously enjoyed it. The artwork is just detailed enough to create a sense of what might be seen without distracting you from the content. I mean, so many of these sites look absolutely serene and even bucolic, never mind the horror and bloodshed that may have happened there. Let's just say, Charles II's residency at Whitehall made me shiver. While the various stories aren't necessarily connected, the author does an excellent job giving them their place in time and the role the sites played in events, plus giving s the cast of players. True, some of the facts shared may seem rather meaningless but, well, it's still somehow awe inspiring to know how many bedrooms are in Buckingham Palace, not to mention bathrooms, offices, and such.

Each site is beautifully illustrated. The author somehow manages to dish the more scandalous bits without quite morphing into gossip, making it seem like you're sitting in one of those countless sitting rooms talking one-on-one with her. Even better, silly as, say, the number of rooms may be, there are countless fascinating bits about the people who lived and worked there, too. Even casual fans will find something of interest within, perhaps something they've never thought about. And, hey, we even get to visit Macbeth's stomping grounds, fictional though he may be. And, and, and....so much more, even details about the 1974 attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne. And, hey, how could I not mention that one of the illustrations captures the late Queen Elizabeth's corgis at rest. Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #WhiteLion - #FrancesLincoln for allowing me this early look at some of the places where history happened. It made me once-and-forever history buff heart happy. This will make a great gift, I might note. Now, excuse me while I go savor those lovely illustrations a bit longer. I've never been to England, so this may be as close as I get.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec The Royal Palaces ?
"J'avais adoré les illustrations de James Oses dans Rooms of their Own, j'étais donc prête à craquer pour n'importe quel livre qu'il illustrerait. Mais j'aime aussi les palais et l'Angleterre donc ça tombe plutôt bien."

Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Kate Williams nous présente 30 châteaux, maisons ou palais royaux de Grande-Bretagne, certains que l'on connaît bien, d'autres moins, certains qui sont toujours au coeur de la vie des Windsor et d'autres qui ont disparu depuis longtemps..."

Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Il ne faut pas s'appesantir sur le sous-titre qui promet secrets et scandales parce que ce n'est pas vraiment le cas ici. Ça ne m'a pas gênée du tout parce que ce n'est pas ce qui m'attirait et j'étais d'ailleurs avertie, ayant lu quelques avis avant de craquer. J'aime même apprécié la bienveillance de l'autrice, et son honnêteté, envers certains membres de la famille royale que l'on critique un peu trop facilement à mon goût (je déteste le lynchage gratuit). Comme je ne suis pas non plus experte de l'histoire du Royaume-Uni, même si j'aime bien ça, j'ai également appris tout un tas de choses et trouvé cela extrêmement interessant mais ça ne sera peut-être pas le cas de quelqu'un dont c'est la spécialité. En revanche, aucune logique ni aucune chronologie n'est respectée à aucun moment et ça, c'est vraiment dommage. Cela rend le texte très confus par moment, répétitif. Une carte pour les resituer n'aurait pas non plus été de trop.

Enfin, est-ce que j'ai aimé les illustrations de James Oses ? Ce n'est rien de le dire. Elles sont toujours aussi sublimes et généreuses, presque présentes à toutes les pages, une double page complète pour introduire chaque palais. Un vrai régal qui donne envie de plonger directement dedans."

Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"J'ai encore un livre illustré par James Oses dans ma wishlist et je resterai très certainement à l'affût de tout ce qu'il proposera à l'avenir."

http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...

[Robin C · Rating 4 out of 5]

With its beautiful watercolors, The Royal Palaces is the perfect keepsake for the places you’ve visited in Britain or ones that you wish to. But it’s more than that. Kate Williams is an expert on the British monarchy and she’s filled the pages with fascinating details—beyond when and which royals lived at each location, when it was built and in which architectural style, who made renovations, and if it’s still in use or in ruins and why.

For example, Windsor Castle was first built by William the Conqueror of 1066 fame and today is the oldest inhabited castle in the world. Henry VIII and his favorite bride Jane Seymour are buried there, but without all the pomp that he had planned. Windsor also was a favorite of Queen Victoria, even though she almost met her demise there eight times!

With Edward VI on the throne, young Elizabeth lived with her father Henry VIII’s widow Katherine Parr until improprieties forced her to leave. She was at Hatfield House when she found out sister Mary had died and she had become queen.

At Lochleven Castle, Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate her crown, shortly after a traumatic miscarriage of twins fathered by a man she’d been coerced into marrying. Yet George I and his son George II blithefully kept their mistresses and illegitimate offspring at St. James Palace while on the throne. And, not surprisingly, there’s at least one secret passage from one royal residence to another.

Amid the opulence or decay of these 30 royal homes, you’ll learn of intriguing stories that will bring history to life.

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting book!

I really enjoyed reading through this and the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. The illustrations run throughout the book and the style is very complimentary and very well done.

The book itself tells us about various royal residences and their history, I enjoyed learning about them all, especially some of the lesser known locations.

I do have a few comments on things that did catch my attention that could've been done better. Firstly, there are multiple instances of repeated sentences, the most frustrating one being in the Clarence House chapter where a sentence is repeated immediately after the first, but with one word different (which changes what the sentence is telling us). there is also the odd factual mistake such as Benjamin Franklin being called a president, which he was not.

I'm also a little thrown by the chop and change of the structure. The information in each chapter isn't chronological and could do with changing around to make it read easier as it does throw you off a little when it's so back and forth with nothing linking them together, almost like a bullet pointed list. it just needs neatening out.

aside from those negative aspects I still really enjoyed reading it, although I wouldn't go into it expecting to read about secrets and scandals like the title states as there aren't many in there but as a book on royal residences I think it's a great book to have.

I'll mention the illustrations again as they made the book so visually put together and are wonderfully done.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little coffee table book that provides some background history on the UK's many royal palaces.

I personally enjoyed reading the snippets of facts the author gives throughout the book, alongside the beautiful illustration which help give a feel of each palace.
(I also lent my mum a copy and she couldn’t put it down until she finished the entire book!)

I feel like this is meant to be aimed at adults, but the style of writing (short paragraphs that are straight to the point) and adorable illustrations make me think it would be better as an informative children's book. But, obviously, some of the more sensitive facts [eg: When talking about the trauma of Mary Queen of Scot went through] would have to be omitted, or rewritten slightly to fit a younger audience.

In both the digital ARC I received (with thanks from Netgalley & the Quarto Publishing Group) and the hardback copy I ordered, I did notice one or two factual errors that should have been picked up by an editor or fact checker, and another instance of a repeat sentence in the same paragraph, but these did not ruin my overall enjoyment of the book, but that is the only reason I can't award it the full 5 stars it deserves.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free advanced electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A gorgeously illustrated summary of historic events that have occurred in 30 palaces associated with the British royal family.

What I liked: The illustrations were beautiful; this would make a fantastic coffee table book for any fan of British royalty. The exploration into the history surrounding each palace was an excellent premise.

What didn't work for me: Perhaps I've consumed too much media on British history, but aside from learning of a couple of incidents, the majority of the events described weren't secret and have been well-documented and dramatised. While it was interesting to know which part of the story happened in which palace, there was so much overlap that a single event would often be repeated under many of the palaces.

Final thoughts: A bright, colourful introduction to the history of the British royal family, told through the palaces they resided in.

Who would enjoy this book: General fans of either history or the British royal family.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading ‘The Royal Palaces’ by Kate Williams! I have always been fascinated by history, and ‘The Royal Palaces’ is chock-full of fun historical facts and tidbits. In my early twenties, I had the great joy of getting to visit England, and I was able to see several of the sites mentioned. This book made me feel like I was right there again! While many of the places might be more well-known, there were still plenty of things I had no idea about.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the absolutely stunning artwork in this work. There were some pages that I wish I had prints of to hang in my office! I had no idea when I requested this that I would also be receiving such beautiful art. I can’t wait to get the physical edition.

