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Charles: The Heart of a King
The Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller
'Breathtaking' The Times
'[The book that] made headlines around the world.' Independent
The former Prince of Wales has lived his whole life in the public eye, yet he remains an enigma. He was born to be king, but he aims much higher. A landmark publication, The Heart of a King reveals Prince Charles in all his the passionate views that mean he will never be as remote and impartial as his mother; the compulsion to make a difference and the many and startling ways in which the Prince and now King of the United Kingdom and fifteen other realms has already made his mark.
The book offers fresh and fascinating insights into the first marriage that did so much to define him and an assessment of his relationship with the woman he calls, with unintended accuracy, his 'dearest wife': Camilla, now Queen Consort. We see Charles as a father and a friend, a serious figure and a joker. Life at court turns out to be full of hidden dangers and unexpected comedy.
Now, updated and revised with a new preface and two new chapters - covering details of Harry and Meghan's exit and its implications, the cash-for-honours scandal, Prince Andrew, and more - this significant study reveals a monarchy threatened and a man in sight of happiness yet still driven by anguish and a remarkable belief system, a charitable entrepreneur, activist, agitator and avatar of the Establishment who just as often tilts against it.
Based on multiple interviews with his friends and courtiers, palace insiders and critics, and rare access to Charles himself, before his kingship, this biography explores the Prince's philanthropy and his compulsive interventionism, his faith, his significant impact on politics and the philosophy that means when he seeks harmony he sometimes creates controversy. Gripping, at times astonishing, often laugh-out-loud, this is a royal biography unlike any other.
'A must-read ... this important book is nothing short of a manual to our future King's world-view' GQ
'A sustained piece of higher journalism' Independent
'Breathtaking' The Times
'[The book that] made headlines around the world.' Independent
The former Prince of Wales has lived his whole life in the public eye, yet he remains an enigma. He was born to be king, but he aims much higher. A landmark publication, The Heart of a King reveals Prince Charles in all his the passionate views that mean he will never be as remote and impartial as his mother; the compulsion to make a difference and the many and startling ways in which the Prince and now King of the United Kingdom and fifteen other realms has already made his mark.
The book offers fresh and fascinating insights into the first marriage that did so much to define him and an assessment of his relationship with the woman he calls, with unintended accuracy, his 'dearest wife': Camilla, now Queen Consort. We see Charles as a father and a friend, a serious figure and a joker. Life at court turns out to be full of hidden dangers and unexpected comedy.
Now, updated and revised with a new preface and two new chapters - covering details of Harry and Meghan's exit and its implications, the cash-for-honours scandal, Prince Andrew, and more - this significant study reveals a monarchy threatened and a man in sight of happiness yet still driven by anguish and a remarkable belief system, a charitable entrepreneur, activist, agitator and avatar of the Establishment who just as often tilts against it.
Based on multiple interviews with his friends and courtiers, palace insiders and critics, and rare access to Charles himself, before his kingship, this biography explores the Prince's philanthropy and his compulsive interventionism, his faith, his significant impact on politics and the philosophy that means when he seeks harmony he sometimes creates controversy. Gripping, at times astonishing, often laugh-out-loud, this is a royal biography unlike any other.
'A must-read ... this important book is nothing short of a manual to our future King's world-view' GQ
'A sustained piece of higher journalism' Independent
544 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2015
27 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Mayer
7 books19 followersCatherine Mayer is an author, journalist, activist and speaker. Her novel TIME/LIFE was published in hardback by Renard Press and as an audiobook by HarperCollins on 9 April 2025, with the paperback and ebook launching on 14 May 2025. Her next nonfiction title, Send Them Victorious: Royal Women, Their Battles and Why We Should Care, is scheduled for publication by HarperCollins in March 2026.
Her books include the best-selling biography of King Charles III, Charles: The Heart of King (first published 2015, new edition 2022): and Amortality: The Pleasures and Perils of Living Agelessly (2011), Attack of the Fifty Foot Women: How Gender Equality Can Save the World! (March 2017, paperback Feb 2018) and, with her mother Anne Mayer Bird, Good Grief: Embracing Life at a Time of Death (Dec 2020, paperback Feb 2022). She also contributed to Dear NHS (2020) and Poems that Make Grown Women Cry (2016).
She co-founded the Women’s Equality Party in 2015 and served as its president until December 2024. She is also a co-founder of Primadonna Festival.
