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The People’s Princess
Buckingham Palace, 1981
Her engagement to Prince Charles is a dream come true for Lady Diana Spencer but marrying the heir to the throne is not all that it seems. Alone and bored in the palace, she resents the stuffy courtiers who are intent on instructing her about her new role as Princess of Wales…
But when she discovers a diary written in the 1800s by Princess Charlotte of Wales, a young woman born into a gilded cage so like herself, Diana is drawn into the story of Charlotte’s reckless love affairs and fraught relationship with her father, the Prince Regent.
As she reads the diary, Diana can see many parallels with her own life and future as Princess of Wales.
The story allows a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life in the palace, the tensions in Diana’s relationship with the royal family during the engagement, and the wedding itself.
Her engagement to Prince Charles is a dream come true for Lady Diana Spencer but marrying the heir to the throne is not all that it seems. Alone and bored in the palace, she resents the stuffy courtiers who are intent on instructing her about her new role as Princess of Wales…
But when she discovers a diary written in the 1800s by Princess Charlotte of Wales, a young woman born into a gilded cage so like herself, Diana is drawn into the story of Charlotte’s reckless love affairs and fraught relationship with her father, the Prince Regent.
As she reads the diary, Diana can see many parallels with her own life and future as Princess of Wales.
The story allows a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life in the palace, the tensions in Diana’s relationship with the royal family during the engagement, and the wedding itself.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2022
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4658 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
March 31, 2022
Before I get to this book, can I talk about that coo coo for cocoa puffs 2021 movie “Spencer” for a second? Anyone else go into that expecting “The Crown” and end up wondering if they wandered into a horror festival for mushroom smokers by accident?
Anyway, in that weird piece of cinema, Princess Diana comes across a book about Anne Boleyn and realizes as she reads through it that it was placed in her room as a not-so-subtle hint that if she doesn’t play nice as Charles’s wife she’ll end up like that beheaded predecessor. The lives of the two women ebb and flow in Diana’s mind throughout the film.
So that’s pretty much what was on MY mind as I listened to the audiobook of Flora Harding’s new historical fiction novel, The People’s Princess. It would be hard not to compare the two, since in the book Diana again compares herself to a royal before her - this time Princess Charlotte of Wales from the 19th Century. That’s right my friends, it’s dual timeline time!
Now I know me some Diana. A publisher says “jump for this book about her,” and I say, “How high?!” The People’s Princess doesn’t really bring anything new to the conversation about her. If you’ve seen season four of “The Crown,” the book’s sections about Diana read almost like its novelization.
On the other hand, I knew diddly squat about Princess Charlotte. Never even heard of her. She was supposed to become queen, until she (spoiler alert… but not really… it’s history, people) tragically died delivering a stillborn son. I surprisingly would have enjoyed her sections if not for the fact that…
…the dreaded diary technique was used. Yes, once again Diana finds Charlotte’s diary, which serves as the vehicle to transition to and from her story. It just bugs me to no end when a “diary” reads like a first-person novel, where we’re supposed to believe that the “diarist” wrote out entire scenes including both sides of lengthy dialogue. Come on now, editors, why you gotta play us readers like that?
All things considered, this was a pretty solid 3.5 star audiobook for me. One narrator, Julie Teal, performs both time periods, but it was still easy to distinguish which princess was the focus at any moment.
In conclusion: Absolutely 100% watch “The Crown.” Maybe check out this book. Run like h. e. double hockey sticks from “Spencer.”
My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and One More Chapter for the gifted review copy. The People’s Princess is now available.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
Anyway, in that weird piece of cinema, Princess Diana comes across a book about Anne Boleyn and realizes as she reads through it that it was placed in her room as a not-so-subtle hint that if she doesn’t play nice as Charles’s wife she’ll end up like that beheaded predecessor. The lives of the two women ebb and flow in Diana’s mind throughout the film.
So that’s pretty much what was on MY mind as I listened to the audiobook of Flora Harding’s new historical fiction novel, The People’s Princess. It would be hard not to compare the two, since in the book Diana again compares herself to a royal before her - this time Princess Charlotte of Wales from the 19th Century. That’s right my friends, it’s dual timeline time!
Now I know me some Diana. A publisher says “jump for this book about her,” and I say, “How high?!” The People’s Princess doesn’t really bring anything new to the conversation about her. If you’ve seen season four of “The Crown,” the book’s sections about Diana read almost like its novelization.
On the other hand, I knew diddly squat about Princess Charlotte. Never even heard of her. She was supposed to become queen, until she (spoiler alert… but not really… it’s history, people) tragically died delivering a stillborn son. I surprisingly would have enjoyed her sections if not for the fact that…
…the dreaded diary technique was used. Yes, once again Diana finds Charlotte’s diary, which serves as the vehicle to transition to and from her story. It just bugs me to no end when a “diary” reads like a first-person novel, where we’re supposed to believe that the “diarist” wrote out entire scenes including both sides of lengthy dialogue. Come on now, editors, why you gotta play us readers like that?
All things considered, this was a pretty solid 3.5 star audiobook for me. One narrator, Julie Teal, performs both time periods, but it was still easy to distinguish which princess was the focus at any moment.
In conclusion: Absolutely 100% watch “The Crown.” Maybe check out this book. Run like h. e. double hockey sticks from “Spencer.”
My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and One More Chapter for the gifted review copy. The People’s Princess is now available.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
April 12, 2022
This was a rough one. I enjoyed the Princess Charlotte diary entries. The Princess Diana parts were horrible. More than once the phrase, "thick as two planks of wood" were used. Inferring Princess Diana was not smart really made me mad. Then the constant implication that Princess Diana was some shrinking violet that spent most of her time purging was disgusting. This author tried to make Diana look vapid. If I could, I would demand a refund for the money I spent on this book.
March 1, 2022
3.5 Stars rounded up to 4
When I saw this book cover I knew I HAD to read it. I love Princess Diana and even visited her ancestral home Althorp, where she is laid to rest on the lake oval. I saw her wedding dress up close while on display there in 1999. Like millions of others, I watched her wedding to Prince Charles, getting up at 5am in 1981, doing the same for her funeral in 1997. Many books, movies and documentaries later, it's easier to view this marriage without a jaundiced eye for what it was...a disaster! However, it still doesn't wash away the love I have for her- faults and all. She just was a work in progress whose life was extinguished too soon.
Honestly, I was highly disappointed that this wasn't strictly a historical fiction book about Princess Diana. It actually has a dual narrative with many more chapters about Charlotte, Princess of Wales. This tragic royal figure would have become Queen of England- and not Victoria- had she not died from complications of childbirth. The book begins with Lady Diana being housed at Buckingham Palace after the engagement announcement to Prince Charles. It was a false narrative that she was living with the Queen Mother at the adjacent Clarence House, because the public might have thought it inappropriate that they were living in the same place while unmarried. How prudish and ridiculous this seems today! Buckingham Palace has hundreds of rooms! While Lady Diana wistfully wanders the many halls at BP, she is intrigued by a painting of Charlotte, Princess of Wales. She asks Prince Charles about her, and he directs Diana to an expert on the subject. Diana is given a manuscript of Princess Charlotte's diary which accounts her difficult upbringing with parents who despised each other, and her drama deciding whom she would marry. The parallel storyline is meant to demonstrate the similarities of problems that both Princess of Waleses experienced. However, while there were multiple consecutive chapters involving Charlotte, there were less dedicated to Lady Diana. I found this frustrating and towards the beginning of the book I was tempted to stop reading. But, since I recently watched a series about Queen Victoria and wanted to understand better the unlikely circumstances which led to her ascending England's throne at 18, I read on.
Lady Diana brings Charlotte's diary with her everywhere she goes in the run up to her wedding, finding it just as interesting as the Barbara Cartland romance novels she loves to read. She gleans some inspiration from it: a shared suffering in areas like zealous press interest, clashing with parents, and the uncertainty whether to marry.
The book is frank regarding the reason for Diana's bulimia, distrust and jealously towards Prince Charles' former girlfriends (who were still treasured "friends"), and her inability to understand the duties of a royal- which must take precedence over Diana's clingy needs. The novel ends at the conclusion of Diana and Charles' wedding day, where she sincerely hopes her marriage exceeds her expectations like Princess Charlotte's had.
