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Sarah Goodall spent 12 years working for Prince Charles as a Lady Clerk from 1988 to 2000 - the period during which his marriage to the Princess of Wales broke down amid a frenzy of media attention.
Her experiences of life behind the scenes of the Royal Establishment have inspired this hilarious story of a naive and rather accident-prone young woman whose dreams all came true when she was given the opportunity to work for the heir to the throne.
Sarah gets herself into numerous compromising situations, both at work and in her personal life, but she manages to establish a good rapport with her Royal employer. When the fairy tale comes crashing to an end, however, not even a final dramatic encounter with Prince Charles can save her from the axe.
The Palace Diaries is an entertaining romp of a read that will delight and intrigue in equal measure.
Her experiences of life behind the scenes of the Royal Establishment have inspired this hilarious story of a naive and rather accident-prone young woman whose dreams all came true when she was given the opportunity to work for the heir to the throne.
Sarah gets herself into numerous compromising situations, both at work and in her personal life, but she manages to establish a good rapport with her Royal employer. When the fairy tale comes crashing to an end, however, not even a final dramatic encounter with Prince Charles can save her from the axe.
The Palace Diaries is an entertaining romp of a read that will delight and intrigue in equal measure.
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First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 12, 2021
Maybe a more appropriate alternative title would be: "Twelve Years a Slave of HRH Prince Charles"
Or: "Meet Sarah Goodall, the self-declared Bridget Jones of the British Royal Palace"
In this book Sarah Goodall tells us all about her work during the 12 years she was a Lady Clerk of Prince Charles.
And she thinks of herself as a funny person, as she compares herself with Bridget.
Well, that's her purpose anyway.
But in fact, Sarah has not much to say at all.
And therefore she tells us lots of gossip and above all an insufferable amount of uninteresting details about her personal life in which we're absolutely not interested.
Unless you like to know how big a slut she is (her literal words, not mine) as she plays with the feelings of several 'admirors' and she apparently enjoys ruining relationships by shagging one guy after the other.
Or unless you like to read how immature she is (and stays, during those 12 years) by begging money time and time again from mummy and daddy, because 'she earns way too little' to buy shoes, clothes, … while she goes to designer shops, plays polo, …
So, actually, the most appropriate title of all would be: "My, myself and I … oh, and Prince Charles and my many other romantic and sexual obsessions too"
Based on the average Goodreads-rating of 2,96* your expectations might already have been quite low.
But trust me, it's even worse.
And if it wasn't clear already, here's a good comparison to get an idea of my overall impression:
If you'd compare all my 1*-books to this one, the others would be true masterpieces.
Yes, that's how low this one goes.
Way below zero.
Brrrrrrr 😱
January 25, 2011
I bought it at a library sale for $1. I think I overpaid.
Supposed to be light and frothy, this was just sad. Sarah makes Bridget Jones look organized and efficient, and while I loved Bridget Sarah's constant "need money from Mummy and Daddy" act was depressing.
There actually wasn't even much behind-the-scenes-of-royalty info. Mostly, there was Sarah having sex with a ton of men, falling asleep in front of Prince Charles, and generally being a dingbat.
Supposed to be light and frothy, this was just sad. Sarah makes Bridget Jones look organized and efficient, and while I loved Bridget Sarah's constant "need money from Mummy and Daddy" act was depressing.
There actually wasn't even much behind-the-scenes-of-royalty info. Mostly, there was Sarah having sex with a ton of men, falling asleep in front of Prince Charles, and generally being a dingbat.
April 26, 2007
The author was a Lady Clerk (secretary) for the British royals, specifically in Prince Charles' office from 1988 to 2000. She began her work at the palace answering HRH's fan mail and then moved up to the point where she sometimes traveled with Prince Charles. She was working at the Palace during the marriage, separation, and divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. She was still working at the palace when Diana's death occurred. She also writes about the beginning of the PR campaign for the public's favor toward Camilla Parker-Bowles and Charles' union. The author was extremely kind in her reflections of her time in the Royal family's employment, and of Prince Charles in particular. She really gushed over Charles and how good looking she thought he was. Whatever. She wasn't as kind with her remarks of Diana but didn't write of anything we haven't already heard about her before. Sarah Goodall did seem at times like a spoiled brat. She wrote of her father giving her money numerous times after she had freely admitted spending her money in a foolish manner and ending up in debt. She also writes of the numerous romantic interests in her life. Was it an attempt to market the book as another Bridget Jones? I think she would have kept her job had she not been late, spent less time on personal calls and been more respectful to her supervisor. Despite the author's shortcomings, I did think the book was interesting to read.
November 16, 2010
Sarah Goodall spent 12 years workingas a secretary (a Lady Clerk in Palace speak) for Prince Charles from 1988 - 2000. Sarah openly admits that the reason she is writing this is for the money - the same reason she sold her story of her dismissal when Camilla moved in.
Sarah's story is not interesting. The only interesting thing about her is that she worked in a palace. She tries to appear closer than she really was. She tries to avert being sued by drooling over Prince Charles's name at any and every opportunity. She distances herself from Princess Diana, something the princess would be grateful for if she were alive.
Boring. I skimmed through this in one night. It doesn't deserve any better.
Sarah's story is not interesting. The only interesting thing about her is that she worked in a palace. She tries to appear closer than she really was. She tries to avert being sued by drooling over Prince Charles's name at any and every opportunity. She distances herself from Princess Diana, something the princess would be grateful for if she were alive.
Boring. I skimmed through this in one night. It doesn't deserve any better.
January 21, 2014
As I read I found myself constantly thinking who cares.
December 16, 2013
I will forever and always regret the $10 spent on this insipid, ego-driven, exclamation mark ridden non- book. When someone shares an account of working for a Royal, the reader is expecting details from Buckingham, not squeals over shoes or the "author's" love life. Truly, my cat could do better simply pawing at my keyboard. Be warned. (Edit) just had to download E. M. Forster's "Howards End" to clean my braincells of such drivel.
January 28, 2009
Sarah Goodall's job as a lady clerk in charge of Prince Charles' fan mail gave her a front row seat at the royal melodrama until her own hubris did her in. Prince Charles comes off better than usual (who knew his eyes were so mesmerizing0 and Princess Diana worse (a little chintzy for a royal).
May 3, 2018
This book is proof if it's ever needed that being published makes you neither an author nor interesting.
The fresh "insights" into life behind the royal scenes could have been squeezed into the space the blurb occupies, been more interesting and saved everyone a good deal of time and paper.
Truly any old rubbish was publishable in the aftermath of Diana's death.
The fresh "insights" into life behind the royal scenes could have been squeezed into the space the blurb occupies, been more interesting and saved everyone a good deal of time and paper.
Truly any old rubbish was publishable in the aftermath of Diana's death.
November 7, 2011
I am not a big fan of royalities and I am not interested at all in Diana. Don't know how I got to read tihs book, But I am glad, i did. I was laughing for so many times while reading it, the good british humor is there. I loved it!
April 1, 2021
Loved it!
I loved this book. It is like reading an adult version of The Naughtiest Girl at School Again. Sarah is so likeable.
Lots of interesting titbits and very easy to read. Highly recommended
I loved this book. It is like reading an adult version of The Naughtiest Girl at School Again. Sarah is so likeable.
Lots of interesting titbits and very easy to read. Highly recommended
July 11, 2020
Excellent book
One of the best books I have read a out in inner workings of Buckingham Palace and Royal Family life
One of the best books I have read a out in inner workings of Buckingham Palace and Royal Family life
October 12, 2018
Sarah is a jolly-hockeysticks sort of girl who gets a secretarial job in the Prince of Wales’ office, and eventually finds herself going on occasional tours. She gets to dance a highland reel with him, take his dog for a walk, and enjoys the Prince’s generous alcohol-based hospitality.
A lot of the gossip Sarah happily tells us is lifted from other books. So, an interesting read, revealing a not very bright woman, who still relies on her parents in her mid-twenties to support a lifestyle she can’t afford. A woman infatuated with her royal boss. But I did wonder what the ghost writer was actually doing - every other sentence has a giddy exclamation mark & advice from ‘the internal nanny’.
What I came away with was how sickeningly obsequious everyone is expected to be.
A lot of the gossip Sarah happily tells us is lifted from other books. So, an interesting read, revealing a not very bright woman, who still relies on her parents in her mid-twenties to support a lifestyle she can’t afford. A woman infatuated with her royal boss. But I did wonder what the ghost writer was actually doing - every other sentence has a giddy exclamation mark & advice from ‘the internal nanny’.
What I came away with was how sickeningly obsequious everyone is expected to be.
November 10, 2023
Tja, uit de erfenis van mijn moeder. Leuk om wat meer te weten over hoe het er aan het Britse hof aan toe gaat. Maar stijl stond me tegen en de hoofdpersoon ook steeds meer, dellerig, plat, heel veel drank en kicken op beroemdheden. Als de glamourbaan wegvalt resteert er weinig.
June 21, 2026
Ihan mukavaa luettavaa tämä oli, pieni kurkistus palatsin työntekijän elämään. Asenne alkoi loppua kohti ärsyttää, tuntui että hän kuvitteli olevansa muita parempi, vaikka loppujen lopuksi hankki käytöksellään potkut.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2019
Enjoyable enough piece of fluff - Bridget Jones does the Royal Palace.
January 6, 2021
Vermakelijk. Een beetje rommelig geschreven, maar een prima boek als je je nergens druk om wil maken.
September 1, 2021
Aardig boek, opgepikt bij een straatbiebje, maar niet heel bijzonder. Schrijfster dweept met prinselijk paar; is overigens geen hofdame, meer secretaresse ofzo.
February 22, 2022
A look at twelve years in the life of a Lady Clerk working for HRH Prince Charles. A light and fluffy read albeit fun and silly at times, from a Bridget Jones type of character. Quite good fun.
December 28, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this - written by a Lady Clerk [PA] to Prince Charles. Very amusing.
October 4, 2023
This book was idiotic and funny couldn't stop reading it Lady clerks and inner Nanny are some new phrase I learnt
September 12, 2024
First, I have always been a sucker for reading 'inside scoop' books about the British Royal family, but ones that sound like the stories within could be true and plausible. This book is about Sarah Goodall, who worked as a "Lady Clerk" to HRH Prince Charles from 1988 until the end of 2000. She began by answering the Prince's fan mail and worked her way up several rungs on the Household staff ladder. Although the pay was so low that Sarah's father regularly gave her large checks for rent and clothing, there were many perks of the job such as traveling to the various castles and to Prince Charles' homes over the years, traveling first class with the rest of the entourage. She has a co-writer who apparently put Sarah's story into a VERY fun diary. She was always very fond of her employer, but her relationship with Princess Diana was rocky, although they had little contact. Strangely enough, her eventual downfall came at the hands of Camilla, who she had previously bonded with (or so Sarah thought) at a Palace dinner a year or so before she was fired. Sarah does admit that her own behavior (being late, taking long lunches, etc.) also contributed to her losing her job. The book reads very much like "Bridget Jones' Diary" as she talks about her many boyfriends as well as her unrequited crush on the heir to the throne. I found the book to be extremely entertaining and funny.
**#52 of 100 books pledged to read/review in 2015**
**34 of 130 books pledged to read during 2020*
#30 of 120 books pledged to read during 2022
**#52 of 100 books pledged to read/review in 2015**
**34 of 130 books pledged to read during 2020*
#30 of 120 books pledged to read during 2022
July 17, 2011
This is a really entertaining read - quite funny in places. I did enjoy it and it was a fast read.
Back Cover Blurb:
Sarah Goodall spent twelve years working for Prince Charles as a Lady Clerk, from 1988 to 2000 - the period during which his marriage to the Princess of Wales broke down amid a frenzy of media attention.
Her experiences of life behind the scenes of the Royal Establishment have inspired this funny story of a naive and rather accident-prone young woman whose dreams all came true when she was given the opportunity to work for the heir to the throne.
Sarah gets herself into numerous compromising situations, both at work and in her personal life, but she manages to establish good rapport with her Royal employer. When the fairy tale comes crashing to an end, however, not even a final dramatic encounter with Prince Charles can save her from the axe.
Back Cover Blurb:
Sarah Goodall spent twelve years working for Prince Charles as a Lady Clerk, from 1988 to 2000 - the period during which his marriage to the Princess of Wales broke down amid a frenzy of media attention.
Her experiences of life behind the scenes of the Royal Establishment have inspired this funny story of a naive and rather accident-prone young woman whose dreams all came true when she was given the opportunity to work for the heir to the throne.
Sarah gets herself into numerous compromising situations, both at work and in her personal life, but she manages to establish good rapport with her Royal employer. When the fairy tale comes crashing to an end, however, not even a final dramatic encounter with Prince Charles can save her from the axe.
September 5, 2013
Great book, although I thought the author was a bit too gossipy. I also found her to be extremely sycophantic where Prince Charles was concerned, putting me off a bit.
In the end though, I rather enjoyed her insights to what life was like behind the palace walls, and must say, it certainly sounded like a fantastic job (although the pay is awful)
She was getting rather too big for her boots, and thankfully could see and admit to it after some time away from the palace.
Overall a charming book.
In the end though, I rather enjoyed her insights to what life was like behind the palace walls, and must say, it certainly sounded like a fantastic job (although the pay is awful)
She was getting rather too big for her boots, and thankfully could see and admit to it after some time away from the palace.
Overall a charming book.
February 11, 2009
What a piece of crap! The only good thing I can say about this is that I didn't add to the author's sell-out, by buying the book, since I read a review copy. It's immoral to sign a confidentiality agreement and then "spill the beans" just because you don't know how to live within your means (which is a cheap excuse instead of confessing to the fact that you want "fame" and "recognition"). The woman is NUTS, and the book is awful.
September 15, 2014
This woman is no great story of success. She has nothing much interesting or insightful to say. There are a few comments about Lady Diana that will have appeared in a gossip colomn at some point. Even given the opportunity to write about her own life - she does herself no favours. I picked this up as part of a buy 1 get 1 free from a charity shop. I wouldnt have paid for it.
She claims she wrote it for public interest - it is not. Hopefuly she made a bit of money.
She claims she wrote it for public interest - it is not. Hopefuly she made a bit of money.
May 19, 2015
well...I know alot more about Sarah...not nearly as much about Charles. it was an okay once read...I even got a signed copy by surprise from amazon seller for 0.75! ...I'm half wanting to toss the book into don't ions anyway
May 27, 2011
surkea, kioskikirjallisuuden tasoa
May 20, 2011
Läste boken på svenska men det var enklare att leta upp den engelska utgåvan på goodreads.
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August 5, 2011Ihan hirveetä paskaa, tuskin luen loppuun koskaan. :/
March 30, 2012
If you like People Magazine and you don't want to go to the dentist, this will work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews