This was a behind the scenes look at the British palace. I thought some parts were interesting but overall it’s a little boring. It is well researched. I think anyone really really interested in the British Royalty will enjoy this book
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

“If you are in government, it is about policy. But this is family. There’s no policy. It’s all emotionally managed”.

I’ve been a monarchist since the earliest memories but also fascinated beyond the family. From who assists to whom advises, i can get sucked into it all.

This book does the deep dive into the people surround the family. It’s not just about Meghan & Harry or Wills & Kate. It’s about the so-called men in suits and how they fit into the institution, both as workers and foes.

The parts about Prince Andrew had my eyes opened wide, again, not shocked, but I loved that it wasn’t just focused on the “fab four” aka the current drama focus by the media… but of the institution and players from over decades.

I guess for me, I’m a person who likes hearing every side before rushing to judgement. Especially these days with social media and click bait titles. I truly think there’s a grain of truth everywhere but I also know that at the end of it, it comes down to money, protection and sustainability
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I’ll just say one more thing, why do people need to hate Kate if they love Meghan, and if you love kate, why hate on Meghan. None of us know both side. None of us walk in their footsteps and so we just never really know what is actually the truth.

This book is just 1 more version of the truth, but from people who work, breathe and life within the palace walls. Totally soaked it all up! 4.5 ⭐️

I have an interest in the royal family and in what really happens behind closed doors, so I was excited to receive the ARC for Courtiers. However, I ended up doing a lot of skimming through the very dry chapters and then getting frustrated with what felt like an obvious bias against Harry and Meghan in the later chapters and ended up unable to finish this one.

Courtiers are the trusted advisers to the royal family, often serving across generations. This book leads me to believe that the royal family is truly seen as a business or a corporation, and it made me feel sad for the things the family members have experienced. In one section it is stated that even though William and Henry longed for some informality in their lives, their staff was sure to never provide that and almost force them into a life of proper decorum at all times. Perhaps being a royal isn't all it is cracked up to be.

Once Meghan enters the picture, it is constant negativity about multiple encounters with her and unfortunately that whole situation remains a he said she said mystery to the general population. Reading this while also seeing scenes from their new documentary felt like a complete study in contrast to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will admit that I watched the first two seasons of The Queen when it came out and really enjoyed it, but besides a headline here and there I really don’t pay too much attention to other people’s comings and goings.

This book is told from the perspective of courtiers – trusted advisors in the King or Queen’s inner circle. This book covers over 70 years’ worth of insight from the royal court. From the dark cloud hanging over Prince Andrew to Harry and Meghan’s departure from the royal life. It also touches on William and Kate and how they are coping with the new world of social media.

This book was so interesting even for me as a casual observer to the royal family. Courtiers pulls back the veil and reveals the inner workings of the monarchy. While it was a bit dry at time, the topics were entertaining enough to keep me interested. This documentary is unlike any that I’ve ever read in how its laid out, and I really appreciated it. I think I expected a little more out of this one in terms of juicy details, but I can also appreciate why they weren’t there. These are real people’s lives. I enjoyed the historical aspect to this book the most and the insight into each member of the royal family.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher, St Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, for my e-copy in exchange for this honest review. Check this one out January 24th for a gripping account of how the Royal family really operates, from the journalist who has spent years studying them.

A comprehensive look at the courtiers surrounding the British royal family, past and present. This was very interesting to me, especially learning more about how these courtiers work and support the royals. A lot of it is quite dry although there are some nuggets of gossip relating to Megxit and the like. This is a detailed look at the workings of those closest to the royal family and how they support and help to steer the institution in the right direction. Definitely recommended if you’re interested in the behind the scenes, but not if you’re just looking for some gossip.

This was an interesting read for fans of the royal family drama. It gives the perspective of the infamous "Firm"- the courtiers who do all of the background work. I won't lie, I was most interested in reading about the more current drama with Meg and Harry. I've heard some of it but it was great to have it in one place. I will say it is evident that the author was not a fan of Meghan. The way they presented information seemed slightly biased. I do like that the author sympathized with Meghan's mental health issues. Overall a good read. 3.5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy.
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This wasn't quite what I expected. I'm interested in the Royal Family, so it was insightful to learn about more about the inner workings, but it was a bit dry at times, which made it hard to stay engaged. An audiobook version may feel a bit more interesting. If you're looking for scandalous information, this isn't the book for you. There's a bit about Harry and Meghan, but that's about it. The ending was more interesting, as it was stuff I was a bit more familiar with (recent events). The pace is very slow for the first part, but it does pick up as more modern times are addressed. Die-hard fans of the Royal Family may want to check this one out.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Courtiers releases January 24, 2023

“The principle of being a courtier, is to know everything, but not necessarily tell your principal everything.”

I think individuals with a more invested interest into the inner-workings of the royal branch might find this more enjoyable than I did. I didn’t find it as gripping as it claimed to be.
This referenced a lot unnamed sources, and other works, so it wasn’t entirely all new content.
There were about three standout instances where it distinctly showed how courtiers are really the go-between of official royal members, and act as representatives — Harry’s Invictus games, Harry and Meghan’s tour, and the racism allegations.

I will say that the reasoning for lack of diversity was quite thought provoking and a good conversation starter, being that the Queen was truly stuck in the 50’s, as was the fact that her famous speech of declaration was in actuality, not even written by her.

Buy/Borrow/Pass — I’d say borrow this title through the library if you’re highly invested, or take a pass altogether if you were on the fence.

Having always been a history buff, I couldn’t help but literally cry in delight at getting the chance to read this terrific analysis of the Royal family and the Fab Four, as they were often called prior to the infamous tiff between the princes and their significant others. A triumph of a read!