Although I was resentful at the beginning that the book wasn't full bore about Lady Diana, the tragic and emotional story of the "almost" Queen Charlotte eventually drew me in. It helped to fill in some crucial missing areas in my British royal history knowledge to understand how England got to experience the Victorian Era instead of a Charlottian Era. The author's rendering of the character of Lady Diana was spot on. When I decided to read this book, I had no idea that the author was Flora Harding who wrote the exquisite Before the Crown, a book I rated 5 Stars. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much due to the content, but no doubt this was a quality read.
Thank you to the publisher HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
When I saw this book cover I knew I HAD to read it. I love Princess Diana and even visited her ancestral home Althorp, where she is laid to rest on the lake oval. I saw her wedding dress up close while on display there in 1999. Like millions of others, I watched her wedding to Prince Charles, getting up at 5am in 1981, doing the same for her funeral in 1997. Many books, movies and documentaries later, it's easier to view this marriage without a jaundiced eye for what it was...a disaster! However, it still doesn't wash away the love I have for her- faults and all. She just was a work in progress whose life was extinguished too soon.
Honestly, I was highly disappointed that this wasn't strictly a historical fiction book about Princess Diana. It actually has a dual narrative with many more chapters about Charlotte, Princess of Wales. This tragic royal figure would have become Queen of England- and not Victoria- had she not died from complications of childbirth. The book begins with Lady Diana being housed at Buckingham Palace after the engagement announcement to Prince Charles. It was a false narrative that she was living with the Queen Mother at the adjacent Clarence House, because the public might have thought it inappropriate that they were living in the same place while unmarried. How prudish and ridiculous this seems today! Buckingham Palace has hundreds of rooms! While Lady Diana wistfully wanders the many halls at BP, she is intrigued by a painting of Charlotte, Princess of Wales. She asks Prince Charles about her, and he directs Diana to an expert on the subject. Diana is given a manuscript of Princess Charlotte's diary which accounts her difficult upbringing with parents who despised each other, and her drama deciding whom she would marry. The parallel storyline is meant to demonstrate the similarities of problems that both Princess of Waleses experienced. However, while there were multiple consecutive chapters involving Charlotte, there were less dedicated to Lady Diana. I found this frustrating and towards the beginning of the book I was tempted to stop reading. But, since I recently watched a series about Queen Victoria and wanted to understand better the unlikely circumstances which led to her ascending England's throne at 18, I read on.
Lady Diana brings Charlotte's diary with her everywhere she goes in the run up to her wedding, finding it just as interesting as the Barbara Cartland romance novels she loves to read. She gleans some inspiration from it: a shared suffering in areas like zealous press interest, clashing with parents, and the uncertainty whether to marry.
The book is frank regarding the reason for Diana's bulimia, distrust and jealously towards Prince Charles' former girlfriends (who were still treasured "friends"), and her inability to understand the duties of a royal- which must take precedence over Diana's clingy needs. The novel ends at the conclusion of Diana and Charles' wedding day, where she sincerely hopes her marriage exceeds her expectations like Princess Charlotte's had.
Although I was resentful at the beginning that the book wasn't full bore about Lady Diana, the tragic and emotional story of the "almost" Queen Charlotte eventually drew me in. It helped to fill in some crucial missing areas in my British royal history knowledge to understand how England got to experience the Victorian Era instead of a Charlottian Era. The author's rendering of the character of Lady Diana was spot on. When I decided to read this book, I had no idea that the author was Flora Harding who wrote the exquisite Before the Crown, a book I rated 5 Stars. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much due to the content, but no doubt this was a quality read.
Thank you to the publisher HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
April 7, 2022
I was expecting a book about Princess Diana, but ended up finding Princess Charlotte's story even more endearing!
The dual storyline in this book is tied together very well. Princess Diana during her engagement sees a portrait of Princess Charlotte and digs into learning about her.
Even though this is a work of fiction, so much research was done to have gotten the descriptions and events accurate. The writing and character development is superb and you can really tell the similarities in how both Diana and Charlotte feel about life and love during their young lives. The part that really hit me was the fact of really getting to know someone before truly being in love. If Diana's story had continued, I think we would have seen her development of love, but we also know her eventual demise as well. I enjoyed learning about Charlotte since I hadn't known much about her.
Two enjoyable Princess coming of age stories in one!
Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
The dual storyline in this book is tied together very well. Princess Diana during her engagement sees a portrait of Princess Charlotte and digs into learning about her.
Even though this is a work of fiction, so much research was done to have gotten the descriptions and events accurate. The writing and character development is superb and you can really tell the similarities in how both Diana and Charlotte feel about life and love during their young lives. The part that really hit me was the fact of really getting to know someone before truly being in love. If Diana's story had continued, I think we would have seen her development of love, but we also know her eventual demise as well. I enjoyed learning about Charlotte since I hadn't known much about her.
Two enjoyable Princess coming of age stories in one!
Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
March 27, 2022
Many readers enjoy books centering around the royal family (especially Princess Diana). The People's Princess by Flora Harding, is historical fiction that (if I'm honest) the beautiful cover drew me in to the book. It is currently on the top ten best-selling list in Canada. It will be released in the U.S. on May 17th.
Lady Diana Spencer, is engaged to Prince Charles. She is preparing for her wedding when she comes across a personal journal written in the 1800s by beautiful "Princess Charlotte of Wales". Diana finds this journal intriguing and begins to unravel similarities between Princess Charlotte's life and her own.
While I did not learn anything new about Princess Diana, the author presents a very well researched story about Princess Charlotte and the parallel between the two women. Readers are given a heartfelt look back at Diana's painful relationship with Charles (before becoming a member of the royal family). Is this book perfect? No, I was hoping for more depth to the main characters, but still feel The People's Princess is worth the read for historical fiction lovers.
(3.5 bumped up to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360, for this look back at sweet Diana's life. I appreciate the opportunity to learn about Princess Charlotte. She is a extremely interesting character and added a whole new dimension
to the plot.
Lady Diana Spencer, is engaged to Prince Charles. She is preparing for her wedding when she comes across a personal journal written in the 1800s by beautiful "Princess Charlotte of Wales". Diana finds this journal intriguing and begins to unravel similarities between Princess Charlotte's life and her own.
While I did not learn anything new about Princess Diana, the author presents a very well researched story about Princess Charlotte and the parallel between the two women. Readers are given a heartfelt look back at Diana's painful relationship with Charles (before becoming a member of the royal family). Is this book perfect? No, I was hoping for more depth to the main characters, but still feel The People's Princess is worth the read for historical fiction lovers.
(3.5 bumped up to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360, for this look back at sweet Diana's life. I appreciate the opportunity to learn about Princess Charlotte. She is a extremely interesting character and added a whole new dimension
to the plot.
November 26, 2022
11/26 ok so not riveting but I really liked the flashbacks to another princess of wales-clever because that one is so overlooked and I really wish we could travel in time , surreally experience history had she lived. Very short book though. I did audio.
I'm very excited about this book! I had no idea it existed! I'm feeling a bit old though that historical fiction is now casting historical figures from my 30's lol
I'm very excited about this book! I had no idea it existed! I'm feeling a bit old though that historical fiction is now casting historical figures from my 30's lol
February 18, 2022
I am a lover of the Royals and having read “The Crown” by Flora Harding, I welcomed the opportunity to read “The People’s Princess”. It is no mistaking that this story is about Princess Diana, with a bit of history mixed with fiction. There are two timelines in this story…one Princess Diana’s engagement that leads up to her wedding and that of Princess Charlotte of Wales who was a well-loved princess in her own right.
As with “The Crown”, this book was so engaging and fascinating. It was well-written by Ms. Harding. I did think that some other details could have been included about Princess Charlotte that could have made it much more interesting during the time when she lived. This was a nice story that gives you an interesting perspective of both women and their experiences. I think this is a worthy story for those who want to become familiar with Charlotte’s story. However, I do think both their stories could have been standalone. A recommended read.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.
