William and Kate: A Royal Love Story by Christopher Andersen
William and Kate: A Royal Love Story by Christopher Anderson
hardback 320 pages
published by Simon & Schuster in December 2010
ISBN-13: 9781451621457
Type: {Beach Read: fluffy, mindless, easy to read.}
Rating: {Me Likey: Enjoyable! Particularly for fans of this genre.}
Why You’re Reading It:
- You’re a fan of the Royal Family
- You like Cinderella tales… even though you are a grown up
- You are unashamedly loving everything Kate Middleton
- Juicy dish can be fun, in your opinion
What I Thought:
What can I say? I am surprising friends with the fact that I am a fan of Kate Middleton and Prince Will. And, to be more specific, I am a fan of Kate Middleton. Why? I can’t exactly pinpoint the reason. She’s a commoner, she’s attractive (but not gorgeous), she’s in the spotlight (but not dramatic), she’s got great style and an athletic, but not anorexic (yet) body, and I absolutely adore her style. So far, I like her. I like that she is not taking the royal carriage to her wedding. I like the fact that she seems down-to-earth and not attention craving. I will be one of the millions of people watching the wedding on April 29th (although it will be a 3 a.m. wake-up call for me here in on the west coast of the United States).
Andersen’s book takes us from Charles and Diana’s marriage in 1981 through the present day in a mere 320 pages (pictures included). Telling stories that we’ve heard for the past 30 years as well as tidbits that are lesser known (or not at all known to those of us who have not been following the story closely) Andersen does a good job keeping the story rolling in a very readable way; I actually had to remind myself that it was not fiction. Andersen has pages upon pages of sources listed in the back, and was able to land interviews with close friends and relatives of both William and Kate. Is this a tabloid type of book? Yes. But it is more US Weekly/ People than National Enquirer/ Life & Style; meaning, I trust it for better or worse. Sure, I think Andersen took liberties and probably embellished details, but like US Weekly, I think many of his stories are more real than many of us think they are. And my goodness some of it is quite juicy!
I won’t spill all the beans and give away the gossip — because that’s what this is, like the best water-cooler conversation that you’ve ever had — I’ll let you have that fun for yourself. However, here are some questions for those of you who have read it (or to come back and answer after you read it), or just know a lot about the topic:
- Would Kate Middleton be in the position she is if her mother weren’t so ambitious?
- (For my British readers) Does it absolutely drive you crazy that the royal family is so incredibly rich — living on your tax dollars? I was floored by this, and my mouth was hanging open often… I am (obviously) American and have lived here my entire life, so am literally stunned by the information that was given in this book about this topic.
- How incredibly different would Will and Harry be if their mother had lived? They seem to be very much their father’s sons at this point.
- Has there been a DNA test on Harry — the rumors brought up in this book are not new, but are definitely interesting.
- I can’t decide if I think Kate is strong for waiting how she did, putting up with what she did, and keeping her engagement secret for TWO YEARS before the public announcement in November 2010 or if she is going to be very, very sorry for being a bit of a push-over? (I really like her anyway, though).
I love books about the royals so I may have to check this one out!!!
Yes… it’s a good one if you like the royals!
I don’t think this is for me, but my mother would love it!
It’s a quick read… she can read it before the wedding.
Hold the phone – Kate kept her engagement a secret for 2 years? Is this a well known fact? Do you like how I called her by her first name? I need to read this book!
Well, I think it’s a well known suspicion and Andersen tells us it’s the truth. She did not officially get the ring until their Africa trip, but she got the proposal (probably why she was able to withstand the waiting).
Haha, yes, being on a first name basis with the future queen of England must be nice! You HAVE to read it — such an easy read and definitely worth it if you like them!
Oh Wallace – you are SO not the only one! Nice review!
Thx
I fell head over heels in love with the Charles and Diana fairytale which turned out to be a tragedy…I’m almost scared to get caught up in this one. Is that a jaded opinion or what?
I totally get that. I was a little scared for her because of the ring. I guess I’m more superstitious than I thought.
I have to confess to Royal Wedding fatigue as every day we get a new detail….this weekend it was the council where her parents used to live trying to make themselves into a Royal Borough – you see the level of tedium we are into now! I have to confess to sort of wanting to run away to a different country on wedding weekend.
Oh I’m SURE you are being inundated with wedding news! Poor thing. That’s like living here — celebrities aren’t as much fun when they live next door and are on the news every night.
What’s a Royal Borough — do they get anything special or just the knowledge that someone relating to a royal live there? Her parents won’t be given any titles will they?
No, nothing special, it’s just everyone with any connection at all, however tenuous, trying to milk it for all it’s worth. I’m sure some people will be like, oh, now its a ROYAL borough, so it must be a lot nicer place to visit. But it will not be
Just an excuse to charge people more. Hehe
Though it will have to be a country without television and social media, to work effectively, I suppose
My birthday is on Easter Monday and the Royal Wedding 4 days later what a year.
I like Kate too – she seems a very nice person. I don’t think that history will repeat itself in so many ways. Charles and Diana should NEVER get married and I really don’t like it when I hear people bitching about him and what he did to Diana. I think the old days of royalty that the queen grew up in are over and the future of royalty will be quite different. They want to live more normal lives, go to uni marry who they want.
Once it was about duty and representing your country, now it’s about what hat you wear, the shoes on your feet, your hair style and all that other crap. They can’t do anything without the paparazzi chasing them around. They’re just celebrities the moment they’re born and that isn’t really what being king or queen is about.
I wonder if in the future it will just stop. William and Harry’s generation of royals at least grew up seeing the old sense of duty alive in the current queen. In the future though… will anyone continue wanting to be kings or queens, or bothering with the royal family?
Maybe the wedding between William and Kate (see how I don’t even say Prince William how many people do?) will be the one of the last big royal weddings between future monarchs in this country?
Anyway, it is quite a sweet romantic story to follow and I have been following it, although I doubt I’ll be reading this book. I’m kinda tired of everyone and everything milking it for all its worth. Ugh and wedding memorabilia… ugh don’t think so. I feel sorry for Kate in a way (or Catherine as she is actually officially referred to…)
I don’t get people moaning about our taxes paying them to be rich either or for the wedding. I suppose maybe if they had a nice little quiet wedding somewhere without any fuss or bother, people would then moan they hadn’t spent enough.
Harry looks much more like a Windsor than William does. His eyes, nose and skull look much more like Charles and Philip. William, in the face looks much more like Diana’s brother than he looks like his father’s side.
Sorry, I should have prefaced all of that with “in my humble opinion…” I come off kind of bossy.