Absolutely superb book. Totally unbiased, I have found that books are usually written by either the Charles camp or the Diana camp. This is the best and most thorough impartial book I have read about Prince Charles. Ms Smith covers from early life onwards, his relationships with his parents and those around him. She glosses over nothing. Well done to the author.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for an ARC of this title. I was a bit late in starting it...it just got lost in my stack of "want to read." Someone recently said I give a lot of 4s and 5s. Going strictly by the rating...I liked it..so yes, it's a 4. I would've purchased this, had I not had the advance, but I am a bit taken with the royal family. After reading it, I realized I'd read a few others by this author, and yes, I liked them. I think what is unique about this for me is that I was a Diana fan, and did NOT like Camilla at all. I still think Charles really messed up that whole situation, but I can understand a bit more...his personality, being reined in by his duties, and honestly, being in love with Camilla. It's also about the things he's done...mis-steps and good achievements both. Some of the portions about his patronages, etc go a bit long, but it was a solid, good book.

This purports to be an impartial biography but reads like an apologia for the prince and monarchy in general. Despite Bedell's best efforts, he comes across as much the same self-pitying, opinionated, entitled individual we saw in the Dimbleby biography. His "spider memos" and speeches would seem to be inconsistent with the constitutional role of the British monarch, and it remains to be seen whether he could refrain from unconstitutional interference if and when he accedes to the throne. From the evidence presented by Bedell, I would doubt it.

On November 14, 1948, Prince Charles Philip Arthur George was the first child born to 22-year old Princess Elizabeth. The book explains Charles’s education and the harsh schools his father preferred and had attended himself. One school is Gordonstoun, whose founder, Kurt Hahn, promoted a vision where “philosophers become kings” which some feel is the reason for Charles’s own ideas about life today. Charles lacked the stamina needed to withstand the harsh conditions of this school which made him a target for bullying.

After finishing his basic schooling, he was sent through various abbreviated military curricula, most of which he enjoyed. In addition, he was working as a goodwill ambassador for his country.

He was introduced to Camilla Shand. They hit it off but she was also seeing Andrew Parker Bowles. Charles knew that he did not want to marry until he was older. Not long after, Camilla and Andrew married leaving Charles depressed and angry.

The book covers the various stages of Charles’s life. His schooling and training are first. Next is his marriage to Diana and their problems.

I found the book to be somewhat interesting in explaining in detail the things that interest Charles such as his watercolors, organic gardening, architecture and so on. He is passionate about things and, using his “power” often ends up being somewhat of a bully.

His ongoing affair with Camilla is smoothed over by the author of this book who also completely writes Diana as a total nutcase. Unfortunately, it is very sad when a biographer chooses to use his or her own prejudices when writing a book. They lose all credibility when they do so. Therefore, I cannot recommend this book to readers.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

As an unabashed Anglophile, I have read many biographies on the Windsors over the years, including a few specifically about Prince Charles. This fresh, new biography about Prince Charles is as precious as a hunk of royal Welsh gold!

The Prince Charles biography of note since the 90's has been the authorised Johnathan Dimbleby tome, which is referenced throughout this book (ironically, I've never read this one). With decades gone by since that biography, it is a delight to have a new comprehensive and up-to-date major biography of this multi-faceted and extraordinary individual. At over 600 pages, it is rich with information and lends a new appreciation for a remarkable man waiting to be King for over sixty years. During this time Charles has worked relentlessly to impact issues he feels passionately about such as architecture, organic gardening, preserving historic homes, providing seed money for business start-ups, and appreciation and acceptance for other religions. Despite push back and criticism from the British media and other power players, Charles has a strong back bone and stands firm on his principles.

The book also explores Charles personal interests such as his love of art, especially as demonstrated by his sketching and painting in watercolors. He also is an intellectual and deep thinker seeking out philosophical musings such as that of Sir Laurens Van Der Post. Much of his acrimony towards architects of today has been his dismay at their cold and linear modern designs. One of Charles' passions is promoting architecture with a nod to the majesty of the past...incorporating columns, cornices and other artistic representations to lend beauty and history to English surroundings. Another major joy of the Prince of Wales is gardening, and he has lovingly and painstakingly created magnificent gardens at his country mansion Highgrove.

Charles' personal life is also laid bare with his pre-marriage romances in his run up to marrying Lady Diana Spencer. This disastrous and tragic marriage is extensively documented as well as that of his relationship with his true love, Camilla (Shand) Parker-Bowles. I have truly loved and supported Princess Diana since I watched the Royal Wedding, enchanted and doe-eyed as a teenager. However, in part after reading this book, I no longer have a jaundiced eye regarding the incompatibility of their marital union. Still, they have their children William and Harry to be proud of and their lives are also explored in this book.

