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The book will shed light on the fine line trodden between custom and modernity, grandeur and thrift, and influence and neutrality that has left this royal family more secure and appealing than ever. Paperback , pages.
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Aug 31, Mom rated it it was ok. As with the last book that I read, this book is verbose and dry. At the outset, I found the subject interesting and felt that I could look beyond this setback, but as I read further and especially when I got to the chapter on Prince Charles, I found that it could not redeem itself.
This is supposed to be a brief history on the Royals, however it runs on about some things in the history and barely grazes the surface in other cases. Also, the author is very opinionated and injects his feelings and As with the last book that I read, this book is verbose and dry. Also, the author is very opinionated and injects his feelings and views into the book, which negates the book as a source of history since history deals with facts and not someone's opinions.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants historical facts about the Royals.
Intersting I found this book to be very interesting. It was filled with facts that while some were known others weren't. Each chapter is a different King or queen and was very in-depth on the information. The work was appreciated. Jan 18, Teena in Toronto rated it liked it.
I find the Royals interesting and thought this would be a fun read. The book started by telling us that the Windsors came into being in during World War I What follows is a chapter on the last four kings and queens and the two future kings: But I also liked that sometimes it read kind of gossipy It was interesting to read how the Royals were raised and educated and how that's changed over the years Although there are short sections about the Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Day, and the Christmas Day message, we hear nothing of other popular Commonwealth endeavours such as the s and s Comex expeditions, with which Prince Philip was closely engaged.
If, as Murphy suggests, the Queen was a fairly liberal voice on religious tolerance and an advocate of multiculturalism, how was this taken up or contested by others involved in this debate? As Jordanna Bailkin has recently noted, the historiographies of post-war Britain and decolonisation have all too often been treated separately — accounts of post-war Britain touching upon the Commonwealth and decolonisation only with reference to immigration, and those of decolonisation tending to view it as a process taking place in arenas quite separate from domestic concerns.
But perhaps Murphy could have considered further these domestic politics beyond Whitehall in his account — reflecting a growing view in in the historiography that decolonization should be seen as something that took place within, and impacted upon, Britain, as well as the countries that were becoming independent. But the images seem a little disconnected from the account indeed, Murphy himself freely admits to having come only recently to the value and interest of the visual.
I think this shows. There is so much more that could be said and asked about images.
One delightful image figure 2 shows the Queen smiling broadly whilst dancing with Nkrumah in It would be fascinating to know more about this occasion, and about the ramifications of this image if and when it was published. How was it received by different audiences within Britain and the Commonwealth? Were attempts made to manage these images by the British government and Whitehall? The role of popular culture in representing, supporting, and also challenging elite narratives of empire and the process of decolonisation have been clearly demonstrated in a number of recent conferences and publications.
A third question I have is about the focus on Britain. This concentration provides a really detailed exploration of the engagement with the Commonwealth on the part of one country. What would happen, I wonder, if we were to take in the view of Queen and Commonwealth from elsewhere in the Commonwealth? Monarchy and the End of Empire provides glimpses of this, but always from the perspective of its implications for Britain, or for the palace. For example, the decision by Jamaica to push forward a republican agenda is understood through continued possible embarrassment for Britain about colonialism, rather than through a detailed accounting for the ways in which royalty, empire, and Commonwealth could be understood from the perspective of this Caribbean state.
Perhaps rather than acting as criticisms of Monarchy and the End of Empire — which is undoubtedly a scholarly and important account — these final points highlight the continuing value of studying Commonwealth history, despite the decline of this label in UK universities.
Whatever we call it, there is much more to say about decolonisation and the post-colonial Commonwealth, from a broad range of geographical, disciplinary, and methodological perspectives. I would like to begin by thanking Ruth for producing such a detailed and generous review of my book. They certainly point to the fact that a great deal of further work is necessary in order to do justice to this topic.