She started her career in journalism at The Economist, went on to hold deputy editorships at Business Traveller and International Management magazines and contributed regularly to the German edition of Forbes. For 11 years she worked as a London-based correspondent for the German news weekly, FOCUS. In 2004, she joined TIME as a senior editor, and later became London Bureau Chief, Europe Editor and, finally, Editor at Large.
She ran a data and technology think tank, has written and performed one-woman shows, a two-hander with Grayson Perry, and a theatrical piece for the Globe Theatre, stood as a candidate in the 2019 European elections, has served as President of the Foreign Press Association in London and as a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and co-curated the 2020 Festival of Death. She is on the founding committee of WOW-the Women of the World Festival. She has won awards for her journalism and her activism.
Since the death of her husband, the musician Andy Gill, she has released two EPs by his band Gang of Four, executive-produced the tribute album, The Problem of Leisure: A celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four, and manages his music estate.
Her books include the best-selling biography of King Charles III, Charles: The Heart of King (first published 2015, new edition 2022): and Amortality: The Pleasures and Perils of Living Agelessly (2011), Attack of the Fifty Foot Women: How Gender Equality Can Save the World! (March 2017, paperback Feb 2018) and, with her mother Anne Mayer Bird, Good Grief: Embracing Life at a Time of Death (Dec 2020, paperback Feb 2022). She also contributed to Dear NHS (2020) and Poems that Make Grown Women Cry (2016).
She co-founded the Women’s Equality Party in 2015 and served as its president until December 2024. She is also a co-founder of Primadonna Festival.
She started her career in journalism at The Economist, went on to hold deputy editorships at Business Traveller and International Management magazines and contributed regularly to the German edition of Forbes. For 11 years she worked as a London-based correspondent for the German news weekly, FOCUS. In 2004, she joined TIME as a senior editor, and later became London Bureau Chief, Europe Editor and, finally, Editor at Large.
She ran a data and technology think tank, has written and performed one-woman shows, a two-hander with Grayson Perry, and a theatrical piece for the Globe Theatre, stood as a candidate in the 2019 European elections, has served as President of the Foreign Press Association in London and as a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and co-curated the 2020 Festival of Death. She is on the founding committee of WOW-the Women of the World Festival. She has won awards for her journalism and her activism.
Since the death of her husband, the musician Andy Gill, she has released two EPs by his band Gang of Four, executive-produced the tribute album, The Problem of Leisure: A celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four, and manages his music estate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 3, 2017
HIT ROCK BOTTOM I think I've reached the point beyond which I cannot go on. Prince Charles has visited Saudi Arabia 14 times on private as well as 'business' trips. The Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia said that when Charles becomes king he can see that Britain will become a very Muslim-friendly country. Meanwhile Charles refuses to attend a Chinese State Banquet in London because of China's human rights abuses. The mind boggles.
I don't see much difference between ISIS and Saudi Arabia. Summary executions for being gay, screwing outside marriage etc, imprisoning for blogging, having a drink and no human rights whatsoever for women who cannot go out alone, cannot drive a car and cannot show their face in public, the only flesh that is allowed to be on view are the eyes.. In 2010 an 8 year old girl was married to an 80 year old man.... Saudi Arabia holds the chair for the UN Human Rights Commission so does the world suck-up to the provider of cheap oil. Who next, ISIS?
I think even the author is having a hard time at this point with her hagiography but she is trying hard. After all Charles is King of Hearts and Hero of the world if not an actually living saint.
Going to have to dnf this, it's just so depressing reading this crud and knowing that this awful person is going to become king.
_____________
All the rest is OMGs from when I was actually reading it. The top 5-star OMGs is marked ***** . Some of the others like Camilla wanting Charles to lend Pinochet a royal plane so he could go home are almost 5* too.
***** On drinking water, and more importantly, knowing when to stop. ''He knows exactly how to hydrate his body to just the right degree,' says his godson Tim Knatchbull. 'It's an incredible talent.' Quite. I'm talented that way too.
I'm going to finish this book. Yes I will. Act of will! I didn't though. I just couldn't. If I had I would have been left with a permanent left-sided OMG sneer/amaze/WHA.... kind of look.
______________
Previous notes briefly mentioning the tampax incident and bloodlust (not connected!).
I don't see much difference between ISIS and Saudi Arabia. Summary executions for being gay, screwing outside marriage etc, imprisoning for blogging, having a drink and no human rights whatsoever for women who cannot go out alone, cannot drive a car and cannot show their face in public, the only flesh that is allowed to be on view are the eyes.. In 2010 an 8 year old girl was married to an 80 year old man.... Saudi Arabia holds the chair for the UN Human Rights Commission so does the world suck-up to the provider of cheap oil. Who next, ISIS?
