Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne

Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne

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Elizabeth II could rest assured that, after a tumultuous four decades that nearly saw the collapse of the royal House of Windsor, the future was assured. Beneath the surface, tensions mounted as the two queens-in-waiting protected the interests of their kings—the lackluster, benighted Prince of Wales and his wildly popular son—and their competing courts vied for the love of the people and the power that comes with it.

Elizabeth II herself was keenly aware of this delicate and potentially dangerous situation. While allowing the public to believe that she would never retire, the Queen spent months with her most trusted advisors sorting out the constitutional implications of abdication. This meticulously crafted blueprint for transition hinges on one thing: Since Charles has no intention of renouncing his claim to the throne so that William can become the next monarch—the Queen has never even considered this option, according to Palace insiders—the Prince of Wales would have to accept what amounts to a self-imposed term limit on his reign.

In exchange for the Queen agreeing to abdicate either after turning ninety or, more likely, upon the passing of her husband Prince Philip turns ninety-five on June 10, , Charles has tentatively agreed to stay on the throne for no more than fifteen years—a reign that would, if it began tomorrow, end when Charles was well into his eighties. William could then be crowned king at a comparatively youthful fifty. The Queen has not waited until she becomes a widow to share real power with her son.

In the meantime, the Black Queen and the White Queen will continue to be the most dynamic pieces on the royal chess board. Whatever the outcome of this contest, the next Queen of England will be a commoner—the first since Anne Hyde married the future James II in Although she had no title, the Duchess of Cornwall was always a bona fide aristocrat—a direct descendant of William the Conqueror and the granddaughter of a baron.

A descendant of coal miners and the daughter of a former flight attendant, the Duchess of Cambridge is in truth destined to become the first working-class queen. Ironically, she will also be the first college-educated queen. The House of Windsor is, as Winston Churchill famously described Russia, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. And if the past is any indication, scandal, joy, drama, tragedy, history, triumph, and betrayal will all play their part—as they have for more than a millennium—in the Game of Crowns. Photo by Valerie Andersen.

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by Christopher Andersen

More books from this author: Thank you for signing up, fellow book lover! I felt alternatively sorry for and angry at the Royals. Having never really read anything but the glowing reports, I was somewhat shocked to hear of how the Royals acted at times. Nevertheless, I still find myself fascinated by the House of Windsor. Three to three and a half stars. Interesting final notes on the idea of abdication -- as Elizabeth has gotten older, I've been positive she won't step down, but only time will tell, won't it?

Who else is excited for this year? William and Kate's third child is on the way, Harry and Meghan are getting married, and Princess Eugenie is getting married!

Apr 22, Eileen Granfors rated it did not like it. Or get a subscription to People. Lists upon lists, notes, and photos. Apr 23, Connie Fischer rated it it was amazing. This book is broken down into eight chapters. It studies the different personalities of Queen Elizabeth, Camilla, and Kate, their popularity with the people, and their feelings about one another.

In one chapter, there is a scenario that describes what would happen when Queen Elizabeth passes away. The funeral procession and then on to crowning the next King. The people prefer Prince William over Prince Charles by a large margin. Charles has a reputation for being stuffy and out of touch with the This book is broken down into eight chapters. Charles has a reputation for being stuffy and out of touch with the people over whom he would rule.

He is exactly whom the people want to lead their country into the future. In addition, the people love Kate and her genuineness. She is so much like Diana and has gained great approval. And then, there is Camilla. The book appears to be honest in the background of Camilla and her long-time relationship with Charles. The book explains the history of the courtship, marriage, and divorce of Charles and Diana and how her tragic death changed the country. The Queen Mother detested Camilla and refused to ever meet her.

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It took a very long time for Queen Elizabeth to finally consent to meet her. She tried her best to break them apart, but Charles professed to love her and refused. Their marriage has made many people quite angry. Camilla has stayed somewhat in the background, but more and more she is trying to steal the spotlight - and the crown - away from Kate.

Descriptions of her shenanigans certainly leave the reader detesting her. The thought of Camilla being Queen makes many people very angry. The Queen has not actually said whether or not she would like to see Charles passed over in favor of William being King. However, it is thought that there might be some secret agreement that Charles, provides he lives long enough, would be King for only 15 years and then abdicate in favor of William.

