What do you think?
Rate this book
William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls
More than a decade has passed since princes William and Harry watched in grief as their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest. Then just fifteen and twelve years old, William and Harry have since grown into extraordinary young men. Today they are modern princes poised to shape the Royal Family in their own image, and determined to carry the legacy of their beloved mother, Diana, into the twenty-first century. The royal brothers have been the subjects of intense scrutiny since birth, but until now, no journalist has delved as successfully into their lives as Katie Nicholl. Through her unprecedented network of sources, some of whom have agreed to speak for the very first time, Nicholl provides fascinating insight into the lives of William and Harry, following them from childhood to present day, chronicling the difficult period after their mother's tragic death, their college years, their love lives, their careers as front-line soldiers, and William's struggles with his destiny as the future king. Now, as William gets set to assume a more prominent role in the monarchy, and a royal wedding between he and Kate Middleton seems probable, Nicholl has spoken to a wealth of contacts close to the couple who reveal how their love affair really started at the University of Saint Andrews, the hurdles the pair overcame, and the challenges they still face. She recounts the story of Harry's time at Eton, his relationship with Chelsy Davy, and the three months he spent on the front line in Afghanistan. She analyzes William and Harry's complex relationship with their father, and the woman who will one day become Queen Camilla. A constantly surprising and compulsively readable book, William and Harry sheds an astonishing light on the two most famous brothers in the world.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 3, 2010
53 people are currently reading
777 people want to read
About the author
Katie Nicholl
7 books48 followersNew York Times best selling author, journalist and broadcaster Katie Nicholl has been writing about the British royal family for nearly two decades. She is Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent and co-host of the podcast Dynasty. She is also a regular contributor to The Mail on Sunday as well as other national newspapers and magazines.
As well as her successful print career Katie also reports on the royal family for the BBC and appears regularly on Good Morning Britain, Sky News and GB News. In the United States she appears regularly on Entertainment Tonight (CBS) and NBC’s Today show and she is CBC Canada’s go-to royal expert.
As well as her successful print career Katie also reports on the royal family for the BBC and appears regularly on Good Morning Britain, Sky News and GB News. In the United States she appears regularly on Entertainment Tonight (CBS) and NBC’s Today show and she is CBC Canada’s go-to royal expert.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
May 12, 2013
One of my favourite passages in this book, and one which I read aloud to just about anyone who would listen, dealt with the wedding of Prince Charles to Camilla, and featured a series of headlines on the topic from newspapers around the world. It featured that of the New York Post, which read, "QUEEN TO SKIP CHUCK NUPS." I laughed, out loud.
Well, if this book had a New York Post headline - because, to be honest, most of it feels like a Post article, or like it belongs between glossy pages with tacky photographs - I like to think it would be, not William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls, but "GETTIN' DOWN WITH BILLY AND HANK."
While there are, nevertheless, many fascinating passages (most to do with Harry's military service) and interesting insights into things like William and Catherine's relationship, there is also much that is confusing about the book - in terms of the writing style. It reads like one of those college papers when I ran out of time, haphazardly pieced together stuff I'd kind of made up, and then forgot to proofread so many of the points I made began to meander and stopped making sense. Only I always seem to get an A anyway. Which this book does not.
Well, if this book had a New York Post headline - because, to be honest, most of it feels like a Post article, or like it belongs between glossy pages with tacky photographs - I like to think it would be, not William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls, but "GETTIN' DOWN WITH BILLY AND HANK."
While there are, nevertheless, many fascinating passages (most to do with Harry's military service) and interesting insights into things like William and Catherine's relationship, there is also much that is confusing about the book - in terms of the writing style. It reads like one of those college papers when I ran out of time, haphazardly pieced together stuff I'd kind of made up, and then forgot to proofread so many of the points I made began to meander and stopped making sense. Only I always seem to get an A anyway. Which this book does not.
May 19, 2018
If you are even remotely interested in the royal family, this author is a fantastic biographer that really brings them to life. She takes some liberties but it definitely makes the books more interesting!
January 6, 2018
It was kinda interesting knowing where these young men are now reading about things that influenced them on their journey.
October 14, 2011
I'm not sure why I even picked this book up at the library--- except when I get down in my stack of library books I meander over to the bio section and find one. Usually it's on sports star, actor, or even a politician. This time I grabbed this book even though my interest in the Royal family is pretty low.
The book was a quick read for a bio but what surprised me the very most is almost everything in this book I had read in the headlines of the papers [I rarely read the articles to keep up!!!]. Of course, the author went into more detail and as we all know the Princes were normal hell raising teens. They come across as personable and their antics were fun to read about. Any 'royal watcher' is going to enjoy this book.
The book was a quick read for a bio but what surprised me the very most is almost everything in this book I had read in the headlines of the papers [I rarely read the articles to keep up!!!]. Of course, the author went into more detail and as we all know the Princes were normal hell raising teens. They come across as personable and their antics were fun to read about. Any 'royal watcher' is going to enjoy this book.
April 7, 2012
WHAT. Don't judge. I was on vacation. Also, I borrowed this from the library, so it's not like I spent $ on it.