I think even the author is having a hard time at this point with her hagiography but she is trying hard. After all Charles is King of Hearts and Hero of the world if not an actually living saint.
Going to have to dnf this, it's just so depressing reading this crud and knowing that this awful person is going to become king.
_____________
All the rest is OMGs from when I was actually reading it. The top 5-star OMGs is marked ***** . Some of the others like Camilla wanting Charles to lend Pinochet a royal plane so he could go home are almost 5* too.
***** On drinking water, and more importantly, knowing when to stop. ''He knows exactly how to hydrate his body to just the right degree,' says his godson Tim Knatchbull. 'It's an incredible talent.' Quite. I'm talented that way too.
I'm going to finish this book. Yes I will. Act of will! I didn't though. I just couldn't. If I had I would have been left with a permanent left-sided OMG sneer/amaze/WHA.... kind of look.
______________
Previous notes briefly mentioning the tampax incident and bloodlust (not connected!).
April 14, 2021
A well-written book about an elite idiot. I can tell she tried to portray him in a "Kingly" light, but he comes off as spoiled, egotistical, protected from real life or hardship, I am immune from being touched, I will be king... Which is precisely what he is... An elite Narcissist. Raised that way from birth.
October 11, 2015
Style and Language
Catherine Mayer may be one of the few persons who has or had a close access to HRH the Prince of Wales, but she didn´t use that positive for her unauthorized biography.
In fact you have to search for the real new information’s (that book was promoted it would have – at least here in Germany) which are very rarely to find. It´s all about the authors try to put herself and her profession back into a positive light and less till non about the man behind -which is the world’s most famous crown prince. Ok, her tone is light and her writing style with some kind of amusement, but anything else?
The ones who are interested in the Royal family know already that he is unrecognized and whatever else the author brought up as news about him. I would have wished for him, that this book shows all the good things he´s done in the past, and that includes the marriage to the late Princess Diana as well (even though she ended in an ugly divorce war – but hey! thanks to that marriage the world got William, Harry and now Kate! Not to mention little George and Charlotte).
So why stuffed the author that book with a lot of unnecessary things, filled the pages with useless crab about people who weren´t of any kind of interest to the reader (and I think here especially about one famous man who got himself after his death into an ugly sex scandal with minors) only because they once or twice met the Prince???? The real good things about him, his way of thinking, seeing the world, how he does things and what he does to help people to become better, to change the world and her heritage to the next generation and that he speaks out what everyone else thinks but doesn´t dare to speak out loud… I could keep going on and on and on – but I guess you get the point.
The stars I gave above are my way to say, that this biography contents some very interesting facts and information’s about the Prince of Wales, his life and intentions – they’re just not that obvious to the readers eye. You have to read between the lines sometimes, or to read with intense attention to get to notice them. And if you take all the unnecessary lines and words out of this book, you have not only a much smaller book, but also a more realistic picture of this man, that says only one thing: yes, he is different, but he´s born to become king of the United Kingdom. Can you say that about yourself?
Result
A book that left me kind of speechless – and I mean speechless in a negative way. I´ve read many years ago the great biography about the Prince of Wales, which was written by Jonathan Dimbleby and was not only hooked but thrilled. And he had the same kind of access to the Prince like this author now, if not even closer. Sorry, but I can´t recommend this new “biography” about the British Heir to the throne – as sad as it is…
April 1, 2015
Once more I tried to read another Charles book with the hopes it would be filled with far more interesting facts rather than those that have been already printed. I understand the need to clean up his image and try to get some sense of hope that most people will accept Camilla as Queen one day, I am just not one of them. Again it is just the same information printed and wrapped up prettily.
February 5, 2018
I've always had a soft spot for Prince Charles and this book shows a side of him that many may not know or appreciate - his determination to try to make life better for others through his many charities and his Prince's Trust.
December 25, 2023
# Charles- The Heart of a King
1. ‘“and together with Kate they were embarking on lives as working royals”Working royals means a damn job with benefits and sick leave. And an actual stipend from Ann employer to build your wealth. Not freeloading off of your damn people!
