The Four Wives of Windsor: –The True Power Behind The Royal Family

by Simon Vigar

From the heartbreak of Diana to the quiet strength of Camilla, from Meghan’s rebellion to Catherine’s composure, The Four Wives of Windsor brings together, for the first time, the four women who have changed the British monarchy forever.

Drawing on decades as one of Britain's most trusted and longest-serving royal correspondents, Simon Vigar offers an insider’s portrait of the lives behind the palace gates. Through vivid storytelling and revealing new insights, Vigar explores how these four outsiders who married into “the Firm” have navigated love, duty, an unforgiving public spotlight and each other.

With exclusive access and behind-the-scenes detail, The Four Wives of Windsor reveals how these women became the driving forces of change in an institution built on tradition and why their stories continue to captivate the world.

Genres: Nonfiction

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2026

Reviews

[Tracy Green]

Nothing New

Unfortunately, there is nothing new here. No insider information handed down that we haven’t heard before. Well written, but redundant.

[Susan]

Books about the royal family are my comfort reads and this was no exception. I read it while my husband was in the hospital for a cardiac procedure. It did not disappoint. This book has a unique structure- it follows the four modern princesses/queens to be - Diana, Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Meghan Duchess of Sussex-through parallel life shaping/changing events or periods that are part of their lives. For example, it compares each of their weddings, the births of their children, their engagements and courting periods with their spouses, their family histories etc. It is a unique way to explore which of the four has had the biggest impact on and is the most significant change maker of the royal family. The conclusion is Diana had the biggest impact but the others have had monumental impacts on their own ways. This is a truly unique and engrossing book.

[Marjolijn]

Absolutely loved this book!

[Miki]

6 stars. Hands down the best book about the Royal family I have ever read (and to my embarrassment, I have read a lot of them). This is partly due to the writing style and the content, and partly due to the fact that as a woman, I am more interested in the women of the royal family, than I am in the men.

[Diana Cheal]

I don’t usually like these modern biographies written by journalists, as they tend to cover the same topics. This however covered some new ground and I enjoyed it. Well written and researched and also painted a balanced POV.

[Tivoli Wallington]

This was a disappointment. No new information and actually pretty boring. Possibly a reasonable read for someone unfamiliar with the British Royal Family. I found it quite superficial.

[Pamela Hamilton]

I enjoyed it.

The author spells out that the UK monarch is not the King of "England" unlike other Royal authors!