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The Making of a Royal Romance
Katie Nicholl, Royal Correspondent for the Mail on Sunday , has been at the centre of royal reporting since she joined the newspaper in 2001. There is no one who is more intimately acquainted with the lives and loves of Princes William and Harry. Katie has spoken to a wealth of contacts close to William and Catherine Middleton and reveals how their love affair really started at St Andrews, the hurdles the pair overcame and the challenges they still face.Originally published to great acclaim in 2010 as William and Harry , Katie Nicholl has updated and added to her original account of the princes' lives and recounts the definitive story of William's royal romance with the young woman destined to become Queen Catherine.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2011
87 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Katie Nicholl
7 books47 followersNew York Times best selling author, journalist and broadcaster Katie Nicholl has been writing about the British royal family for nearly two decades. She is Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent and co-host of the podcast Dynasty. She is also a regular contributor to The Mail on Sunday as well as other national newspapers and magazines.
As well as her successful print career Katie also reports on the royal family for the BBC and appears regularly on Good Morning Britain, Sky News and GB News. In the United States she appears regularly on Entertainment Tonight (CBS) and NBC’s Today show and she is CBC Canada’s go-to royal expert.
As well as her successful print career Katie also reports on the royal family for the BBC and appears regularly on Good Morning Britain, Sky News and GB News. In the United States she appears regularly on Entertainment Tonight (CBS) and NBC’s Today show and she is CBC Canada’s go-to royal expert.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 24, 2013
This is a biography of Prince William and Prince Harry revised to include details about Catherine Middleton and her relationship with Prince William. It’s packed with all sorts of details about their youth, school days and time in the military including, but also going beyond, the familiar stories of their excesses which have appeared in tabloids. Author Katie Nicholl is the Royal Correspondent for a British newspaper who, after covering him for more than ten years, has found William to be a ‘sensitive, thoughtful and sometimes misunderstood young man who more than anything wants to be ordinary.’
The book reports the events and details of the princes lives extensively. There is their happy youth violently interrupted by the tragic death of their mother, Diana. A gap year then St Andrews college for William and Sandhurst for Harry. And William’s on-again off-again on-again relationship with Catherine Middleton and Harry’s on-again off-again relationship with Chelsy Davy. We are told what grades they earn, where they go skiing, who they hang out with and which country homes they swim around the moats in after a night of drinking. But while there is a wealth of this sort of relevant and irrelevant detail, it doesn’t really add up to much of great interest. And when we are told that at St Andrews University ‘William was developing a reputation for being aloof and even a touch boring’ we can believe it.
One other point of interest of this book is the truly impressive research the author has put in to cataloging the princes taste in alcoholic beverages. They really like to drink and have quite exotic taste indeed. Perhaps they got it from their father Prince Charles, who at the age of fourteen, we are told, ‘had got drunk on cherry brandy during a sailing trip to Stornoway with four friends.’ As teenagers William took Harry to the Rattlebone Inn, a sixteenth century pub near Charles's Highgrove estate, where he drank 'the pub’s potent Pheasant Plucker cider' as well as 'pints of snakebite, a mixture of cider and beer.'
Harry quickly establishes himself as the thirstier of the two princes. Before going to Sandhurst Harry spent time at a bar called Nam Long-Le Shaker where he held the record 'for being able to drink three of their White Panther cocktails in a row. The delicious but potent mix of rum, vodka and coconut milk is served in a giant glass and usually requires two people to drink it.'
While on a British Army training trip to Canada, Harry makes time to go to the bar and enjoy sambuca shots and rum and Coke. And when he reunites with girlfriend Chelsy after a breakup they dink two magnums of Moet et Chandon. Later they are seen sipping 'Porn Star Martinis, a cocktail of vanilla vodka, passion fruit and champagne.'
Not to be outdone, in college William went to dinner parties where claret, port or the bottle of Jack Daniel's which he would always bring were served and where he played such drinking games as "I've Never" 'which entails one player admitting to the others something she or he has never done and then asking the other if they have. If anyone has done the deed in question they must take a drink.'
We are told William prefers red wine to beer and Harry's favorite drink is Belvedere vodka and cans of Red Bull. (Their protection officers sip Coke.)
While this book doesn’t quite succeed in revealing the inner qualities of it’s subjects, it does have many of the answers to questions you might never have thought of asking, like how did they pay for all that booze? Answer, they didn’t. The ‘royal comp’ meant that their drinks were often provided free by the clubs where they drank.
The book reports the events and details of the princes lives extensively. There is their happy youth violently interrupted by the tragic death of their mother, Diana. A gap year then St Andrews college for William and Sandhurst for Harry. And William’s on-again off-again on-again relationship with Catherine Middleton and Harry’s on-again off-again relationship with Chelsy Davy. We are told what grades they earn, where they go skiing, who they hang out with and which country homes they swim around the moats in after a night of drinking. But while there is a wealth of this sort of relevant and irrelevant detail, it doesn’t really add up to much of great interest. And when we are told that at St Andrews University ‘William was developing a reputation for being aloof and even a touch boring’ we can believe it.
One other point of interest of this book is the truly impressive research the author has put in to cataloging the princes taste in alcoholic beverages. They really like to drink and have quite exotic taste indeed. Perhaps they got it from their father Prince Charles, who at the age of fourteen, we are told, ‘had got drunk on cherry brandy during a sailing trip to Stornoway with four friends.’ As teenagers William took Harry to the Rattlebone Inn, a sixteenth century pub near Charles's Highgrove estate, where he drank 'the pub’s potent Pheasant Plucker cider' as well as 'pints of snakebite, a mixture of cider and beer.'
Harry quickly establishes himself as the thirstier of the two princes. Before going to Sandhurst Harry spent time at a bar called Nam Long-Le Shaker where he held the record 'for being able to drink three of their White Panther cocktails in a row. The delicious but potent mix of rum, vodka and coconut milk is served in a giant glass and usually requires two people to drink it.'
While on a British Army training trip to Canada, Harry makes time to go to the bar and enjoy sambuca shots and rum and Coke. And when he reunites with girlfriend Chelsy after a breakup they dink two magnums of Moet et Chandon. Later they are seen sipping 'Porn Star Martinis, a cocktail of vanilla vodka, passion fruit and champagne.'
Not to be outdone, in college William went to dinner parties where claret, port or the bottle of Jack Daniel's which he would always bring were served and where he played such drinking games as "I've Never" 'which entails one player admitting to the others something she or he has never done and then asking the other if they have. If anyone has done the deed in question they must take a drink.'
We are told William prefers red wine to beer and Harry's favorite drink is Belvedere vodka and cans of Red Bull. (Their protection officers sip Coke.)
While this book doesn’t quite succeed in revealing the inner qualities of it’s subjects, it does have many of the answers to questions you might never have thought of asking, like how did they pay for all that booze? Answer, they didn’t. The ‘royal comp’ meant that their drinks were often provided free by the clubs where they drank.
April 15, 2011
I found this book very irritating as the title gave the impression this was soley about William and Kate, but although very interesting most of the book was based on Harry and William and their history to the present it touched on their father's romance , it spent a long time describing Harry's love life and William's past assignations.
The book gave the background to William's mistrust of the media and highlighted the very loyal relaitionship between the brothers. the wild side of both princes were noted in great detail with I assume the idea of showing that they were normal young men who would at that time in their lives live as normal a life befitting their age as they possible could under their very special circumstances.
Eventually the author got round to discuss the main subject matter the relationship between Kate and William. I found the approach quite patronising to Kate as the message that came across was she finally got her man. The author in my opinion made a great deal of assumtions as to Kate and Williams thoughts and actions. She often descibed how they acted when in their own domestic privacy. Unless she was a fly on the wall or inside their heads she couldn't possibly know how they felt in their alone time, I often got angry when she was describing Kate's humble upbringing with their million pound residence. I suppose everything is relative.
In it's defense it was written in a very chatty unstuffy manner giving insight into modern royals and setting the scene through Williams commitment to his career the man that might one day be king and the patient Kate who might one day be queen.
An interesting read but not the best book if you are looking for information on the happy couple.
The book gave the background to William's mistrust of the media and highlighted the very loyal relaitionship between the brothers. the wild side of both princes were noted in great detail with I assume the idea of showing that they were normal young men who would at that time in their lives live as normal a life befitting their age as they possible could under their very special circumstances.
Eventually the author got round to discuss the main subject matter the relationship between Kate and William. I found the approach quite patronising to Kate as the message that came across was she finally got her man. The author in my opinion made a great deal of assumtions as to Kate and Williams thoughts and actions. She often descibed how they acted when in their own domestic privacy. Unless she was a fly on the wall or inside their heads she couldn't possibly know how they felt in their alone time, I often got angry when she was describing Kate's humble upbringing with their million pound residence. I suppose everything is relative.
In it's defense it was written in a very chatty unstuffy manner giving insight into modern royals and setting the scene through Williams commitment to his career the man that might one day be king and the patient Kate who might one day be queen.
An interesting read but not the best book if you are looking for information on the happy couple.
May 4, 2011
Yes..... I'm fueling my obsession.
November 21, 2011
A a hopelessly pathetic Royal watcher everyone I know gives me every book, magazine and news clipping about the royals. In a rush to be the first William and Kate book this is an older book about William and Harry with a chunk about Kate thrown in. Is it true? Who knows? The Queen is not amused. lol
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June 26, 2011The Making of a Royal Romance: William, Kate, Harry, a Look Behind the Palace Walls, by Katie Micholl, narrated by Justine Eyre, produced by Tantor Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
This is the story of the Princes William and Harry with the backstory of their parents thrown in. It details the relationship of William and Kate, nine years together before he popped the question. The author reveals that in 2005, Prince William promised Kate that she was “the one” and that when he finished military training and the time was right, they would marry. He gave Kate this promise because Kate, who had already waited five years, would have moved on with her life without some sort of commitment from William. In the epilogue we get an interesting view of public opinion, favoring William and Kate over Charles and Camilla. The author concludes that Charles will at some point be king, but that the future of the royals lies with William.
This is the story of the Princes William and Harry with the backstory of their parents thrown in. It details the relationship of William and Kate, nine years together before he popped the question. The author reveals that in 2005, Prince William promised Kate that she was “the one” and that when he finished military training and the time was right, they would marry. He gave Kate this promise because Kate, who had already waited five years, would have moved on with her life without some sort of commitment from William. In the epilogue we get an interesting view of public opinion, favoring William and Kate over Charles and Camilla. The author concludes that Charles will at some point be king, but that the future of the royals lies with William.
January 3, 2016
I started this book a long time ago - like years ago - and then set it aside to read something else and never returned to it. Since it was still on my currently reading list, I decided to go ahead and finish it.
The book was pretty boring. I didn't feel like it revealed anything the average person doesn't already know from only sort of paying attention to the news. I don't read celebrity magazines or anything like that, and I still felt like I knew most of this. I also felt like a lot of this was made up. Weird details like, "William handed her a cup of tea and she laughed." How do you know that? Because, of course, the author can't reveal her sources.
Not especially enlightening. But at least it's off my "currently reading" list now.
The book was pretty boring. I didn't feel like it revealed anything the average person doesn't already know from only sort of paying attention to the news. I don't read celebrity magazines or anything like that, and I still felt like I knew most of this. I also felt like a lot of this was made up. Weird details like, "William handed her a cup of tea and she laughed." How do you know that? Because, of course, the author can't reveal her sources.
Not especially enlightening. But at least it's off my "currently reading" list now.