2. “he doesn’t want to build up a sprawling charitable empire – or large staff – like his dad’s. He intends to do things his way.”Do not build up a financial and family legacy in miscommunication and ignorance for you and your future heirs. Build your empire in small steps and in small ways. Donate to charitable causes once a month. Do not be like your family with a boatload of issues and no solutions. Figure out your own solutions. With your own mentors. In your own way. At your own time. Take your time and enjoy the growing and learning process. But read widely to supplement your learning. Do things your own way. Do not follow your parents rules. You are an adult. Be independent. Act like an independent adult. In all areas. Start with exercise. Then cooking. Then mental wellness and strength. Intend to do things your own way. Remember your living situation is short term. Work quietly within the system to work your way out of it on your terms. Run your blogs yourself in all areas. Do it your own way. Same thing with your novels.
3. “The problem Harry now faces is one that has defined Charles’s life: how to turn an accident of birth into a meaningful vocation” Turn your second born birth into a meaningful vocation. You are the heir of your parents legacy. Turn the miracle of your birth into a meaningful vocation. Meaning work hard on your skills and deficiencies. Improve daily. Work hard at establishing healthy functional relationships and financial patterns full of love, trust, and open communication at all times. Writing poetry is your vocation. So make something great of it by giving it your best! Every day! Produce more than consume other things others normally would in three hours and thirty minutes. Be inspired every day. And one day you will bless others with your gems of poetry!
“What I learned from this book is that though Charles Windsor may be misunderstood the author does a brilliant job at bringing out his heart and soul in her novel and his love for what he does really shines through the pages. His earnest zeal for doing better for those he feels needs his support and care across all sectors of society is astounding and amazing.”
“I learned that in life you have to follow your true calling and do not let anyone dissuade you from doing what you are meant to do on this Earth. Be a change catalyst for good in society. Uplifting others and their needs. Promote others and make others look good. Both inside and outside your workplace. Instead of complaining about an issue sit down and be inventive and find a solution that works for you and that you can live with without compromising on your ideals or your integrity. Be a shining light like a morning star in the sky.”
1. ‘“and together with Kate they were embarking on lives as working royals”Working royals means a damn job with benefits and sick leave. And an actual stipend from Ann employer to build your wealth. Not freeloading off of your damn people!
2. “he doesn’t want to build up a sprawling charitable empire – or large staff – like his dad’s. He intends to do things his way.”Do not build up a financial and family legacy in miscommunication and ignorance for you and your future heirs. Build your empire in small steps and in small ways. Donate to charitable causes once a month. Do not be like your family with a boatload of issues and no solutions. Figure out your own solutions. With your own mentors. In your own way. At your own time. Take your time and enjoy the growing and learning process. But read widely to supplement your learning. Do things your own way. Do not follow your parents rules. You are an adult. Be independent. Act like an independent adult. In all areas. Start with exercise. Then cooking. Then mental wellness and strength. Intend to do things your own way. Remember your living situation is short term. Work quietly within the system to work your way out of it on your terms. Run your blogs yourself in all areas. Do it your own way. Same thing with your novels.
3. “The problem Harry now faces is one that has defined Charles’s life: how to turn an accident of birth into a meaningful vocation” Turn your second born birth into a meaningful vocation. You are the heir of your parents legacy. Turn the miracle of your birth into a meaningful vocation. Meaning work hard on your skills and deficiencies. Improve daily. Work hard at establishing healthy functional relationships and financial patterns full of love, trust, and open communication at all times. Writing poetry is your vocation. So make something great of it by giving it your best! Every day! Produce more than consume other things others normally would in three hours and thirty minutes. Be inspired every day. And one day you will bless others with your gems of poetry!
“What I learned from this book is that though Charles Windsor may be misunderstood the author does a brilliant job at bringing out his heart and soul in her novel and his love for what he does really shines through the pages. His earnest zeal for doing better for those he feels needs his support and care across all sectors of society is astounding and amazing.”
“I learned that in life you have to follow your true calling and do not let anyone dissuade you from doing what you are meant to do on this Earth. Be a change catalyst for good in society. Uplifting others and their needs. Promote others and make others look good. Both inside and outside your workplace. Instead of complaining about an issue sit down and be inventive and find a solution that works for you and that you can live with without compromising on your ideals or your integrity. Be a shining light like a morning star in the sky.”
February 21, 2020
https://booksmytruepassion.blogspot.c...
Der Prinz der mit den Pflanzen spricht. Der Prinz der unglücklich verheiratet war. Der Prinz der schon so lange auf seine Thronbesteigung wartet. Auch bekannt als Prinz Charles.