As with “The Crown”, this book was so engaging and fascinating. It was well-written by Ms. Harding. I did think that some other details could have been included about Princess Charlotte that could have made it much more interesting during the time when she lived. This was a nice story that gives you an interesting perspective of both women and their experiences. I think this is a worthy story for those who want to become familiar with Charlotte’s story. However, I do think both their stories could have been standalone. A recommended read.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.
March 13, 2022
Buckingham Palace, 1981: Her engagement to Prince Charles is a dream come true for Lady Diana Spencer, but marrying the heir of the throne is not all that it seems. Alone and bored in the palace, she resents the stuffy courtiers who are intent on instructing her about her new role as Princess of Wales. But when she discovers a diary written in the 1800s by Princess Charlotte of Wales, a young woman born into a gilded cage so like herself, Diana is drawn into the story of Charlotte's reckless love affairs and fraught relationship with her father, the Prince Regent.
The books reflects back to the time Lady Diana Spencer first became the people's princess. It also tells us about Princess Charlotte who was the Princess of Wales in the 1800's who had the same struggles in life as Diana had. The comparisons between Charlotte and Diana's lives were coincidental. This story is more about Charlotte than Diana. This intriguing story held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #FloraHarding for my ARC of #ThePeoplesPrincess in exchange for an honest review.
The books reflects back to the time Lady Diana Spencer first became the people's princess. It also tells us about Princess Charlotte who was the Princess of Wales in the 1800's who had the same struggles in life as Diana had. The comparisons between Charlotte and Diana's lives were coincidental. This story is more about Charlotte than Diana. This intriguing story held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #FloraHarding for my ARC of #ThePeoplesPrincess in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2022
Harding presents a rich slice of British history as readers explore two favoured Princesses: Charlotte and Diana. Whilst the latter is infamously known, I was fascinated by Charlotte’s story and the parallels that emerge.
Diana’s story takes place in the months leading up to her marriage to Charles. Harding demonstrates the fraught time for Diana as she adjusts to living in the public eye, engaged to marry the future King of England. Whilst it is a fictional account, Harding’s story is based on truth – as proven by my frequent internet searches to collaborate what I was imagining! Diana’s tale is saddening and I really sympathised with her character as she feels so isolated from her fiancé and friends. I think the writer truly captured Diana’s personality based on my own knowledge from media portrayal.
Turning back to the 1800s, Princess Charlotte is a firecracker who is stuck between raging parents. Again, it was difficult to not sympathise with her character, especially due to the suffocating patriarchy and institution of arranged marriages. Charlotte lives at a time where marriages were formed for alliances and politics, not love, and for someone who is rather free-spirited, this causes friction between Charlotte and her father. Indeed, although Diana’s engagement was personal choice, I could not see much difference between her and Charlotte’s relationship: both are so cold and unloving, rather than fulfilling the dream of true love.
However, as Charlotte grows as a young woman, so does her marriage. At the same time, Diana struggles to connect with Charles, finding more love from the media and public eye than from her own fiancé. The public frenzy that Diana and Charlotte describe is very much evident today, as well as being a sombre reminder of Diana’s final days. Whilst my knowledge of the royal family is not extensive, I could not help but draw comparisons with the recent, broadcasted treatment of Prince Harry and his own wife. It is like history repeating itself and as a society, as a race, we never seem to learn our lessons.
Undoubtedly, I was more curious about Diana’s story. I found it more of a struggle to engage with Charlotte’s narrative and I think this is because I have snippets of memories of seeing Princess Diana on the television. Overall, I think Harding pays more attention to Charlotte’s story and I think her chapters were far more prolonged. Eventually I grew more interested in this older story, but I still wanted more about Diana. I am wondering if this is allowing the reader to write a follow-on novel in the future.
This was a well-written account of two Princesses from royal history. Although Diana is so well-known, I applauded Harding’s portrayal at telling Charlotte’s story, establishing a legacy in her own right. It was an interesting, historical read that demonstrated that despite the years separating them, there were many connections between the Princesses.
With thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Diana’s story takes place in the months leading up to her marriage to Charles. Harding demonstrates the fraught time for Diana as she adjusts to living in the public eye, engaged to marry the future King of England. Whilst it is a fictional account, Harding’s story is based on truth – as proven by my frequent internet searches to collaborate what I was imagining! Diana’s tale is saddening and I really sympathised with her character as she feels so isolated from her fiancé and friends. I think the writer truly captured Diana’s personality based on my own knowledge from media portrayal.
Turning back to the 1800s, Princess Charlotte is a firecracker who is stuck between raging parents. Again, it was difficult to not sympathise with her character, especially due to the suffocating patriarchy and institution of arranged marriages. Charlotte lives at a time where marriages were formed for alliances and politics, not love, and for someone who is rather free-spirited, this causes friction between Charlotte and her father. Indeed, although Diana’s engagement was personal choice, I could not see much difference between her and Charlotte’s relationship: both are so cold and unloving, rather than fulfilling the dream of true love.
However, as Charlotte grows as a young woman, so does her marriage. At the same time, Diana struggles to connect with Charles, finding more love from the media and public eye than from her own fiancé. The public frenzy that Diana and Charlotte describe is very much evident today, as well as being a sombre reminder of Diana’s final days. Whilst my knowledge of the royal family is not extensive, I could not help but draw comparisons with the recent, broadcasted treatment of Prince Harry and his own wife. It is like history repeating itself and as a society, as a race, we never seem to learn our lessons.
Undoubtedly, I was more curious about Diana’s story. I found it more of a struggle to engage with Charlotte’s narrative and I think this is because I have snippets of memories of seeing Princess Diana on the television. Overall, I think Harding pays more attention to Charlotte’s story and I think her chapters were far more prolonged. Eventually I grew more interested in this older story, but I still wanted more about Diana. I am wondering if this is allowing the reader to write a follow-on novel in the future.
This was a well-written account of two Princesses from royal history. Although Diana is so well-known, I applauded Harding’s portrayal at telling Charlotte’s story, establishing a legacy in her own right. It was an interesting, historical read that demonstrated that despite the years separating them, there were many connections between the Princesses.
With thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2022
This was such a lovely book about Princess Diana and another Princess called Charlotte of whom I knew nothing. This dual time-line story was riveting. I knew quite a lot about Diana having watched the wonderful series The Crown. The story was sad as well as funny at times and of course, we all know what the outcome of Diana’s tragic life. This book was educational as well as a good read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
April 1, 2022
Two princesses who never became Queen. The Queen who never was and the Queen of people's hearts. Both were "the people's princess" and both died before their time.
When Diana Spencer meets Prince Charles she knows that she is destined to marry him. So when Charles proposes whilst at Balmoral, Diana inevitably agrees immediately. However, little did she know what she was agreeing to for she wasn't just marrying Charles, she was joining the Royal family and becoming part of the monarchy. It was never to be a case of boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love and then marry and live happily ever after. As a senior Royal, life for Diana was to become a fishbowl. And no sooner had their engagement been announced was she constantly doorstepped by photographers wanting a piece of "Shy Di" for the public to gobble up. For it seems whilst no one was particularly bothered with Charles, Prince of Wales, everyone fell in love with Diana immediately and soon she became public property. THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS begins after Diana moved into her own rooms at Buckingham Palace, where it was deemed she would be safe and secure rather than at her flat where she was constantly mobbed for her photo.
The story takes place in the months leading up their wedding, beginning in March 1981, a month after the announcement of their engagement and having moved into the Palace, Diana thought she would get to spend more time with Charles. After all, they still hardly knew each other. Although she knew that she loved him and was sure that he loved her. He was marrying her after all, wasn't he? But Diana soon discovered that life in the Palace was rather dull. For it was not a place where the Royals actually lived - it was a base for them to stay at when in London, despite them all having their own suite of rooms. Charles' own suite was about five minutes walk down the corridor or so from her own rooms and Diana was eager to spend some time with him. But she was to be disappointed as Charles was forever fobbing her off for previously booked engagements and events, some organised a year in advance. So what was she to do then?