The writing style of author Sally Bedell Smith is effortless and sublime. Because of this, I have just purchased her book "Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch." I trust that this book will be just as meticulously researched and pleasurable to read as her Prince Charles work. Even after many years of reading other biographies of the Windsors, I came away from this one with a new high regard and appreciation for Prince Charles. Such is the measure of this book which deeply explores Charles' multi-layered personality to present the best representation of the man who will be King.

A biography - authorized or not - always brings important points about the life of someone famous.
I don't know how much Prince Charles is dear to England's citizens. But knowing a little more about his life can elucidate some questions about his behavior.

There is at least one question that makes people understand or crucify him: his marriage to Diana and his long love affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Here we know how the little prince was raised; the endless times he was kept far from his parents, by their diplomatic duties and as the queen was not a mother who showed affection (neither in public nor in private).

The friends he raised throughout his life and when he met Camilla, both still single.

His "fairy tale" wedding with a virgin to reach all the requirements of law and family. The birth of the children (and gossip about the second child), and finally, the discovery of his long relationship with Camilla culminating in the scandalous divorce with Diana.

As much as I read in the newspapers and hear from British friends, perhaps Charles isn't the chosen of the citizens to be their King (they prefer his son, Prince William), but surely this book shows another side of the man of royalty. The human side.
It worth the reading...

5 stars

An excellent biography of Prince Charles and his family. I enjoyed this book as it provided many facts about the prince and his philanthropic work and was entertaining. The prince and his family have been through trials and tribulations over the years and always seem to rise to the top.

The information was thoroughly researched. The author provides the reader with information from a multitude of reliable contacts, as well as her own interactions with the Prince and his family. Anyone who enjoys biographies or memoirs, as I do, or are fans of the Royal family will value this book.

I was a freshman in high school when the supermarket tabloids started making a big deal about the fairytale romance of Lady Di and her prince. Like so many girls of my age I got sucked in, only to have my heart broken when it all fell apart and the cheating scandals took over the headlines. The pro-Diana camp dominated my local store checkout lanes and Charles became a villain in my mind. When Netgalley gave me the opportunity to grab an advance review copy of this biography it felt like a good time to hear the other side of the tale. So glad that I did.

Sally Bedell Smith is a little bit harsh on Prince Charles at times, but overall it's a fairly sympathetic portrayal of a man who grew up with few real role models in his life to help form his character. At times he's too full of himself for words, and at other times he's still a lost little boy hoping to finally win his daddy's approval. It's a fascinating portrayal of a man who alternates between stuffed shirt, empty suit, and a guy just trying to be a decent man who doesn't know what that really means.

It’s probably no surprise that I was anxious to read “Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life,” by Sally Bedell Smith. You might wonder why we need yet another biography of the prince. I wondered this myself. I have read several, and I don’t know that I honestly learned anything new from this one, but I found it enjoyable nonetheless. For me, reading books about the British royals is like reading People or US Weekly — pure reading “junk food.” Just fun. So, here are a few things I noted in this 600-page tome on the heir to the British throne.


Reading this book, it’s clear just how often Charles has been a victim in life — not of crime, poverty, or any of that, but of having the wrong personality for a situation. Charles has always been sensitive to slights, and suffered when his dad bullied/berated/belittled him. The two were never close and clashed at every turn. By contrast, Prince Philip and his daughter Anne got along famously: “Anne, a confident extrovert, could push back, while the young prince wilted.” About his mother, the Queen, Charles wrote, “She was not indifferent so much as detached.”


This has caused him trouble at various times in his life, as he has been overshadowed by his mother, his first wife Diana, and now by his sons. On occasions where the focus is on him, “he clearly savored the spotlight.” One of the reasons his marriage to Camilla seems to work so well is that she attracts little attention herself, and is content to let him be the “star.”


Whereas the Queen has spent a lifetime concealing her thoughts and opinions, “from an early age Charles felt compelled to express his fervidly held opinions in speeches and articles …often out of deep conviction, at other times to attract attention and to compete with Diana’s magnetic presence … He was desperate to be known for his work rather than for his privileged position.”

As his marriage to Diana disintegrated, Charles became a self-styled “voice of the people” by having controversial opinions — notably on architecture.


Reading this book, at times it’s easy to feel like Charles is just another person. But then I’ll come across things that remind me that he’s certainly not. For instance, while away at university, he was assigned a middle-aged woman who would make his bed each day, clean his room, and serve him tea.

Another time, he moaned to a friend over the “incredibly uncomfortable” first-class seats on a flight.

