What a beautiful, sad, and little known story about someone who gave their whole life for the royal family. The characters were all so well written and beautifully developed that by the end you wished it hadn’t ended. Great book, highly recommend!

Marion Crawford's goal was to teach and work with children in the slums. How did it happen that she ended up a governess in the castles of England? Crawfie worked with and loved Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret in the 1930's and 40's.
The author Wendy Holden draws her inspiration from several books about the royal family for this one. She also describes events of the times.
An enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to the next book she's writing about Wallis Simpson.

I loved this book! The author has done her research, and the book is well written and easy to get absorbed in. Thanks for the opportunity to read it!

The Royal Governess by Wendy Holden is a look into the early years of then Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. Told from the perspective of their governess of 16 years. Although the story has been fictionalized for easier reading, the characters are all real.

Marion, known to her charges as Crawfie, spent 16 years teaching the girls the basic subjects as well as introducing them to what real life was like for the subjects in England. She took them on the subway, museums, and classrooms of other children their age. The book takes you through World War II, Wallis Simpson and the abdication, falling in love with Phillip, and Margaret’s jealousy of not being first. At the end of her tenure, Marion was approached by Ladies Home Journal to write a first-hand account of life with the Princesses. Marion goes to see the Queen about the possibility and the Queen lets her know that she should not do it. Her life with the girls should stay private and to write about them would make Princess Elizabeth lose confidence in others. Unfortunately, Marion’s husband pushed her to write the book, The Little Princess: The Story of the Queens Childhood. Marion was never contacted by the royal family again.

I enjoyed the overall story, it was rich in historical details. It also let you see into the private life of Marion, whom no one really knew anything about. The book was a bit of a slow read and I often had to put it down. I did enjoy seeing the inner workings of the royal family and a look into the many houses they call home.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, the author and publisher, in exchange for a review.

I read just about anything connected to the royal family I can get my hands on and <i> The Royal Governess <i> by Wendy Holden offers some new insights to discover. I especially liked learning more about the families introduction and interactions with Wallis Simpson and the many personal sacrifices royal staff must endure. An enjoyable read about those who have influenced and impacted Queen Elizabeth.

With the popularity of The Crown, there seems to be a demand for stories about the Royal Family and Queen Elizabeth. This is a novel about the governess who helped shape the lives of Lilibet and Margaret from the late 1930s until 1950. Based on the true story of Marion Crawford who really wanted to teach "the poor" and ended up in the rarified air of Buckingham Palace, this is historical fiction at its best.

I don't usually like historical fiction that takes a real person and fictionalizes their story. I much prefer ordinary (fictional) people caught up in real (historical) events. But this one really captured my attention and emotions. Holden makes Crawford become real and believable, yet doesn't romanticize her story. She gives Elizabeth, Margaret, and the rest of the Royal Family personalities that reflect their "real" stories as portrayed in history books, but still brings them alive as fully formed "real" people. I found myself searching the internet for the photos and brief biographies to verify & clarify moments depicted here. They all rang true. Holden adds heart and soul to the story. I really liked this book.

I did not enjoy this book at all. It was choppy, simplistic and full of rumours rather than facts. I love historical fiction and the Royal Family and was excited to read about another aspect of their life. Will not recommend or purchase.

An interesting look at the childhood of Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret, from the point of view of their long-time governess Marion Crawford. This based-on-fact story about a woman who dedicated her life to providing her two young charges with a "normal" childhood as well as an awareness of their responsibilities to their fellow Brits is engaging and would appeal to fans of "The Crown". As much about Marion and her desires to contribute to the improvement of her country as it is about the royal family.

The fictional take on the real governess, Marion "Crawfie" Crawford, for the young Princess Elizabeth and Margaret.
After seeing how the poor in Edinburgh live, Marion wants to teach the poor once she is done with university. However, her life is turned upside down when she is requested to be the governess to the Duke of York's children- Elizabeth and Margaret. She requests only that she can bring in normal life for the spoiled princesses.
Through her job, she witnesses history with the abdication of Elizabeth's uncle and the Elizabeth's sudden place as the second in line to the throne, and World War II.

Although I know it was to show what she gave up for the love of her job, Marion's journey to find love wasn't as thrilling to read about as her life with the princesses. I did a deep dive on Wikipedia on Marion and this novel seems to take the real story seriously while obviously adding fictional elements. It was fun to imagine the current queen as a child, something I have never read about in fiction before.

The Royal Governess
A Novel of Queen Elizabeth II's Childhood
by Wendy Holden
Berkley Publishing Group
You Like Them
Berkley
Historical Fiction
Pub Date 25 Aug 2020 | Archive Date 25 Sep 2020

I really enjoyed this book. Told from the perspective of the royal governess... this is a great read. I will recommend this historical fiction.
Thanks to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.
5 star

This is a very interesting look at the inner workings of the Royal Family and at some semblance of normalcy that Marion Crawford brings to the princesses. She loved and tutored her charges, but her dedication came at a great personal cost. The author's descriptions of the Royals were very well done.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel! The writing is excellent (my first read by this author, and it won't be my last), the subject matter is engaging, and this is a perfect book for anyone interested in the Royal Family. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review this book. I look forward to recommending it to others!

Marion Crawford saw her life's work as being a teacher to the children of the slums of Scotland. Then life took her in a different direction. Following a summer of being a companion to the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, she was offered the position of royal governess to the Princesses. Still feeling her true calling was teaching poor children, she resolved to stay for a while and then go back to the real world. While working as governess, she vowed to help the girls experience some semblance of normal life.

Marion stayed with the family during all the troubles with Edward VIII, who later abdicated. She stayed with the family as they move to Buckingham Palace and continued with World War II and the changes that brought. Marion made a number of personal sacrifices and in the end, was not treated well by the royal family. She was eventually someone to be cast aside at the whim of the royal family. The characters are well drawn, from frail George VI and steely Queen Elizabeth, to naughty Margaret, to Elizabeth, thoughtful and studious.

The book was a bit of a slow read, but a very interesting look at the workings of the Royal Family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for letting me have the opportunity to read this book. I was drawn to it by the cover, the tagline and concept of the book. I found this to be a delightful read into how the Royal Highnesses were taught through their formative years. The story showed the love, sacrifice and allegiance Ms. Crawford held towards the family throughout the years during and after her tenure in the household.

I thoroughly enjoyed this peek behind the scenes of Queen Elizabeth's early years, told from the perspective of Marion Crawford, the royal governess herself. Marion begins as a student at the teachers college and hopes to continue her work among the poorest of Scotland's citizens. She feels that she can best change the world by educating those in the slums. Her college instructor, however, turns Marion's thinking on its head by suggesting she teach the children of the most privileged in the land--and then recommends her for a summer job working for a family connected to the Royal Family. Needing money, Marion agrees to take the job but plans to return to her intended career. Instead, she meets the York family and is offered the job of a lifetime: governess to princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. She vows to help the girls experience some semblance of normal life.
The book follows Marion's career with the Yorks during the turbulent time of the abdication of Edward VIII, which brings the family to Buckingham Palace and continues with World War II and the changes that brings.
Marion makes a number of personal sacrifices in exchange for her extraordinary life and draws the reader's sympathy. The characters are well drawn, from frail George VI and steely Queen Elizabeth, to irrepressibly naughty Margaret Rose. Elizabeth, always "Lilibet" is the main attraction, beautiful, vulnerable, and gloriously sweet.
My only complaint is that time passes unevenly in the book; I would have been helped by more mentions of the years as they went by.
Recommended

If you have enjoyed Netflix's the crown, you will love this book. It is a very interesting account of royal upbringing told by Queen Elizabeth's governess. It is a behind the scene's look at royal life and what you really give up to work for them. I found some parts hard to follow, but I think that is because there are so many people that come in an out of the life of royals. I would recommend it.

An interesting historical read through the eyes of the governess. A great book to add to our collection.

One of my favorite things to read is fiction about the royal family! This was an interesting perspective to consider, from the governess' view. I liked seeing historical events (for example, the abdication) through her eyes. Overall, this was a good read!

What a delightfully fascinating book!

I love books about the history of England, particularly about the Monarch. Even more so, anything having to do with Queen Elizabeth II. This was a historical fiction novel about Queen Elizabeth as we hardly ever see her: a child. It's an in-depth look into the royal family, as well as the governess who influenced the person Queen Elizabeth was to become.

I very much enjoyed this story. What I enjoyed most was learning about Queen Elizabeth's early years. That is hardly ever explored.

For anyone interested in Queen Elizabeth, this is a book for you!

I received a copy from netgalley for an honest opinion.

Very interesting story. I had never heard anything about their governess before so it was interesting for me to read. I always like reading alternate takes on history from people who were behind the scenes and who knew what was really going on. If you like British history, and especially things about Queen Elizabeth, then this book is for you. Give it a read when it is published.