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Sandringham: The Story of a Royal Home
A fascinating biography of Sandringham, royal residence and stately home.Ideal for readers of Lucy Worsley, John Martin Robinson, Simon Thurley, and John Adair.‘Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere else in the world’ – King George VSandringham, the much-loved Norfolk retreat of Queen Elizabeth II, has been the private home of four generations of monarchs since 1862, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the country estate for their eldest son Albert Edward, Prince of Wales.Written with warmth and wit, Helen Cathcart charts a hundred years of royal domestic history at Sandringham, from earliest days through to celebrated visitor attraction. As well as being the scene of private family life, this stately abode has played host to magnificent balls and glittering parties as well as witnessing more dramatic events, including the 1891 fire, the death of the heir presumptive to the British throne in 1892, and the first Christmas Day Message broadcast live by King George V in 1932.Drawing on a wealth of sources, including architect’s papers, building reports, royal letters and journals, Cathcart paints a vivid picture of life at Sandringham through the ages, of evolving architecture and changing décor, the comedy and drama of each new reign. A blend of narrative history and family chronicle, Sandringham commemorates the centenary of one of the best-known private country houses in the world.Praise for Helen ‘An expert on royalty’ – The Guardian‘Wide acclaim as a royal biographer … objective, uninhibited and penetrating’ – Sunday Express‘Helen Cathcart writes about royalty as if she were one of them’ – Daily Mail‘The doyenne of royal biographers’ – Daily Telegraph
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2021
195 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Helen Cathcart
53 books7 followersHelen Cathcart was a prolific writer about the Royal Family, who enjoyed enormous success with her books in the 1960s and 1970s. These emerged with regularity, sold well and were largely enjoyed (if not always at Buckingham Palace). One mystery surrounded the author – she was never seen. Occasionally journalists visited her agent, Harold Albert at his cottage near Liphook, and suspected that Helen Cathcart did not exist. Invariably they left less convinced. Only when Harold Albert died was it revealed – in an obituary written by Hugo Vickers – that Harold Albert and Helen Cathcart were one and the same.
Hugo Vickers explains that the story of Harold Albert himself was considerably more interesting than anything that Helen Cathcart herself wrote. He had a grim early life, his father deserting his mother when he was a child, he was entirely self-educated and became in time a prolific and successful journalist, personally interviewing both Hitler and Mussolini before the war. He wrote a successful novel, Café People. In the war he was imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubs as a conscientious objector and then he created Helen Cathcart. In his later life he ghosted the biography of Prince Philip written by Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia and he wrote the books.
Hugo Vickers explains that the story of Harold Albert himself was considerably more interesting than anything that Helen Cathcart herself wrote. He had a grim early life, his father deserting his mother when he was a child, he was entirely self-educated and became in time a prolific and successful journalist, personally interviewing both Hitler and Mussolini before the war. He wrote a successful novel, Café People. In the war he was imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubs as a conscientious objector and then he created Helen Cathcart. In his later life he ghosted the biography of Prince Philip written by Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia and he wrote the books.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 12, 2024
While I loved this book, I have to admit that Sandringham, the Story of a Royal Home is a niche read. If you aren't into English architecture and British royals, this book is not for you.
If you are, you'll find some biographical details that would be hard to glean anywhere else. As the story moves along and generation after generation of crowned heads inherits Sandringham as a country retreat, the author weaves personal anecdotes about the blue-blooded inhabitants into the architectural history. If that sounds like fodder for your page-flipping enjoyment, you'll love this book. If it sounds terribly dull, find something else.
If you are, you'll find some biographical details that would be hard to glean anywhere else. As the story moves along and generation after generation of crowned heads inherits Sandringham as a country retreat, the author weaves personal anecdotes about the blue-blooded inhabitants into the architectural history. If that sounds like fodder for your page-flipping enjoyment, you'll love this book. If it sounds terribly dull, find something else.
February 7, 2022
Interesting from historical point of view
Well-written book more about the place than the people. A must for anglophiles. Would love similar book about Balmoral. Will read them all!
Well-written book more about the place than the people. A must for anglophiles. Would love similar book about Balmoral. Will read them all!
November 18, 2023
A little dry at first but then, as it progresses into more modern times, it is quite interesting. Good historical read!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews