The People’s Princess

By: Flora Harding

Narrated by: Julie Teal

Step behind the palace doors in this gripping historical novel that is a must read for fans of The Crown and Princess Diana!

Buckingham Palace, 1981

Her engagement to Prince Charles is a dream come true for Lady Diana Spencer but marrying the heir to the throne is not all that it seems. Alone and bored in the palace, she resents the stuffy courtiers who are intent on instructing her about her new role as Princess of Wales…

But when she discovers a diary written in the 1800s by Princess Charlotte of Wales, a young woman born into a gilded cage so like herself, Diana is drawn into the story of Charlotte’s reckless love affairs and fraught relationship with her father, the Prince Regent.

As she reads the diary, Diana can see many parallels with her own life and future as Princess of Wales.

The story allows a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life in the palace, the tensions in Diana’s relationship with the royal family during the engagement, and the wedding itself.

‘Fascinating…a beautiful love story’ Woman

©2022 Flora Harding (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"If you’re a fan of The Crown, you’ll love this." (Woman’s Weekly)

"I loved this story...it felt like a sneak peek into the queen’s life." (Glynis Peters, USA Today best-selling author of The Secret Orphan)

"Magnificent. It carries so much depth and warmness, and closeness to the characters that you do not want to part from them...a page-turner." (Best Historical Fiction Reviews)

Not what I expected

The title and the cover picture imply this is about Diana, Princess of Wales. It is, but it is not. Most of the book was about a previous Princess of Wales, Charlotte. Her stillborn son and her death in childbirth ultimately ensured that Victoria would become Queen of England. Diana Spencer read Charlotte’s journals - and there are some eerie parallels between Diana and Charlotte. I stuck with the book even though I was disappointed that it was more about Charlotte than Diana. In the end, I decided it was well worth a listen, just to learn about Charlotte.

New twist for avid follower of British Royalty

Very interesting to learn about the history of Princess Charlotte the would be Queen and fictionalization of Lady Diana’s interest in her leading up to her own Wedding to Prince Charles.

Outstanding

The story is beautifully designed and written. I love the brilliant parallel lives of Princesses Charlotte and Diana.

Great historical fiction!

Thoroughly enjoyed the audio version. I highly recommend this book. I was sad for the story to end.