In eisner Biografie werden alle Aspekte seines Lebens beleuchtet. Die Guten sowie die Schlechten. Die Autorin versucht den Menschen zu zeigen, was Prinz Charles für ein König sein wird und welche Schickssalsschläge ihn zu dem gemacht haben, der er heute ist. Seine Überzeugungen und seine Weltanschauung wird im Buch zu Genüge angesprochen.
Mich hat das Buch so interessiert, weil ich mir über den Prinzen ein genaueres Bild machen wollte. Es gibt viele unterschiediche Meinungen über ihn und die Sache mit Lady Diana begleitet ihn noch immer, was auch viele Leute schlecht über ihn denken lässt. Deswegen wollte ich mir eine neutrale Meinung einholen bzw. etwas lesen was die guten und die schlechten Eigenschaften von ihm aufzeigt. Mit dem Buch ist es der Autorin gelungen mich davon zu überzeugen, dass seine Ansichten z.B. über den Klimawandel beeindruckend und realtitätsnah sind. Außerdem gefällt es mir, dass er politische Ansichten offen äußert. Diese Ehrlichkeit macht ihn wesentlich sympatischer und ich denke, dass er von vielen Leuten unterschätzt und missverstanden wird.
Die Biografie war wirklich spannend geschrieben, vor allem der Anfang hat mich nicht mehr losgelassen. Wenn man sich wirklich für die Royal Family und speziell Prinz Charles interessiert, dann ist die Biografie ein Geschenk. Ich schätze die neutrale Ansicht im Buch und ich denke sie könnte vielen Leuten gefallen, die sich, so wie ich, noch nicht sicher sind was sie von dem Prinzen halten sollen.
Das Buch hat außerdem gezeigt, was für ein toller König er wäre. Aber auch, dass es bis dahin schwer für ihn wird. Trotzdem denke ich er wird es meistern, vor allem weil er mit seinen ganzen Organisationen eine ganz besondere Nähe und Verbindung zum Volk hat.
Der Schreibstil war für eine Biografie überraschend locker zu lesen. Gefallen hat mir auch, dass wenig Daten verwendet wurden. Außerdem hat mir gefallen, das die Autorin am Anfang der Kapitel Veranstaltungen beschrieben hat bei denen sie den Prinzen begleitet hat.
Der Prinz der mit den Pflanzen spricht. Der Prinz der unglücklich verheiratet war. Der Prinz der schon so lange auf seine Thronbesteigung wartet. Auch bekannt als Prinz Charles.
In eisner Biografie werden alle Aspekte seines Lebens beleuchtet. Die Guten sowie die Schlechten. Die Autorin versucht den Menschen zu zeigen, was Prinz Charles für ein König sein wird und welche Schickssalsschläge ihn zu dem gemacht haben, der er heute ist. Seine Überzeugungen und seine Weltanschauung wird im Buch zu Genüge angesprochen.
Mich hat das Buch so interessiert, weil ich mir über den Prinzen ein genaueres Bild machen wollte. Es gibt viele unterschiediche Meinungen über ihn und die Sache mit Lady Diana begleitet ihn noch immer, was auch viele Leute schlecht über ihn denken lässt. Deswegen wollte ich mir eine neutrale Meinung einholen bzw. etwas lesen was die guten und die schlechten Eigenschaften von ihm aufzeigt. Mit dem Buch ist es der Autorin gelungen mich davon zu überzeugen, dass seine Ansichten z.B. über den Klimawandel beeindruckend und realtitätsnah sind. Außerdem gefällt es mir, dass er politische Ansichten offen äußert. Diese Ehrlichkeit macht ihn wesentlich sympatischer und ich denke, dass er von vielen Leuten unterschätzt und missverstanden wird.
Die Biografie war wirklich spannend geschrieben, vor allem der Anfang hat mich nicht mehr losgelassen. Wenn man sich wirklich für die Royal Family und speziell Prinz Charles interessiert, dann ist die Biografie ein Geschenk. Ich schätze die neutrale Ansicht im Buch und ich denke sie könnte vielen Leuten gefallen, die sich, so wie ich, noch nicht sicher sind was sie von dem Prinzen halten sollen.
Das Buch hat außerdem gezeigt, was für ein toller König er wäre. Aber auch, dass es bis dahin schwer für ihn wird. Trotzdem denke ich er wird es meistern, vor allem weil er mit seinen ganzen Organisationen eine ganz besondere Nähe und Verbindung zum Volk hat.