Bored, Diana looks for ways to amuse herself. The papers always refer to her as "shy Di" but she isn't shy. She is just trying to keep her head down from the flashing cameras. No, Diana is fun, adventurous, reckless even. And then an idea suddenly forms bringing a smile to her face. No one would know. There's hardly ever anyone about. And so, Diana straps on her roller skates and glides through the corridors of Buckingham Palace, causing a couple of footmen standing sentry to smirk as she flew by. This is the best fun she's had since moving into the Palace and she feels alive once more. Then suddenly she comes to a stop in front of a painting. The nameplate identifies her as "Princess Charlotte of Wales" but Diana has never heard of her. She likes the look of this princess, feels a kinship with her even. She looks like fun, in fact. She asks Charles about her, who gives her a brief history before directing her to her aide who will know more about her. But instead, her aide introduces her to someone who knows more about Princess Charlotte than anyone...and as Diana listens in awe, the historian hands her a piece of history that will bring life to the long boring days and months stuck in the Palace. It is Princess Charlotte's journal.
As Diana reads Charlotte's words, she feels even more drawn to her than ever before. This woman who was meant to be Queen to whom Diana could relate so much, to be trapped in a gilded cage and yet wanting so much to be love and be loved.
The year is 1813 and Princess Charlotte of Wales is the only offspring of her parents, the Prince Regent and Princess Caroline who in fact hated each other so intensely that it was a sheer miracle they produced a child at all. The King, George III, was locked away at Windsor having gone mad with the running of the country left up to his wife Queen Charlotte and the government, not to mention Charlotte's own father the Prince Regent, who just wanted to marry her off and be done with her. He picked out a husband for her in the form of Hereditary Prince Wilhelm of Holland. Charlotte was thus forced into a agreement to marry but it was her greatest desire to choose her own husband and to love him like no other. Of course, everyone including her attendants and her extended family thought her impulsive and unable to make a proper decision regarding her future. When in fact, all she wanted was to be loved.
Having been thrown over by her own parents from an early age, Charlotte grew up in the care of governesses and tutors and even her servants were more of a family to her than her own. Her fondness for her maid Anna and her companion Cornelia is delightful. It is clear that they are the only ones who have her best interests at heart. But in this age for people like Charlotte, marriages were not made for love but for political alliances. Something which Charlotte refuses to adhere to. She is deemed reckless and irresponsible but it is clear she knows her own mind - she just chooses to use it as she sees fit and not as her father does.
Life for Charlotte was horrific in part, despite the fact that she was the Princess of Wales and heir presumptive, destined to be Queen. But times were different then and women were not given credence for their own minds but there solely to obey first their fathers and then after their marriage, their husbands. However, Charlotte does win a battle of sorts even if it was not the war, and as she grows so does her marriage.
Meanwhile, Diana struggles to connect with Charles leading up to the wedding and adjusting to life as a royal somewhat daunting. No one prepared her for it and although she ignored the advice to seek advisors on etiquette and appearance, she found herself flung into the public eye in such a way that she was loved by the public and frowned upon by the Palace. All she wanted was a fairytale wedding and to marry her prince...but she was not prepared for all that that entailed.
The parallel between both Charlotte and Diana's stories is somewhat similar despite the 160 years that separated them. It is also interesting to note that Diana's story is told in the third person as the reader looks into her world whilst Charlotte's is in the first person narrative having been transcribed from her own journal. In this way, the reader can connect better with Charlotte, seeing things as she sees them and feeling them as she does. That is not to say we don't feel Diana's predicament because I most certainly did. I saw her as a young (too young) naive woman who believed the fairytale and wanted it for herself. I saw her thrust into the deep end with no real preparation or guidance on how to become a senior royal. All she wanted was for Charles to love her as much as she loved him...but sadly his heart would always belong to another. And just as it was in Charlotte's time, Diana was to wed Charles merely to produce him with an heir - an alliance that may not have been between nations but was political all the same. And all poor Diana wanted was to have that fairytale.
Most of us will remember when Charles and Diana became engaged thus preceding the fairytale wedding in ivory silk, a glass carriage and a 25 foot long train. I was 9 years old when I sat in front of my grandmother's television set on the day in 1981 to watch my Lady Di marry her prince. She was who I wanted to be, my idol; I even had my hair cut like hers (after much arguing with my parents at the time to cut off my long tresses). Though sadly my hair never sat as beautifully as hers and after two years of trying, I let my hair grow again. But throughout the years, I followed the Princess in the magazines and on the news, the very photographers of which sadly ended up being the cause of her very early and tragic demise. I found it ironic that both Princess Grace, who became a friend to the new princess when she needed it most, and Diana were both tragically killed in car crashes.
I thoroughly enjoyed THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS but I would have finished it long before I did had I not stopped to google for specific occasions or events. For example, after the mention of Diana's inappropriate dress for her first public appearance since her engagement, I had to google to see that dress. And then I had to google Princess Charlotte since I had never heard of her before this book. It was interesting to note that had she become Queen, there would have been no Queen Victoria, as the line would have proceeded very differently. Upon that realisation there would also not have been King George VI nor Queen Elizabeth II, and therefore Charles, William or Harry or the monarchy as we know today. Had the line proceeded from Charlotte, where would the monarchy be now? It's an interesting thought.
THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS is not, as many may mistakenly assume, about Diana as such but the original people's princess - Princess Charlotte of Wales. Although the title does weave the story in such a way that Charlotte's life as the people's princess in some way inspired Diana to become that same kind of princess for the people - a Queen of people's hearts, as she was known to have said. And though neither princess lived long enough to become Queen, they both inspired the people who adored them, therefore earning them both the unofficial title of "the people's princess".
I thoroughly loved Charlotte and, though I knew her story would come to an end, I still found myself teary as Flora Harding captured the essence and beauty of the dual timeline narrative of both women perfectly. THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS is well written and well researched, weaving fact with fiction to bring us a beautiful tale that is a pure delight to read. There were moments of happiness as well as sadness and my heart ached for both Diana and Charlotte - the people's princesses, who never got to be Queen.
If you love anything royal, if you love historical fiction, if you love dual timeline narrative...then you will love THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS! I was drawn in from the very first naive page to the very last idealistic end. It was totally unputdownable and I would have finished far sooner had I not kept stopping to google...lol
A fantastic read that I truly loved. I highly recommend it for lovers of historical fiction and the Royal family.
I would like to thank #FloraHarding, #Netgalley, #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #ThePeoplesPrincess in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
When Diana Spencer meets Prince Charles she knows that she is destined to marry him. So when Charles proposes whilst at Balmoral, Diana inevitably agrees immediately. However, little did she know what she was agreeing to for she wasn't just marrying Charles, she was joining the Royal family and becoming part of the monarchy. It was never to be a case of boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love and then marry and live happily ever after. As a senior Royal, life for Diana was to become a fishbowl. And no sooner had their engagement been announced was she constantly doorstepped by photographers wanting a piece of "Shy Di" for the public to gobble up. For it seems whilst no one was particularly bothered with Charles, Prince of Wales, everyone fell in love with Diana immediately and soon she became public property. THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS begins after Diana moved into her own rooms at Buckingham Palace, where it was deemed she would be safe and secure rather than at her flat where she was constantly mobbed for her photo.
The story takes place in the months leading up their wedding, beginning in March 1981, a month after the announcement of their engagement and having moved into the Palace, Diana thought she would get to spend more time with Charles. After all, they still hardly knew each other. Although she knew that she loved him and was sure that he loved her. He was marrying her after all, wasn't he? But Diana soon discovered that life in the Palace was rather dull. For it was not a place where the Royals actually lived - it was a base for them to stay at when in London, despite them all having their own suite of rooms. Charles' own suite was about five minutes walk down the corridor or so from her own rooms and Diana was eager to spend some time with him. But she was to be disappointed as Charles was forever fobbing her off for previously booked engagements and events, some organised a year in advance. So what was she to do then?
