Battle Royal

by Kirsty McCleod

The story of the two eldest sons of George V, who became Edward VIII and George VI, showing how they emerged into adulthood scarred by their cold mother and bullying father. One confident and self-indulgent, the other hesitant and insecure, we see them meet and marry Wallis Simpson and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, and lose all vestiges of brotherly love.

Genres: Biography

Paperback

Published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Rho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our regional library did not have this book so I bought it on Amazon - am so happy I did. This was a great read and very informative. I have read multiple volumes about the Duke and George VI and am very familiar with most of the story- this book which starts when the princes were little, their relationship with each other and their parents. The book ends just after the abdication. This is the story of two very different people and each handled the pressures of being Royal.
Although the book is principally about the relationship between the Duke of Windsor and King George VI it is by no means confined to just that. The author has done a fantastic job of describing the events leading up to Edward's abdication and has provided insight into all the characters involved. The book is hard to put down.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

#40 of 120 books pledged to read during 2018

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good gossip but it's about family dynamics in the House of Windsor during the abdication crisis when Edward VIII chose to leave the throne to marry Wallis Warfield Simpson. The only fairly new information is in the last two chapters and even then it is sketchy. The "battle royal" is only in the last two chapters as they explain what happened after Edward VIII abdicated and the rift that widened between the new king and the old king. Like so many family disputes, it was mostly about position and money.

[Tyra Warrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable book.