What would happen if the Queen of England left the palace one rainy day, unnoticed, to walk a few blocks for a bit of cheese? And then took a train to Edinburgh? And what does this have to do with Henry V? This charming story answers these questions, and more; easy to read but not exactly lightweight, funny and moving, will make a great movie.

** Please support your local independent bookstore when buying this book! Buying from Amazon.com hurts your local economy. If you don't know where to go, c More...

The Good Stuff

Delightfully odd and uniquely refreshing
Richly developed unusual characters who feel very real
Makes you realize that the Queen is a living human being and not just a figure head (yes this is a fictionalized version of the Queen - but still)
Discusses race & class differences but in a non preachy in your face sort of way - almost light and playful - but at the same time makes you see the absurdity of judging someone based on race or class (Hope that makes sense probably shoul More...

It's like that movie Baby's Day Out (1994), or, less flippantly, Roman Holiday (1953), also Chasing Liberty (2004), man they do this kind of thing a surprising lot in the movies.

Why wasn't this released during the Olympics when people were Anglo-jonesing? Or right after, when they had the Anglo-munchies? This far out, I think we're all just Anglo-over-it. Except for me. I'm an Anglo-slut. And no, I do not think I'm clever or creative.

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train is such a cute book. I mean the Que More...

Feeling down, Elizabeth II impulsively sets off for Leith to see the Royal Yacht, disguised just enough in a hoodie to see London without the streets being cleared and without a filter between her and her people. As palace staff begin to realize the magnitude of her disappearance, they give chase, leading a six-person political, ethnic and class cross-section of multi-cultural 21st century Britain who believe their only commonality to be loyalty to the Queen to discover deep connections and symp More...

** I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through GoodReads **

Probably like many Americans, I only know bits and pieces of what London/England/the United Kingdom is like...but always find stories in this setting to be interesting. In 'Mrs. Queen Takes the Train' I enjoyed getting a glimpse of what modern day England is like -- an interesting mix of modern culture (a la USA) and an old-world land of royalty/hierarchy/traditions.

I gave this book a 3, but I'd like to break that into how I More...

Things have gotten in a rut for Elizabeth, Queen of England, and the prime minister has just told her that her royal train is to be sold. Frustrated by the unfairness of it, after all she has lost her plane and yacht, she decides to go somewhere where she has spent some happy times. She decides to visit the royal yacht, Britannia, moored near Edinburgh. Not used to travelling on her own and disguised by a skull and crossbones hoodie, Elizabeth sets off to do that.
It's very humorous how the Queen More...

I was EXCITED to read this novel. I EXPECTED to like this novel. I WANTED to like this novel. I did not like this novel.

If you’ll pardon the seasonal analogy, this book was like being given a beautifully wrapped Christmas present, only to open it up and find… socks :(

First, you have to understand something about me. I am a rabid Anglophile. If I am reading a romance set in Miami where the heroine is strutting around in a bathing suit, ho-hum. But put that same heroine in a crinoline and have her More...

I read about this novel in the the Shelf Awareness newsletter from 11 Dec 2012 - and while I'm not a Royal-phile, the concept sounded intriguing: Queen Elizabeth sneaks out of Buckingham Palace to visit the decomissioned royal yacht, docked in Edinburgh. A couple of minor staff members (and a cheese shop employee) discover she's gone walkabout and set out to find her and bring her back safely.

William Kuhn paints a sympathetic portrayal of a woman who has been the symbol of a country for 60+year More...

The Queen (that's Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II to you, thank you) is feeling a bit off. In spite of herself, she's become disillusioned with her life, between her duties as little more than a figurehead of a fading institution, and her private life, which is so informed by public concerns. Of course, it wouldn't do for someone in such a privileged position to be ungrateful or dissatisfied with their lot - but Her Majesty is nevertheless restless and unhappy. Perhaps what she needs is to remem More...

This is a charming and fun book. Queen Elizabeth II ups and walks away from Buckingham Palace, catching a (public) train up to Edinburgh to visit her beloved "Britannia." A lady-in-waiting, a butler, an equerry, a shop-boy, a stablehand, and the queen's dresser chase after her - and the resulting novel is a lighthearted depiction of modern England. The different characters all bring different personality traits to the table - unexpectedly gay, unexpectedly poor, startingly forward, startingly an More...

Such wonderful characters (except for the insipid, flat Rebecca) in a lovely look behind the scenes of the monarchy.

Adding another star to this because I find myself thinking of these characters (Luke, Shirley, Rajiv, William de Morgan) after I've finished their book, wondering what they are doing now, a sure sign of well-rounded, multi-faceted characters that the reader actually cares about.

Also, adding Davil to the list of potential kids' names.

Yes the queen is the current monarch. She is dealing with learning about technology and the reality of a monarchs life. She continues to do things the way they have been done for 100's of years just because that's always the way its been. She is not at all herself. A trip out to the royal mews turns into a trip all the way to Edinburg Scotland with the hope of remembering the happy times. I wonder if there can actually be any for someone that lives a life like that. I guess that is the point of More...

What a clever idea for a story. I enjoyed this imaginative take on what might happen if the Queen were to wander off on an unscheduled journey.

Though the story was mostly light, each of the characters were struggling with something, which gives the book some weight. I actually worried a bit about the Queen while she was away from the palace.

I recently read a bio of Queen Elizabeth so I could tell some elements of the Queen's real life are included. However I don't know if she actually practices More...

I would have given this a 3.5. It was light, entertaining, and it touched on a few interesting parts of royal life both as the queen and as a servant without getting too involved. I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone interested in the monarchy and needing a little giggle

I am a little stuck between whether to make it 3 stars or 4 so really it's more like 3.5 but I can't pick a half star.

Mrs Queen Takes The Train is the debut novel of William Kuhn, a biographer and historian whose work inside the Royal Archives of Windsor Castle and speaking to courtiers inspired this fictional peek into the life of The Queen.

I am not an avid follower of all things Royal so I embarked on this novel with an open mind and no expectations, I wasn’t sure whether it was something tha More...

omg this was a delightful story about a bored, unhappy woman in midlife crisis who just happens to be the Queen. Great characters! I predict a movie contract for author William Kuhn.

A delightful story. Queen Elizabeth learns the computer and yoga. And makes a break from Buckingham Palace. The monarchy, Princess Diana, homosexuality, prejudice against people of colour and terrorism are all featured in the book.
But it is not a dreary book. Could have done without the protesters of the fox hunt. Glad I read it.

I found this hard to put down! Charming is one word that springs to mind. For Australians the context is very familiar.

This book was written by an American, and on the whole he did a great job. He let himself and the Brits down with phrases like "write him". These Amercanisms grated and spoiled its authenticity.

I would love this book. I have always wondered what HRH the Queen has in her handbag. She is forever caring a handbag. I don't know if anyone else is curious, but I sure am. You know I think that if a handbag snatcher ever tried to steal other handbag, that after all the security and everyone trying to tackle them, I would bet that HRH the Queen would be the one that is actually on the bottom of the pile, and the one that actually catches the thief. She is a strong woman for her age, and has bee More...

This book was recommended to me by an Anglofile friend who loves everything England. I liked this book but it wasn't as good as . My friend was a little insulted that I didn't love the book; however, I suspect that fiction is one of those places where even if you both like a certain setting (in this case England), you may both have very different views of any one particular book.

was short and sweet. It didn't dwell. is slow to start and plods along, even in the most exciting parts.

***This por More...

Every now and then I check out a book simply because the cover or the blurb catches my eye. Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn fit neatly into that category. Here it is in (spoiler free) part: “After decades of service and years of watching her family’s troubles splashed across the tabloids, Britain’s Queen is beginning to feel her age. She needs some proper cheering up. An unexpected opportunity offers her relief.”

Okay, so I’m a bit of an Anglophile. I got it from my mother, who bore a More...

Trite. Shallow. Silly.

I wanted to like this book. I was on a streak of anglophile reading, and I was looking for something light and charming. But this book was devoid of charm and humor which is a cardinal sin when writing this type of book. Making the Queen a bit of an out of touch, dithering old lady just seemed silly to me, not funny. Characters in the book reference both the movie The Queen and the book Uncommon Reader. Both works that are superior to this one.

For the most part the book foc More...

What a totally charming book. Queen Elizabeth II is feeling her age and is understandably depressed. Her beloved mother and her sister died within a month of each other, her children have nearly driven her mad with their escapades, affairs, bad behavior , and divorces, Windsor Castle burned, her royal yacht (where she spent some of her happiest times) has been decommissioned, the royal train is about to go, and the popularity of the monarchy is at an all-time low. It seems that the one bright sp More...

I recently read this book. It was very entertaining-Mrs Queen is Queen Elizabeth and she's down and sad and is trying to figure out what to do to perk herself up. She decides to take a visit to the recently decommissioned yacht, Britannia, which is presently moored in the vicinity of Edinburgh. Through a series of sudden decisions, she starts making the trip without her usual retinue, causing a panic among her loyal staff. In fear that she will be quickly and publicly found by her Secret Service More...

I don't usually read that much fiction. I prefer memoirs. But this sounded fun since I had read a funny book a few years before about the Royal Family exploits after being kicked out of the palace due to the dissolution (correct word?) of the monarchy and their lives thereafter. It was very very funny. (I must try to find that book) Anyway, I do love British humor. So...I tried it. I found it particularly interesting in light of the current Downton Abby craze. This is set in modern day. It is in More...

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train is a fun book that any Anglophile will enjoy. The basic plot line of the story is that one day, the Queen, feeling at bit down and adrift, decides to take a train ride to visit the Brittania, the decommissioned royal ship. So she slips out of Buckingham Palace without warning, thus initiating a mad search for her.

A wide array of secondary characters try to find the Queen. First to notice she is missing, Luke, her inexperienced equerry is uncertain of what to do until t More...

I saw this book in various places in the lead up to Christmas, so it felt like a good book to end the year on. The Queen is feeling a bit down, and is looking for things to cheer her up. A series of events put her on the path to heading out of the palace unannounced and taking a train on her own. Various members of the palace staff realise that this could be a quick road to disaster and head out to try to intercept her.

This is a quick, funny read, filled with historical and pop culture reference More...

The Queen of England has gone rogue!

Not so much Sarah Palin-style, but she has slipped her handlers. It started innocuously enough. Elizabeth (or “Little Bit” as she addresses herself) has been feeling rather blue. The monarchy has taken more than a few hits in the last several years. After a visit to her favorite horse, the stable girl loans The Queen a “hoodie,” as it has begun sleeting outside. This unusual attire, adorned with skull and crossbones, lends her instant anonymity, and she simply More...

Mrs Queen Takes the Train was to me, both a delightful and awkward book. Why did I have such conflicting feelings? The first thing is that I started this book shortly after the ill-fated Australian radio station prank call to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was a patient. Reading about the real Queen, even though her thoughts and actions are pure fiction in this book, made me feel like I was somewhat of an intruder. On the other hand, taking a famous and relatively remote character o More...