But he’s definitely a man of contradictions. At Highgrove, a guest once noticed a plastic hose coming from a window and asked its purpose. Charles replied, “Oh, I empty my bathtub with a hand pump to water the plants.”

The book mentioned numerous letters and conversations between the prince and Nancy Reagan. I hadn’t realized they were close, and I found that sweet.


As I’ve thought so often before, I so wish Charles and Camilla had married from the beginning. They are clearly a better match than he and Diana. Camilla is low-key, self-deprecating, and humorous. “For a young prince with downbeat tendencies (the book often compares him to Eeyore), that sort of personality was catnip.” Although Diana and Camila are basically total opposites, one trait they share is strength. One of Camilla’s friends called Camilla “very strong. You couldn’t argue with her. She would make up her mind firmly.” However, with Charles, Camilla usually defers. Diana resisted this.

Camilla is the listening ear that Charles needed.

I felt that this book was written fairly, pointing out positives as well as shortcomings of the Prince. However, the fact that he would be a very difficult person to live with was impossible to escape. He tends to dwell on the negative, likes attention, is moody, and is detail-oriented to distraction. One advisor said, “He gets very worked up about things. He can be very difficult to handle.” I was reminded again that he and Diana were a terrible match — and kudos to Camilla for putting up with him.

An earlier biographer of the prince suggested that, had he not been heir to the throne, Charles would probably have remained a bachelor, happily pursuing his quirky interests. Unfortunately, the sense of urgency to produce an heir led him to Diana. Writing to a friend, Charles said, “All this talk about being self-centered is getting worse every year. I’m told that marriage is the only cure for me — and maybe it is! The media will simply not take me seriously until I do get married and apparently become responsible.” Reading this, I feel so sad, knowing what’s to come. Charles’ strong sense of duty led him to propose to Diana although the two hardly knew each other, and were temperamentally a bad match. “How awful incompatibility is,” Charles wrote a friend. “How dreadfully destructive it can be for the players in this extraordinary drama.” I would have to agree.

Smith says that Diana’s grandmother, a friend of the Queen Mother, was against a Charles-Diana match, but kept quiet. Charles later described to a friend his “confused and anxious state of mind” about “taking a plunge into some rather unknown circumstances.” He also said he was “terrified sometimes of making a promise and then perhaps living to regret it.”

Even after their engagement, Diana wasn’t a priority for Charles. He kept up his previously-scheduled trips and meetings: “he showed no inclination to shed even the smallest commitment, whether for his work or his sporting pursuits, in favor of spending time with his new fiancee.” Sad.

During the “Diana years,” a relative mentions Charles’ sadness, saying that he looks unhappy in almost every photo from that era. “He was in a terrible trap.”

While Charles is portrayed fairly in this book, the author was no fan of Diana. She’s described as “jejune” and more — I’m not sure she earned a single positive word.


As King, Charles will be “defender of the (Anglican) faith,” although he’s famously said he’d prefer to be just “defender of faith.” The book made clear that he is pretty out-there from my perspective with his faith. He has a lot of interest in other religions, particularly eastern ones like Islam. He has chosen mentors who talked extensively with him about reincarnation, etc. “Charles saw no incompatibility between the transmigration of souls and his Christian beliefs.”

In speeches, Charles tends to emphasize the worst aspects of Christianity culture while giving short shrift to its freedom and tolerance (in this, I see echoes of Obama). These remarks “were enthusiastically received in the Arab world.” Criticized for this, Charles countered “I think I’m quite courageous” saying that his openness led to his comments being seen and heard in the Islamic world. Charles has spoken of the West’s “crisis of the soul” compared to Islam’s “completely integrated view of the Universe.”

He was apparently instrumental in creating “Earth in Balance,” a film drawn heavily on by Al Gore for his book of the same name. I’ve always heard that book described as nutty and fringe. I didn’t know about Charles’ connection to it.

The man of contradictions emerges again — while Charles is mainly pretty liberal (on the environment, politics, religion ), he is oddly conservative when it comes to architectural styles.
Charles as King

Things will definitely be different when Charles is King. While the Queen is known for her even-handedness and willingness to listen to all sides in a debate, Charles takes offense easily and has “a lifelong aversion to contradiction.” A friend describes him as a “haunted man” caught in “a straitjacket of a life.”

Charles is a “victim of” “high tastes.” For instance, he reportedly dislikes the geraniums in front of Buckingham Palace, preferring something classier. “One reason the Queen is so popular is that she is much more ordinary in her tastes. People can relate to her, but he harks back to an earlier, grander era.”

Looking ahead, William also will most likely be an “easier” monarch. He has more in common with the Queen than with his father, holds “safer” views, and is “no flashy, not an entrepreneur, not a ruffler,” says a royal advisor.

If you’ve stuck with me for this long, congratulations — and thanks 🙂 If you enjoyed this review, I think you’d enjoy this book.

Feature for Daily Mail US - see below

I have been enamored with the Royal family for as long as I can remember. The dynamics of the current royal family is fascinating especially with information being so available 24/7.

Prince Charles upbringing was quite lonely. Both of his parents were somewhat distant with him as well as his other siblings. The relative that had the most influence on him was his honorary grandfather, Lord Louis Mountbatten. When he was assassinated in Ireland in 1979, Prince Charles was naturally devastated.

One thing I noticed from this and other books on the royal family is that the relationship between parents and children were somewhat formal. However, the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren were much closer. Prince Charles was much closer to his grandmother than he was to his own mother.

Prince Charles had a hard time in the military because of the formality if him being next in line for the throne. But he was able to form longtime friendships outside of the military. One of the relationships that continues to this day is the one he has with Camilla Parker Bowles. A very complex relationship and one I still don't understand.

The relationship between Prince Charles and his future wife Lady Diana Spencer was fascinating to read about. Especially since I was able to see the relationship from Prince Charles perspective as well as Princess Diana's.

It's not easy to review a book that had so much details about Prince Charles and his life without giving anything away. I highly recommend this book. Sally Bendell Smith is a excellent author. I'm looking forward to reading her book on Queen Elizabeth II next.

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgally for an honest review.

Ms. Smith provides the reader with an excellent biography of Prince Charles and the Royal family. The text is extensively researched. The author provides the reader with information from a multitude of reliable contacts, as well as her own interactions with the Prince and his family.

I enjoyed this book and found most of it very informative and entertaining. I was not greatly interested in much of the financial information provided in relationship to the Prince's properties and charitable foundations, but was surprised by the diversity of his interests and philanthropy. I was also pleasantly surprised on the frankness of the information on various troubling issues the family has faced over the years and the author's handling of this information.

Anyone who enjoys biographies or are interested in Britain's Royal family will enjoy this book.

I received this book through Net Galley as an ARC. Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions in this review are completely my own.

This book is proof that you can kill a person in more ways than one. Part of a sustained, subtle and slow media campaign against Diana that started a year after her death that repeats the confessions of Charles as presented in the June 1994 Dimbleby interview - largely unsuccessful at the time because of Diana’s popularity and public’s belief in her and in Morton’s 1992 book ‘Diana: Her True Story’ - but which finds new life each year by the words and actions of even their children who are busy running a mental health campaign. Talk about slapping a dead woman silly.

The truth is always relative but recollection of history cannot change what destiny preordains:
1) Monarchy has been around for centuries; many men and women have come and gone, justice denied, snatched, usurped, but tradition and value system of this institution has been kept intact. No Diana was going to change it.

2) Diana was meant to shine brightly and briefly. Such is the nature of legends. She was the most successful, powerful and photographed woman in the world during those 17 years and maybe it all went to her head, turning her into a post-modern feminist (as one biographer called her on CNN during the divorce drama deriding “that Spencer woman”), but she was the most beautiful woman in the world, was very engaging and personable, drew attention to causes that were just rhetorical PR symbols for royals and brought a glamour quotient to an industry (for that is what monarchy really is) that really needed a touch of brightness and profit margin.

3) There are no monsters in the original story: a rich successful man of pedigree needs a wife of impeccable character to enhance his fortunes and presence, spends the next decade being overshadowed by the extremely good looking nobody who develops her own brand, is incessantly mocked by an unfair media, redefines her through carefully crafted loopholes - her convenient death being one of them, and hopes that public will see him as a sympathetic, deep, sensitive, lost yet purposeful soul who has finally come home to claim his prize. There is no monster in the original story, just people acting for better and for worse. Diana was as much a product of her times as was Charles. But this ‘Origin’ tale is just a dim-brained multi-colored eraser.

Charles’ coronation beckons.

4) The author better have a second look at the photograph in Chapter 5 (‘Charles and Camilla Shand at a polo match in Windsor after they met in 1972, Corbius/ Getty Image’): ‘She is flashing him a half-smile and a come-hither look.’ Charles is no. 4, not the guy wearing no.1 who is the recipient of this author’s over-active imagination rather than any look by Camilla!

5) Though Charles has done a lot in his capacity as the heir to the throne (The Prince’s Trust - now a bouquet of charities - centering on business development, organic farming, talking to plants, urban living in a village like Poundbury and community architecture though Architecture Institute was a failure, fox hunting wonders for the environment, the green revolution, Defender of Faith, against Chinese ‘waxworks’, for creationism, etc.), in the eye of the public he will forever be remembered for making an honest woman out of the mistress (who was for all intents and purposes, The Woman). Hedge Hunter and Rottweiler, together forever. Not the crime of this or any other century. The author would do good to not Freud-out the late-night dribble between the two.

6) As adults, William and Harry are allergic to work. How relevant Charles’ reign would be is irrelevant.

Memorable Lines: ‘Britain’s upper-class Venn diagram of infidelity’; ‘The likelihood of life beginning by chance is about as great as a hurricane blowing through a scrap yard and assembling a Rolls Royce.’

Got an advanced self-destruct-in-x-days e-copy via NetGalley.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Sally Bedell Smith, and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

My ongoing trek though the world of biographies would not have been complete without a piece by the famed Sally Bedell Smith. With honour and elegance, Smith is able to offer up an insightful look into the lives of those many hold in high esteem. Her latest subject is Prince Charles, heir to the Throne of the United Kingdom (and its realms). While many readers will be familiar with Charles as scandalous and perhaps frigid towards his former wife, Smith takes the reader through the man's life to date and presents strong arguments for seeing him in three contrasting lights: the man, the misfit, and the monarch-to-be. Through these three lenses, Smith argues effectively that Charles, Prince of Wales, has much more to offer than his one-off comments or trite sentiments that the tabloids have used to boost their image while remaining useful only for campers and fish mongers. A powerful piece that humanises a man whose entire life has literally been a waiting game.

That Charles is a man with interests as common as any other might be hard to fathom, though Smith does a wonderful job of accentuating this. Raised with the eyes of the world on him from the start, Charles had little hope of being 'normal' in the true sense of the word. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip were thrust into the limelight when Charles was only a young boy, turning the former into a queen and ruler of the Realm, thereby leaving the young prince in the hands of nannies and tutors. Smith explains repeatedly that neither of his parents provided Charles with affection of a sense of closeness, with Phillip going so far as to seek a rough and tumble upbringing to harden his son's outer shell. While Charles did not excel at individual sport, his passion for polo and other group ventures helped shape him into the man he would become. Enjoying time alone as well as surrounded by others, Charles soon turned to the tranquility of painting with watercolours, which regulated what was surely a chaotic life around him. After mandatory military service, Charles remained a bachelor, though did dabble around with the likes of Camilla Shand (eventually Parker Bowles), and it was said that the Palace would never have approved their marriage. Smith cites Camilla's less than sexual innocence as the main reason, as her reputation was known, even among those of the upper crust. Still, Charles did date, sparingly, as he pursued some of his other interests, which included the environment, architecture, and spiritual oneness. Making speeches on these topics and exploring their depths with some of those who were held in high regard, Charles carved a niche for himself and soon became passionate, which added an unwanted wrinkle that I will explore below. It was only after a personal tragedy befell the prince that he realised the need to marry, especially as heir to the Throne. His choice of Lady Diana Spencer was fraught with issues from the start, as Smith explores through some of the more tumultuous chapters of the biography. Not only was there a major gap in age, but their interests did not mesh and the looming cloud of Camilla could not be ignored. Add to this, Smith makes much of the mental anguish Diana faced behind closed doors and Charles found himself struggling from the onset of the marriage. While the Waleses had two boys, their union was eroding and soon ended in parsimoniously, as neither wanted to make things work, choosing instead to fall into the arms of other lovers. It was only after Diana's death in the summer of 1997 that Charles showed a more human side and was able to connect more readily with the public. He kept up with his aforementioned niches and succumbed to true happiness when allowed to wed the woman he loved, speaking around the world and drawing strong ties to the common person's interests. This connection with the public did help with shedding his role as villain, though for many the decision had already been made. While he was certainly a man who differed from his parents and grandparents, Charles did prove to have issues that could not be overlooked by either the tabloids or the general public.

To call Prince Charles a misfit might not be too far from the truth, though Smith tackles it in the highest regard possible. Charles was never one to create scandals as a youth, staying away from drink and drugs in an era where love was free and booze plentiful (unlike his own son, Harry, decades later). However, Smith does not fail to list a number of the indiscretions that Charles seems to have had during his marriage to Diana, usually related to Camilla Parker Bowles. Smith does an amazing job at laying the groundwork for Charles's sainthood in his marriage, as though these acts of stepping out might have been justified knee-jerk reactions. She is quick to portray Diana as the unstable one, issuing countless examples of bulimic attacks, limb cutting, and berating the Princes of Wales, all in private. There was also a great deal of Charles trying to balance this apparent Diana outbursts and putting on a brave face in public. Of course, the general public seemed more than happy to side with the People's Princess, ignoring her numerous mentions in the tabloids while Charles did not seem to be able to have any assignations that were not splashed on the front pages of any daily rag and the illegal content of phone conversations turning him into the butt-end of jokes. Smith goes so far as to list the number of tabloid antics throughout her narrative, including the "Tampax" comment that fuelled many a joke in the early 90s. Charles could not shake this persona, as long as Diana was alive. It was as though he was forced to live in the shadow of his wife, as he had his parents, and would eventually do the same for his sons. Perhaps blown out of proportion by the salacious need for the British tabloids to sell papers, Charles may have been a misfit of sorts, but it was likely because all eyes were on him whenever he hiccoughed too loudly. Still, that moniker would tarnish his abilities to be regal when it counted most of all.

As heir to the Throne, Charles would have to offer a side of himself that denotes his ability to be monarchical. While Charles grew up in a household where his mother served as reigning monarch, he did not always possess the key traits of heir. Smith extols Queen Elizabeth's ability to be neutral and seek information from all players before offering the hint of an opinion on any matter, while Charles would race around the world (or even in Britain) and stand atop his own soapbox to present his ideas whenever a microphone appeared in front of his face. Honourary and customary events saw Charles act as keynote speaker, only to steal the limelight and push for his own beliefs, at times angering those to whom he preached. Smith offers a number of examples throughout the years, most notably the British Medical Association, a slew of British and world-renowned architects, and even members of the Government. Charles never worried about who he might upset, knowing that they would demur (in public at least) to his station, though this was surely neither regal nor the personality fit for a monarch. While Charles was seen to be going to all corners of the Commonwealth, it is not only attending events but currying favour of one's subjects that brings about that image of a monarch-in-waiting. As mentioned above, Charles was forced to stand in the shadows of Diana's love affair with the people, but there comes a time when the love must flow towards the heir apparent. It seems to be strong with Prince William, as Smith relates the Hollywood-esque personality he has around the world, but it is also the ability to relate to people, which William has in spades, that attracts the attention, at least of the positive variety. Can Charles be a monarch in which "the Firm" will be proud? The jury remains in deliberations, though Smith makes a strong case that he might not have the traits Queen Elizabeth and her predecessors felt were quintessential.

Taking a moment to sift through Smith's piece in general, it is surely armed with the tools of a biography worth citing in conversations and future pieces on the royals. I read with much interest her piece on Queen Elizabeth II and loved it. Crisp, to the point, and yet not fuzzy or tepid in the least, Sally Bedell Smith knows how to create a life and weaves it together with scores of sources and much research. This piece is poignant, as it addresses many of the issues related to the Prince of Wales, from his birth through to the present struggles he faces as heir to the throne. Smith does not try to smear or pile on the gossip, but she does not ostrich herself (or the reader) by refusing to acknowledge the scandals that have shown themselves over the decades. Smith keeps much of the narrative flowing chronologically, rathe than simply by topic, the reader can follow the arguments with ease. With both detailed and short chapters, Smith allows the reader to ensconced themselves in a number of topics, though also chooses to skim across the surface on others that might not be as encompassing. Pulling on a number of sources and events, Smith portrays Charles in many lights, some of which were discussed above, but does not seek to attack or belittle with any intention. The curious and dedicated reader will surely find much of great interest in this biography, that serves the role of educating and entertaining at the same time.

Charles is in line to be king, but should he hold the position? Smith does not outwardly address this throughout the book, but she lays some strong arguments in the narrative. Charles is outspoken and stands by his beliefs, but is also one to have not fretted with the silver spoon lodged firmly in his mouth. It is a debate over whether time fostered this reliance on others or if it was a personal choice, thereby alienating himself from his expected subjects. Then again, Queen Elizabeth II is the textbook royal and detached from much in the public light, though her approval ratings remain high and strong. Could it be a trail of scandals that have plagued Charles over the decades that has kept him from being the man many yearn for when looking to the future of the British monarchy? One can hope that his being who he feels is right will not jade either him or those who await the next monarch. Whether Charles will ever ascend to the throne (should he be given the chance, based on the Queen's longevity) remains up in the air, for he has literally waited his entire life for this honour. Neither William nor George are surely chomping at the bit to push him out of the way, but one can hope that the Commonwealth and even the world is ready for whatever happens. There is much to be decided, and yet much that remains as clear as a foggy Scottish morning.

Kudos, Madam Smith for this sensational piece that enlightens the reader while pulling no punches in its delivery. You have been able to attract much interest with your past pieces and this is sure not to disappoint.

The monarchy might be an outdated institution in a lot of ways--to Americans it all seems romantic, but I know it has become controversial in modern times. Still, I can't help but remain interested in the traditions of it all, the pomp and circumstance, and of course...the castles.

I really only knew Prince Charles from the background--stoic and frowning behind the Queen, Diana, William, and Harry. And Camillia has always seemed the Other Woman; Diana, the hero. But, in Charles' life, it was just the opposite.

Diana certainly wasn't a villain--just a woman in desperate need of good mental health care--and I wonder if she would have lived today if things would be different. I hope so. She wouldn't have been any more compatible with Charles, but maybe the stigma would have been a little less, the awareness a little more--and they would have gotten her the help she needed.

Maybe.

Either way, this book certainly shows Charles in a light we don't often see--in that there is actually a light shown on him. It just goes to show that even the shyest introverts usually have the brightest, most complex personalities. I always thought he was such a fuddy-duddy, but I'm quite interested to see what becomes of his reign...should the Queen ever die, god forbid. Part of me wonders if she might outlive her son, at this point.

I received an e-ARC of this biography through NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group. Thank you.

This is not an authorized biography of Prince Charles, but it is a very even handed attempt to show what this man is like both when he is in the public spotlight and when he isn't. I have read other biographies of the British royal family written by Sally Bedell Smith and my reason for wanting to read this one was because I knew I would find a balanced approach to the subject at hand. I always make sure to read the Dedication, Bibliography, and Acknowledgments because I often find interesting nuggets of information revealed there. In this case, the revelation of how Ms. Smith was close enough to her subject matter to be believable. Also, even though there are literally pages of names of those who were willing to provide Ms. Smith with information about Prince Charles there were only thirty people who requested to remain anonymous. That percentage was quite impressive to me. I also discovered how access to the royal family came about and how many people within the royal circle can be considered friends of this author. It explains why many of the incidents involving Prince Charles over the years were treated as they were.

In this biography Ms. Smith has dealt with Prince Charles fairly, but impartially. When she was recounting things he had said or done which were unwise she has not held back from offering a critical view of his actions. However, and just as important to me, when Prince Charles has been wrongly perceived or maligned Ms. Smith has not hesitated to set the record straight to give readers a view of the whole man. Thankfully she has not tried to whitewash obvious errors in judgement or turn Prince Charles into an unappreciated saint. The balance of giving the opposite view when misleading information was more prominently reported has made Prince Charles into a more personable individual for me. It seems fairly obvious that Ms. Smith is to be considered more on the side of the Prince of Wales than his enemy, but attempts appear to have been made to present him as he is, as events happened , mistakes and all.

One of the aspects of this book which I found most interesting was watching as Prince Charles appears to come to terms with his role in waiting to become King Charles III. Everyone matures over the period of their life. It was most interesting to watch Prince Charles as he had to come to terms with his place in the line of English monarchs with the eyes of friend and foe alike firmly focused on him, evaluating his every move in light of his future possibility of sitting on the throne. This book has been most helpful to me in watching Prince Charles mature and change as he has had to deal with everything life has given him and come through it all with a grace and purpose which bodes well for the English monarchy.

Outstanding read! I love reading anything about the royal family. If I see something about them in the newspaper, or magazine, I read it. Especially prince Charles and Lady Di. I watched every moment of the Royal Wedding. When I found out about Lady Di's fatal accident, I was devastated.
PRINCE CHARLES by Sally Bedell Smith, told wonderful stories about Prince Charles' travels, and the many things he accomplished, but will he ever be king?
I love looking at pictures! Because a picture is worth a thousand words. The pictures that showed many outstanding people that Prince Charles came in contact with, and the many adventures he has had looked and sounded very interesting. "The Prince Of Wales," has a nice ring to it. The author's skillful writing and research brought the royal family closer to the reader to enjoy.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been fascinated by the Royal Family, so I was very excited about the opportunity to read Sally Bedell Smith’s new biography Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life. Much of my interest is focused on the younger generation of the family, and Prince Charles has always remained somewhat enigmatic. I remember that the tabloid headlines from the early 1990s were less than favorable to the prince, so I was curious to learn more about his life.

Smith presents a thorough account of Prince Charles’ life, from his rigid childhood where his contact with his parents was limited, and where he teased at school because of his large ears and who his parents were. After reading about his years at Gordonstoun, it is no surprise that Charles’ sons went to Eton.

