Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read this book. I absolutely loved this book based on the early life and love story of Elizabeth and Philip. I struggled to put this book down as it was engaging and made the characters very likeable. I enjoyed watching "The Crown" series, so moments of this book would be a great prequel to that. Audiences who enjoyed that series will enjoy this book.

This book will certainly be quickly picked up and read by those who love stories about Elizabeth and Phillip, and/or by those who enjoyed the Netflix series, The Crown.  This story starts as one of youth; readers observe as Elizabeth and Phillip get to know each other, beginning when the future queen was just a girl.  There is an early vivid scene of a Christmas pantomime at the castle during WWII.  Elizabeth is an Aladdin who eagerly looks for a certain dashing naval officer in the audience.  She is clearly interested in him.  But, what does he think of or want from her?  Even if you know how history played out, the author manages to create some suspense.


Phillip is portrayed as interested in this young Elizabeth but also as a man who is not fully ready to settle down.  The influence of his family history (royalty without a country) and his uncle Mountbatten's pressure to become the future monarch's husband are realistically portrayed. 


Another section of the book, at the end of the war, shows Elizabeth as the young girl she is.  This has been the subject of a movie, A Royal Night Out. and very much comes to life in the novel.  It was one time when Elizabeth was able to shed her persona and be part of a crowd in a celebration.


From these beginning chapters, the author crafts a well told accounting of one of the longest and most famous marriages in the Western world, one that Elizabeth's father did not initially endorse.  Readers are swept along as this couple moves toward one another and their eventual wedding.  Be there with them on this journey as the pages turn.


 I highly recommend this readable and enjoyable historical novel.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

I will not be giving feedback on this as ur is not kindle enabled and I am unable to get it to download on my HP laptop

I have preordered it from Amazon and will submit a review upon reading it when published

Phillip and Elizabeth

This was an adorable romance. I loved how it came together. The history of the different kingdoms and the different backgrounds between Elizabeth and Phillip. The descriptions of the different castles and homes and the clothes they wore were so detailed I could picture them in my mind.

I loved the romance that eventually developed between Phillip and Elizabeth and it was finally Elizabeth that asked Phillip to marry her. How they wore down the Kings resistance to Phillip. That what was once an arrangement between Phillip and Elizabeth became a romance between the two.

The insistence of Phillips uncle that he pursue Elizabeth, the reluctance at first of Phillip and the times he had doubts before the wedding. The times the King made them wait before announcing the engagement and their patience and loyalty in waiting for the King to finally allow them to announce the engagement.

There was a bit of humor in Phillip, the playboy sailor, trying to fit into the Royal picture much to the annoyance of the King. Phillip's response when he found out he had to wear a Kilt at the hunting retreat in Scotland as well as his resistance to hunt. I could just picture his face putting on the kilt..I was chuckling at that.

The grand wedding at last and the dress sounded beautiful. I loved that at the church it was just Elizabeth and Phillip taking their vows, not a prince, not a princess, between the two of them it was just them.

This was as a good historical fiction book, I really enjoyed reading it. I would highly recommend it.

Thanks to Flora Harding, Harper Collins Publishers, Australia, One Chapter Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.

Before the Crown is a historical romance novel that details the courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. I loved the way they each saw each other for who they were instead of the titles they held. This was an enjoyable, easy read.

Before the Crown by Flora Harding is a delightful novel about the courtship of then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. As much about royal life at court as it is a love story, this is a perfect summer read.

I had been having a bad few days: washer quit, faucet leaking, and a sick cat. I decided to read for a while and try to regain my sanity. All I can say is "Thank you," This book hooked me from the very beginning. you. witty dialogue....this is it! Thank you Netgalley.

who doesn''t want to read a love story between one the best known royal couples in the world. This books shows how Elizabeth and Phillip met, how theyfell in love , how their relationship developed and what obstacles they had to overcome to be allowed to get married. Yes I know it is fiction But I really Hope it is sprinkled with some truth. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

Firstly I have to admit I am a huge fan of the British Royal Family and love any novel, movie or tv show based around them. When I saw Before the Crown as an ARC from Net Galley I knew I had to request to review it! It is a whimsical read, based on the courtship and engagement of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the 1940s. It is a very "PG" book as a lot of courting of that time would be, but particularly so for the heir to the throne of England. I liked learning the Royal Protocols of how Elizabeth needed to be the one to propose, and that she needed the King's permission to wed until the age of 25. Also the back stories of Philip's upbringing was interesting, I found myself googling some of the information - using image search a few times to get pictures of the Engagement ring and the Wedding dress.
If were a fan of the Netflix series "The Crown" you will love this book as it is in a similar vein. I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to all my fellow royalists.

Thankyou to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers Australia and the author, Flora Harding, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Before The Crown in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Such a beautifully written and detailed book. Such a good read. 3.5 stars.
Worth a read,