Bored, Diana looks for ways to amuse herself. The papers always refer to her as "shy Di" but she isn't shy. She is just trying to keep her head down from the flashing cameras. No, Diana is fun, adventurous, reckless even. And then an idea suddenly forms bringing a smile to her face. No one would know. There's hardly ever anyone about. And so, Diana straps on her roller skates and glides through the corridors of Buckingham Palace, causing a couple of footmen standing sentry to smirk as she flew by. This is the best fun she's had since moving into the Palace and she feels alive once more. Then suddenly she comes to a stop in front of a painting. The nameplate identifies her as "Princess Charlotte of Wales" but Diana has never heard of her. She likes the look of this princess, feels a kinship with her even. She looks like fun, in fact. She asks Charles about her, who gives her a brief history before directing her to her aide who will know more about her. But instead, her aide introduces her to someone who knows more about Princess Charlotte than anyone...and as Diana listens in awe, the historian hands her a piece of history that will bring life to the long boring days and months stuck in the Palace. It is Princess Charlotte's journal.
As Diana reads Charlotte's words, she feels even more drawn to her than ever before. This woman who was meant to be Queen to whom Diana could relate so much, to be trapped in a gilded cage and yet wanting so much to be love and be loved.
The year is 1813 and Princess Charlotte of Wales is the only offspring of her parents, the Prince Regent and Princess Caroline who in fact hated each other so intensely that it was a sheer miracle they produced a child at all. The King, George III, was locked away at Windsor having gone mad with the running of the country left up to his wife Queen Charlotte and the government, not to mention Charlotte's own father the Prince Regent, who just wanted to marry her off and be done with her. He picked out a husband for her in the form of Hereditary Prince Wilhelm of Holland. Charlotte was thus forced into a agreement to marry but it was her greatest desire to choose her own husband and to love him like no other. Of course, everyone including her attendants and her extended family thought her impulsive and unable to make a proper decision regarding her future. When in fact, all she wanted was to be loved.
Having been thrown over by her own parents from an early age, Charlotte grew up in the care of governesses and tutors and even her servants were more of a family to her than her own. Her fondness for her maid Anna and her companion Cornelia is delightful. It is clear that they are the only ones who have her best interests at heart. But in this age for people like Charlotte, marriages were not made for love but for political alliances. Something which Charlotte refuses to adhere to. She is deemed reckless and irresponsible but it is clear she knows her own mind - she just chooses to use it as she sees fit and not as her father does.
Life for Charlotte was horrific in part, despite the fact that she was the Princess of Wales and heir presumptive, destined to be Queen. But times were different then and women were not given credence for their own minds but there solely to obey first their fathers and then after their marriage, their husbands. However, Charlotte does win a battle of sorts even if it was not the war, and as she grows so does her marriage.
Meanwhile, Diana struggles to connect with Charles leading up to the wedding and adjusting to life as a royal somewhat daunting. No one prepared her for it and although she ignored the advice to seek advisors on etiquette and appearance, she found herself flung into the public eye in such a way that she was loved by the public and frowned upon by the Palace. All she wanted was a fairytale wedding and to marry her prince...but she was not prepared for all that that entailed.
The parallel between both Charlotte and Diana's stories is somewhat similar despite the 160 years that separated them. It is also interesting to note that Diana's story is told in the third person as the reader looks into her world whilst Charlotte's is in the first person narrative having been transcribed from her own journal. In this way, the reader can connect better with Charlotte, seeing things as she sees them and feeling them as she does. That is not to say we don't feel Diana's predicament because I most certainly did. I saw her as a young (too young) naive woman who believed the fairytale and wanted it for herself. I saw her thrust into the deep end with no real preparation or guidance on how to become a senior royal. All she wanted was for Charles to love her as much as she loved him...but sadly his heart would always belong to another. And just as it was in Charlotte's time, Diana was to wed Charles merely to produce him with an heir - an alliance that may not have been between nations but was political all the same. And all poor Diana wanted was to have that fairytale.
Most of us will remember when Charles and Diana became engaged thus preceding the fairytale wedding in ivory silk, a glass carriage and a 25 foot long train. I was 9 years old when I sat in front of my grandmother's television set on the day in 1981 to watch my Lady Di marry her prince. She was who I wanted to be, my idol; I even had my hair cut like hers (after much arguing with my parents at the time to cut off my long tresses). Though sadly my hair never sat as beautifully as hers and after two years of trying, I let my hair grow again. But throughout the years, I followed the Princess in the magazines and on the news, the very photographers of which sadly ended up being the cause of her very early and tragic demise. I found it ironic that both Princess Grace, who became a friend to the new princess when she needed it most, and Diana were both tragically killed in car crashes.
I thoroughly enjoyed THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS but I would have finished it long before I did had I not stopped to google for specific occasions or events. For example, after the mention of Diana's inappropriate dress for her first public appearance since her engagement, I had to google to see that dress. And then I had to google Princess Charlotte since I had never heard of her before this book. It was interesting to note that had she become Queen, there would have been no Queen Victoria, as the line would have proceeded very differently. Upon that realisation there would also not have been King George VI nor Queen Elizabeth II, and therefore Charles, William or Harry or the monarchy as we know today. Had the line proceeded from Charlotte, where would the monarchy be now? It's an interesting thought.
THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS is not, as many may mistakenly assume, about Diana as such but the original people's princess - Princess Charlotte of Wales. Although the title does weave the story in such a way that Charlotte's life as the people's princess in some way inspired Diana to become that same kind of princess for the people - a Queen of people's hearts, as she was known to have said. And though neither princess lived long enough to become Queen, they both inspired the people who adored them, therefore earning them both the unofficial title of "the people's princess".
I thoroughly loved Charlotte and, though I knew her story would come to an end, I still found myself teary as Flora Harding captured the essence and beauty of the dual timeline narrative of both women perfectly. THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS is well written and well researched, weaving fact with fiction to bring us a beautiful tale that is a pure delight to read. There were moments of happiness as well as sadness and my heart ached for both Diana and Charlotte - the people's princesses, who never got to be Queen.
If you love anything royal, if you love historical fiction, if you love dual timeline narrative...then you will love THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS! I was drawn in from the very first naive page to the very last idealistic end. It was totally unputdownable and I would have finished far sooner had I not kept stopping to google...lol
A fantastic read that I truly loved. I highly recommend it for lovers of historical fiction and the Royal family.
I would like to thank #FloraHarding, #Netgalley, #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #ThePeoplesPrincess in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
February 18, 2022
Do you remember where you were when Princess Diana died?
Being British, I’m an avid royal watcher and supporter. I remember exactly where I was when I found out about Diana’s death.
The author of Before The Crown brings readers a new royal delight, The People’s Princess. Told in a dual timeline, fluctuating between 1813 and 1981, she compares the original people’s princess, the Georgian Princess Charlotte of Wales to her modern royal, Princess Diana.
Both princesses had remarkably parallel lives. Charlotte was the daughter of George IV and Caroline of Brunswick and her unhappy childhood mirrors Diana’s. Charlotte’s parents' marriage was one of convenience and they separated almost immediately. Charlotte’s birth drove a wedge between them and they fought constantly. Likewise, Diana’s parents had a tumultuous divorce and their fighting made Diana unhappy. Both women were insecure, lacked control over their lives and sought attention from wherever they could find it. Neither princess fit into the typical princess image and garnered excessive attention in public. Both princesses represented a brighter future for the monarchy at the time. Finally, both princesses had untimely deaths and public outcry and mourning followed.
I loved how Harding introduced Princess Diana to Princess Charlotte! Although I did enjoy reading the Regency timeline and did read it slower to absorb the knowledge presented, I thought that the author breathed more life into Princess Diana’s timeline. I know there are a variety of reasons for this, but I was more emotionally invested in the modern timeline. My heart ached when I thought about what the world missed by having these two women’s lives cut short. Harding truly honoured their short, yet influential lives, in her latest historical fiction.
I was gifted this advance copy by Flora Harding, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Being British, I’m an avid royal watcher and supporter. I remember exactly where I was when I found out about Diana’s death.
The author of Before The Crown brings readers a new royal delight, The People’s Princess. Told in a dual timeline, fluctuating between 1813 and 1981, she compares the original people’s princess, the Georgian Princess Charlotte of Wales to her modern royal, Princess Diana.
