I really enjoyed this! I felt like I knew young Elizabeth and Phillip as friends by the end. May sound silly, but it’s nice to be reminded that “Royals” are people just like everyone else, with the same inhibitions, hang-ups, and wishes to be loved fully for themselves.
A sure hit for anyone who enjoyed watching “The Crown” series. I’m going to re-watch it soon!

This is for fans of the Crown but this book actually starts before the show as the title implies. This starts during WWII when a young Princess Elizabeth falls in love with Lieutenant Phillip. The love story that lead to a 73 year marriage.

After all the royal reads I’ve read over the years, I can’t believe this is my first story about The Queen’s romance with Prince Philip. With the Jubilee coming up now in England, this was a perfect read!

I was wondering about how Philip won the heart of then Princess Elizabeth, and this fiction story filled in some fun details. Think of it as a prequel to the first episode of The Crown in the best way!

Every royal obsessed person needs to add this one to their TBR list and check out our list of books like the crown!

As someone who is admittedly a royal nerd, I found this book enchanting and a fun read. If you weren't familiar with the current reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband, Prince Philip's life and love story, I would recommend reading this book. They had quite a lovely courtship and life before she was crowned, so, it'll be an engaging read!

I completely judged this book by it's cover and was not disappointed!
Give me ALL the Royal stories as long as they are told with love and respect - and I will read them!
THIS was a fabulous pre-crowning love story of Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
Read it to experience the beauty, hardships and love of these two prior to the inevitable crowning.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Flora Harding and One More Chapter for providing me with an ecopy of this publication which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I love everything regarding the Royal family due to my Dad being British so jumped at the chance to read Before The Crown. I enjoyed reading about Elizabeth and Phillip's life before Elizabeth was Queen. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of Flora Harding's novel.

I absolutely loved this book. The author did such an outstanding job of a fictional portrayal of real life persons. She treated them with character and dignity and did not pander to gossip. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I was engrossed. I was so sad when the book came to an end.

The blurb caught my attention but after that I lost my interest and didn't read this book. MAybe next time.

I've long been a royal follower and this look into then Princess Elizabeth's life before she married Philip was so very good! I learned quite a few things I didn't know, such as how their courtship unfolded and why her parents were against it in the beginning.

I will definitely be reading more by this author in future.

This was a sweet fictional look at the courtship and engagement of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. I found the dialogue to be a fun imagining, minus the part where everyone in the book called Elizabeth Lilibet, even the characters who’d never met her - that kept pulling me out of the story as terribly unrealistic. It was a tender, slow build of a relationship that felt honoring of the legacy left behind in the months following the passing of Prince Philip.

If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly about the monarchy, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.

This book was pretty good, and I enjoyed learning about Queen Elizabeth in her younger years while being courted by Phillip. Anyone who likes British history will like this book.

With Prince Phillip being laid to rest a few weeks ago it this was a bitter sweet read but ever so touching. A 73 year love story indeed.

Loved this! So good, so exciting, so gripping and great story. Can't wait to read more by this author - absolutely brilliant. Anything about royalty is a winner for me!

When I first saw the cover of this book it took my breath away with its beautiful rendering of Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) as a young woman, dressed to the nines in a formal gown and sash, viewed from behind. It carried an air of mystery, glamour, and expectation. She married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1947 when she was 21 years old, so that means they've been married for over 70 years! I've watched documentaries and read biographies over the years where it's often said that "Lilibet" fell in love with Philip on first sight as a teenager, and it never wavered. This is a historical fiction novel that navigates their growing relationship from Princess Elizabeth's teenage years until their wedding day.

First of all, the dialogue rings very true with what I already know about the then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. I can definitely imagine these conversations actually taking place between them. One kernel of information that sparked my interest was how as next in line to the throne, Elizabeth had to be the one to propose marriage. It's just one of many things that set Elizabeth apart from the average young lady hoping to get engaged. Elizabeth always had a steadfastness and a solid sense of duty to The Crown. She knew she had to get married one day and continue the Windsor line, but unlike some previous sovereigns, she was very much in love with her intended husband. However, with the inbred reserve learned as a future Queen, it wasn't "the thing" to blurt such things out. This standoff between them was a slow and delicious unraveling with a beautiful and emotional payoff towards the end of the book. Elizabeth's father King George did not want his Lilibet to get married so young, but she couldn't marry without his approval unless she was 25 years old. She had been in love with Philip for years and did not want to wait any longer. She also was a very dutiful and obedient daughter, but stood firm on her desire to marry Philip. King George loved his daughter so much that he hated letting her go. Their little family consisting of his beloved wife Queen Elizabeth, and their two daughters Elizabeth and Margaret were tenderly called "us four". He didn't want that happy family situation to change so soon. Also, Lilibet had never entertained any other suitors, so he wanted her to be sure. So, they went on an official trip by boat and train to tour South Africa, which lasted three months. The King and Queen hoped that their Lilibet would have time to think apart from Philip, and also hoped to enjoy one last trip as "us four". But Lilibet's devotion to Philip stood firm.

Philip was a Prince of the Royal Family in Greece, but their lives had been fractured by World War II. Philip's mother Princess Alice was deaf, had mental problems for which she spent some time in hospital, and eventually became a nun. She sold off her royal jewelry to help the needy in her care, but retained one prized royal heirloom with Philip in mind. She gave Philip her diamond tiara so he could use those jewels for Elizabeth's engagement ring.

I loved reading about Princess Elizabeth's beloved dog Susan who regularly accompanied Elizabeth and Philip when they could steal away for walks. I also was riveted reading about Elizabeth waking up on her wedding day, pinching herself, and going through the stages of dressing for the big day. I've heard this story many times, but she wore her grandmother Queen Mary's "fringe" tiara as something borrowed (Princess Beatrice recently borrowed this from The Queen to wear for her wedding). As it was being placed upon her head, it cracked in two. This was just a couple of hours before her wedding and the royal jewelers had to be summoned to repair it. Her mother suggested wearing a different tiara, but Elizabeth insisted on wearing this one for the emotional impact it would make on her grandmother.

I could go on and on, but just know that this is a very special book written with great care, since it rings so true. It brought me close to tears on several occasions, and I love when that happens. It also sent me off periodically to perform internet searches when certain news reports or iconic gowns and tiaras were mentioned. I've read a lot of books about The Windsors, but this one was very unique and touching.

#Before the Crown by author # Flora Harding is a historical novel. But, really a love story. Set in 1943,in London Princess Elizabeth meet's Prince Philip she had met nine years before.
One of the youngest first lieutenant's in the Royal Navy. He represents everything she has been taught to avoid. Advance reviews show this novel to be very well received!!
Thank you for the advance copy,
#Netgalley, #Flora Harding, and # Harpercollins UK, One More Chapter

"Before the crown there was a love story..." - and just like that, I wanted to read this book.

I've been stressed recently; I mean, who hasn't been - worldwide pandemic, plus we just moved cross country to a new state for work, etc, and I was able to sink into this book like it was a fluffy bed of marshmallows, (and enjoyed some accompanying hot chocolate, to boot), This book was fully enjoyable and allowed me to escape into its pages. I absolutely adored it.

I would recommend this to anyone who A) considers themselves an Anglophile, B) anyone who watches and enjoys "The Crown", C) anyone who enjoys historical fiction, or D) all of the above,


My thanks to Flora Harding, Harper Collins Publishers Australia - One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The royal family is my favourite. Love the love story of the queen and prince Philip

This is a good book for people who love the Royals and love the crown

Found this to be dry and repetitive, and just didn't feel any chemistry between Elizabeth and Philip. The way Philip was portrayed also put me off, because he just seemed so mercenary in his approach and feelings, and though I suppose this could be true to life, reading official biographies and such about this royal couple gives you a different image to what is portrayed here. Just felt off to me, and didn't capture my attention at all, sadly

Before the Crown by Flora Harding is a book made for royal enthusiasts and those who cannot wait for the next season of The Crown on Netflix.

This is the story of how Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip met and fell in love. It's set against the backdrop of WWII and gives both the perspectives of Elizabeth and Phillip, which is a nice touch.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Windsor Castle,1943-A captivating historical novel of royal secrets and forbidden love.As war rages across the world, Princess Elizabeth comes face to face with the dashing naval officer she first met in London nine years before.One of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy, Philip represents everything she has always been taught to avoid. Instability. Audacity. Adventure.But when the king learns of their relationship, the suitability of the foreign prince is questioned by all at court.He is the risk she has never been allowed to take. The risk not even the shadow of the crown will stop her from taking…During WWII,Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret spent much of their time at Royal Lodge in the grounds of Windsor Castle,safely away from the London bombings.From 1941-1944 they took part in Christmas pantomimes to raise funds for the Royal Household Wool Fund,which supplied knitting wool to make comforters for soldiers fighting.In 1943,the Princesses appeared in a production of Aladdin,written and produced by Mr Tanner,of the Royal School.In Feb 1945,Elizabeth was appointed as an honorary second subaltern in the ATS,and trained as a driver and mechanic.On VE Day,she and Margaret mingled anonymously with the celebratory crowds.Princess Elizabeth went in 1947 on her first overseas tour,accompanying her parents through South Africa.During a tour,in a broadcast to the British Commonwealth on her 21st birthday,she made the following pledge:"I declare that my whole life,shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family."After another meeting at the Royal Naval College in July 1939,13yo Elizabeth fell in love with Philip,and they began to correspond.Their engagement was announced on 9th July 1947.The engagement wasn't without controversy;Philip had no financial standing,was foreign-born(though a British subject who served in the RN),and had sisters who had married German noblemen with Nazi links.Before the marriage,Philip gave up his Greek and Danish titles,and adopted the style Lt Mountbatten.Prior to the wedding,he was made HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.And the rest is history.