Der Schreibstil war für eine Biografie überraschend locker zu lesen. Gefallen hat mir auch, dass wenig Daten verwendet wurden. Außerdem hat mir gefallen, das die Autorin am Anfang der Kapitel Veranstaltungen beschrieben hat bei denen sie den Prinzen begleitet hat.
June 20, 2023
This book, given to me through family, shows a little bit of King Charles that many may not know or appreciate – his determination to try to improve the lives of others through his many charities and his Prince’s Trust. King Charles always tried to make the best of everything and he still is, and it came always from his heart. It’s also very sad because he never had a choice. He was born to be king.. Just a little bit of Charles….
It was not an easy book to read, it starts with an extensive introduction where you have the idea “what am I supposed to do with this?” An introduction to the first edition (2015), an author’s note to the paperback edition (2016) and a preface to the new edition (2022). Too long, we just want to read about the life and work of Charles.
The book contains many characters, people I and probably you have never heard of! The book revolved a lot about Harry and Meghan, and Prince Andrew – and comparatively very little Charles. Something was said about him, but not enough to call it a book about him! While his work as Prince of Wales and now King is more than worth telling. There had been much more.
If you’re a true royalist then I’d better get ready for a long winded book… it’s pretty boring.. When the author mentioned in one of her many introductions that she was a Republican I began to question my doubts and those doubts were confirmed. A Republican… and then write a book about Royalty… That often doesn’t go well. It is probably a book with which the author earned a lot of money, hence the many republications.
I am happy with the book only because family from the UK gave it to me. It joins the royal book collection and there it stays…
It was not an easy book to read, it starts with an extensive introduction where you have the idea “what am I supposed to do with this?” An introduction to the first edition (2015), an author’s note to the paperback edition (2016) and a preface to the new edition (2022). Too long, we just want to read about the life and work of Charles.
The book contains many characters, people I and probably you have never heard of! The book revolved a lot about Harry and Meghan, and Prince Andrew – and comparatively very little Charles. Something was said about him, but not enough to call it a book about him! While his work as Prince of Wales and now King is more than worth telling. There had been much more.
If you’re a true royalist then I’d better get ready for a long winded book… it’s pretty boring.. When the author mentioned in one of her many introductions that she was a Republican I began to question my doubts and those doubts were confirmed. A Republican… and then write a book about Royalty… That often doesn’t go well. It is probably a book with which the author earned a lot of money, hence the many republications.
I am happy with the book only because family from the UK gave it to me. It joins the royal book collection and there it stays…
January 14, 2025
I really hate to do this but I'm afraid it's a DNF for me. I listened to the audio book and I'm afraid by chapter 4, Sally Scott's silly and increasingly irritating mimicking of Charles' and QEII's voices meant that I couldn't go any further. She has a lovely voice, when simply reading the book; there is absolutely no need to "put on" an exaggerated, Spitting Image type voice to depict the now Monarch and the much loved late Queen. I found it quite mocking and insulting.
As for the actual content of the book, the title is extremely misleading. I expected it to be about Charles. It contains the usual gossip about Andrew, Harry and Meghan and the late DoE and it's as if Charles is a background character. It actually gives the views and opinions of Graeme whatshisface from the silly and minor Republic group. (As far as I got), it contained absolutely nothing I hadn't heard or read before and seems cobbled together from pages of the Daily Mail and The Crown from Netflix. If you are genuinely interested in reading about Charles, I'd recommend Robert Hardmans book instead.
As for the actual content of the book, the title is extremely misleading. I expected it to be about Charles. It contains the usual gossip about Andrew, Harry and Meghan and the late DoE and it's as if Charles is a background character. It actually gives the views and opinions of Graeme whatshisface from the silly and minor Republic group. (As far as I got), it contained absolutely nothing I hadn't heard or read before and seems cobbled together from pages of the Daily Mail and The Crown from Netflix. If you are genuinely interested in reading about Charles, I'd recommend Robert Hardmans book instead.
December 22, 2024
Kann man über einen Mann, über den schon so viel geschrieben wurde wirklich etwas bahnbrechend Neues schreiben? Meiner Meinung nach nein. Vieles, was ich in dieser Biografie gelesen habe, wusste ich schon. Es gab ein paar Ergänzungen zu bereits Bekanntem und einige Dinge wurden aus seiner Sicht gezeigt. Das war gerade beim Thema Diana interessant, mehr aber nicht.