While his tumultuous relationship with Princess Diana is what people tend to associate with Prince Charles, it is only a small part of his fascinating life. Smith shows the reader a well-rounded and pensive man. Charles has many interests that mean a great deal to him, like architecture and conservation. He might appear to be emotionally distant, but he cares deeply for his tight-knit group of friends. Charles was devastated by the assassination of his uncle and mentor, Lord Mountbatten.

Of course, one cannot think of Charles without thinking of Camilla. She plays a large role in the book, and her transition from being associated with the breakup of Charles’ marriage to being accepted as his second wife is absolutely fascinating. The circumstances that kept them apart 40 years ago led to devastating consequences, and are perhaps the reason behind the next generation of young royals being allowed to marry for love rather than for the sake of maintaining appearances.

I would absolutely recommend Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life to anyone interested in the Royal Family. As a natural introvert, Charles doesn’t tend to have too many scandalous stories, although he did have his fair share during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Smith weaves together a cohesive portrait of the man who will one day be the King of England. This book has been meticulously researched, and is presented in an engaging style of writing that keeps the reader interested. I happen to own a copy of Smith’s biography of Queen Elizabeth II, and I am looking forward to reading it in the near future.

I honestly haven't been overly impressed by Prince Charles in the past. I didn't know much about him other than what I have read briefly in the news. I certainly wasn't really aware of his passions except for Camilla. I felt like this was a really good overview of his life and certainly made him into a more complex and even somewhat sympathetic figure than I had thought of him before. I knew the gossip but I admit most of what I knew was slanted to be not really in his favor. This biography does a good job of keeping things pretty objective. It cleared things up for me, or at least gave me his side of the story regarding Diana and that whole public nightmare for the Royals. (She is certainly painted in a rather unfavorable light in this book!) I was so interested in the descriptions in this book of the gardens that Charles designed for his home, Highgrove, that I had to google it in hopes of seeing the real thing at least in photographs. You tube had a lovely documentary that took a look through his very unique garden and even had the Prince explain the different trees and instalations that are included. It was a great supplement to those chapters on his passion for organic gardening. I found I turned to quite a few more youtube videos to add to my understanding of this man and his life. The book only seemed to be a jumping off place and I feel like I now have a better idea of what the Prince of Wales is all about. He is still the spoiled, self-centered man that thought before. This book didn't really change my thinking, it mostly confirmed my previous opinion of the man. At least I now have a even better understanding of him and how the royal family works.

BOOK REVIEW
Posted by Anna Patterson. Writer, Journalist, Book Reviewer
Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life by Sally Bedell Smith. Published by Random House Publications. April 2017. Pages 532. Biographies and Memoirs.
Other Books by Sally Bedell Smith:
In All His Glory
Reflected Glory
Diana in Search of Herself
Grace and Power
For Love of Politics
Elizabeth the Queen
Prince Charles
* * *
This book begins with rather excellent maps of places of interest in this nonfiction book.
These are relevant because the book comes right to the point in many ways since it is the story of Prince Charles, heir to the throne of the United Kingdom and fifteen other realms. It is of interest because it is an excellent researched and detailed and I would say painstakingly documented of the up to date status of a man who was born to be a king.
The book tells of the early days of this climb to this historic moment of today. It was so many years ago, that “he rapped the monarch’s gavel” in a ceremony back then, so very long ago. A lot has happened since then, and people want to know something about this unique journey of his. This author with talent and attention to detail, shares this quest.
There are facts the author puts forth to consider:
A reigning queen of eighty-seven years
Her extraordinary reign of sixty-one years
And the fact that when the Prince brought down this historic gavel at a meeting, he was sixty-five. This was in the Year 2013. He is now sixty-eight years old.
I would give this book Five Stars for being such an honest and accurate work which is very informative about Prince Charles who is defined at one point in the book as “the oldest heir to the throne in three hundred years.”
This biography covers a lot of ground with respect for the people involved for after all this is about people who have their own lives to live, but have often been thrust into the intense and unrelenting public spotlight.
With frank, but respectful candor the author covers the rich threads of the tapestry of the Prince’s life, including of course:
His marriage of nearly nine years with the Duchess of Cornwall, formerly Camille Parker Bowles
And,
His marriage of eleven years to Lady Diane Spencer.
Also,
Diana’s shocking death in August of 1997, at the age of thirty-six.
I think this thoroughly researched book aided by the first-hand knowledge and experience of writing such biographies, does an excellent job of accurately filling in the blanks for people who want to know more about the royalty.
This is an ongoing saga with the passage of time. The book tells touches on Prince William and his wife, Catherine and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. And also Harry.
But the subject of this book, always brought out front and center so to speak, is Charles, who Smith describes as “a shadow king in waiting”.