September 15, 2011
Had to go back over William and Harry after starting The Making of a Royal Romance by Katie Nicholl, realizing they were essentially the same book, just revised and expanded (new photographs? I guess there were two new chapters, but I really didn't notice). A clear, even-handed portrait of what it is like for young royals trying to live a normal life. I really like both William and Harry Wales and their girlfriends Kate and Chelsea. V. amusing descriptions of the Glossy Posse's nightclub antics and drinking preferences, including a drink called "Crack Baby" - vodka, passion fruit juice and champagne served in a test tube. I'm a part-time royal watcher and kept with the new book for entertainment value.
June 24, 2011
Downloaded this book to my iPod while on vacation. It was interesting to hear about how the boys grew up - much more about that than just the romance of Kate Middleton & Prince William. I wouldn't have picked it up had I not had a lot of free time and it was a quick and enjoyable listen. I don't know if fans of the Royals would enjoy it or already know all of this information, so not sure who I'd be recommending the book to. Obviously if you don't care a whit about the royal family, this book is not for you though. So take it for what it's worth - an enjoyable diversion and opportunity to take a peek into the life of British aristocracy.
April 19, 2012
I LOVED listening to this book. I didn't know quite this much about the British monarchy - it was very educational. It's not just about Will & Kate, it starts with Charles & Diana and progresses chronologically. It gives lots of information about Harry & William, then picks Kate up about the middle of the book. It's just so interesting learning about the things the princes do, are expected to do, their relationships with friends and family, their personalities, and interests. It's a nicely written book and easily to follow the time tables. Check it out if you're at all interested in Will & Kate and their romance, because the back story makes it more understandable and romantic!
August 5, 2012
Although this book indicates it is about William and Kate in reality it is a book about William and Harry that has had some extra stuff about Kate added into it.
It is a good read but some of the information is a little bit difficult to believe.
I thought Kate came out looking like a woman who was desperate for a prince as a husband and therefore rather shallow. While the media certainly portrayed that image of her prior to her engagement the fact that she got a good degree at University must mean there is more to her than meets the eye and it would have been good to see a different side of her.
Overall, an enjoyable read but you are not going to learn anything new.
It is a good read but some of the information is a little bit difficult to believe.
I thought Kate came out looking like a woman who was desperate for a prince as a husband and therefore rather shallow. While the media certainly portrayed that image of her prior to her engagement the fact that she got a good degree at University must mean there is more to her than meets the eye and it would have been good to see a different side of her.
Overall, an enjoyable read but you are not going to learn anything new.
August 2, 2013
Very well written and an enjoyable book. Sometimes Ms. Nicholl inserts something from the past into the telling of the history, which makes it feel disjointed at times. However, it was nice to read more information about William and Harry. Ms. Nicholl touches on their girlfriends briefly. So, if you want to know a lot about Kate you won't find much here as this book mainly focuses on the princes. I hadn't read that much about William and Harry, so it was interesting to get a glimpse as what they were like as children and how they grew up.
June 9, 2012
I thought this was an interesting book. I started getting interested in Will and Kate and the royal family when the engagement was announced. I knew the prince's were Princess Diana's sons but I never followed their lives. The book is pretty accurate from what I knew over the years about the royal family. I enjoyed reading about their lives and I learned information about them I never knew before. Some of it can be hard to understand with all the royal titles and army slogans but the overall story is great.
May 1, 2011
I finished this book last night - April 30 - and very good timing on my part to learn a lot more than I already knew about the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and what they went through to get where they are today!
Katie Nicholl truly knows about William, Catherine and Harry - and tells all in this book. And since I am simply a person who "needs to know", I really enjoyed reading this and that is why I gave it 5 stars!
Katie Nicholl truly knows about William, Catherine and Harry - and tells all in this book. And since I am simply a person who "needs to know", I really enjoyed reading this and that is why I gave it 5 stars!
June 10, 2011
Very interesting. I couldn't put it down and I typically don't like biographies. It gives you an in depth inside view of the personal lives of the British Royal Family.