It is believed that Australia and Canada have remained a part of the UK due to their devotion and respect for Queen Elizabeth. Time will tell what the future will be for the monarchy. I really enjoyed this book which lays out the possibilities of how Charles and William will rule. Watch this and you'll basically have the gist of the book. The monarchy isn't what it says it is. And if you're completely royal trash like I am, then you'll eat it up. Basically, this whole thing goes over the same old feuds that we've heard over and over again.

Queen Elizabeth against her sister. Camilla vs Queen Elizabeth. I can't comment on how much is true about Kate and Camilla -- for all I can see, they get along pretty well; but, then again, the story i Watch this and you'll basically have the gist of the book. I can't comment on how much is true about Kate and Camilla -- for all I can see, they get along pretty well; but, then again, the story is still unfolding -- but it was just crazy to hear about Charles and his life in general.

Game of Crowns

I highly doubt most of the gossip put in this book is true, but it was For a book that starts off with a huge chapter about what will happen after Queen Elizabeth dies, it really doesn't disappoint. It starts off with a bang and then keeps going with it. And, while I don't completely believe everything in here is true, it rang true with what Andersen said about the state of the monarch after the Queen dies. The world is in an uproar, mainly over Queen Camilla. Everyone's calling for Will and Kate. Andersen definitely isn't wrong.

I'm in the camp who thinks that Prince William should be next in line.

After all I've heard about Charles -- legitimate information and also just pure gossip -- I wouldn't want him on the throne. I would only suggest you read this if you just want a crash course in any tabloid written from Diana to now. It's a long, trashy road, but enjoyable if you really just want to hear some pure gossip about Britain's royal family. Fiction in parts - particularly where he writes his little fantasy about how the Royal Family would reaction when Queen Elizabeth dies - right down to their purported dialogue, the description of their bedrooms, all leading he hopes to the complete collapse of the monarchy.

This is a compendium of innumerable tabloid stories augmented by the author's own spin on the few facts contained in the book. The bulk of the book is speculation, prejudicial adjectives used liberally for those Inaccurate. The bulk of the book is speculation, prejudicial adjectives used liberally for those members of the Royals he doesn't like, fawning gushing adjectives for those of the family he does like and, of course, numerous quotations apparently memorized and communicated verbatim from people "who have asked to remain anonymous" How convenient. A complete waste of time unless the reader wants to wallow in his adoration of Diana and his perception of plots, sub-plots and machinations that make Machiavelli look like an amateur.

A complete waste of time. EDIT - the most glaring inaccuracy was the author giving another of his blow-by-blow, word-by-word descriptions of a fight between Prince Charles and Diana, resulting in him walking away from her as she threatened to throw herself downstairs - as the Queen supposedly looked on horrified, the author tells us that "Charles' wife of two years, three months pregnant with their first child, hurled herself down the stairs".

So dramatic, so tragic, so bogus - Prince William was born within their first year of marriage. A simple fact that could have been checked in seconds. Like so many tabloid writers, he never let facts get in the way of a great smear. Nov 24, Erin L rated it it was amazing Shelves: I'm giving this 5 stars for gossipy, completely readable goodness.

Add to that I know little about the monarchy overall other than looking at the odd picture in the grocery store line and, of course, Diana. So it was interesting learning more about Charles and Camilla and others in the royal family. Including the story of Kate and William. It's an interesting life, but one I wouldn't want to have. I had no idea how back-stabby and ladder-climby it is. I mean, I kind of hate that I just plowed through this gossip in 3. Full review to come. It is full of all the usual gossip we have been hearing about for years all the crap about C I mean, I kind of hate that I just plowed through this gossip in 3.

It is full of all the usual gossip we have been hearing about for years all the crap about Camilla barf and Charles double-barf carrying on with their affair, Harry not being Charles' son, Elizabeth and Philip being cold and unloving parents, etc. On the other hand, it is exactly what you would want and expect if you are obsessed with the House of Windsor. It is every tabloid article ever, condensed into a book. I am kind of embarrassed to say that I plowed through this one in about three and a half hours, I just could not put it down.

That does not mean the content is academic, or that it is a great literary work, but if you love to read about the royal family, it does serve its purpose. Unfortunately I am part of the problem, as if people would stop reading this kind of stuff, then there would be little incentive to publish it. And perhaps William and Harry especially could be regarded as real people, instead of being gawked at all the time. Basically, the book looks at Elizabeth II, Camilla, and Kate, comparing the women and how they are shaping the future of the throne.

Elizabeth, of course, is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Camilla is a home-wrecking devil, and Kate is the one everyone would actually want to become queen after Elizabeth. Time and again the author addresses several facts regarding Camilla and Charles; how many would rather see William become king next, that Charles said Camilla would never be crowned but has since gone back on his word, etc.

Really, this review is about to become a diatribe against Charles and Camilla and cheating. This book just reiterates the fact that they're both terrible people who deserve each other, and unfortunately Diana suffered as a result.

Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne (Unabridged)

Not only that, but William and Harry suffered greatly as well. Can you imagine, week in and week out, your family's personal affairs being splashed all over the pages of every newspaper and magazine around the world? Is anyone surprised that Harry acted out the way he did?

He had the luxury to do so, something William was never afforded - being third in-line and all. Diana and Charles' whole marriage was just so heartbreaking, and Camilla and Charles seemed to enjoy the game, it is just insufferable. And then to try and make Diana look as though she was crazy? I know Diana was not perfect and she certainly had her own flaws, but how much of her behavior was brought on by the way Charles treated her?

I wish once an for all this whole issue of who Harry's father is could be put to rest. The author points out at least twice when Harry was looking "less like a Windsor and more like a Hewitt". We get it, Diana had affairs too. It's a big deal because Harry is 5th in line to the throne. But there was reportedly a paternity test done - though of course whatever results they wanted to report could be stated as truth and we would never know for sure.

I'd like to think at this point however, the truth would be out. And perhaps it does not even matter. Or perhaps Harry knows the truth and Hewitt is his father. Really, it is not our business. It's just not fair to Harry, either way. He's had this hanging over him his whole life and probably will forever.

Game of Crowns | Book by Christopher Andersen | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

I'd like to think he knows for certain, so at least he has some kind of closure and peace of mind. While the book as a whole is pretty tacky, one part I truly thought was weird was the imagining of Queen Elizabeth's death. It was weird and I did not like it. This author did the same thing in one of his books about JFK Jr. It's creepy and weird.

KIRKUS REVIEW

We get it, Elizabeth will likely have to pass on for either Charles or William to become king, but it is not something we need to plan out. As an aside, the idea of abdication is an interesting one. It would be fabulous if Charles would abdicate. William is much more popular, and younger, and Kate is far more queenly than Camilla.

I mean, as queenly as a 'commoner' can be of course, right? And seriously, no one wants to see Camilla as queen. Nor do I really want to see Charles crowned king. The author insinuates should this happen, it might mean the end of the House of Windsor. That would not be such a great thing. So, in the end, this is nothing more than gossip at both its best and worst. It's a very new publication my library system just got it this month , so it is the most up-to-date as can be, outside of daily and weekly gossip publications.

Please though, do not spend the money on it. If you are, like me, part of the problem and have to read it, check it out from the library instead. Everyone is manipulating and conniving except William and Harry - there's actually very little mention of Harry at all , even Kate's family. You'll thank your lucky stars time and again to not be born into the House of Windsor.

Nov 24, Sarah rated it it was amazing. This was trashy and ridiculous and I loved every second of it. Jul 07, Caress Go rated it did not like it. Apr 20, Jackie Sande rated it did not like it Shelves: Embarrassed I bought this book. Doesn't even qualify as a beach read. Jun 26, farmwifetwo rated it liked it Shelves: The news will tell you most of the book. I haven't read the other books he wrote nor Diana's. Very little I didn't know or assume. Good, readable summary of the Firm. By selecting three members of the royal family as the central figures, Andersen set Game of Crowns slightly apart from other works of royal nonfiction.

Prince Charles, Prince William, and the late Princess of Wales Diana are also prominently featured, although primarily in relation to Elizabeth, Camilla, and Catherine. Game of Crowns kept my interest far better than my most previous royal reads. No one subject was concentrated on for too long and a number of approaches were taken to tell the story. There were a number of personal quotes from and about members of the royal family that enhanced the underlying significance of what Andersen said. He broached the subject of abdication the queen stepping down with more seriousness than most other royal commenters.

Andersen purported that this is a very real possibility, especially if the Duke of Edinburgh passes before the queen. He painted a realistic, if somewhat cynical, picture of a post-Elizabethan monarchy. My largest criticism of other royal-themed works of nonfiction has been that they seemed glaringly propagandized. I learned long ago that all royal biographies are biased, albeit some more heavily than others.

It was initially hard to tell whom exactly Christopher Andersen was favoring, as nearly everyone seemed to be painted in an unflattering light at one point or another.

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