Both princesses had remarkably parallel lives. Charlotte was the daughter of George IV and Caroline of Brunswick and her unhappy childhood mirrors Diana’s. Charlotte’s parents' marriage was one of convenience and they separated almost immediately. Charlotte’s birth drove a wedge between them and they fought constantly. Likewise, Diana’s parents had a tumultuous divorce and their fighting made Diana unhappy. Both women were insecure, lacked control over their lives and sought attention from wherever they could find it. Neither princess fit into the typical princess image and garnered excessive attention in public. Both princesses represented a brighter future for the monarchy at the time. Finally, both princesses had untimely deaths and public outcry and mourning followed.
I loved how Harding introduced Princess Diana to Princess Charlotte! Although I did enjoy reading the Regency timeline and did read it slower to absorb the knowledge presented, I thought that the author breathed more life into Princess Diana’s timeline. I know there are a variety of reasons for this, but I was more emotionally invested in the modern timeline. My heart ached when I thought about what the world missed by having these two women’s lives cut short. Harding truly honoured their short, yet influential lives, in her latest historical fiction.
I was gifted this advance copy by Flora Harding, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 8, 2022
In the Eyes of the People
Two princesses never to become queen. The stories of Charlotte in the 1800's and Diana in the 1980's. It is eerie how these two lives are so similar to each other in how they lived and in the mannerisms of the princesses themselves.
When Diana Spencer meets Prince Charles she thinks it is a fairy tale. All she wants is to marry Prince Charles and be happy. Alas she finds learning to be a princess is exhausting and is irritated by her those teaching her the role of a princess and how she must act. When the prince is away for long times taking care of business she is very lonely in the palace with only servants of whom she as a princess is not allowed to befriend.
She spies a photo of a young woman on the wall in the palace and asks who she is. The Prince introduces her to a librarian that gives her a journal of Princess Charlotte of Wales in the 1800's. The Princess that was never queen. As Diana reads the journal she is surprised to find how much their lives parallel with each other as she awaits to marry Prince Charles and become herself the princess of Wales.
The story shows us a glimpse of life in the palace and Diana as a young woman in love with her own failings and doubts while fighting an eating problem. As the wedding draws closer the tension mounts and although she loves Charles she is apprehensive about how her life as his wife will be.
I loved both the story of Charlotte and Diana. The author of "Before the Crown" has done another great job with "The People's Princess". I really enjoy her writing and hope there is another book soon. I can't wait to see who she writes about next.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Flora Harding for writing a great book, to Harper Collins U.K., One More Chapter, for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
Two princesses never to become queen. The stories of Charlotte in the 1800's and Diana in the 1980's. It is eerie how these two lives are so similar to each other in how they lived and in the mannerisms of the princesses themselves.
When Diana Spencer meets Prince Charles she thinks it is a fairy tale. All she wants is to marry Prince Charles and be happy. Alas she finds learning to be a princess is exhausting and is irritated by her those teaching her the role of a princess and how she must act. When the prince is away for long times taking care of business she is very lonely in the palace with only servants of whom she as a princess is not allowed to befriend.
She spies a photo of a young woman on the wall in the palace and asks who she is. The Prince introduces her to a librarian that gives her a journal of Princess Charlotte of Wales in the 1800's. The Princess that was never queen. As Diana reads the journal she is surprised to find how much their lives parallel with each other as she awaits to marry Prince Charles and become herself the princess of Wales.
The story shows us a glimpse of life in the palace and Diana as a young woman in love with her own failings and doubts while fighting an eating problem. As the wedding draws closer the tension mounts and although she loves Charles she is apprehensive about how her life as his wife will be.
I loved both the story of Charlotte and Diana. The author of "Before the Crown" has done another great job with "The People's Princess". I really enjoy her writing and hope there is another book soon. I can't wait to see who she writes about next.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Flora Harding for writing a great book, to Harper Collins U.K., One More Chapter, for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
March 9, 2022
After all these years I'm still besotted with all things Diana, so was thrilled when approved for this ARC. And I was happily glued from first to last page in this compelling historical fiction dual timeline account. First off is Diana's engagement period to Prince Charles in 1981, paralleled by the story of Princess Charlotte of Wales, discovered by Diana in a diary from the 1800s. Hugely entertaining and a must-read for avid Diana fans and lovers of British history. Out March 31.
Thanks to author Flora Harding; HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter; and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
#ThePeoplesPrincess, #FloraHarding #HarperCollinsUKOne More Chapter #NetGalley
Thanks to author Flora Harding; HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter; and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
#ThePeoplesPrincess, #FloraHarding #HarperCollinsUKOne More Chapter #NetGalley
August 1, 2022
I initially wanted to read this novel because of my affection, admiration, and sympathy for Princess Diana. But I ended up becoming just as fascinated by the story of Charlotte, a Regency Princess of Wales I knew nothing about.
Diana and Charlotte were both beloved princesses who shared high hopes for their lives and a strong feeling of being destined to help their people. Each faced tragedy. And, although she never knew it, Diana has a granddaughter named Charlotte.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Diana and Charlotte were both beloved princesses who shared high hopes for their lives and a strong feeling of being destined to help their people. Each faced tragedy. And, although she never knew it, Diana has a granddaughter named Charlotte.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2022
I AM SPLIT 50/50
First of all, I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I was intrigued about reading a book with Princess Diana as the main character. I haven't seen too many of those around. But I found myself being not as drawn to Diana as a character as I thought I would be. In stead, it was the other MC, Charlotte, who captured my attention. I think Diana could have been a better character if Harding and made some different choice. But that is, of course, just my opinion.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Parallels: Even though I was familiar with the story of Princess Charlotte, I had never before noticed the parallels between her and Princess Diana. They can both be called The People's Princess and the Queen that Never Was. Their lives as well as their symbolic value to the people of Britain were in many ways similar. They each represented a break with the established royal household, a promise of something new and different. I really enjoyed diving into these similarities.
Charlotte: While Diana was my original reason for picking up this book, I soon found myself being more drawn to Charlotte's story line. Charlotte was, first of all, a bit more fleshed out as a character in my opinion. Second of all, in her story we follow her over the course of several years, which allowed me to connect with her more deeply and become invested in her arc. I really liked following her evolution and her life.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Diary: For me, the diary format just doesn't work. I have yet to find a book written as a diary that really spoke to me. Honestly, I find it unrealistic. In my opinion, nobody writes their diary as if it is a novel. It just doesn't happen. And it might be silly, but it something that really frustrates me and bothers me when I read books in diary format. I constantly find myself thinking: "Who on earth would write their diary like that?" So the format of this book just didn't work for me.
Repetitive: As I said, I enjoyed Charlotte's parts more than Diana's. One of the reasons why was the constant repetition in Diana's parts. It's pretty much the same chapter over and over again.
Diana: I am, of course, not saying that I do not like the real Princess Di. But I found it hard to connect with the portrayal of her in this book. She was sullen, negative and spend all her time bellyaching over the same things over and over. It made her hard to like. I also felt like the character suffered from a lot a telling and not a lot of showing. Diana's chapters are mainly her thoughts and her emotions, so I was wanting some more action on her part.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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First of all, I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I was intrigued about reading a book with Princess Diana as the main character. I haven't seen too many of those around. But I found myself being not as drawn to Diana as a character as I thought I would be. In stead, it was the other MC, Charlotte, who captured my attention. I think Diana could have been a better character if Harding and made some different choice. But that is, of course, just my opinion.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Parallels: Even though I was familiar with the story of Princess Charlotte, I had never before noticed the parallels between her and Princess Diana. They can both be called The People's Princess and the Queen that Never Was. Their lives as well as their symbolic value to the people of Britain were in many ways similar. They each represented a break with the established royal household, a promise of something new and different. I really enjoyed diving into these similarities.
Charlotte: While Diana was my original reason for picking up this book, I soon found myself being more drawn to Charlotte's story line. Charlotte was, first of all, a bit more fleshed out as a character in my opinion. Second of all, in her story we follow her over the course of several years, which allowed me to connect with her more deeply and become invested in her arc. I really liked following her evolution and her life.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Diary: For me, the diary format just doesn't work. I have yet to find a book written as a diary that really spoke to me. Honestly, I find it unrealistic. In my opinion, nobody writes their diary as if it is a novel. It just doesn't happen. And it might be silly, but it something that really frustrates me and bothers me when I read books in diary format. I constantly find myself thinking: "Who on earth would write their diary like that?" So the format of this book just didn't work for me.