Interesting book but some of the facts are incorrect.
Towards the end of the book, it says William and Kate were getting married in April 2010 ... they were not even engaged until October or November 2010. It also says Diana died in 2007. She actually died in 1997.
Interesting book but some of the facts are incorrect.
Towards the end of the book, it says William and Kate were getting married in April 2010 ... they were not even engaged until October or November 2010. It also says Diana died in 2007. She actually died in 1997.
May 16, 2011
Liked the first book and was looking forward to reading this one, only to find out that it is the same book with new material added to include Kate's story. Very disappointing. I was glad that I got this one from the library. Index was helpful to find the new information, otherwise I am not sure I would have bothered.
June 7, 2011
Was a nice detailed summary of the Prince's lives up untill the engament of William and Kate. There is nothing on the actual wedding. Made me look at Diana in a more concerned way. She wasn't the little angel that she is made out to be. Made me feel sorry for Charles, though he is no angel himself.
July 18, 2013
If you want a detailed description and insight into the lives of Will, Kate, and Harry, this is a great book for you. It painted a realistic picture of the Royal Family without seeming "assuming" or fanciful. It was well-researched and very interesting. Like a non-fiction novel, almost. I recommend it!
July 12, 2015
Interesting read for the most part .
Interesting to read of the relationship between William and Katherine and also between William and Harry but any mention of Camillia still evokes anger for her part in Diana's pain. I hope I live long enough to see the designation of HRH to Diana by King William!
Interesting to read of the relationship between William and Katherine and also between William and Harry but any mention of Camillia still evokes anger for her part in Diana's pain. I hope I live long enough to see the designation of HRH to Diana by King William!
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February 11, 2016I listened to this one, I picked it up at the Lbrary. It's really a story of the young princes and their life and escapades. Less than 1/3 of the book is about Kate and Willliam's romance, but it's a good one. I enjoyed it. It had a clearly chronicled account of William and Harry's militry training. I enjoyed it.
October 3, 2011
I didn't have anything to listen to in my car so I grabbed this. Not too bad. Interesting to hear about the lives of Harry and William from their birth through their school years and up to William and Kate's engagement. I'm not much of a celebrity follower, but it was ok.
July 15, 2014
I've never trusted Katie Nicholl. I've learned that I would never trust people who are in the royal circle. They will never tell the truth. It's either bad or good, that's it. Look what happened to Richard Kay.
February 19, 2013
Ends with the engagement. Fun, absorbing fluff. No idea what the fuss is about, wanting to get rid of the monarchy. They're great for tourism and give us something to think about besides what's for dinner.
January 5, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I'm not one to read biographies and this wasn't one. My favorite part was when Harry gave Grandma a cell phone for Christmas, he set the voicemail message. Funny as hell what he recorded.
October 3, 2013
Easy reading about a family that you can't help but be fascinated with. I felt like i really got to know William and HArry - truly charming nice boys trying to live normal meaningful lives! Will and Kate will be a great King and Queen...
October 10, 2014
A quick read, but a better title would be "Chronological history of the house of Windsor, 1980-2010." It kind of read like a list of events rather than a biography with primary sources and careful analysis. Quick, some what interesting and basic.
August 16, 2011
It wasn't exactly high art, but it was an enjoyable, thorough and mostly non-fluffly look at not only Kate and William, but Harry, Diana and the rest of the British royal family.
February 28, 2012
Other than the misleading name this was fun to listen to for me since I had not followed up on the British Royal family for years. Had to admire Kate's patience!!
May 25, 2012
I don't know how much of it is true. The author's sources are substantial and she is very well researched. I enjoyed it, it was a good read for the car ride.
January 21, 2013
I really enjoyed this book because it was an inside glimpse to the royal life. I'm fascinated with the royals though.
February 3, 2014
Interesting but very gossipy with some repetition. It was very hard to listen to Princess Diana's sorrows again but I adore her so much I got through it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews