Charles: Victim or Villain

by Penny Junor

Charles, Prince of Wales, has long been the subject of intense scrutiny and speculation. Everyone assumes that they know the story of the Prince's life and his failed marriage to Diana. Diana herself told the world in no uncertain terms about her unhappiness with the British Royal Family, leaving no doubt as to whom she held responsible. But Diana's version was only part of the story. Penny Junor's new biography, Victim or Villain?, reveals the startling complexities and contradictions of a man born to a position of unique privilege. On the occasion of the Prince's fiftieth birthday it provides fresh perspective and entirely revolutionizes the way we think about Charles, his marriage and his mistress. Drawing on the memories, experiences and observations of those closest to the Prince, the Princess and Camilla -- some of whom have never spoken before -- Penny Junor is in an unrivaled position to explode and explain the popular myths. Her analysis of the Prince's marriage to Diana, a vulnerable but difficult young woman, and his relationship with Camilla, earthy and independent, results in a provocative new portrait of the man who will be King.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Royalty, Biography Memoir

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 1988

About the author

Born in Leatherhead, Surrey, Junor was educated at the independent Benenden School in Kent and read History at St Andrews University, but left in her second year to get married.

Junor has worked for the Evening Standard and a column for Private Eye lasted five years.

Best known for her books on the British Royal Family, she has written biographies of Diana, Princess of Wales (1982) and Charles, Prince of Wales (1987 and 1998), and Charles and Diana: Portrait of a Marriage (1991). The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor followed in 2005. Her work on the Waleses "alienated" both of them and she reportedly considers the experience the worst of her career. She has also written and had published a book titled Prince William: The Man Who Will Be King. This biography of Prince William ends with his marriage to Kate Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge.

Junor's other books include works on Margaret Thatcher (1983), actor Richard Burton (1986), John Major (1993) and Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me (2007), the co-authored memoir of Pattie Boyd a former wife of both musicians. Junor assisted Sir Cliff Richard in writing the number one best selling My Life, My Way which sold over 250,000 copies (2008) and Shaun Ellis with his book The Man Who Lives with Wolves (2009).

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but wish there was more about Charles before he met Diana, like about his childhood and what it was like growing up as a modern Prince. Other comments have mentioned how it trashes Diana and does nothing but make Charles a saint and I'd have to disagree. She mentions plenty of faults about Charles and has many good things to say about Diana. But life isn't black and white and there is blame all around. Diana wasn't a perfect angel and Charles wasn't Satan personified. If that's the kind you're looking for, read Andrew Morton's book.

[Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a more favorable impression of Prince Charles and a more negative view of Princess Diana after reading this book.

[Redfox5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was almost as good as A Royal Duty by Paul Burrell. Two chapters let it down. Difficulties at work and Organic Highgrove. The whole book kept me page turning but I was bored at this bit and went on the sims instead before coming back to it later. This book has enforced my original opinion of Diana in that she was abit of show ho - Yep. I bet thats never been a label given to the princess before. But then this book was written I think more favorably for Charles. But Penny does try and balance it out a little bit with some bad aspects of the Prince. Parts of what Penny has written conflicts with what Paul has written especially regarding what happen to Dianas personal letters after she died. Penny claims that Paul gave the spencers the letters to be destroyed but Paul said that he saw the Spencers destroying the letters and spoke to the Queen about it. Who to belive?
It's a shame that the letters have been destroyed. Charles still has his, so many years in the future History will decide on them from a one sided account and other peoples opinions. One things both books have in common is that they both say Diana regretted the Andrew Morton book. I shall have to bear this in mind when I read it. This book was written in 1998 and at the end, it worries for the future of William and Harry. I'm glad that this worry was unfounded because apart from a few naked pictures they seem to be doing very well.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having followed the "fairy tale" of Charles & Diana from the beginning through the tragic and sad ending, I found reading the other side of the story very interesting.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read since I read it after The Diana Chronicles. It was interesting to see some people's perspective on who Charles really is. I think I have a better opinion of him after reading two books about his life. I think he is quite intelligent and very accomplished with art, sports, and his other interests. Wish he had a few more scruples in the morality department though. I think he has led a kind of sad life even with all of the benefits he has had of growing up as a Prince who is destined to become King. The wealth and power hasn't shielded him from having to face some major trials in his life.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Night gut!