Die Biografie war nicht streng chronologisch aufgebaut, sondern ist in Charles' Leben hin und her gesprungen. Es ging der Autorin mehr darum, bestimmte Dinge von Anfang bis Ende zu betrachten. Das fand ich auf der einen Seite angenehm, auf der anderen Seite wurde so auch vieles wiederholt. Einige Punkte, wie sie gefühlsarme Kindheit von Charles oder das schwierige Verhältnis zu seinem Vater, wurde fast schon zu oft wiederholt. Das hat das Lesen am Ende etwas zäh gemacht.
Die Biografie war nicht streng chronologisch aufgebaut, sondern ist in Charles' Leben hin und her gesprungen. Es ging der Autorin mehr darum, bestimmte Dinge von Anfang bis Ende zu betrachten. Das fand ich auf der einen Seite angenehm, auf der anderen Seite wurde so auch vieles wiederholt. Einige Punkte, wie sie gefühlsarme Kindheit von Charles oder das schwierige Verhältnis zu seinem Vater, wurde fast schon zu oft wiederholt. Das hat das Lesen am Ende etwas zäh gemacht.
April 15, 2023
Dieses Buch dreht sich um das komplette Leben von Prinz Charles. Angefangen in der frühen Kindheit, bis hinein in die heutige Zeit.
Man macht sich ja immer so ein bisschen sein eigenes Bild über die Mitglieder der Königshäuser und ich war nie so wirklich Fan von Charles. Seit dem Buch hat sich aber meine Meinung geändert. Wahnsinn, was er schon alles mitmachen musste und auf wieviel Widerstand er schon getroffen ist.
Von einem selbstbestimmten Leben weit entfernt, hat er trotzdem immer versucht das beste aus allem zu machen, war fast immer mit vollem Herzen dabei. Irgendwie auch echt traurig, denn er hatte ja nie eine Wahl. Wer sich wirklich für Charles, das englische Königshaus und die vielen Hintergründe interessiert, für den ist dieses Buch genau das richtige!
Man macht sich ja immer so ein bisschen sein eigenes Bild über die Mitglieder der Königshäuser und ich war nie so wirklich Fan von Charles. Seit dem Buch hat sich aber meine Meinung geändert. Wahnsinn, was er schon alles mitmachen musste und auf wieviel Widerstand er schon getroffen ist.
Von einem selbstbestimmten Leben weit entfernt, hat er trotzdem immer versucht das beste aus allem zu machen, war fast immer mit vollem Herzen dabei. Irgendwie auch echt traurig, denn er hatte ja nie eine Wahl. Wer sich wirklich für Charles, das englische Königshaus und die vielen Hintergründe interessiert, für den ist dieses Buch genau das richtige!
September 30, 2022
An absolutely disgraceful sham of a book. The first 116 pages are just waffling introduction!!! Catherine Mayer may call herself a Republican but she obviously doesn't mind making money out of the Royals. This was a complete waste of nearly £10!
If you hate King Charles then this is the book for you,but if your like me and want to read a decent balanced book about his life, PLEASE stay away from this drivel.
If I could get away with giving this book no star's I would. The only thing this book is fit for is lighting fires with.
If you hate King Charles then this is the book for you,but if your like me and want to read a decent balanced book about his life, PLEASE stay away from this drivel.
If I could get away with giving this book no star's I would. The only thing this book is fit for is lighting fires with.
May 25, 2023
I didn’t truly finish this book, it was on the verge of unreadable. So many characters, people I never heard of! It mentioned Harry and Meghan, and Prince Andrew — not Prince Charles. There was some mention of him, but not enough to call it a book about him!
The one star is for the explanation of the Caribbean slave trade issue, where he was ordered to apologise. I was talking about this with my father in law, and now I have more insight thanks to this book.
I might carry on sometime in the future, just not now…
The one star is for the explanation of the Caribbean slave trade issue, where he was ordered to apologise. I was talking about this with my father in law, and now I have more insight thanks to this book.
I might carry on sometime in the future, just not now…
January 22, 2023
I didn't read every last word but I read enough to find it interesting and informative. She doesn't pull her punches and seems to have researched her subject fully. This book contains an introduction to the first edition (2015), an author's note to the paperback edition (2016) and a preface to the new edition (2022). So many things happened between the editions that she needed to update the story each time. I appreciated that she included an index.
February 1, 2020
I still dont understand why british society underappreciate the work and care of their splandid royal highness, the Prince of Wales (Cymru) Mr. Charles. I found no answers to that question in this book. In total, book that is worth to read.
November 6, 2023
I think you need to be a royalist to really enjoy this book. It provides a good view of his upbringing and more recent life, but doesn't show us his humanity. Perhaps because there is little there, when one lives such in such extraordinary privilege.
August 31, 2019
A fair biography of the Prince of Wales, but often wallows in too much irrelevant detail.
April 4, 2022
This book is just ok. It did not really tell me anything I did not already know. It is an easy read but not quite interesting enough (for me).
October 7, 2023
3 chapters is enough. Badly constructed, all over the place, nothing of interest. Barely mentioned Charles so far so I have given up!
February 13, 2024
Packed with historical information it was a history lesson and a half! Even more interesting reading it now that Charles actually is King.
February 2, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This was an interesting analysis of the royal family particularly Charles and the reality of their position in the 21st century.
This was an interesting analysis of the royal family particularly Charles and the reality of their position in the 21st century.
July 31, 2016
Interesting and a slightly strange book. Written by an acknowledged republican (anti-monarchist) who started the book by saying that she sought to help Charles better connect with the British and commonwealth peoples for the purposes of better positioning him to be a popular, or at Lear accepted King.
Rather than a traditional chronological biography, this book delved into all the work that Charles does and the causes that drive him - and what in his past has underpinned or affected his beliefs. This technique allowed for telling a lot of his "story" but it was an incredibly interesting look at his work and his "causes."
She makes the point that Charles is amazingly busy and is leading and supporting work that is doing tremendous work for an incredibly broad swath of British and commonwealth citizens. His problem
Is that after decades of absolutely terrible relations with the press and abusive treatment by the press his instinct is to keep them as far away as possible. His press operation is set up to react to bad coverage rather than as a formal PR operation as the best and biggest nonprofits all have today. This results in people being largely uninformed about the very best things that the prince does, and overly aware of the smaller array of things that the prince does that do not reflect well on him.
The only thing that prevented a 5 star rating is that toward the end of the book she goes off on several chapters covering all kinds of bizarre stories that have run in British and..even worse American...tabloids. When she started to lay out various stories that had run in the US based National Enquirer I had to stop reading. An unfortunate choice for an otherwise quite respectable book.
Rather than a traditional chronological biography, this book delved into all the work that Charles does and the causes that drive him - and what in his past has underpinned or affected his beliefs. This technique allowed for telling a lot of his "story" but it was an incredibly interesting look at his work and his "causes."
She makes the point that Charles is amazingly busy and is leading and supporting work that is doing tremendous work for an incredibly broad swath of British and commonwealth citizens. His problem
Is that after decades of absolutely terrible relations with the press and abusive treatment by the press his instinct is to keep them as far away as possible. His press operation is set up to react to bad coverage rather than as a formal PR operation as the best and biggest nonprofits all have today. This results in people being largely uninformed about the very best things that the prince does, and overly aware of the smaller array of things that the prince does that do not reflect well on him.
The only thing that prevented a 5 star rating is that toward the end of the book she goes off on several chapters covering all kinds of bizarre stories that have run in British and..even worse American...tabloids. When she started to lay out various stories that had run in the US based National Enquirer I had to stop reading. An unfortunate choice for an otherwise quite respectable book.
June 18, 2023
A fascinating if little biased in my opinion of King Charles III, written before he came to the throne. I didn't know much about the King's life before reading this book as I was too young to remember it clearly.
I enjoyed the book and it gave me an insight into the King's life and times but I think I will seek out other books to gain more information.
I enjoyed the book and it gave me an insight into the King's life and times but I think I will seek out other books to gain more information.
July 8, 2016
Informative, but extremely dry! Loved the info about the Prince's Trusts for youth & the charities he dedicates part of himself to. But didn't need all the financial invoices, political parries or land measurements.
Succinctly, this is a very factual book about Charles which barely scans his emotional life or relationships. Not very exciting.
Succinctly, this is a very factual book about Charles which barely scans his emotional life or relationships. Not very exciting.
June 21, 2015
3.5 I was a bit put off by the awful title, but found this book interesting, if a bit heavy on the details of his charitable initiatives like the Prince's Trust. Came away feeling more sympathetic toward this complicated man.
December 30, 2015
A fresh and balanced take on the Prince of Wales. Not a conventional biography structured chronologically, it treats its subject thematically and at times discursively. Catherine Mayer writes well and talks a lot of sense.
August 11, 2015
Surprisingly interesting.
June 26, 2016
Interesting, slightly disrespectful read
February 13, 2015
Not as good as the newspapers made it sound to be
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