Mi marido y yo

by Ingrid Seward, Alfredo Blanco Solís (Translator)

When a young Princess Elizabeth met and fell in love with the dashing Naval Lieutenant Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, it wasn't without its problems. The romance between the sailor prince and the young princess brought a splash of colour to a nation still in the grip of post-war austerity. When they married in Westminster Abbey in November 1947, there were 3000 guests, including six kings and seven queens. Within five years, as Queen Elizabeth II, she would ascend to the throne and later be crowned in front of millions watching through the new medium of television. Throughout her record-breaking reign, she relied on the formidable partnership she had made with her consort. Now, after 70 years of their marriage, acclaimed royal biographer Ingrid Seward sheds new light on their relationship and its impact on their family and on the nation.
     In My Husband and I, we discover the challenges faced by Prince Philip as he has had to learn to play second fiddle to the Queen in all their public engagements, but we also get a revealing insight into how their relationship operates behind closed doors. As the years have gone by, there have been rumours of marital troubles, fierce debates over how to bring up their children, and they have had to deal with family traumas - from scandalous divorces to shocking deaths - in the full glare of the public eye. But somehow, their relationship has endured and provided a model of constancy to inspire all around them. This book is not only a vivid portrait of a hugely important marriage, it is a celebration of the power of love. 

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Royalty, Biography Memoir, British Literature, Historical

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 2017

About the author

Ingrid Seward is Editor-in-Chief of Majesty magazine, the leading monthly journal covering all aspects of British, European and other royal families around the world.

Since it began in 1980 Majesty magazine has remained the market leader in its field.

Ingrid is acknowledged as one of the pre-eminent writers and commentators on the royal family and has published over 20 books and contributed numerous articles to publications worldwide.

An experienced public speaker both in the UK and North America, Ingrid has worked for every major TV and radio station across the world. She is currently royal commentator for ABC network's Good Morning America.

Ingrid is in the unique position of knowing many members of the royal family personally and through Majesty enjoys a special relationship with the Royal Household.

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip is the ultimate iconic married couple, been in their each other side for 70 years. Quite the achievement, Royal or not. I recently read the book about Prince Philips life by Ingrid Seward and I wanted more about the relationship and I got excited when I found this book as well. Ingrid Seward has quite the few books about the royal family and I might read them all not sure yet. A very interesting look about them, informative but not boring. Interesting indept discussions and information about their more personal life but nothing that feels gossipy in anyway. Feels more like an almost normal account on real people than something gossipy and juciy about celebrity. Sewed can write about them very taste fully and I very much enjoyed it.

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read, rather light but not lacking interest either.
Undoubtedly, gives due credit to the strength of Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth’s marriage. Furthermore, sheds a refreshing light on the importance of tradition and duty in a world where those qualities are often disregarded.
I have the utmost respect for the Queen and her husband.

[Jeilen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Más material complementario a The Crown. Esta vez del matrimonio de la reina.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll give this 3.5 stars. An easy read. Nothing too startling or revealing for those who are well informed about this couple and their family. This would be an insightful book for people who form their opinions from tabloids or gossip. Well referenced and although you could expect Seward to write a 'rose coloured' version, she has addressed some of the less positive facets to Elizabeth and Phillip's personalities.

[V.E. Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, though fairly light, biography of the Queen and Prince Philip's seventy year marriage. Not a lot of new material but Ingrid Seward does go into absorbing detail on the upbringing of the royal couple's children, all four of them, rather than just focus on the difficult relationship between Prince Charles and his parents. Seward does not neglect the heir however and the chapters on his doomed marriage to Lady Diana Spencer, and Prince Philip's attempt at marriage counselling, were also amongst the most fascinating in the book. A good read for all royal followers.

[Crystal FloridaGrams Of3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good but the ending was a disappointment. Jumping from 1997 to 2013 kinda ridiculous.

[pi.kavka · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My Husband & I". Królowa Elżbieta częstokroć właśnie tak zaczyna swoje przemowy. Prawdopodobnie jest to jedyny moment, w którym jej mąż - książę Filip - występuje wówczas przed nią. Filip przez całe życie znajdował się - i znajduje - w cieniu swojej małżonki, zawsze o te dwa kroki za nią. Jak być głową rodziny, kiedy Twoja żona jest głową kilku państw? Ingrid Seward stara się odpowiedzieć na to pytanie.

Królowa Elżbieta nigdy nie była zakochana w innym mężczyźnie niż FIlip. Co więcej, prawdopodobnie nie miała nawet sposobności, by kogoś innego poznać. Lata 30., 40. XX wieku to wciąż okres, w którym w brytyjskiej rodzinie królewskiej tytuł i urodzenie przewyższa miłość. Elżbiecie udało się jednak znaleźć księcia (no, zabiedzonego, ale zawsze) i jednocześnie obdarzyć go uczuciem. Uczuciem, który darzy swojego krolewicz już od siedemdziesięciu lat.

Królowa i jej mąż to dwa odmienne charaktery. Ona jest oazą spokoju, szalenie dystyngowaną i taktowną. On to w gorącej wodzie kąpany żartowniś, który niejednokrotnie miał ochotę zbuntować się przeciwko etykiecie. A jednak jakoś to koło ciągle się kręci i różnice charakterów okazały się bardzo pomocne, gdy nad rodziną królewską zawisły najczarniejsze chmury.

Książka to udana biografia monarchini i jej męża. Jednak nie zgodzę się z tym, że jest pozbawiona "laurkowego" tonu. Choć autorka stara się podsuwać czytelnikom jakieś ostrzejsze smaczki, to jednak całość jest ostrożna i widać, że bardzo obawiała się ona kontrowersji. Plotki o romansach Filipa kwituje krótkim "nonsens" i przytacza minimalną ilość wypowiedzi przemawiających za prawdziwością tej tezy. Poza tym, można wyczuć, że autorka zdecydowanie bardziej sympatyzuje z rodziną królewską, aniżeli z rodziną Spencerów, zwłaszcza bratem słynnej Lady Di. Nie ma w tym nic złego, wszyscy mamy swoje antypatie, ale jednak tutaj ta polaryzacja uczuć na tyle mocno rzuca się w oczy, że autorka trochę traci zaufanie.

Niemniej jednak całość napisana jest lekkim, może wręcz takim gawędziarskim językiem i pozwala lepiej poznać królową. Brakowało smaczków i zdjęć. Szkoda, że autorka nie postarała się o licencję na kilka fotografii, które mogłyby nadać bohaterom książki twarzy i charakteru.

Polecam, jeśli interesujecie się brytyjską rodziną królewską i jeżeli już Was trochę nudzą pojawiające się zewsząd wyłącznie biografie Lady Di i jej synów oraz ich żon.

Królowa też jest fascynująca!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for an e-copy of My Husband and I in exchange for an honest review.

My Husband and I is a in-depth look at the over 70 year long marriage between HRH Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. It covers both of their personal history, how they met, some of the controversies they weathered, and more. What I appreciated about this book in particular was a special focus on Prince Philip and how he navigated his particular and unusual role in the marriage. My favourite chapter was probably the one that compares Albert and Philip as I am currently watching Victoria on tv and just finished The Crown.
My only criticism is because the narrative is not strictly chronological (it more covers certain topics per chapter) some of it seemed repetitive. Particular sentences can be found in multiple chapters and history repeated as it pertains to more than one topic. I also found the author was maybe too particularly fond of the Royal Family and seemed to lean towards over complimenting them or quickly brushing over some of their more negative traits.
Overall, an interesting read for any Royal fan or fans of The Crown.

[Torri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read if you enjoy Royal history

I enjoyed reading about the Queen and Prince Phillips early years together, as well as the history of their early lives. This is a must read if you enjoy reading about Royal history and the British monarchy.

[Dawn Emsen-Hough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I would have preferred a sequential approach to the topical approach used, but very easy reading and really interesting. If you are a lover of the royal family, would definitely recommend.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not a very deep or insightful account into the royal marriage but an interesting read nonetheless.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lahe lugemine, sai päris hea ülevaate nende kahe ikoonilise inimese elust ja abielust :)

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very laudatory joint biography.

[Iva Nesheva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it would have more intimate things about the family,but yet it was very interesting and I learned a lot of new things about royal life.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this book for a while but with the recent death of Prince Philip I decided to give it a read now. Despite only knowing him through TV, newspapers and magazines I cried all through the funeral for many reasons, like my grandfather Prince Philip served in the navy so anytime I hear For Those in Peril on the Sea and last post I always cry anyway. It just brings home we've lost another of that generation the generation that in a world gone crazy should really be an example to us all. They never complained about rationing, blackouts, and many went willingly to war to fight for freedom. But sadly most of that generation is now labeled as racist and evil despite fighting literal evil. Which sadly happened to Prince Philip. He was a man of his time and while he definitely said some ignorant and offensive things it does not diminish all the good he did. Anyway that's my little rant over onto the book. The main reason the water works started for me was the sight of Anne and Charles with tears watering their eyes and the look of pure devastation on their faces and of course the queen, looking so alone and sad, the first time we've seen her without her strength and stay at a major family event. The book was written for their 70th anniversary and I cannot imagine how devastated and lost she must've felt. The book is a look into their marriage, there isn't a whole lot new but I did quite enjoy the little tidbits thrown in showing the more human and fun side of their family life. There were moments I laughed out loud. Prince Philip's sense of humour was legendary and you can still see how it was passed on to his children and grandchildren. So a decent read, a bit slow at times but very readable. It would be interesting to get an update what with all the controversy that has been playing out lately. All I can say is as someone who was close to my grandparents I hope a certain prince doesn't come to regret the choices he's currently making, but given how he keeps talking I doubt it. But hey to each their own I guess. It's a lovely story of a long and what appeared be a happy marriage.

