Flora Harding’s Before the Crown gives an insider's view into the courtship of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Beautifully written and researched, Harding’s book shows the two in a surprising and realistic light. Just lovely! I highly recommend if you are a fan of the Royal Family and The Crown. I look forward to Flora Harding’s next book.

I’ve long been interested in the British monarchy so when I stumbled on this book I just knew that I had to read it. I have to say that I’m so glad I did, because this book is phenomenal!

First of all, Flora Harding does a fantastic job of making the reader feel as if they are in the heads of the future Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Thanks to each “character” having their own POV they felt more real to me so to speak. That may seem like a strange thing to say since this book is based on real people, however with the Queen and Prince Philip so rarely voicing any thoughts or opinions it is sometimes hard to think of them as something other than symbols of the British monarchy and people. The different POV chapters allow us to see these two not as royals, but just two people struggling with their roles and budding feelings for one another.

This is definitely not a sappy love story, which fits well with how the Queen and Prince Philip present themselves in real life. And even though we know a “happily ever after” s is sure to come, we are treated to a friendship that eventually blossoms into something more rather than a passionate romance from the very start. The pair at times come off as too practical, in my opinion at least, when it comes to planning their marriage. However the POV chapters help us realize that these are two very guarded people Their roles in life and previous experiences make it difficult for them to let anyone in. That is why any declaration of feelings seems to resonate more and comes off as that much more heartfelt.

Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed was learning more about Prince Philip’s family and background. His mother was definitely an interesting character. Princess Alice was definitely not your typical princess.And Prince Andrew was very much an absentee father. It was also surprising to learn that Prince Philip’s sisters had married high ranking Nazi officers. Learning about Prince Philip’s complicated past definitely goes some way to explain his relationship with his children, especially Prince Charles. I was also very surprised with regards to how much opposition there was to the marriage of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth. It seems that the royal family and even the British government were dead set against the match. Their ability to overcome these obstacles and remain married for so long seems even more impressive now.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. Flora Harding did a fantastic job of making these “characters” and the time period come alive. At times I almost felt like I was witnessing these events rather than just reading about them. I feel that this book definitely deserves a 5 out of 5 and I highly recommend it to all my fellow historical fiction readers.

"Before the Crown" is a fictionalized account of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's courtship leading up t6o their famous wedding.
Queen Elizabeth was Princess Elizabeth when she first met Prince Philip of Greece, she was 13 years old at the time. The story goes on to tell how the quiet, reserved princess knew from their first meeting that Prince Philip was the man she would marry.
The young princess had no delusions of what was expected of her as the future queen and of what her life was destined to be, she accepted her role with grace and humility.
She remained adamant about one thing, and that was who she would marry. She was determined her future husband would be of her choosing and not based on his royal pedigree and worthiness but on what she felt in her heart was right.
The young princess traded correspondence with Prince Philip, not seeing him in person very often throughout the years of separation as he with the Royal Navy during WWII. During this time the princess grew up, becoming a gracious, dignified young woman.
We go on to learn that the courtship between the couple was not approved of by the princess' parents, nor by the Royal Court. We read of the obstacles they faced, the disapproval of her parents, the court and a big portion of the population and government of England. We see what they went through, what the expectations were that were expected of them, the standards by which they were judged. We learn of sacrifices made so that they might appease those in power and grant them the approval for marriage. We see the scrutiny they faced everyday after the public announcement of their engagement, and how this scrutiny almost came between them and ended the marriage before it began.
I loved reading this novel. I finished it in a day and a half. Flora Harding did her homework, the story is well researched and the writing style flows easily, making the characters real and personable. The reader feels in touch with the young princess and prince, to me they became real, more human, more touchable, relatable to the common person instead of being the untouchable royals, elevated above the masses on a royal platform. This is a wonderful fairytale romance involving a real life prince and princess, though fictional, I believer their story was very much like the one told here.
This has jumped to my list of best reads so far in 2021.
Thank you to Harper 360 publishing and Net Galley for the free ARC e-book, I am leaving my honest review in return.

If you’re a fan of The Crown on Netflix, you’ll want to check out this novel about the courtship between Elizabeth and Phillip. While some details are well-known, I did find myself Wikipedia’ing several people mentioned in Phillip’s narrative. I assume a second installment is forthcoming, as the tale left off just as Elizabeth is walking down the aisle.

This is such a timely read right now with Price Philip passing away. This was a great book on the forbidden courtship of the future Queen and Prince! I am obsessed with it and learned so much. Harding is very talented.