[Jan]

Lost my faith in author

After finding a simple error early in the book makes wonder how many other errors were not caught.
Canada does not have a president. Like England, Canada has a prime minister. Simple proofreading should have caught that error. The author, the editor, and the publisher all missed that glaring mistake.
If things were accurate I would have learned a lot about the prince. The things I learned made me revise my opinion of Prince Charles.
I wish I could trust any of the information.

[L.R. Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I figured it wouldn't hurt to read this book. After all, everyone has the right to give his/her side of the story. It was an okay read, but I have to admit there were times that the author tried to squeeze a little too much sympathy for the prince. I mean really; you're trying to tell me that a grown man didn't know that he shouldn't take a pics of another woman on his honeymoon? Come on. However, I am more than likely to believe that both parties were victims of a horrible mismatch.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting regarding Charles’ personality and how people perceived him and Camilla. I just hope that they are both happy together now regardless of what anyone thinks of them as they sound like generous and kind people who were destined to be together. I thought the world of Princess Diana but she was never going to happy with Charles. The boys are a credit to both parents however they both have issues that I hope they resolve.

[Sofeazahari · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book that was cooperated by 30 of Charles’ courtiers and friends that was approved by Charles’ spin dr. (Mark bolland) to smear diana. Pretty weak, fighting someone who’s already dead and can’t defend herself.

[MK · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted a window into Charles' side of the story. The author does a good job of balancing perspectives and I was surprised to learn that his relationship with Camilla didn't play out the way Diana said it did. The big case here was that Charles wanted it to work and thought he had found someone who was compatible. It also makes sense to me that Diana, as young as she was, would pretend to be into all the things he was into. It's just tragic all the way around.

One big problem I had is not knowing that Canada has Prime Ministers, not Presidents. That was a huge WTF, which unfortunately gives room to discredit the entire book. How did the editors not catch this?

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what this book would be like, would it paint Prince Charles as a 'victim' or a 'villain', well it showed that he is just like the average person, a some what flawed person, with good and bad qualities, and it showed Princess Diana in a similar light.
Unlike the Andrew Morton book on Princess Diana this book gives a more well rounded view of the Prince and Princess of Wales, from the start to end of their marriage, and it also shines some light into the life that Prince Charles has lead since birth.
Worth reading ; yes!

[S L Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel a lot has been avoided in this biography. But it does try to give a balanced view. First book I have read about the Royals. A few eye openers. Especially how much business Prince Charles gets involved with. I get the feeling he is a lot richer than we are allowed to know.

[Barbara B. Sulier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good to see other side, but as always both sides are biased

[Volare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-balanced information regarding the courtship, marriage, divorce and post-death relationship of Charles and Diana.

[Ingrid Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, informative and tidily written. Clears up a few rumours.

[Tushar Mangl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penny Junor’s Charles: Victim or Villain? replaces gossip with grounded insight. It’s investigative, fair, and quietly bold. Few biographies age this well.


 Read the full analysis on  https://www.tusharmangl.com/2025/11/c... 


Sometimes a book rearranges the noise around a story you thought you knew. Penny Junor’s Charles: Victim or Villain? is that kind of book.

When I first picked it up, I expected another retelling of the Charles and Diana saga.  What I found was a carefully built argument that neither crowns nor condemns its subject. Junor takes apart the mythology surrounding Britain’s most public marriage and rebuilds it using first-hand accounts from people who actually knew the Prince, Diana, and Camilla. It’s research.

 Junor doesn’t ask you to adore Charles. She asks you to understand him. 

Her writing has the calm authority of a seasoned journalist and the empathy of someone who’s seen how power isolates. You begin to feel for everyone involved, Charles, who couldn’t be ordinary even if he wanted to; Diana, whose charisma became both armour and weapon; and Camilla, unfairly flattened into a villain’s role for decades.

 The photographs add texture, the tone never slides into gossip, and the prose keeps its British composure even when emotions crack through the surface.

 Two decades later, King Charles III sits on the throne, and her portrait of him as a man shaped by duty and scrutiny feels eerily accurate.

If you’re tired of recycled narratives about Diana or monarchy, this is the corrective you need.