Elizabeth and Margaret by Andrew Morton

 

Elizabeth and Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters by Andrew Morton.

Published 30 March 2021 by Michael O'Mara.

From the cover of the book:

The first in-depth dual-biography of Elizabeth & Margaret, written by the bestselling royal biographer, Andrew Morton.

They were the closest of sisters and the best of friends.

But when, in a quixotic twist of fate, their uncle Edward VIII decided to abdicate the throne, the dynamic between Elizabeth and Margaret was dramatically altered. Forever more, Margaret would have to curtsey to the sister she called 'Lillibet'. And bow to her wishes.

Elizabeth would always look upon her younger sister's antics with a kind of stoical amusement but Margaret's struggle to find a place and position inside the royal system - and her fraught relationship with its expectations - was often a source of tension. Famously, the Queen had to inform Margaret that the Church and government would not countenance her marrying a divorcee, Group Captain Peter Townsend, forcing Margaret to choose between keeping her title and royal allowances or her divorcee lover.

From the idyll of their cloistered early life, through their hidden wartime lives, into the divergent paths they took following their father's death and Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, this book explores their relationship over the years. Andrew Morton, renowned bestselling author of Diana: Her True Story, offers unique insight into these two drastically different sisters - one resigned to duty and responsibility, the other resistant to it - and the lasting impact they have had on the Crown, the royal family and the way it has adapted to the changing mores of the twentieth century.

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Elizabeth and Margaret offers an intriguing glimpse inside the private world of one of the most famous families in the world, by way of exploring the relationship between the two Windsor sisters who suddenly found themselves centre stage with the abdication of their uncle Edward VIII.

Andrew Morton starts by introducing us to the close family relationship between the two sisters, their parents, and the wider family, taking us through the dramatic scenes that changed the course of their lives. Elizabeth as the older sister was always more sedate and dutiful, contrasting markedly with the more lively and rebellious Margaret, who was indulged by those around her, and the differences between their personalities became even greater once Elizabeth was destined to take the throne and Margaret to forever be in her shadow.

Morton walks exactly the right line in this book, pitching his account of events somewhere between a factual narration and exposé, drawing on sources that give the reader an intimate picture of not only the relationship between the sisters, but also that with their wider family, confidantes and romantic partners - with just enough emotional content without resorting to sentimentality. He brings in some interesting revelations, particularly around the matter of the constitutional nightmare created when Margaret was contemplating marriage to a much older divorcee, Group Captain Peter Townsend, and draws some insightful parallels between the younger Royals of the time and those of the current era.

I did feel there was perhaps a tendency to mention Princess Diana rather more than was necessary in a book which primarily covers a period of time before she was part of 'The Firm', which I think stems from Morton's wish to reference his own best sellers about her, but on the whole, he sticks to the narrative and covers the changing times and attitudes both within the Royal family and without rather well - and the close bond between the sisters comes across with a touching poignancy that withstood the test of time, despite all that the weight of their disparate roles could throw at them.

This is an easy to read, engaging account of a period in time that has captured the imagination of the nation with programmes such as The Crown, and this is a book that will certainly appeal to lovers of the series - with the added benefit that it will definitely clarify matters which have been given more than a little poetic licence in pursuit of viewing figures. Recommend reading if you are intrigued by the history of a very secretive family.

Elizabeth and Margaret is available to buy now from your favourite book retailer in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Michael O'Mara for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Kelly Lacey of Love Books Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Andrew Morton is a leading authority on modern celebrity and royalty, and author of the internationally bestselling biography Diana: Her True Story. Revealing the secret world of the Princess of Wales, the book spent fifty-eight weeks in the bestseller lists, was translated into 35 languages, and inspired films, documentaries and commentaries about the royal family.

Since, Morton has gone on to write No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers on Monica Lewinsky, Madonna, David and Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie, as well as a ground-breaking new biography of Wallis Simpson, Wallis in Love: The Untold True Passion of the Duchess of Windsor. The winner of numerous awards, he divides his time between London and Los Angeles.