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of the royal family and own many books on the subject. This one is written well and by someone in the know , editor of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward. Totally factual, easy to ready and informative, I enjoyed every moment.

[Andy Bannister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and fast moving — just a little bit light in places.

[Novelle Novels · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book in the late queen ant prince Philip

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look behind the curtain of one of the world’s most famous couples.

[Lore de librosydestinos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi reseña completa en IG librosydestinos https://www.instagram.com/p/CkvlOufOK...

👑El libro empieza bien, contandonos acerca del pasado de Elizabeth y Phillip, cómo se conocieron y las dificultades que tuvieron que afrontar durante 70 años de matrimonio.

👑Con testimonios de conocidos y empleados, la autora construye un relato “políticamente correcto” donde apenas deja entrever algun escandalo pero sin ahondar en el asunto.

👑Y mientras que habla poco de la intimidad de la pareja, dedica capítulos enteros a los caballos, perros y comidas oficiales.

👑Tal vez ese exceso de respeto hacia la monarquia hace que al libro le falte sal y pimienta y, en general, no agregue mucha información que no se supiera.

[✨BELLE✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ha sido, sencillamente, mi fuerza y apoyo durante todos estos años, y yo, y toda su familia, y tanto este como muchos otros países, tenemos una deuda con él mucho mayor de la que él nunca reclamaría, o de la que nosotros seríamos conscientes." Reina Isabel sobre el Príncipe Felipe.

Este libro es el recuento de una historia de amor, aunque la mayoría de gente afirma que fue un matrimonio arreglado, yo jamás lo he considerado así. Pienso firmemente que había amor, compresión y respeto, y que todos esos sentimientos maduraron a medida que la reina y el príncipe envejecían juntos.

Super recomendado...

[Elite Group · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative description of an enduring royal marriage.

I am in my sixties so remembered a lot of the events that were in this book but really enjoyed finding out in more detail about some of the trials and tribulations that occurred in the last seventy years within the Royal Family.

This was no doubt a love match between a young, beautiful princess and a handsome prince. However this was never going to be a fairy-tale and the author seems to have a lot of insider knowledge about events in the palace, some of which were fascinating and gave a good insight into the problems besetting the Royals throughout.

There were some events that I did not know about. For example, I always thought Princess Margaret was forbidden to marry Group Captain Townsend by the Queen when in fact she would have been happy for the marriage to go ahead as long as it took place in Scotland.

It also illustrates how times have changed throughout the last century. The Queen’s family seem to have an uncanny knack of unhappy marriages and divorces which, if anything, highlights the long-standing marriage of the Queen and Philip. The way the world has changed has become even more apparent now Prince Harry is marrying a mixed-race divorcee who is American and an actress. This would have been totally unacceptable not many years ago.

This book was very readable and well-written. It lost a star because I thought that it was too slanted towards the Royal Family. There were hints about Prince Philip’s affairs for example but nothing decisive; presumably, because this would not have been permitted. Diana was also portrayed as the main problem in her marriage to Charles but nothing was said about his ongoing affair with Camilla.

However, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Royals as it is a very interesting insight into how the monarchy has triumphed over many setbacks but seems to have come back even stronger. I have always thought this is down to the Queen and not her rather dysfunctional family!

Dexter

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book for me to provide an honest and fair review!

It would be an understatement to say that I was excited when I was approved to read this book; Ingrid Seward has been editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine for as long as I've been reading it, and I knew that she would have insights into the British Royal Family's relationship. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have been married for 70 years now, and are the rock of the royal family. No matter what happens, Elizabeth and Philip will weather it. I know that some people have said that this book doesn't offer anything new besides what is reported in the tabloids but as an avid royal watcher, I strongly disagree!