To take her final point first, I would defend the approach I adopted, while fully recognising its limitations. In practical terms, this fairly narrow focus on the relationship of the British government and the Palace made the book feasible as a single-author study. This book promises to reveal the relationships and rivalries of Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duchess of Cambridge. The Women of Windsor: Wives of the Kings of England: From Hanover to Windsor by Mark Hichens.
Explains the origins of the monarchy, how it works, what the royals do all day, and more. Contains more than 2, entries on topics such as Maundy Money and the Coronation Ceremony.
With a mixture of popular history, direct reportage, and funny anecdotes, the author examines how the role of Britain's head of state has changed over the years. A "funny and irreverent" look at British royalty, past and present. Confessions of a Fake Sheik: A journalist who poses as a wealthy sheikh talks about his encounters with famous people, including royals. Royal photographer Chris Jackson reveals the magic and logistics of documenting the royal family. Photos are organized by theme, from state occasions including the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to charity works and a typical year in the Royal Diary.
A chance meeting in led two amateur photographers to an unlikely friendship with the British royal family that spanned over 30 years. A Century of Royalty by Ed West. Photos of British royalty in the 20th century. Royal Encounters by Paul Ratcliffe. The author shares his photographs of the royal family at social engagements and walkabouts, as well as his personal conversations with royals, including Princess Diana. A Souvenir Album by David Oakey. A season-by-season guide to the Queen's busy year, illuminating the traditions behind many royal events.
Illustrated with new photos. God Save the Queen: Explores the spiritual dimension of monarchy in historical and contemporary times, and the debate on the future of the British monarchy. Monarchy, Religion and the State: Argues that the next succession to the throne will require major national debates about traditional rituals which require professions of Protestantism by the new monarch.
More Books on Royalty and Religion. Down With the Crown by Antony Taylor. British anti-monarchism and debates about royalty since The Monarchy and the Constitution by Vernon Bogdanor. English constitutional history and theory.
The author makes a case for the positive role that monarchy plays in modern democratic politics. Unravels the tangled relationship between crown and state in Great Britain, examining how a monarchy can work in a democracy, the political powers of a British monarch and the nature of the royal prerogative, the case for republicanism, and the future of the monarchy. Britain and Its Monarchy by Tom Nairn.
A "powerful, analytical, and bitterly funny book" look at Britain's fixation on the Crown and its constitutional framework. The Nature of the Crown: Essays about the monarchy and constitutional law in Great Britain. The Executive in the Constitution: Monarchy and the End of Empire: Argues that the monarchy's relationship with the Commonwealth, initially a means of strengthening imperial ties, became an impediment to British foreign policy.
Am exploration of the British Commonwealth and its impact on the process of Britain adjusting to a world without Empire. George V by Kenneth Rose. Biography of the British king, who lived This book, winner of the Whitbread Prize, draws on letters and diaries of the royal family, intimates, and social observers of the time. The author of this biography suggests that George V's troubled relationship with his parents caused him to suffer extreme separation anxiety.
His time in the Navy, sexual development, and years on the throne are also scrutinized. The Unexpected King by David Cannadine. For a man with conventional tastes and views, George V had a revolutionary impact, inventing the modern monarchy, with its emphasis on family values and duty.
Queen Mary by James Pope-Hennessy. Tells the story of her impoverished childhood, her very significant reign, and her old age as the much-admired Queen Dowager. Biography of Princess May of Teck. Born into a family of impoverished nobility, she became queen, mother of two kings, and a symbol of British majesty. A Novel by Karen Harper. In April of , a young nanny arrives at Sandringham to care for the children of future king George V as their parents never could. The Lost Prince by Stephen Poliakoff. Screenplay of a British TV movie about Prince John, the epileptic son of King George V, who was shut away at age 12 to save the royal family from embarrassment.
Includes a page factual introduction. The movie is available on DVD. This is a biography of his wife, who is said to have been coldly treated by the royal family.