Repetitive: As I said, I enjoyed Charlotte's parts more than Diana's. One of the reasons why was the constant repetition in Diana's parts. It's pretty much the same chapter over and over again.
Diana: I am, of course, not saying that I do not like the real Princess Di. But I found it hard to connect with the portrayal of her in this book. She was sullen, negative and spend all her time bellyaching over the same things over and over. It made her hard to like. I also felt like the character suffered from a lot a telling and not a lot of showing. Diana's chapters are mainly her thoughts and her emotions, so I was wanting some more action on her part.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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December 23, 2021
Wow! This book is phenomenal! It is moving, thought-provoking, heartwarming, heart-wrenching, and so much more. Whenever I picked up "The People's Princess", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an incredibly emotional journey with these stories.
Flora Harding is such an amazing author! Her passion for what and who she is writing about it so clear, and I can only imagine the amount of research Ms. Harding must have done for this novel. She brilliantly brings to life two time periods in history, and seamlessly weaves between them. Her writing style is visceral vivid, and detailed, and I truly feel like, as the reader, that I was immersed in the world of this book.
This is a dual-timeline novel, taking place in both the earlier part of the 1800s surrounding the life of Charlotte, Princess of Wales, and the latter part of the 1900s surrounding the life of Lady Diana Spencer, who soon marries Prince Charles and becomes Diana, Princess of Wales. As Diana is preparing for her wedding, she comes across a portrait of a young woman. She soon finds out that woman is Charlotte, Princess of Wales, and Diana wants to learn more about her. In the book, a diary of Charlotte's has been found, and Diana is given a copy to read. She begins to read and learn's more about Charlotte's story, and Diana feels connected to her in many ways.
There are many similarities between the two women. Both want to find happiness and love, and to do good and make a positive impact on those around them. As the reader, I truly feel like I got to know both of them. I understood their wants, needs, and fears, and my heart felt for them both in moments of happiness, sadness, and everything in between.
I knew more about Diana than Charlotte at the start of reading this book, I now very much want to do more research on both women, and learn more about their lives as well.
If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend this book! I found myself drawn into the story from the first page to the last, and did not want to put this book down. I so look forward to reading what Ms. Harding writes next.
Thank you so much to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC of this book, it is incredible. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Flora Harding is such an amazing author! Her passion for what and who she is writing about it so clear, and I can only imagine the amount of research Ms. Harding must have done for this novel. She brilliantly brings to life two time periods in history, and seamlessly weaves between them. Her writing style is visceral vivid, and detailed, and I truly feel like, as the reader, that I was immersed in the world of this book.
This is a dual-timeline novel, taking place in both the earlier part of the 1800s surrounding the life of Charlotte, Princess of Wales, and the latter part of the 1900s surrounding the life of Lady Diana Spencer, who soon marries Prince Charles and becomes Diana, Princess of Wales. As Diana is preparing for her wedding, she comes across a portrait of a young woman. She soon finds out that woman is Charlotte, Princess of Wales, and Diana wants to learn more about her. In the book, a diary of Charlotte's has been found, and Diana is given a copy to read. She begins to read and learn's more about Charlotte's story, and Diana feels connected to her in many ways.
There are many similarities between the two women. Both want to find happiness and love, and to do good and make a positive impact on those around them. As the reader, I truly feel like I got to know both of them. I understood their wants, needs, and fears, and my heart felt for them both in moments of happiness, sadness, and everything in between.
I knew more about Diana than Charlotte at the start of reading this book, I now very much want to do more research on both women, and learn more about their lives as well.
If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend this book! I found myself drawn into the story from the first page to the last, and did not want to put this book down. I so look forward to reading what Ms. Harding writes next.
Thank you so much to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC of this book, it is incredible. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 21, 2021
The People’s Princess by Flora Harding is an excellent dual timeline historical fiction novel that weaves an entertaining, fabulous, and addictive story between two Royal Princesses. I just loved it!
This is the second book by Ms. Harding that I have read and loved. After reading Before the Crown, I knew I had to read this one.
This book weaves between Princess Charlotte in 1810s, and Princess Diana 1980-81. Both focus on their engagements and the decisions, thoughts, events, concerns, and happenings associated. With Princess Charlotte, it also includes her sadly short marriage to Leopold Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
What seems at first two very different women in different centuries, with time reveals how similar both women truly are. Princess Diana is given a preliminary manuscript of (what is actually a fictional) diary that was found of Princess Charlotte. As she deals with her own internal and external struggles during her engagement and the day of matrimony to Prince Charles, she finds solace, strength, and understanding in Charlotte’s life and her own respective struggles.
I really love how real the author was able to depict both women. Their fears, insecurities, passions, hopes, desires, and obstacles are so beautifully described. I have read so much concerning both women in the Royal Family, but yet she was able to create a narrative that made it all feel new, fresh, and completely wonderful.
I truly loved this book and highly recommend it for anyone that loves historical fiction and also the Royal Family.
5/5 stars enthusiastically
Thank you NG and One More Chapter for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/31/22.
This is the second book by Ms. Harding that I have read and loved. After reading Before the Crown, I knew I had to read this one.
This book weaves between Princess Charlotte in 1810s, and Princess Diana 1980-81. Both focus on their engagements and the decisions, thoughts, events, concerns, and happenings associated. With Princess Charlotte, it also includes her sadly short marriage to Leopold Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
What seems at first two very different women in different centuries, with time reveals how similar both women truly are. Princess Diana is given a preliminary manuscript of (what is actually a fictional) diary that was found of Princess Charlotte. As she deals with her own internal and external struggles during her engagement and the day of matrimony to Prince Charles, she finds solace, strength, and understanding in Charlotte’s life and her own respective struggles.
I really love how real the author was able to depict both women. Their fears, insecurities, passions, hopes, desires, and obstacles are so beautifully described. I have read so much concerning both women in the Royal Family, but yet she was able to create a narrative that made it all feel new, fresh, and completely wonderful.
I truly loved this book and highly recommend it for anyone that loves historical fiction and also the Royal Family.
5/5 stars enthusiastically
Thank you NG and One More Chapter for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/31/22.
May 1, 2022
Flora Harding has written a wonderful work of fiction depicting Diana’s engagement to Prince Charles. Diana thinks she’s gotten her fairytale romance and will soon become a member of the royal family. Diana finds that being a royal is not as wonderful as she thought.
Diana comes across Princess Charolette’s picture in one of the many palace holidays and is struck by the woman and wants to know more. As she starts to read Princess Charolette’s diary, she finds several parallels to her own life and feelings of being part of the aristocracy.
I truly enjoy this read.
Thank you to #netgalley and #harper360/onelastchapter, for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed above are my own.
Diana comes across Princess Charolette’s picture in one of the many palace holidays and is struck by the woman and wants to know more. As she starts to read Princess Charolette’s diary, she finds several parallels to her own life and feelings of being part of the aristocracy.
I truly enjoy this read.
Thank you to #netgalley and #harper360/onelastchapter, for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed above are my own.
May 16, 2022
I started reading this book with a bit of trepidation but soon found myself engrossed in the lives of Diana Spencer, a Princess that was never Queen, and Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796-1817), the Lost Queen. We have a book split into equal parts, one showing Diana's relationship with Charles during their engagement and leading up to and including their marriage. The other half of the book deals with the life of Princess Charlotte of Wales, following her engagements and subsequently her marriage and untimely death.
Do you see a parallel here? Two Princesses destined to be Queen, two Princesses losing their lives tragically and before their time. Two princesses, one that had a horrid life and one whose life was so-so. I truly don't know enough about Diana to make any assumptions about her childhood.
This book ensnared me and kept me reading until done. The author had a wonderful way of juxtaposing these two lives and making them come to life.
I urge you to read the writer's notes at the back of the book. I did, and I find that I am curious enough to read more about these two Royals.
*ARC provided by the publisher HarperCollins Publishers Limited, ATTL/EDELWEISS, and the author.
Do you see a parallel here? Two Princesses destined to be Queen, two Princesses losing their lives tragically and before their time. Two princesses, one that had a horrid life and one whose life was so-so. I truly don't know enough about Diana to make any assumptions about her childhood.
