The Women of Windsor: Their Power, Privilege, and Passions

by Catherine Whitney

Who are the women of Windsor? We know them as Elizabeth, the Queen; Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; Princess Margaret; Anne, the Princess Royal. Their images have been with us on film and in print for more than a century, like priceless artifacts that call to mind a grander era. Seen at a distance, they appear unknowable. But each is an individual, a real woman, with an extraordinary story to tell. Now, Catherine Whitney reveals what happens behind the palace doors, giving us an intimate glimpse into the private lives of these public figures. Elizabeth, the Born to duty, adored by her parents, Elizabeth swore as a teenager to serve her country above all else . . . and she has lived up to her promise, even when her crown has been a burden. This once-lively young woman has sacrificed self-interest and personal joy for her subjects for over sixty years. In public, the queen never puts a step wrong. In private, she herself knows she has made many mistakes. She has sacrificed motherhood for majesty, and seen her four children each make errors with devastating consequences. Yet, no matter what happens, the queen perseveres. Elizabeth, the Queen Hitler was afraid of her, the English people adored her. Her kind, sparkling blue eyes and cheerful manner belied a backbone of steel, and few dared to cross her. She raised her eldest daughter to serve and her youngest daughter to sparkle. But while her love of the people, and of her family, has never been in question, the Queen Mother was made of much sterner stuff than anyone has ever known -- until now. Princess Beautiful, talented, vivacious, and complex . . . Margaret was the Diana of her day. But the promise of her youth was destroyed when she was betrayed by her sister, now the queen, who needlessly forced her to give up the man she loved. Troubled and adrift, with only a slight role to fill, Margaret became the object of public ridicule, yet she was something her sister was a wonderful mother. Princess Her father's favorite, arguably the most intelligent of the queen's four children. Yet Anne is forever forced to take second place to her older brother, Charles. Hardworking, hard-headed, and hot-tempered, Anne has been dismissed as an acerbic frump more at home with horses than people, especially in comparison with her ill-fated sister-in-law, Diana. Yet there is a passionate side to this complex woman, one hidden from view. These four women have shaped the world, each in her own way. Now at last their stories can be told.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Royalty

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2006

Reviews

[Lynda]

THE WOMEN OF WINDSOR has numerous inaccuracies...to confuse this book with a carefully researched history would be a major mistake for the serious reader or historian. It is not true that Edward VII "took the name of Edward when he came to the throne". Edward WAS the first of his seven names, David being the last and employed by the royal family. The author tells us that the Duke of Edinburgh had Michael Parker stand as best man at his wedding...no...the best man was a Mountbatten cousin, David, Marquess of Milford Haven. The Duchy of Cornwall is NOT amongst the Queen's estates. The Queen's income derives from the Duchy of Lancaster. Cornwall belongs to The Prince of Wales. Barbara Cartland is not "the step grandmother of Diana's step mother Raine". Cartland was Raine's mother, thus Diana's step grandmother. The author indulges in a tirade against the eulogy given by Earl Spencer at Diana's funeral, omitting the fact that the congregation and thousands gathered outside the Abbey cheered his words. This poorly researched book is a disappointment. The book is facile, it is a folly.

[Victoria]

Appallingly bad scholarship with no attempt whatsoever to check or flag the author's biases, but nevertheless fun to read.

[Margarita Garova]

A simple reinstatement that the Queen Mother was rocking it big time and then things deteriorated

[Erna]

This book is about the story of the women in British Monarchy, Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Margareth and Prince Anne.

It was started with the story of the Queen Mother, her childhood, her life during being a queen and being a queen mother. The Queen mother was very loyal and charismatic. When the WW II occured, and England was attacked by Germani, the staff advised her to move to the safer place. However she refused, and prefer to stay in London. Her charisma was really impressesed Eleanor Rooselvet, and the English people really adore her.

The Queen Elizabeth was also a loyal queen. Although being told that she did not care to her first son and second daughter, later she was a great mother for Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.

The story about Prince Margareth was about her first love which was not agreed by the Royal member. Later, she married with a US photographer and being a great mother.

Prince Anne was told as Queen's great friend, where she may give opinion and suggestions. Her love story was also described in this book.

I learned from this book that being a Royal members does not mean always showered with happiness. So, always thank to Allah ....

[Laura]

A page turner for anyone interested in the powerful women of Britain's royal family, the Windsors, with a focus on the Queen Mum, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne. Not totally accurate -- astute royal readers will note various mistakes and blunders on the part of the writer -- and, as usual, a bit too much ink spilled on the Diana/Charles/Camilla debacle -- but overall, a fun read.

[Sarah]

This would be better suited for a reader whose knowledge of the British monarchy was less pronounced though it did bring a cursory biography of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, to the table. The writer had a very obvious bent on the Spencer family that was perhaps less than professional for a published work highlighting the history of the Windsor women. I would have been curious to know more about the hard-working Princess Anne than Prince Charles' woes.

[Kelsey]

While the history was fun, I feel like a lot of this book was the author's attempt to make her opinions into fact. It didn't really make the book all that enjoyable, especially since a lot of the "facts" just seemed to be just pure speculation.

[Amy Swafford]

Very negative at times and hard to follow.

[AubreyV]

Hmm... where to start?
I really enjoyed the first sections of the book that had to do with our beloved Queen Mum, but afterwards the facts get murky.
I DID NOT like that the author was so anti-Spencer. Calling Princess Di the "Princess of Wails".
It was almost like Whitney didn't like Di at all and tried to force that opinion on the reader. One more thing I might add is that the book claimed Di and her brother Charles, Earl Spencer were not close. This is simply not true. He denied her a place to live because of the media attention that followed her and I can understand why this is seen has harsh but I also don't agree that it constitutes the statement that the siblings did not have a good relationship. Di mothered her brother and they often teased each other the way most siblings do. This book is based on speculation and opinion more than fact.
I am no historian by any means but I do my research and this book thoroughly disappointed me. There was not enough about Margaret either and I would have loved to know more about Princess Anne.

[Jasvir Kaur]

This books sets an example for our future generations that you should not bear any sort of violations, either you are from royal family or not.

Besides from every other thing,which I read that the Queen Elizabeth 2 position in the society was what her parents build her for. His father gave her the pathway to rule the world.And, she did the same, it's not the Royal family fault what happened with Diana, but it's the generation gaps which needs time to fulfill in the ancestral hearts.

[Sarah Rickman]

I Very Much Like This Book

With a lifelong admiration for Elizabeth II, I found it a tough but worthwhile read. We’ve lived through the years with her and the Royal family. To me, she remains a most admirable woman. And I’ve learned to admire Anne and the Queen Mother and to better understand Margaret given and what she had to endure. This book held my attention throughout!

[Danielle]

Strolling through the library about two months ago I picked up this book and was caught up in the dramtic reality of... the royals. I learned many things from this book, and what I particularly loved was how it wasn't "gossip." Instead it was an interesting glimpse of the Royal Family's history. I enjoyed gaining and well rounded perspective on The Women of WIndsor based on this book and the additional resources suggested within. The book is played out in four sections: The Queen Mother, The Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne. Despite the author having an obvious favoritism for Princess Anne, you as a reader can still feel like you're gaining a wholesome, un-biased perspective of royal life and all that comes with them.

[Pam Shelton-Anderson]

Very disappointing. There was nothing really knew and the info could have all been gleaned from newspaper and magazines. Few footnotes and very few from scholarly sources. Tends to assign motive and agendas to her subjects and passed a lot of judgments that seem to be based on little more than her own opinion. The writing style was fairly readable.

[Neal]

This was a very quick read. Not a lot of material that was new to me. I'm intrigued by Margaret, but there doesn't seem to be a well-written bio out there. Maybe there isn't enough to justify it.

This book would be good for someone who's a little curious about the women of the Royal Family, but anyone very conversant will find this too short and without much to offer.

[Karen]

Not terrrible, but not great. Several things are obvious when reading this book. Charles and Diana should NEVER have gotten married. He should have married Camilla and been done with it. The Queen made her sister Margaret miserable. The Royals are a lot like every one else, except they get to wear tiarias.

[Michelle Marie]

THis was a real quick read. I love learning more about the private and refined Queen Elizabeth so I read this...gave me a little insight, actually quite a bit and her mother was a wonderful person too.

[penny shima glanz]

An interesting read that filled my girlish American desire to know more about the Women in the British Monarchy, but at times I felt Whitney could have gone further in depth without causing disruption or distress or turning it into a full gossip rag.

[Ellie Revert]

the book seemed well researched. I think my personal low rating is due more to what the Windsor family truly is. With the next generation of spoiled indulgent "royals", maybe it all needs to end. Sad to say.

[Katterley]

Found this at the library and want to check it out when my "currently reading" list gets under control. :)

[Kimberly]

No new ground covered here.

[Jennifer]

A readable overview of the lives of the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Princess Anne.

[Daniela Crubellati]

Having read so many of books on the subject, I expected more. Its just a biography with little facts, and many wrong ones for that mather