The Memoirs of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester

by Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester

Excellent Book

Genres: History, Biography, Royalty, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have given this three stars because of the sheer voyeuristic pleasure of peering into the life of a rich, spoiled, privileged woman of the duchess's time, a woman who didn't lift a finger until she married in her 30s. She's clever, although poorly educated and completely philistine like most of her class, but as she lived until more than 100, clearly had a fantastic constitution. I would give the book one star for its social consciousness, which is zero - the Great Depression doesn't even get a mention - and no stars for its breathtakingly casual racism and snobbery (the natives are always happy and cheerful and better off under the British Empire, as are the tenants of her father's and then her husband's estates). She skates over the less glamorous aspects of her life, such as being forced into an arranged marriage to Henry, Duke of Gloucester, another member of the British Royal family with an IQ in the single digits, and the death of her elder son.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating life the Duchess of Gloucester had! Born in 1901 and living until 102, she lived though times that changed so drastically, it is hard to imagine how she felt about the world around her. Her emotions are tightly in check throughout the book, but she describes events, especially her time in Africa, with beautiful detail that brings her world to life.

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the memoirs of Queen Elizabeth II's late aunt, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. She was witty, well traveled and a keen observer of changing social customs and the nature of royal life. Her descriptions of her aristocratic Scottish childhood read like Downton Abbey - there was one maid who made the boiled eggs for breakfast in the stillroom while another maid made the scrambled, fried and poached eggs in the kitchen. As an adult, Alice traveled the world. In her 20s and early 30s, she spent time in Kenya (where she learned Swahili), South Africa, India and Pakistan (where she joined an expedition to the Afghan border). After her marriage to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester at the age of 34, she had a busy schedule of royal engagements during the Second World War and overseas tours including 2 years as viceregal consort of Australia. Henry and Alice brought their two young sons to Australia and there are fun anecdotes about the royal children on tour. Highly recommended.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice Scott had quite an adventurous life prior to marrying the third son of king George V in 1935. Most notably, she had lived for several years in Kenya and traveled, on safari and otherwise, across that continent. At age 35 she decided it was time to marry and soon was engaged to Prince Henry - who had been a family friend for many years (being in the same regiment as Alice’s brother).
Theirs was a busy and successful marriage. Before the war they lived the classic aristocratic life with dozens of retainers and several homes. Before the war was done, they were dispatched (in late 1944) to Australia where Henry was appointed Governor General. Rather a challenging voyage while the Japanese were still menacing the South Pacific.
After two years they were summonsed home as King George VI’s health deteriorated. After his death, they played a key role in “the firm” which at that time only consisted of them, the Queen, the Queen mother, Princess Margaret, and the two Kent cousins.
Interestingly, Alice mentions several warm private meetings with the Duke of Windsor (Henry’s brother) and even a few at which Wallis was present. She says they were both charming and she was a perfect hostess. Perhaps the Markles should read the book.

[Alice R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this memoir, one needs to bear in mind that it was written in the early 1980s by a person who led an eventful yet extremely privileged life.
That said, it is an intriguing and compelling look at life before and after WWII, during the last bits of the UK's colonial empire, told from a rather unique perspective.

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Princess Alice's book on her life and interesting times.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly flipped through this, reading random paragraphs and looking at pictures. A little excessive description makes the book seems tedious.