Before the Crown
by Flora Harding
Published by One More Chapter
Before the crown there was a love story…
Windsor Castle, 1943
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…
Step through the palace gates and discover a captivating historical novel of royal secrets and forbidden love exploring the tempestuous courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the wake of WWII.
RATED: 10+ CATEGORY: MOOD:
#HistoricalRomance Interesting
Fiction
I would like to thank #OneMoreChapter for providing an #ARC of #BeforeTheCrown by #FloraHarding, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Before the Crown by Flora Harding is a fictional account (based off facts gleamed from multiple sources, such as biographies and other books), on the relationship between Princess Elizabeth Windsor (Queen Elizabeth II), and Prince Philip Mountbatten, (Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh) before their marriage. Before the Crown covers the period of time between 1943, and their interactions with one another during WWII, to 1947, after the war, their courtship. It ends just as Elizabeth see's Philip at the church the day of their wedding.
I don't read a whole lot of historical fiction. Especially when it is this blend of fiction and non-fiction. These are real people, and a lot of these things did happen. I ended up requesting this book, because I admit to finding the Royal Family fascinating, and in particular, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Their opposite personalities, with the added pressures of the court and state of the world after the war made their relationship a bit rocky at times, and for most of the book, I was left wondering if this is truly a romance, or a story of unrequited love, and a marriage of convenience. By the end of the book, this is quickly sorted out, but for much of the book, it didn't feel like a romance. It was an interesting read. I can't give points for originality ... it's based on real people after all ... but I do give points on the amount of research that was done. Even the personalities of these characters seemed consistent with other things I have read/watched about them.
If you enjoy historical fiction, and anything royal, you will enjoy Before the Crown by Flora Harding.
Where to Buy
Paperback (Amazon Canada)
Paperback (Chapters/Indigo)