The fascination of British Royalty continues to capture, fascinate and enthrall readers and television viewers.
Flora Harding has written a beautiful story about the courtship of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip of Greece.
It’s 1943 and seventeen year old Elizabeth is smitten with the witty, dashing Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. Elizabeth’s parents King George and Queen Elizabeth find him irresponsible, a ladies man and ill- suited for their daughter. The young princess however, is determined to marry him but permission must be granted by her father because Elizabeth is under the age of twenty five. The witty Philip wins them over and Elizabeth (because she outranks Philip) will propose to him.
The detail, conversations and weight of the crown with its limitations, challenges and restrictions makes the pages come alive. It pulsates with emotion and wonder as the reader journeys behind the scenes’ of a courtship and partnership that has spanned over seven decades.
‘Before the Crown’ is satisfying, smart and so enjoyable.
My thanks to NetGalley, Flora Harding and One More Chapter Publishing for an ARC in exchange for a book review.

I liked this book. I enjoy royal historical fiction, though most of what I read in this genre takes place during a considerably early period, such as the middle ages or before. I have read other fictionalized accounts of more recent royals, and this is one of the most enjoyable.
Elizabeth II and her generation of royals are basically unknowable people. Although the author states in her end note that she read numerous biographies and other source materials, she created a fictional "love story" around these accounts. Personally, this novel is not a "romance" in the typical sense. It is not sappy, sexy, or even romantic. Two people are getting to know each other, and supposedly falling in love. They are also protecting their feelings and playing games to a certain degree. The author does create an atmosphere of a developing relationship between two young people but also establishes an air of "differentness" about them that is palpable to the reader. In my opinion, she created this mystique very well. We can never know what actually happened during the courtship between Elizabeth and Philip, but this story certainly feels plausible. I felt Philip's frustration and Elizabeth's hurt feelings. I was angry at the king and the court for being so rude to Philip. I felt Philip's desire to cancel the wedding; which, of course, he did not do. I felt more sympathetic toward Philip because he was portrayed as the outsider, the person who had to make all of the concessions. I hope they had some happiness in their life together. This fictional account suggests that they at least started out on a positive note.
I would read this author again. I wish she would write a fictional courtship story of Charles and Diana. But we all know how that story ended.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reading copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased review.

I loved this retelling of the love story between Queen Elizabeth and Phillip. Fun historical details were added that made the love story come alive. I had no idea about broken tiaras, unhappy fathers, and Philips frugality. A fun and must read.

I enjoyed this book so much. During the pandemic, I have rediscovered my love for historical fiction novels. And, as an avid fan of the royals, this book was perfect for me. I realize this is a fictitious retelling of the courtship of Elizabeth and Phillip, but I couldn't help myself but get lost in the grandeur and romance of their love. It is so fun to imagine a royal courtship, and this book brought that courtship to life for me. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching the story play out, and thank you thank you thank you for this book!

First thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book. I am rating it 3.5 stars. The book tells the story from both Prince Phillip and Princess Elizabeth's pov of their courtship. As others have stated it did seem a bit simplified and YA. At times, it almost seems like it would start getting into some serious feelings/storytelling and then back right off. I felt let down many times.

I understand that this is historical fiction and both parties are still alive but if you are going to take on the subject then go for it. All in all it is a quick read and will keep your attention.

A fictionalized telling of the courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, now known as Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. This story is a sweet journey through the emotions of two people finding out who they are in regards to titles and status. A very tame romance story (no sex to be found in these pages), this will delight readers who are fans of the royals and the show The Crown. I found it enjoyable and a nice light read.

I received the novel Before the Crown as an ARC from NetGalley. This character driven novel explores in depth Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the days in months before their marriage. It shows the immense pressure they were both under to make a good match and how they navigated all of their familial obligations while still managing to carve out lives of their own. I enjoyed the perspectives this novel set forth.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 360, and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fictionalization of the real-life romance between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. I would really recommend this book to people who are fans of the tv show The Crown. This book takes place prior to the beginning of the series and gives glimpses into the romance and courtship between one of the world's most famous couples.

It is a dual POV, switching between Elizabeth and Phillip. I really enjoyed Phillip's story who I feel like less is known about it. His journey to find a home, the pressure of his family, and his own internal struggles to find his path in the world. This is a slow burn with no steam, it's all about the subtle glances. The romance is a bit more behind the scenes, but history fans will enjoy this one.

Rating: 4

BEFORE THE CROWN is a novel based on the courtship of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. a lot of the story and timeline is based on actual events, but much of the conversations and inner thoughts are of course imagined. I love reading and learning about the Royal Family, so I found it to be an interesting read. for fans of The Crown or other royal historical fiction.

This was a lovely story and it had me wishing every single word was true.I have long been a fan of Queen Elizabeth II and I found this version of how she met and fell in love with her prince truely plausible.It is nicely written,highly detailed,atmospheric and I'd say well researched.I read this in two days I just couldn't get enough of this fascinating portrayal.Much thanks to Netgalley for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many people think of Princess Elizabeth ( now Queen Elizabeth II) and Prince Philip's marriage to be one of the great love stories of all time. They have been married for 73 years now, and stood by each other through thick and thin, including the "annus horribilius" of 1992. Did you know, however, that the whole thing was set up as a power play by Lord Mountbatten as a dynastic match? Princess Elizabeth fell in love with her cousin ( yes!) when she was just 13, but Philip needed a little more coaxing from the hands of Uncle "Dickie." "Before the Crown" tells us a fictionalized story of how Prince Philip renounced his Greek citizenship and status and gradually came to love the calm young woman who would one day become his queen. This was well written and researched, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I'm an American who loves and has followed English Royalty for decades. The beautiful cover of the book and the title caught my attention and I was happy to receive an ARC ebook. This story is a fictional account of the romance of the Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip starting in 1943 and ending with their wedding in 1947. As is known Elizabeth first met Phillip at age 13 and later wrote him during his service in WWII.

I think the author does a nice job of creating a story that includes the maneuverings of Uncle Dickie Mountbatten to see his nephew tied to the British throne. As much as I love Elizabeth her story isn't very interesting. She is so sheltered growing up, especially with the war on there isn't much new to share about her. Her biggest rebellion is sticking to her choice of suitors. Phillip on the other other is interesting as he is a Prince without a country. Cousin to most of the nobility in Europe his background and adventures are intriguing.

I have read many of the biographies that the author uses as references for her story. So not much was new for me. I think this book will be of interest to those who are less familiar with english royalty or are new fans because of The Crown series. The writing is straightforward and easy to follow. I might suggest a family tree be included in the cover pages to show Phillip's and Elizabeth's ties back to Queen Victoria and other royalty.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for an ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review.

Before the Crown tells the story of Princess Elizabeth, heir to the throne, and exiled Prince Philip of Greece, royal rebel. As a major fan of the royal family and The Crown on Netflix, this book was so fun. I loved getting a glimpse of Elizabeth and Philip’s lives before they were married and before she became the Queen of England.

I also loved the inside look of the politics inside the palace. Everything that had to go on in order for Elizabeth and Philip to even get engaged, and the look into Philip’s devastating childhood just made me feel so sad for him.

However, I do think it was easier for me to understand the storyline since I had watched The Crown. I knew a lot about Philip’s past and controversy with his siblings, his time at Gordonstoun, and his relationship with Lord Mountbatten. if you haven’t seen The Crown, these aspects are kind of brushed over and may be confusing, but I loved all of the details that made up this story.

If you love the royals, The Crown, or just a fun historical fiction romance, I highly recommend reading this book! Before the Crown comes out on May 18, 2021.

When I was 50% through this book, I realized I had received an earlier edition of it that I had previously read. It did not make it less enjoyable. It is a story about Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip and their courtship leading up to the wedding day. I did enjoy it. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Flora Harding creates a sweet love story between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, starting with the letters they write to each other in the beginning and her family's attempts to keep them apart in hopes she would forget him. You feel for Elizabeth during her awkward, business-like proposal to Philip while trying to conceal the fact that she has real feelings for the prince. I also like that the book switches points of view between Elizabeth and Philip, so you can see his disdain at first for this innocent girl with no worldly experience and how it grows into a love for her steadfastness and reliability.

I was a little sad that the book ended with their wedding. It makes narrative sense, as that is what the relationship between the royals is leading up to, but the title Before the Crown made me think the story would go further, following newly-married Elizabeth and Philip through to her father's death and her ascension to the throne.

The chapters of the book are short, which makes the pages fly by. The story keeps a good pace from beginning to end, making it an enjoyable read. It is a sweet love story, and a great pick for romance readers and people who enjoy proper romance. There is no sex here! Readers who enjoy historical fiction, the British royal family, and lighter WWII fiction will also enjoy this title.