Another great Mortion bio about the royals. I thought this was much more factually/historically based versus sensational as some of his other books can be. Very enjoyable, especially the info on Margaret.

There's nothing we love more at Satellite Sisters than true stories of sisters in the world. Double bonus if those sisters are the Queen of England and her subject/sister. Andrew Morton's latest royal bio, Elizabeth & Margaret gets to the heart of this fascinating relations that turns from siblings and friends to subject. Thoroughly researched and filled with new information, a worthy follow-up to fans of Netflix's The Crown. For our Satellite Sisters interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/re-entry-anxiety-college-admissions-enter-to-play-satellite/id443780324?i=1000515068726

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4068528592

Elizabeth & Margaret by Andrew Morton, yes-that Andrew Morton-is a well-researched profile of the story of two royal sisters whose destiny was defined by their uncle David’s abdication from the throne in 1936, heaving their family into the throne’s trajectory and the impending doom of WWII. Full disclosure, I received a complimentary ARC copy from NetGalley. The book is easy to read and a perfect compliment for those whose interested may have been piqued by The Crown series.

Their closeness described best by their father, King George VI, as he described his little family as “we four”, the sisters were each other’s best friends, sharing a room and a governess. WWII saw them hunkering down at Windsor Castle apart from the King and Queen as many British children were sent away for their protection for fear of German air raids.

Morton chronicles the conflicts inherent in their relationship which began as their beloved father passed in 1952 and Elizabeth ascended the throne and dedicated her life to the duty expected of her. Margaret’s personality, tempestuous and impassioned, led her down a far different path, included numerous unsavory love affairs, obsessive smoking, drinking and carousing, even a suicide attempt. But with every turbulent period, she returned to support her older sister, never wavering from what Morton refers to as the Queen’s “praetorian guard”. The passing of Margaret following numerous health concerns that included several strokes must have been devastating for the Queen. Her sister, friend, and greatest supporter aside from Phillip, Margaret remains part of the fascination that the monarchy of the twentieth century holds fro so many.

This was a fantastic non-fiction examination of Elizabeth and Margaret both individually and as sisters.

The writing was extremely well done and laid out in a format where it alternates between each sister in a natural way as both of the sisters were focused on equally. As well, the writing style is educative but also casual as if the reader is reading a story instead of a timeline of two lives. With that casual writing style, it makes the book a more enjoyable and easier read instead of one that's 'dry'.

I'm impressed with how the author captured two lifespans in a book in an appropriate length. There was no unnecessary content and the content that was chosen to be included seemed appropriate.

I have read a biography written by Andrew Morton in the past and will continue to look forward to more written by him in the future. I like how well researched his biographies are while still being an enjoyable read.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Excellent, engrossing, and enjoyable glimpse into a relationship of two sisters who history will always remember.

Andrew Morton is a talented writer and shares with his readers images of the relationship between the two, A must read for anyone with interest in the British royal family.

I received an eARC from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for my review. All opinions shared are mine and are influenced by nothing other than my own reading experience.

This in-depth look of the close relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Margaret, was absolutely fascinating. I already knew Andrew Morton would deliver a very informational narrative in a way that was intriguing, page after page. I have already read and know quite a bit about the sisters, but appreciated that this shared new insights on their close relationship. If you don’t know anything about them, Andrew starts from the very beginning and takes us all the way through the end of Margaret’s life. I would highly recommend for this fascinated by these Royal sisters and the Royal family in general.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Pub for a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

(I'd say this is really a 3.5, but the system doesn't allow half stars!)

"Elizabeth & Margaret" is the latest in the Andrew Morton royal biographies. In this book, rather than leaning into scandal and shocking revelations as he did with his Diana book, Morton stays close to the known facts of Elizabeth and Margaret's lives, for the most part tracing their actions, their marriages, and to a lesser extent, their children.

What's good: The book is a sensible review of these women's lives. It lives up to its title, focusing on the "intimate world" of the family relationships. The book faces problematic behavior, including Margaret's attitude and work ethic, without excusing it; it does, indeed, offer pointed comparisons where possible to show how some of our impressions might have been shaped by sexism.

What's iffier: In some ways, this book is more about Margaret than Elizabeth. I felt like I learned more about her (the fact the government tried to let her marry Townsend, the family tensions over her divorce from Armstrong-Jones). The book, like a fish-eye lens, keeps its focus squarely on the sisters, and any other player in their lives is given reduced coverage.

In addition, the book's end (while at an obvious point) feels a bit rushed.

This was a quick read that anybody who watches The Crown will enjoy. I thought it was interesting that the author wrote a bit about what is historically inaccurate from the show, particularly about the relationship between Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend. It leaned more heavily toward information about Margaret. Overall I enjoyed it and it had just enough juicy bits.

I admit it, I am a Royal Family junkie. There isn't a book, documentary, or interview about them that I won't consume. Andrew Morton is best known for his tell-all "Diana: Her True Story." However, this book falls well below that mark. With the popularity of "The Crown," there have been a number of new books about Princess Margaret, her relationships with men, and her role within the Royal Family. One needs to have new information or a fresh perspective to make any new title interesting to the reader. Morton provides neither. Also, there were several errors that I caught in the book, and his writing style leaves the reader confused as to the timeline of certain events. I know anything by Andrew Morton will be popular with patrons, but I did not find the book compelling.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. If you have watched the Crown and find yourself obsessed with the royal family, you may enjoy this book. While there are slow parts, it's written so well and with so many details you will quickly find yourself flipping through the pages.

If you are a fan of The Crown and feel as though you have read all the things about the royals, I would still suggest you read this one.

