The five best royal biographies

according to historian Frank Proschaska

https://www.wsj.com/articles/frank-prochaska-1517608615


Queen Mary by James Pope-Hennessy tops my list.  I loved Lady Longford's biography of Queen Victoria, but Cecil Woodham's Smith's first volume of a planned two volume biography of Queen Victoria, is pure perfection.   Woodham-Smith died before completing the second volume.  The first volume ends with Albert's death.

I also think Hugo Vickers' biography of the Queen Mother surpasses Shawcross' work.  In fact, the two biographies complement each other.

http://www.frankprochaska.com