First published 2017
Sally Bedell Smith examines Prince Charles through four years of research and hundreds of interviews with palace officials, former girlfriends, and spiritual advisors. She traces his journey from a lonely childhood struggling with his father's expectations to his eventual marriage to Camilla after the tragedy of his union with Diana. Smith reveals how Charles sought comfort from the Queen Mother and Lord Mountbatten, endured difficult school years, and pursued intellectual and entrepreneurial interests while searching for spiritual meaning. The biography covers his relationships with William, Kate, Harry, and his grandchildren, showing a man with fierce independence who spent over six decades following royal protocols while preparing for kingship. Smith uncovers new details about Diana's death, his reunion with Camilla, and his preparations for the throne, presenting Charles as more complicated and compelling than previously understood.
Genres: biography, history, non-fiction, royalty
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-secrets, redemption
Setting: United Kingdom
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
658 pages · Kindle Edition · Random House