With a title of Elizabeth & Margaret, this book covers both sisters and how ascending to a thrown can really change the sister relationship. While reading this book there weren't too many surprises when it came to Elizabeth's life as there are many books and tv shows that have covered her life and reign, but what surprised me most were the details of Margaret's life that are left out of those experiences.

I have read very little that focuses on Margaret's life apart from her sister and I appreciated this author putting a spotlight on Margaret but also giving the context of what is going on in Elizabeth's life and how their lives intertwined.

This book isn't for the faint of heart, although it is 384 pages, it was dense and for me it was a slow read. It was by no means boring, just a lot of detail and while interesting, felt as though it took me longer to read. I wanted to take it all in, but this one took quite a few reading hours/days!

Sincere, intuitive, and captivating!⁣
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𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 is the candid, informative biography of Lilibet and Margaret. Two sisters whose lives were drastically changed when their father unexpectedly took the throne in 1936, their home suddenly became Buckingham Palace, and one became the heir apparent and would subsequently go on to become the longest-reigning British monarch of all time.⁣
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The writing is descriptive and vivid. The characters are special, unique, duty-bound, and intriguing. And the novel is a fascinating look into how two women with distinctive, individual personalities chose to live lives that were consistently under scrutiny and criticism.⁣
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I think in a time when royal fascination seems to be running high, 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 is an incredibly insightful look not only into the push-pull relationship between two sisters who seemed to genuinely admire each other but also the pressures, responsibilities, hardships, and luxuries they each individually experienced due to their respective positions and differing roles in the House of Windsor.⁣

I just love reading about Princess Margaret, however this book did not introduce anything new about her life with the royal family. If you are a fan of The Crown, the story really is not all that different, for all people saying there is not a lot of truth to that show. Even in parts of the book it references the show if there were slight differences to the truth. Even though the book is titled Elizabeth & Margaret, the latter is the focus of this book especially in the second half. The book is fine, but if you have read or seen stories of the Princess, this will not add anything new.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As Royal Family follower, I knew I needed to read this book as soon as I saw it.I have to admit, I didn't know much about Margaret outside of The Crown, so I loved getting to learn more about her. This biography is a unique perspective as it focuses on the relationship of the two sisters, their differences, and their individual impacts on the royal family. I loved that it focused on them as people more than it focused on historical events There were so many myths and inaccuracies from The Crown that were dispelled.

This is a book any Royal Family fan will enjoy!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted copy of this book.

Give me any story about Gan Gan and her little sister; I’ll devour it in few hours. It’s so hard to know what’s happening in their world unless they are willing to spill the tea on their own. Official biographies and as tell told by people from the service team memoirs are the only things that give us glimpse of who they are when they are not “wearing” their titles. Gan Gan is the monarchy itself. She embodies the principles and traditions, so it’s always to hear more about her and her relationship with those who are closest to her.

If Gan Gan is the Queen, Margo was the queen of jet set, over the topness and life of party. It turns out as much she was the enfant terrible before any of the recent ones, her devotion to her queen, her sister was beyond our understanding. They were each other’s best friend and biggest cheerleader. There was an interesting line on the book about how Margo got to do a lot of things in this family that others would be cut off by the queen. It feels like she got that opportunity just as payment for her loyalty to her sister.

It was very interesting to see dynamics and battle of character between two sisters. If you are interested in the royal family or simply the queen, this can be a good read for you.

Despite knowing his name, this was the first Andrew Morton book I've read. I don't know what I was waiting for, because this one was great. Full of lots of interesting information, this was a great into to the world of The Windsor Sisters.

Another fascinating read by Andrew Morton. I can't get enough of the Queen and the Royal family. It's amazing to me how normal they were in their private life, and Elizabeth & Margaret is more about their personal relationships than the Monarchy.

What a different world we live in now and how things have changed - for the better. There certainly seems to have been a certain amount of hypocrisy and double standards regarding Princess Margaret's and Captain Townsend's relationship. Such a shame. They really did love one another at one time and I feel would have been very happy together had circumstances been different.

A very different angle for this subject. Very detailed and more about the people than the history - well researched. I have many, many books on the royal family and can honestly say this takes a different angle than others.

Being an avid reader on Royalty from Queen Victoria to present day royals, I find this book very insightful...If you enjoy reading on the royals, you will definitely enjoy this book. And I really appreciated that the digital review copy had photographs included. All in all an excellent read.

384 pages

5 stars

I apologize, but I cannot get this book to download no matter what I try. I will keep a close eye on it so that I may download it in the future perhaps. I will then review it.

I am sure it is a great book, as are all of Andrew Morton's books.

I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for attempting to forward to me this book for me to read, enjoy and review. My opinion in the final review will be my own.

I will not review this book on Amazon, GoodReads or BookBub until I get it to download.

I enjoyed the first few chapters of Morton's latest royal biography, where the stories of the two sisters were fairly well balanced. Afterward, though, it turned into a biography just of Princess Margaret. It makes me wonder whether that was the original intention of the book. I would have liked more focus on the relationship of the sisters throughout their lives, and less on Margaret's romances.

Andrew Morton is, of course, famous for writing THAT book about Princess Diana. He definitely has found his place as a chronicler of the lives of British royalty. This time, he turns his eyes to the famous siblings, Elizabeth and Margaret. Royal watchers and watchers of The Crown will no doubt very much enjoy this title. It chronicles the princesses from their early family life and right on through the ways in which the sisters’ paths diverged. Readers will also, no doubt, enjoy the many photos in this book. They include a copy of a letter written to the PM by Margaret, detailing her relationship with Peter Townsend.

This book will definitely appeal to its intended audience. Give it a look if you are one of them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
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