If you have an interest in UK history, royal residences, or beautiful artwork with fun trivia, this might just be the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Danielle - drops.everything.and.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Quarto for the eARC; All opinions are my own.

The author clearly invested a lot of time and energy. into this book. The details of the palaces and the stories of the people who lived there all make for a fascinating overview of the Royal Palaces of the United Kingdom. While entire books could be dedicated to each palace on their own, this book makes for a wonderful overview of the Royal Palaces, providing a gateway introduction for people wishing to learn more. This book would be great for people planning a trip to the UK and want to learn a bit about the palaces before, perhaps, deciding which ones to visit.

I liked the illustrations of each palace, though wish there were also photographs or even, when possible, floor plans to help me better understand the scope and scale of some of the places.

Very interesting!

[Mallory ☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Kate Williams, and Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC copy of this book.

The Royal Palaces is a wonderfully crafted book detailing various royal palaces across England. As a loyal follower of all things British royalty, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The watercolor illustrations throughout are beautifully done and add such a nice touch to the stories being told of each of the locations. My personal favorite palaces that are described include the following: Hampton Court, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Frogmore House, Stirling Castle, and Lochleven Castle.

If you enjoy royal residences throughout history, then I highly recommend this beautiful book. I hope to have a hard copy of my own once it is released!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully remarkable with over-the-top studies of the buildings and those who have lived there in various times. The information does become mind boggling after a bit. The illustrations are carefully executed and representative of each subject. I evidently misread the blurb because I was hoping for drawings that were more imaginative interspersed with actual photo reproductions. But that's my problem, not the book. I feel certain that the right people will go nuts over this tasteful book and it would be great for giving to a school or local library as well.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected proof EARC on Adobe Digital Editions from
Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Frances Lincoln via NetGalley. Thank you
available Aug 20, 2024

[MarryAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a real disappointment for me.

Starting with the format: I expected to have at least some photos, not only illustrations; there is a lot of text, so it's not the light reading I expected, and the text itself is small and cluttered, without another caption beside the main one (the name of the palace). Another issue I had was the fact that the events were not in chronological order, which was quite annoying.

Regarding the content, it was quite interesting to read about all the events that took place there, it's just a shame that I couldn't 100% enjoy the information because it felt more like reading a book for collage, than something I would read for fun.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion

[Rachel N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little book with brief histories of the royal castles and palaces through history. A good book for anyone with a general interest in the subject rather than those who already have some knowledge or are looking for more detailed information. The illustrations are beautiful but again, give an idea of the places rather than any detail. I did at first think it may possibly be aimed at children as there is a fashion among publishers at present for this type of cover for children's non fiction, but quickly discovered that was not the case and particularly enjoyed the illustrations throughout the book. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Captivating Dive into Royal Intrigue”
The Royal Palaces: Secrets and Scandals is an absolute gem for history buffs and royal enthusiasts alike! This book brilliantly weaves together centuries of intrigue, drama, and behind-the-scenes stories from some of the most iconic royal residences. The author’s attention to detail and ability to bring historical figures to life make every page an immersive experience. I especially loved how the scandals were presented—sensational yet well-researched, balancing entertainment with credibility. A must-read for anyone fascinated by the grandeur and gossip of royal life! Highly recommend.

[Ian Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a breezy but packed overview of all the Royal castles, densely stuffed with facts and figures but fairly accessible. It's probably best to dip in and out of and while there's some familiar facts here there's plenty of tidbits scattered throughout, and it's probably best for learning about some of the more obscure residencies.

My main issue is that there's so much information coming thick and fast in no particular order that's it's sometimes hard to keep track. The illustrations are lovely, but I did find myself wanting to know what the places really look like and get a better idea of where they are (or were). A map and a timeline would help enormously.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning book and a must for fans of the royal castles. I adore the illustrations which have been done in the very current urban sketching style. As a person who loves sketching myself, I love seeing how illustrators simplify structures without losing the character of the building or item. I found all places, i have been to, immediately recognizable.
The stories themselves are well written and researched as to be expected given the author's expertise. This would make for a great coffee table book.