Before the Crown

This was beautifully written historical fiction that I literally couldn’t put down. The characters were beautifully depicted, and the storyline was well developed. Highly recommended!

Elizabeth is thirteen when she is charmed by the handsome young man playing croquet with her and her sister Margaret.
When she is 17 she is surprised to see him again at a play she is performing in. However she is excited.
Elizabeth knows who she is, she is a princess. Heir to the throne of England. She has no qualms about what that means. She will marry a prince who will be her consort. Love has nothing to do with it. She knows her duty and she will perform it to the best of her abilities.
Deep inside she asks herself this question, what if live has a little to do with it. It would make being Queen that much easier.
This is beautiful story of Elizabeth and Phillip. How they met how they became engaged. A story of a lifetime. Well written!!

Before the Crown is a fictional story of the courtship of Princess Elizabeth of England and Prince Philip of Greece. The author has researched her subject well and the account she has written seems immensely plausible. Philip’s family has been in exile for years and he basically has been raised by his Mountbatten relatives since he was a youngster. His uncle Dickie Mountbatten sees marriage to the heir to the British throne as a goal to be pursued and he constantly pushes this narrative to young Philip. This couple now has been married for 73 years. Queen Elizabeth has made no secret of her early attraction to her husband, but what was Philip’s motivation? Did he come to love her or did he see Elizabeth as his way into a secure future? This is a lovely, well written read shining a spotlight on two people coming to know each other during a world at war and a society still bound by stringent class rules. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

If you love anything about the royals, the show The Crown or like me intrigued by living the life of a princess then this book is for you! I admittedly don’t know much about Prince Phillip and enjoyed reading this story and learning many interesting facts. I often found myself googling information (Nazi ties, etc) to see if they were true. It was refreshing to read a love story where even though we knew the ending of the Queen and Prince it still was told in such a compelling and captivating way. I found myself stealing an extra five minutes here or there throughout my day just to learn more. I felt as though the story progressed nicely and I enjoyed reading both perspectives. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and will mention this for a possible book club book. I give this page turner five out of five stars. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced read.

such a beautiful story. feels like a behind the scenes of royalty's favorite couple. mesmerizing and compelling.

Before the Crown by Flora Harding is the fascinating story of the unusual courtship of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the wake of the Second World War. Fans of The Crown will be particularly enchanted by this intimate look at history in the making, and one of the most enduring relationships that the monarchy has ever known.

Philip is a dashing young lieutenant in the British Navy when he catches the eye of a young Elizabeth. When they meet again years later, the young princess is pleased to find that she is just as intrigued by the handsome prince as she once was, and a tentative friendship is formed, encouraged by the urging of Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten. But as the friendship begins to evolve into something more, Elizabeth must temper her own feelings with the duties of the crown, and she wonders if Philip will ever accept marriage as more than an arrangement of convenience.

This is an engaging, thoroughly researched novel that had me utterly charmed and enthralled from the very start. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC.