by Tina Brown
First published 2022
Queen Elizabeth II declared "never again" after Princess Diana's death shattered the monarchy's carefully maintained facade. The royal family could not survive another Diana, another member whose star power threatened the institution itself. Tina Brown examines how the House of Windsor rebuilt itself from the wreckage of the Diana years, only to face fresh crises in the new century. Brown traces Charles's campaign to marry Camilla Parker Bowles, the growing rift between William and Harry as they chose different paths, Kate Middleton's rise within the family, and Prince Andrew's spectacular fall from grace. She documents the Queen's quiet strength through personal losses, including Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother, and Prince Philip after seven decades of marriage. The account culminates with Harry and Meghan's shocking departure from royal duties, suggesting the monarchy's "never again" moment may have arrived despite all efforts to prevent it.
Genres: biography, history, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, institutional-critique, royal-intrigue
Setting: United Kingdom
Period: 21st Century, Diana Years
571 pages · Hardcover · Crown