This book ensnared me and kept me reading until done. The author had a wonderful way of juxtaposing these two lives and making them come to life.
I urge you to read the writer's notes at the back of the book. I did, and I find that I am curious enough to read more about these two Royals.
*ARC provided by the publisher HarperCollins Publishers Limited, ATTL/EDELWEISS, and the author.
June 12, 2022
The People’s Princess
By Flora Harding
Princess Diana is my favorite Royal and reading the blurb I knew I absolutely needed this book – also that book cover is amazing too!
The People’s Princess by Flora Harding is a historical fiction dual time line story set in 1981 Buckingham Palace and in the 1800’s as a diary is read by Diana about Princess Charlotte of Wales.
I found the stories interesting as Flora Harding drew parallels from their lives in the palace as Royalties, and how they both just could not fit the mold. I enjoyed learning about Princess Charlotte and following her life that I have no prior knowledge about.
Overall a very interesting read.
By Flora Harding
Princess Diana is my favorite Royal and reading the blurb I knew I absolutely needed this book – also that book cover is amazing too!
The People’s Princess by Flora Harding is a historical fiction dual time line story set in 1981 Buckingham Palace and in the 1800’s as a diary is read by Diana about Princess Charlotte of Wales.
I found the stories interesting as Flora Harding drew parallels from their lives in the palace as Royalties, and how they both just could not fit the mold. I enjoyed learning about Princess Charlotte and following her life that I have no prior knowledge about.
Overall a very interesting read.
February 16, 2022
Wholly enjoyable!
Flora Harding has such a smooth, entertaining writing style. I couldn't wait to read page after page and found myself disappointed when the experience was over. I definitely want to read more books like this.
I'd like to see Flora handle Princess Diana's later years. I think she wrote Diana in a very sensitive, humanizing way. Nicely done. Looking forward to Flora's future works.
Flora Harding has such a smooth, entertaining writing style. I couldn't wait to read page after page and found myself disappointed when the experience was over. I definitely want to read more books like this.
I'd like to see Flora handle Princess Diana's later years. I think she wrote Diana in a very sensitive, humanizing way. Nicely done. Looking forward to Flora's future works.
June 2, 2022
I loved the chapters about Princess Charlotte and her life. I had never heard of her before this and it was fascinating.
The chapters about Diana seemed to boil down to 3 things: She felt stupid; she binged eating; she threw up. Every chapter about her makes sure to point that out and after a while, it was just too much and took a lot away from the book.
The chapters about Diana seemed to boil down to 3 things: She felt stupid; she binged eating; she threw up. Every chapter about her makes sure to point that out and after a while, it was just too much and took a lot away from the book.
January 4, 2022
If you are interested in the Royal Family, The Crown, or are obsessed with Princess Diana like I am, you need to read this book!
The People’s Princess takes you through the build up to Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles.
If you already know a lot about Diana or have seen The Crown, a lot of her story will be familiar. Diana worries about her relationship with Charles and what being a part of the royal family will mean for her. While struggling with these fears and doubts, Diana finds comfort in the journal of Princess Charlotte. I didn’t know much about Princess Charlotte so I really enjoyed learning more about her. It was interesting to see so many parallels between the two princesses.
This book is beautifully written and the amount of research that went into it is evident. I think the story focuses more on Charlotte than Diana, but Charlotte was so interesting that I didn’t mind. You really feel for both women and all of the things they endured. I laughed and cried alongside them throughout the book. Overall, this is an excellent read for any historical fiction lover or fan of the Royal Family!
4 out of 5 stars
The People’s Princess takes you through the build up to Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles.
If you already know a lot about Diana or have seen The Crown, a lot of her story will be familiar. Diana worries about her relationship with Charles and what being a part of the royal family will mean for her. While struggling with these fears and doubts, Diana finds comfort in the journal of Princess Charlotte. I didn’t know much about Princess Charlotte so I really enjoyed learning more about her. It was interesting to see so many parallels between the two princesses.
This book is beautifully written and the amount of research that went into it is evident. I think the story focuses more on Charlotte than Diana, but Charlotte was so interesting that I didn’t mind. You really feel for both women and all of the things they endured. I laughed and cried alongside them throughout the book. Overall, this is an excellent read for any historical fiction lover or fan of the Royal Family!
4 out of 5 stars
August 10, 2022
The book was not for me: I disliked its portrayal of pre-wedding Princess Diana that largely focused on her binge-eating, jealousy over Camilla and insecurity about basically everything. The Princess Charlotte chapters were interesting as I didn't know anything about her, but they weren't compelling enough to 'save' the book for me. I remember Diana's wedding, her wonderful love for her boys and her kindness and compassion especially for AIDS patients in those early days when no one would go near them and here she was visiting them in hospital, shaking their hands and hugging them. I also recall the day she died and the days of universal grief that followed. I wanted better for her, I guess. Not that it was the responsibility of this book to deliver it. As I say, this book clearly was not for me.
April 13, 2022
It's 1981 and Lady Diana Spencer is going to marry Prince Charles. This should be a very happy time, but instead it's been very difficult for Diana. She has to deal with a lot of time spent alone at the palace, Charles's close relationship with Camilla; plus, her own insecurities. While at the palace, she discovers Princess Charlotte of Wales's diary and as she reads it, she becomes more and more intrigued by this woman. Diana realizes that even though Charlotte lived in the 1800s, she shares more in common with her than not. They both have tumultuous relationships with their elders, they both live in a gilded cage, they both have high expectations placed on them, and they both have dealt with difficult romances. Even though both women are well loved by the public, ultimately, it won't save them from their fate. Flora Harding's The People's Princess is an interesting glimpse into Lady Diana's life during her engagement as well as a captivating tale about the lesser known Princess Charlotte.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
May 17, 2022
This would have been better as a book solely about Princess Charlotte. Hers was the more interesting of the stories. It’s obvious that the author is not a big fan of Diana in the way that she’s described – constantly worrying about her figure, dieting, and whining about when she can spend time with Charles; anything else Diana ever did is rarely, if ever, touched upon. Charlotte’s sections were interesting but couldn’t carry the book.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
October 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this story. I liked reading about both Princess Charlotte from the 1800s and Princess Diana.
June 25, 2022
I, like most, am fascinated with the story of Princess Diana, so I grabbed this book. The picture alone led me to believe this would be more about Diana and her becoming Royal, the write up seemed to favor this also. Unfortunately, most of this this book fell flat to me…the saving grace was the story of Princess Charlotte.
For me, I found the character of Diana very one dimensional; shallow, immature, self centered and most of all troubled. What was written here was the same as we’ve all seen, but did not put Diana in a favorable or likable light. Yet, I felt so sorry for this young woman portrayed - left alone with no one to talk to, brought into a world that she was not equipped to handle, taken away from her friends, the loss of her privacy. Conflicting emotions most definitely.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of little known (at least to me) Princess Charlotte. A princess whose life has so many parallels to Diana. She comes across as more likable, more real, dealing with her problems head on and finally taking control of her life. Their endings are similar, tragic. Both had one dream fulfilled and one out of reach.
The writing was well done…drawing me in immediately. I just felt like it could have been marketed differently…especially the cover.
Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
For me, I found the character of Diana very one dimensional; shallow, immature, self centered and most of all troubled. What was written here was the same as we’ve all seen, but did not put Diana in a favorable or likable light. Yet, I felt so sorry for this young woman portrayed - left alone with no one to talk to, brought into a world that she was not equipped to handle, taken away from her friends, the loss of her privacy. Conflicting emotions most definitely.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of little known (at least to me) Princess Charlotte. A princess whose life has so many parallels to Diana. She comes across as more likable, more real, dealing with her problems head on and finally taking control of her life. Their endings are similar, tragic. Both had one dream fulfilled and one out of reach.
The writing was well done…drawing me in immediately. I just felt like it could have been marketed differently…especially the cover.
Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
August 2, 2022
I wanted to like this one more. Of course it is historical fiction that flashes from the early 1800s with Princess Charlotte of Wales and 1981 with Princess Diana of Wales. I found the part about Diana to be so ho-hum but wanted more about Charlotte. Good beach read maybe? Really wish I had spent my time on something else.
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