Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The book is not the scandalous tittle tattling one might have been led to think but a fairly objective explanation of events with especially pertinent background information. Brown is particularly good at describing the social milieu in which the characters find themselves, or seek to find themselves. Despite the complaints from the Meghan fans about the unfairness of her treatment of Meghan, the only member of the royal family who gets torn to shreds is Andrew, but he deserves it for his sleaziness, arrogance and stupidity. The media, especially the tabloids and papparazzi also get hammered as Brown describes the truly awfulness of the hacking campaign carried out by the Murdoch crew. It was unbelievably horrible. Brown does devote considerable space to Harry and Meghan in trying to explain why they act as they do. Harry has been an angry, tormented soul since childhood, only finding some measure of purpose and contentment in the army. Unfortunately, he could not remain Lt. Wales as a. career. Meghan has been an ambitious, driven individual since childhood, torn by her desire to be somebody as well as to be an agent for good. It is evident that Harry wanted out of Royal life and Meghan was the catalyst that made it happen. In Brown’s opinion (and many others) the two thrive on drama and upheaval. The pre-wedding turmoil began because Meghan could not or would not understand how the Palace worked (thinking that Royal courtiers and staff were the same as contract employees at NBC studios, as in the Queen’s intimate Angela Kelley being just a costume aide) and the Palace could not understand Meghan’s California directness and let’s get things done attitude. Cultural conflict at its worst. Rather than trying to be a conciliator, Harry only fed the flames. It was a sad outcome because the Queen, Philip, Charles and the top level courtiers welcomed Meghan and were pleased at how much she could add to the royal mystique. The only entities who caused trouble from the beginning were the British media, especially the tabloids, who were their usual nasty selves. Brown comments that Meghan might have saved herself a bit of woe if Piers Morgan had been invited to the wedding rather than the George Clooneys. Only time will tell whether or not the Sussex attempts at media empire building will be successful. Brown seems to think that they have not yet accomplished much and that Diana’s media before her death were much better organized. The surprise for me was Brown’s treatment of Camilla and Catherine, as well as Carole Middleton. Her description of Camilla’s upbringing as part of the English county set was interesting and did much to explain Camilla’s behavior. Brown does not condone the affair or how it was carried out, but as a person Camilla comes across as a level headed, charming and attractive person with none of the emotional baggage that plagues everyone else, except Kate. For Catherine Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, there are nothing but bouquets. The girl who was seen as a rather innocuous, uninteresting, unambitious social climber has emerged as a compassionate, caring steel-spined rock for William and ultimately the Crown. She is certainly not a nobody but a thoroughly grounded, emotionally stable and intelligent player in the family drama. Brown is also complimentary to her parents, especially Carole, for their stability, their success as parents and as entrepreneurs. No typical English snobbery present in Brown’s treatment. She admires their middle class values. All in all, this is a readable and credible attempt to explain the current state of the Palace and the monarchy. The Queen, Prince Philip, Camilla and Catherine are lauded. Charles is given both warts and his halo. William is commended for surviving the trauma of his childhood and early youth ( he knew all too well what was going on in his parents’ marriage) and turning out to be a compassionate and thoughtful future king. Harry and Meghan are explained through the lens of their own childhood traumas (Meghan’s was probably far more difficult and fractured than she has admitted). Andrew and the tabloids get their just desserts. The thread running through this is family and what they do to us (PhilipLarkin’s famous one line comes to mind). The only individuals in the royal family who had a stable, normal childhood are Camilla and Catherine. Brown comments that one strength of the monarchy since George V has been marital support. George VI became an admirable king because of the unfailing encouragement and care of his wife. Philip truly was the strength and support of Elizabeth II. Charles and William may also be successful monarchs because of the women they married.