The book begins with both Elizabeth and Philip's childhood, which doesn't offer much new. However, it quickly moves into their family life together. I found the discussions of their relationships with their children fascinating. We know that Charles struggled to have a relationship with his father, but Seward goes further into each of their relationships with each of their children, as well as their spouses. For anyone who saw the imploding House of Windsor in the 1980s and 1990s, it gives far more insight.

I also greatly appreciated that she explained their thoughts and approaches to religion and politics and education- while we see them often, we don't hear much of their own opinions. It gives you much more to consider when they do give speeches and interviews! I will be watching the Queen's Christmas speech with even more interest now.

[Neil Spark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devotion to duty, steadfastness and stability are the synonymous with the Queen. Ingrid Seward has written a sympathetic biography of the British monarch and her husband. The Netflix series, The Crown, the Queen becoming the longest serving British monarch and the next generation have increased interest in Royal Family.
The book is no tell-all, no revelations or salacious gossip. Prince Phillip's gaffes are referred to and explained away as humour or response to boredom. The Prince's love life outside the marriage is also dealt with and found wanting. The Prince elicits sympathy. He has devoted his life to giving unwavering supporting to the Queen.
The family's trials and tribulations, including it's lowest point -- Princess Diana's death -- are covered. For those familiar with the family, there's no new incformation; for others interested in learning more, this easy-to-read account is a good place to start.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are moments of repetition where a situation or quote is used after having been just used a few chapters earlier, and there were a few editing errors which bothered me. One part of the Queen's reign that I felt was not focused on nearly at all was The affair between Charles and Camilla. Except for in the final chapter, it wasn't mentioned at all. And when it was, it was only in relation to the correspondence between Diana and Prince Philip, not the actual act itself.

The final chapter felt a bit off to me spending much of the "wrap-up" focused on the scandal of the supposed assassination of Diana orchestrated by Prince Philip and then quickly switching gears to focusing on his and the Queen's marriage.

Aside from these few grievances, I found this book to be extremely interesting ( I've been annoying my parents all week with the random tidbits I've learned) and quite humorous at times too. I recommend this book if you are interested in the Royal Family or enjoy history.

[Bill A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Expected more - something new to the conversation or a realistic look at the good and the bad. The author mentions how the success of Netflix's "The Crown" generated renewed interest in the British royal family, hence creating space for this book. However, I think she misses the mark, and certainly doesn't add anything new to the story or our interests. The Crown is episodicly examining stories within the narrative of the royal family (maybe even taking some poetic license with the truth) in a way that recognizes/admits the good and the bad. That is what we are finding interesting. This book is written by an insider in a manner that worships the ground the royal family walks on - in this book, they do little wrong and their lives are perfect. I found the narrative to be dry, unrealistic and utterly lacking anything new or interesting.

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of major themes in the lives of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh including their interests, parenting and social lives. For readers who have read other books about the royal family, however, there is little new material and a lot of repetition. The speculation concerning Prince Philip's personal life has already been examined in detail in Gyles Brandreth's book, Philip and Elizabeth. Prince Charles's childhood difficulties received extensive attention in biographies of Charles by Jonathan Dimbleby and Sally Bedell Smith. The book also devotes more than one chapter to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, another topic that has been the subject of numerous other books. A well known narrative, published in honour of the Queen's 70th wedding anniversary.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives the reader an insight in to the Royal family that few get to know about!
As they say, 'warts and all'.
We have all heard the stories about Prince Philip, about how brash he can be, this book helps us to see a many faceted Prince Philip, the loving husband, father, grandfather, military man, etc, it's clear he doesn't 'suffer fools', and clearly adores his wife and children!
This is not just a love story between the Queen and her Prince, but a look inside the Royal family !
If you are interested or just curious about the Royal family, then I suggest you take the time to read this book. It's not like some books about the Royal family, it's not full of hype, and drama, but more a down to earth look!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ingrid Seward's "My Husband and I: The Inside Story of 70 Years of the Royal Marriage" is an account of the Queen and Prince Philip's remarkable relationship. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the book is a recounting of well-known and frequently told anecdotes that even causal royal watchers have heard previously. One would think that Seward, the long-time editor of Majesty Magazine, would have new insights, particularly as a professional journalist who has covered the Queen and Philip for more than a generation. While the book is interesting and a quick read, Seward adds little to the historiography of the Queen and Philip.

[Jenny Hilborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read. This is an interesting look inside the marriage of the heads of the Royal Family. A number of the reviews show criticism for glossing over the parts of history concerning Diana, but the book is not about her, it's about the relationship and marriage between the Queen and Prince Philip and shows how they have successfully negotiated problems and challenges within their 70 years of marriage and within the monarchy. It's an excellent and informative book for anyone who knows little about the history of the Royal Family.