Several days ago I received a letter from the publisher, touting this book - and would I be interested in reviewing it. After all the author, who was described as a royal historian, has more than 225,000 Instagram followers. The account was cited so I looked it ... pictures of royals (is the "author" paying copyright fees for the use of the photos?) but little else. I don't have that many IG followers, but my other blog, Royal Musings, has had more than 15 million readers since 2008!
Having 225, 000 followers or living in London for a year does not make you a royal historian or an expert on British royalty. Trust me, it takes years of research, reading, more research, writing, more reading ... I could go on because I am a royal historian.
I have posted the photo of the book but this review will provide no information on the publisher or how to order. Please do not buy this book.
The publisher provided me with a copy of the book (which I downloaded). I regret doing this, but at least, I can warn my readers to NOT BUY THIS BOOK.
I stopped reading the book because it is so awful. I responded to the Publicity department's email, and pointed out the errors I found, which:
Queen Victoria was not married in 1837. George III was not succeeded by William IV. Antony Armstrong-Jones did not receive his peerage (Earl of Snowdon) on his wedding. In fact he received it in October 1961, only a few weeks before Princess Margaret gave birth to their first child, David, now the second Earl of Snowdon.
Yes, Philip was naturalized citizen, but a royal historian would know that he did not need to go through the naturalization process due to the Sophia Naturalization Act (1707). This act gave British nationality to Sophia's Protestant descendants in perpetuity ... well, until 1949, when the law was superseded by the British Nationality Act. The SNA remains in effect for Sophia's Protestant descendants born before 1949. In the same year that Philip went through the process, another descendant of Sophia, Prince Friedrich of Prussia, who married Lady Brigid Guinness, used the SNA to prove his British nationality. In 1956, Friedrich's first cousin, Prince Ernst August of Hanover, won his case for British nationality.
And then there is the egregious error of confusing precedence and etiquette. After the Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker-Bowles, Queen Elizabeth II revised the Order of Precedence for women, according to one major British newspaper. The new wife of the Prince of Wales was placed after Princess Alexandra. Prior to this, the wife of the heir to the throne followed the Queen and the Queen Mother or the Queen Consort. The writer then throws a spanner into the story, stating that Camilla and other wives would have to curtsey to the HRHS by birth.
This part of the article was incorrect. Period. Full stop. Curtseys and bows are not a part of precedence, but merely etiquette. An HRH does not curtsy or bow to another HRH, whether they are born or have acquired the style by marriage. A prince or princess of the blood and a princess or prince by marriage HAVE THE SAME RANK!!!! They do not bob or bow up and down to each other. But they all curtsy or bow to the sovereign.
Yet, the Instagram "Royal Historian" did not know this or have the wherewithal to check the facts. An investment in Debrett's Correct Form might have helped the writer ... or not. If you do not believe me, ask Dickie Arbiter, the Queen's former press secretary who has pointed out the same corrections to others.
I did not finish it. I could not bear it. I am sure there are other mistakes, but I am not going to waste my time ... and please, do not waste your time in purchasing this book. Do not waste bandwidth for downloading ... and no tree should have to die for this book.
Dear, dear "author", a reminder: Google is not always your friend.
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