This selection is right up there with another lapse in judgment I made years ago, when I chose to read Oprah's Unauthorized Biography. Random facts from that still jump in my mind from time to time, as I'm sure this will also.
Whilst reading this in Australia, on the way to an airport, my husband inquired as to my kindle literature selection. He had to drag a confession out of me. When I saw the shocked -- nay, horrified -- look on his face, I said, "SEE, THIS IS WHY I WASN'T GOING TO TELL YOU." But, now that he knows, I don't mind sharing with all y'all.
Sometimes you're just too jet-lagged to handle anything more than royal gossip.
This selection is right up there with another lapse in judgment I made years ago, when I chose to read Oprah's Unauthorized Biography. Random facts from that still jump in my mind from time to time, as I'm sure this will also.
Whilst reading this in Australia, on the way to an airport, my husband inquired as to my kindle literature selection. He had to drag a confession out of me. When I saw the shocked -- nay, horrified -- look on his face, I said, "SEE, THIS IS WHY I WASN'T GOING TO TELL YOU." But, now that he knows, I don't mind sharing with all y'all.
Sometimes you're just too jet-lagged to handle anything more than royal gossip.
June 6, 2016
An insider's look at the unusual lives of two most modern princes. Unfortunately, the older the princes are, the less interesting the book becomes. It begins to read like a soap opera--but then, one might argue such is the nature of these privileged but peculiar lives.
I enjoyed this audiobook.
I enjoyed exploring the palaces, traveling the world, meeting so many people--discovering English boarding schools and military service. I also found royal customs interesting, such as referring to the brothers as the "Wales Boys," and the family as the "Wales Family." Interesting nomenclature to one who used to explain his last name:
"'WALES,' as in 'Prince of...'"
It was a fun read.
I enjoyed this audiobook.
I enjoyed exploring the palaces, traveling the world, meeting so many people--discovering English boarding schools and military service. I also found royal customs interesting, such as referring to the brothers as the "Wales Boys," and the family as the "Wales Family." Interesting nomenclature to one who used to explain his last name:
"'WALES,' as in 'Prince of...'"
It was a fun read.
May 3, 2012
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It was just mindless brain candy about a couple of poor little rich boys. I haven't been keeping up with them over the years, yet most of the stories seemed vaguely familiar. But it was fun.
It probably should not be called "Behind the palace walls" since they rarely seemed to be in a palace. Much of their youth was spent in boarding school, and their adulthood spent partying (although according to this book they do have demanding careers....)
It probably should not be called "Behind the palace walls" since they rarely seemed to be in a palace. Much of their youth was spent in boarding school, and their adulthood spent partying (although according to this book they do have demanding careers....)
June 15, 2014
William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls was cute, but as many others previously commented, it did not provide much new information on The Royals. It's just a quick and enjoyable read that sums up what we all already know. This book is also very dated, since by the final chapter of the book Prince William and Kate Middleton are not even engaged.
May 12, 2016
I am a closet Royalist. I love reading books about the royal family but I don't usually have time to fit them in. I listened to this book on the way up the I-5 to pick Gabe up from UC Merced. It was a bit heavy on speculation but contained a lot of details that were of interest. I got it from the library and it was 6 years old- so a bit dated too.
December 27, 2010
Interesting book, although it felt a little like reading People magazine. I'd love to hear their side of the story.
January 22, 2011
Sort of embarrassed that I read this, but then again I have another to read about the bride-to-be. Overwhelmed by the amount of drinking at such early ages by all the young people.
January 4, 2023
The book covers William and Harry from shortly before their parents marriage shortly before William's engagement. With Harry's upcoming book, the Queen's death, and all the information coming out from Harry and Megan this book is an interesting read. It is interesting to see how the relationship of the brothers and the relationship of William, Harry, and Kate has changed since Megan entered the picture. Chelsey Davey was the girlfriend most frequently written about in this book, and she and Kate were not close but they did have a friendship.
How did this book find me? There was another book I wanted to read by Nicholl and saw this one. I wanted to see how much has changed with Harry's family relationship since his marriage and exit of royal duties.
How did this book find me? There was another book I wanted to read by Nicholl and saw this one. I wanted to see how much has changed with Harry's family relationship since his marriage and exit of royal duties.
January 20, 2011
William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls by Katie Nicholl
Weinstein Books, 2010
308 pages
British Books Challenge
3/5 stars
Source: Library
Summary: An insider's look at Princes William and Harry as written by royal reporter for the Mail on Sunday Katie Nicholl.
I know I'm an American but I've been fascinated with the modern British royals, partly due to my mom's love of Diana and I'm so excited for the royal wedding which incidentally automatically dates this book. When Nicholl's published it, the engagement had not yet been announced although she was fairly confident the wedding would take place in 2011 (side note: cannot wait to see the dress-Catheirne's so tall and pretty that she can wear almost anything).
But as to the book. The beginning was good, providing information on the childhoods of the princes which may be familiar to some but not to me, given that I am a bit younger than they are. In fact, I enjoyed the book up to about the time that they started acting out, partying and drinking all the time. This was mostly because I find that behavior absolutely reprehensible. They are part of the highest rank of privilege and they wasted it with their drunken parties; that was also the part that made me glad to be an American with a republic!
Another part I didn't like was the several chapters describing in detail Harry and William's military service. I have no interest in that and it also raises another point about sources. I recognize that Nicholl wants to protect her sources and that they want anonymity but how truthful are we to believe the sources are. And frequently she writes about how the prince might be feeling which she has no power to do unless they, for some inexplicable reason, talked with her and shared exactly how they felt at the time. Nicholl also inserted herself into several sections, talking about when she reported a story and that took me out of the story.
One little peeve was inconsistency in terms: she used feet and miles for distance but pounds for the money. I would have preferred to see kilometers and pounds or feet/miles and dollars. I think this book was written for an American audience so conversion of the pounds into dollars, even just in parentheses, would have been helpful.
Overall: Some interesting bits-perhaps check out of your library, like I did, and skim for new information.
Cover: I think this might be Buckingham Palace and of course the boys are cute, although I would prefer them smiling. Probably these were the only ones authorized.
Weinstein Books, 2010
308 pages
British Books Challenge
3/5 stars
Source: Library
Summary: An insider's look at Princes William and Harry as written by royal reporter for the Mail on Sunday Katie Nicholl.
I know I'm an American but I've been fascinated with the modern British royals, partly due to my mom's love of Diana and I'm so excited for the royal wedding which incidentally automatically dates this book. When Nicholl's published it, the engagement had not yet been announced although she was fairly confident the wedding would take place in 2011 (side note: cannot wait to see the dress-Catheirne's so tall and pretty that she can wear almost anything).
But as to the book. The beginning was good, providing information on the childhoods of the princes which may be familiar to some but not to me, given that I am a bit younger than they are. In fact, I enjoyed the book up to about the time that they started acting out, partying and drinking all the time. This was mostly because I find that behavior absolutely reprehensible. They are part of the highest rank of privilege and they wasted it with their drunken parties; that was also the part that made me glad to be an American with a republic!
Another part I didn't like was the several chapters describing in detail Harry and William's military service. I have no interest in that and it also raises another point about sources. I recognize that Nicholl wants to protect her sources and that they want anonymity but how truthful are we to believe the sources are. And frequently she writes about how the prince might be feeling which she has no power to do unless they, for some inexplicable reason, talked with her and shared exactly how they felt at the time. Nicholl also inserted herself into several sections, talking about when she reported a story and that took me out of the story.
One little peeve was inconsistency in terms: she used feet and miles for distance but pounds for the money. I would have preferred to see kilometers and pounds or feet/miles and dollars. I think this book was written for an American audience so conversion of the pounds into dollars, even just in parentheses, would have been helpful.
Overall: Some interesting bits-perhaps check out of your library, like I did, and skim for new information.
Cover: I think this might be Buckingham Palace and of course the boys are cute, although I would prefer them smiling. Probably these were the only ones authorized.
February 18, 2011
*WILLIAM & HARRY: BEHIND PALACE WALLS* by Katie Nicholl
"Beginning with the birth of the elder William in 1982, the author covers all the major events of the princes' lives up to the present. She mostly colors in their childhood with the idiosyncrasies of their mother, the late Diana: her quest to deviate from royal tradition, giving birth in a hospital and hiring young nannies, and her eschewing her sovereign kin, preferring to shop, watch soaps and gab on the telephone. The media's chronicling of the unhappiness between Diana and Charles and Diana's tragic demise comprise the drama of the princes' formative years. The ability of classmates to follow their family saga compounded the princes' suffering, especially William's. Though their bodyguards sat at the back of the classroom or on the sidelines of the football field, the princes mostly fit in at school like anyone else. Nicholl describes William as the scholar and Harry as the prankster, but she extols them both as lushly romantic figures, mentioning numerous heiresses who caught their eye, including William and Harry's relationships with long-term girlfriends, Kate Middleton and Chelsy Davy, respectively. Nicholl unearths little about key friendships, and the only mentors she names are father, Prince Charles, and grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Adulthood brings boozing and clubbing amid harsh military training, since both princes joined the armed forces in hopes of reaching the front lines; Harry helped thwart two attacks in Afghanistan. With tabloid relish, Nicholl cuts from military feats to public blunders that incited obloquy: William flying a service jet to visit his girlfriend and Harry donning a Nazi costume at a birthday party. The author finishes on a high note, commending the princes' public service and speculating on when William will propose to Middleton." (Kirkus review)
*** Rate this 3/5. I have always been fascinated by British royalty and enjoyed reading what has transpired with the sons of Diana since her death.
"Beginning with the birth of the elder William in 1982, the author covers all the major events of the princes' lives up to the present. She mostly colors in their childhood with the idiosyncrasies of their mother, the late Diana: her quest to deviate from royal tradition, giving birth in a hospital and hiring young nannies, and her eschewing her sovereign kin, preferring to shop, watch soaps and gab on the telephone. The media's chronicling of the unhappiness between Diana and Charles and Diana's tragic demise comprise the drama of the princes' formative years. The ability of classmates to follow their family saga compounded the princes' suffering, especially William's. Though their bodyguards sat at the back of the classroom or on the sidelines of the football field, the princes mostly fit in at school like anyone else. Nicholl describes William as the scholar and Harry as the prankster, but she extols them both as lushly romantic figures, mentioning numerous heiresses who caught their eye, including William and Harry's relationships with long-term girlfriends, Kate Middleton and Chelsy Davy, respectively. Nicholl unearths little about key friendships, and the only mentors she names are father, Prince Charles, and grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Adulthood brings boozing and clubbing amid harsh military training, since both princes joined the armed forces in hopes of reaching the front lines; Harry helped thwart two attacks in Afghanistan. With tabloid relish, Nicholl cuts from military feats to public blunders that incited obloquy: William flying a service jet to visit his girlfriend and Harry donning a Nazi costume at a birthday party. The author finishes on a high note, commending the princes' public service and speculating on when William will propose to Middleton." (Kirkus review)
*** Rate this 3/5. I have always been fascinated by British royalty and enjoyed reading what has transpired with the sons of Diana since her death.
January 3, 2011
Okay!! I confess. I am a royal watcher and I've read the newspaper articles and the magazine articles about the "royals" with great interest over the years. I wasn't impressed with this author at first as what she shared about the William and Harry, as toddlers, I had read, years ago.And there are no pictures in this book that I haven't seen before.. However,as I got into the book,and the boys moved into their teens,and then their 20's, the information shared by the author increased and I learned more about what went on behind the newspaper and magazine headlines and articles. William, the heir, and Harry, the spare, are as "normal" as money can buy.They have a strong, supportive family who love them very much. They are maturing into responsible adults with careers and love lives. The future of the monarchy lies in their hands.I was surprised to learn that the Queen is very close to her grandsons and counsels them on many occasions. But.... Queen Elizabeth can't last forever and Charles and Camilla are boring, old news. An interesting question is posed too: What if Camilla had waited for Charles as Kate has waited for William? It is hinted at in this book that Kate is William's Camilla.
This book was published just as William and Kate set a wedding date for April 2011. They, and their heirs, are the future of the monarchy..
But what about Harry? Harry and William are very close and are each others best friends. Harry is William's most trusted confident. Harry has indicated a willingness to be more than "just the spare". Yes, William will one day be king, but Harry will be right there beside him, helping to share the load. Diana's sons are "the House of Windsor's most valuable and powerful assets".
A good read, (3 of 5 stars) but only if you are a royal watcher like I am!
This book was published just as William and Kate set a wedding date for April 2011. They, and their heirs, are the future of the monarchy..
But what about Harry? Harry and William are very close and are each others best friends. Harry is William's most trusted confident. Harry has indicated a willingness to be more than "just the spare". Yes, William will one day be king, but Harry will be right there beside him, helping to share the load. Diana's sons are "the House of Windsor's most valuable and powerful assets".
A good read, (3 of 5 stars) but only if you are a royal watcher like I am!
February 23, 2013
William and Harry is a fascinating insight into the lives and loves of two extraordinary young men who have captured not only the hearts and minds of not only the British public, but those the world over. This is the definitive book about the princes, bringing their story right up to date. It is the tale of two brothers who have carried the legacy of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, into the twenty-first century and on whom the future of the House of Windsor largely depends.
Drawing on her unique set of contacts Katie Nicholl recounts the royal brothers' extraordinary lives and reveals William and Harry's real characters as they become front-line soldiers and modern princes. Through her network of sources, some of which have agreed to speak for the very first time, Katie tells the story of one of Prince William's earliest romances, and his struggle with his destiny as a future King of England.
As a royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton seems more probable, Katie has spoken to a wealth of contacts close to the couple who reveal how their love affair really started at St Andrews, the hurdles the pair overcame and the challenges they still face. She recounts the story of Harry's time at Eton, his relationship with Chelsy Davy, and his three months he spent on the front line in Afghanistan. She analyses William and Harry's complex relationship with their father, and the woman who will one day become Queen Camilla. She talks to their friends, contemporaries and confidants to paint a unique and revealing portrait of the two most famous brothers in the world.
Drawing on her unique set of contacts Katie Nicholl recounts the royal brothers' extraordinary lives and reveals William and Harry's real characters as they become front-line soldiers and modern princes. Through her network of sources, some of which have agreed to speak for the very first time, Katie tells the story of one of Prince William's earliest romances, and his struggle with his destiny as a future King of England.
As a royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton seems more probable, Katie has spoken to a wealth of contacts close to the couple who reveal how their love affair really started at St Andrews, the hurdles the pair overcame and the challenges they still face. She recounts the story of Harry's time at Eton, his relationship with Chelsy Davy, and his three months he spent on the front line in Afghanistan. She analyses William and Harry's complex relationship with their father, and the woman who will one day become Queen Camilla. She talks to their friends, contemporaries and confidants to paint a unique and revealing portrait of the two most famous brothers in the world.
July 15, 2014
The only reason I read this book was the fact that while my boyfriend was using my Kindle, he accidentally bought this book. And when I found out, it was too late to cancel the order. So, what I did was to make him pay for it. I didn't want this book.
Anyway, my review. Right.
Almost everyone in Britain know about the Daily Mailand how unreal it is. Katie Nicholl, in case you're not aware of it, is one of the royal reporters. BUT she's not like any royal reporter — she's the only royal reporter (Don't feel too safe, Richard Kay) who's very pro-William, Harry and Kate that she's never written a negative story about them.
So what am I to say about this book when I don't trust the one who wrote it? If you read my review of The Making of a Royal Romance William Harry and Kate MiddletonThe Future Queen then perhaps you'd understand just a little bit more.
Anyway, my review. Right.
Almost everyone in Britain know about the Daily Mail
So what am I to say about this book when I don't trust the one who wrote it? If you read my review of The Making of a Royal Romance William Harry and Kate MiddletonThe Future Queen then perhaps you'd understand just a little bit more.
August 26, 2011
It's true, I'm a royal watcher. No, a royal obsessor would be more like it! In getting ready for April 29, 2011, I read everything royal I could get my hands on. And I mean everything. I may have even picked up a Star Magazine to read about Kate's secret love child. (oh, the shame! LOL!) Anyway, this book told the exact same stories and gossip as all of the others of the genre. The drinking, the girls, the rumors about Harry and Charles relationship and will Her Royal Majesty Elizabeth II skip over Charles in the line of succession in favor of my lovely William? (Highly doubtful) What I loved about this book were the stories of how much the brothers are together for each other now and how much they were together for each other (and how much Charles was there for them) after the death of their mother Diana. They were at pretty critical ages in life and combining that with their lives of privilege, things could have gone much different for the boys.
January 27, 2011
Yes, I am one of those tasteless people who read the magazines at the grocery store checkout lines whenever the royals appear on the cover. This book is a good compilation of all those articles, all in one place - mmmm good. I came out feeling both envious of the two boys and terribly sorry for their lack of privacy. The book makes it pretty clear that William is playing a delaying game for as long as possible before being completely sucked into the "job" of being a royal with all the daily assignments he will have to take on. College deferred things, the military service he is now doing to pay back for all the training deferred things. While he will clearly do his duty he will lose much of the freedom he is still able to enjoy for the next couple of years. I don't think many people would want to change places with him.
January 23, 2012
Very informative and enjoyable book about Princes William and Harry of Great Britain. The author seemed to know what she was writing about; it was a serious look at their lives, not a tabloid scandal sheet version of missteps and embarrassments. I especially liked hearing how close they are to their father and how loving and supportive of them he really is. The public doesn't generally see the softer side of Prince Charles and I'm glad to know that the princes were always told and shown love from their father as well as from their mother. I came away very impressed with both young men; I think they will continue to do well in representing their parents and their country. It was a pleasure to read this book and find out a bit more of who they really are. I believe Princess Diana would be very proud of who her boys have grown up to be.
August 9, 2013
This is was my kindle choice for a recent trip. It was exactly the type of fluff I was seeking for a 10+ hour plane trip. For years I've been fascinated by British royality. How a family that in any other setting would be very ordinary people, just by an accident of birth are the most recognized royal family ever. I've read about all of them going back to Queen Victoria.
Unfortunately, this book was published before William married Kate Middleton. Had it been updated, it would have probably been more interesting, especially now that Harry is no longer "the spare" with the birth of William's son, Prince George. The royal family tree has again expanded.
Maybe my interest in (relatively) modern British royality could be considered a hobby of sorts?
Unfortunately, this book was published before William married Kate Middleton. Had it been updated, it would have probably been more interesting, especially now that Harry is no longer "the spare" with the birth of William's son, Prince George. The royal family tree has again expanded.
Maybe my interest in (relatively) modern British royality could be considered a hobby of sorts?
September 15, 2011
Had to go back over this after starting The Making of a Royal Romance by Katie Nicholl, not realizing they were essentially the same book, just revised and expanded (new photographs?). I haven't noticed any other significant revisions. A clear, even-handed portrait of what it is like for young royals trying to live a normal life. I really like both William and Harry Wales and their girlfriends Kate and Chelsea. V. amusing descriptions of the Glossy Posse's nightclub antics and drinking preferences, including a drink called "Crack Baby" - vodka, passion fruit juice and champagne served in a test tube. I'm a part-time royal watcher and kept with the new book for entertainment value.
Read
July 25, 2014I love reading backstories of the royal family. Royalty seems so ancient to me because of where I live, but monarchies are still alive and well--although somewhat removed from politics except symbolically. Anyway, I enjoyed learning about the Princes of England--their childhood, teenage years, university, and time in the military.
March 16, 2022
When I picked up this book, I admit to being somewhat intrigued and curious about what could possibly be in this book. The first part of the title is fitting in my opinion: 'William and Harry.' However, the second part of the title, after reading it in its entirety, leaves me confused. This book is mostly about their lives outside of the palace walls, with a few inclusions fitting to the title. The worst thing I can say about the title is that is odd, what with what I said about it in the previous sentence.
The book, naturally, starts out with Charles, the Prince of Wales, being married to Lady Diana, as well as the birth of Prince William. Since this book was mostly about William and Harry, Lady Diana's presence in this book is, pretty much, brief. As I said in one of my updates, it's hard to say if I feel that Nicholl was trying to be fair to Diana, or to condemn her. Before and after one gets to the part where there was growing unhappiness in the 'Fairy Tale' marriage between the Prince of Wales, and the then-Princess of Wales, the author seems (in my opinion) to paint Lady Diana in a potentially bad light. To suggest she was without sin is preposterous, but to write about her in the way the writer did was possibly insulting to her memory. Between what I said about this book's title, and how Lady Diana was written about, my rating for this book loses one star.
The current Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, seems to be the number one focus of this book. Prince Harry does have numerous chapters devoted to him, but I couldn't happen to notice that this book seemed to lean more towards the elder of the two. Whether this book is filled with inaccuracies or not, a truth is that you cannot believe everything you read; it's hard to tell if everything is factual unless I would go through the books' bibliography and check every source.
I will say, however, that it was at least interesting to read a story in a mostly chronological timeline about the currently-second in line to the British Throne. Hearing about the schooling of a Royal family member and comparing it to my 'public schooling' was a bit fascinating, to say the least. 'Public schooling,' as it is called in the states, is completely different from the schools that the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry attended. I, for one, never had to wear a uniform; all of my classmates in each of my schools were allowed to wear everyday clothes. While there are rules to a 'public school,' there are clearly stricter ones in private ones.
Reading about Prince Harry's involvement (again, IF it's completely factual) in the Afghanistan war was very interesting to read about, indeed. Being from the states, we heard loads about the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, but I have to admit that I have never heard of Kandahar until picking up this book. Added bonus: educational as far as geography.
Reading about scandals within the Royal Family was fine, but I personally didn't feel that some of them were THAT big of a deal, to be honest. Sometimes, I feel, that when something is something one can laugh off, it shouldn't become a controversy. In some respects, I felt that, as a reader, I was being invasive. Honestly, some things SHOULD remain private. Yet, I still read this book to the very end, some could say. As stated at the beginning of this review, I was both intrigued and curious. Much the same could be said about two of the other books in my to-read folder about the Royal Family.
The debate on whether the Prince of Wales should be King was also mentioned in this book. I am not (somewhat unfortunately) a citizen of the United Kingdom, so my opinion probably doesn't really holds much merit. Suffice it to say that from my American point of view, I think Prince Charles should be king before Prince William, but the latter should definitely be King one day. Despite taking a star away from my review, the author did say that Lady Diana's sons do embody a lot of the qualities and heart of their mother.
As far as the potential rebellion from Harry, I would argue that every teenager is rebellious in some way, shape, or form. When you also factor in what their first formal Royal engagement was, it's completely understandable, even though it doesn't change the definition between right and wrong. I can only imagine the pain and struggle of losing ones mother; mine is still alive and well. Again, it's only understandable that there would be some difficulties for those two after that sad week in 1997.
Another note I would make is how many people that ended up in this book that have the same name. There are three Camilla's, two or three Charles', a couple William and Harry's, and more. The most unusual, and admittedly eyebrow-raising name, was Santa. Apparently, one of Prince Charles' dear friend's decided to name their daughter Santa. I really question why.
I'm not sure if this is a particular book that the Princes liked having published, but in the end, I would say that despite my two negative notes, it was well-written, and very interesting.
4 out of 5 stars.
------------------------------------------------
My review for another version of this book that I did not completely finish; "The Making of a Royal Romance." I gave this edition 1 star.
I read the new chapters of this other addition on March 30th, 2017.
When I saw this book online, I made the mistake (like apparently several others) of thinking that this was an entirely different book from 'William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls.' The idea that it was even linked to it didn't even enter my mind. Its title, 'The Making of a Royal Romance,' lead me to believe that this was going to be 342 pages of, literally, the making of a Royal romance. There's another cover for this updated version of 'Behind the Palace Walls,' and it has a longer title: 'The Making of a Royal Romance: William, Kate, and Harry -- A Look Behind the Palace walls.'
Once I realized this was an updated version of a book I'd already read, I did not re-read all of it. It took some doing to figure out what was different, and I only read the differences. The biggest difference that I noticed was that the end of chapter eighteen had been edited; the author's original speculation about when the engagement would be announced had been removed. It also has two additional chapters, hence it being an updated edition.
I won't talk like others have by alleging when the engagement had been announced a mere week after she'd released the original that the author wished to 'cash in' on it. Personally, though, had I been the author of this book, and its original, I would have chosen to write another book. Between the two versions of this book, I prefer this one's predecessor. Knowing what was between chapters one and eighteen, the new ending to chapter eighteen and the two new chapters make this version appear a bit odd to me. A book born from the idea of writing about mainly two people, and then re-releasing it so it's about three people, actually shifts its purpose and makes it moreso about one than the other; this re-released version with a different title makes this book lean to be more about the future King of England, and as a whole is completely odd.
It took me a second to get that last thought worded correctly.
Did I enjoy the new ending to chapter eighteen and the two new chapters? Yes, but I honestly prefer its original version. This one gets three stars even though I gave its predecessor four because of what i said at the end of the previous paragraph.
My notes:
Edit (4-18-18)(Other edition): After some consideration, I've decided that the re-release of this to include Kate, thereby changing the ending, not only makes this entire new version make no sense as a whole, but also warrants a 1 star rating.
Edit (7-30-2020)(Other edition): I've actually decided to put this onto my created-shelf called "never finished" because of not actually reading it cover to cover.
March 25th, 2017:
Pg 19, 5.79%: "Definitely well written so far. I can say that much."
Pg 63, 19.21%: "I'm not sure if the author was intending to be fair about Lady Diana or if she was intending to paint a negative picture."
March 26, 2017:
Pg 147, 44.82%: "With mention of Diana out of the way, this book is interesting. I find myself wondering if this particular book was later selected as one of the references for the movie "William and Kate: A Royal Romance" starring Dan Boyer and Alice St. Clair."
Edit 3-16-22 (Other Edition): Merged the two book reviews together.
The book, naturally, starts out with Charles, the Prince of Wales, being married to Lady Diana, as well as the birth of Prince William. Since this book was mostly about William and Harry, Lady Diana's presence in this book is, pretty much, brief. As I said in one of my updates, it's hard to say if I feel that Nicholl was trying to be fair to Diana, or to condemn her. Before and after one gets to the part where there was growing unhappiness in the 'Fairy Tale' marriage between the Prince of Wales, and the then-Princess of Wales, the author seems (in my opinion) to paint Lady Diana in a potentially bad light. To suggest she was without sin is preposterous, but to write about her in the way the writer did was possibly insulting to her memory. Between what I said about this book's title, and how Lady Diana was written about, my rating for this book loses one star.
The current Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, seems to be the number one focus of this book. Prince Harry does have numerous chapters devoted to him, but I couldn't happen to notice that this book seemed to lean more towards the elder of the two. Whether this book is filled with inaccuracies or not, a truth is that you cannot believe everything you read; it's hard to tell if everything is factual unless I would go through the books' bibliography and check every source.
I will say, however, that it was at least interesting to read a story in a mostly chronological timeline about the currently-second in line to the British Throne. Hearing about the schooling of a Royal family member and comparing it to my 'public schooling' was a bit fascinating, to say the least. 'Public schooling,' as it is called in the states, is completely different from the schools that the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry attended. I, for one, never had to wear a uniform; all of my classmates in each of my schools were allowed to wear everyday clothes. While there are rules to a 'public school,' there are clearly stricter ones in private ones.
Reading about Prince Harry's involvement (again, IF it's completely factual) in the Afghanistan war was very interesting to read about, indeed. Being from the states, we heard loads about the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, but I have to admit that I have never heard of Kandahar until picking up this book. Added bonus: educational as far as geography.
Reading about scandals within the Royal Family was fine, but I personally didn't feel that some of them were THAT big of a deal, to be honest. Sometimes, I feel, that when something is something one can laugh off, it shouldn't become a controversy. In some respects, I felt that, as a reader, I was being invasive. Honestly, some things SHOULD remain private. Yet, I still read this book to the very end, some could say. As stated at the beginning of this review, I was both intrigued and curious. Much the same could be said about two of the other books in my to-read folder about the Royal Family.
The debate on whether the Prince of Wales should be King was also mentioned in this book. I am not (somewhat unfortunately) a citizen of the United Kingdom, so my opinion probably doesn't really holds much merit. Suffice it to say that from my American point of view, I think Prince Charles should be king before Prince William, but the latter should definitely be King one day. Despite taking a star away from my review, the author did say that Lady Diana's sons do embody a lot of the qualities and heart of their mother.
As far as the potential rebellion from Harry, I would argue that every teenager is rebellious in some way, shape, or form. When you also factor in what their first formal Royal engagement was, it's completely understandable, even though it doesn't change the definition between right and wrong. I can only imagine the pain and struggle of losing ones mother; mine is still alive and well. Again, it's only understandable that there would be some difficulties for those two after that sad week in 1997.
Another note I would make is how many people that ended up in this book that have the same name. There are three Camilla's, two or three Charles', a couple William and Harry's, and more. The most unusual, and admittedly eyebrow-raising name, was Santa. Apparently, one of Prince Charles' dear friend's decided to name their daughter Santa. I really question why.
I'm not sure if this is a particular book that the Princes liked having published, but in the end, I would say that despite my two negative notes, it was well-written, and very interesting.
4 out of 5 stars.
------------------------------------------------
My review for another version of this book that I did not completely finish; "The Making of a Royal Romance." I gave this edition 1 star.
I read the new chapters of this other addition on March 30th, 2017.
When I saw this book online, I made the mistake (like apparently several others) of thinking that this was an entirely different book from 'William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls.' The idea that it was even linked to it didn't even enter my mind. Its title, 'The Making of a Royal Romance,' lead me to believe that this was going to be 342 pages of, literally, the making of a Royal romance. There's another cover for this updated version of 'Behind the Palace Walls,' and it has a longer title: 'The Making of a Royal Romance: William, Kate, and Harry -- A Look Behind the Palace walls.'
Once I realized this was an updated version of a book I'd already read, I did not re-read all of it. It took some doing to figure out what was different, and I only read the differences. The biggest difference that I noticed was that the end of chapter eighteen had been edited; the author's original speculation about when the engagement would be announced had been removed. It also has two additional chapters, hence it being an updated edition.
I won't talk like others have by alleging when the engagement had been announced a mere week after she'd released the original that the author wished to 'cash in' on it. Personally, though, had I been the author of this book, and its original, I would have chosen to write another book. Between the two versions of this book, I prefer this one's predecessor. Knowing what was between chapters one and eighteen, the new ending to chapter eighteen and the two new chapters make this version appear a bit odd to me. A book born from the idea of writing about mainly two people, and then re-releasing it so it's about three people, actually shifts its purpose and makes it moreso about one than the other; this re-released version with a different title makes this book lean to be more about the future King of England, and as a whole is completely odd.
It took me a second to get that last thought worded correctly.
Did I enjoy the new ending to chapter eighteen and the two new chapters? Yes, but I honestly prefer its original version. This one gets three stars even though I gave its predecessor four because of what i said at the end of the previous paragraph.
My notes:
Edit (4-18-18)(Other edition): After some consideration, I've decided that the re-release of this to include Kate, thereby changing the ending, not only makes this entire new version make no sense as a whole, but also warrants a 1 star rating.
Edit (7-30-2020)(Other edition): I've actually decided to put this onto my created-shelf called "never finished" because of not actually reading it cover to cover.
March 25th, 2017:
Pg 19, 5.79%: "Definitely well written so far. I can say that much."
Pg 63, 19.21%: "I'm not sure if the author was intending to be fair about Lady Diana or if she was intending to paint a negative picture."
March 26, 2017:
Pg 147, 44.82%: "With mention of Diana out of the way, this book is interesting. I find myself wondering if this particular book was later selected as one of the references for the movie "William and Kate: A Royal Romance" starring Dan Boyer and Alice St. Clair."
Edit 3-16-22 (Other Edition): Merged the two book reviews together.
February 16, 2024
This dual biography reads as if Nichole collected and compiled all of her reporting on the princes and the royal family. It does not appear that she spoke directly to either prince, but quoted some of their statements. She did interview some of their friends, but since this book was published in 2010, and SOOOO much has happened since in the lives of both princes—not to mention the publication of Prince Harry’s Spare (very interesting), this book seems out of date and rather superficial. Though we get more information on their military careers and a small peek into the lives of wealthy, aristocratic young adults cavorting in London—wow, THAT would make a book—the book is not nearly as penetrating as Prince Harry’s memoir.
But Nichole does confirm that Prince Harry was the more sensitive, troubled, and “in trouble” Prince while William was steadier, stayed with one girlfriend for the most part. Harry goes through several women, as he discusses in his book, but his memoir displays his sadness and frustration at trying to find a girlfriend who could withstand the media attention that comes with dating a royal.
While one reviewer thought the lives of the princes got less interesting as they got older, I disagree, but perhaps that is because I had Spare in the back of my mind. So if you want a good book about their lives, Spare is the better choice.
But Nichole does confirm that Prince Harry was the more sensitive, troubled, and “in trouble” Prince while William was steadier, stayed with one girlfriend for the most part. Harry goes through several women, as he discusses in his book, but his memoir displays his sadness and frustration at trying to find a girlfriend who could withstand the media attention that comes with dating a royal.
While one reviewer thought the lives of the princes got less interesting as they got older, I disagree, but perhaps that is because I had Spare in the back of my mind. So if you want a good book about their lives, Spare is the better choice.
May 26, 2021
Before I picked this up I only knew a bit about Diana's time with the Royal Family and the major headlines since William and Kate's wedding in 2011. So, I thought it was time to fill in the blanks of William and Harry's life between their Mother's tragic death in 1997 and the engagement announcement in 2010. This book was the perfect choice for that as it focuses on the Prince's lives as they become young men and while there are clear liberties by the author I feel like I can understand how William and Harry got to where they are now.
Unfortunately, the writing felt informal and very personal. Parts of it borders on fictional writing as the author paints a vivid picture of initiate family moments. While I am okay with this when I’m watching The Crown, because I’m aware it’s a TV show, I feel a biography shouldn’t inflate facts as much as this did. So, the style chosen just didn't sit well with me and felt very gossip magazine. While it was interesting to read I don't think I'll be picking up this author's other books on the Royal Family.
Unfortunately, the writing felt informal and very personal. Parts of it borders on fictional writing as the author paints a vivid picture of initiate family moments. While I am okay with this when I’m watching The Crown, because I’m aware it’s a TV show, I feel a biography shouldn’t inflate facts as much as this did. So, the style chosen just didn't sit well with me and felt very gossip magazine. While it was interesting to read I don't think I'll be picking up this author's other books on the Royal Family.
October 21, 2021
Although Nicholls didn't follow a strict chronology, she did paint an interesting portrait of the young and adult princes, including a lot of the media flack they've received for their activities and choices. An interesting book that didn't pass judgement, and gave an in-depth view of their lifestyles and especially their military. Overall, it was a fairly sympathetic portrait of the princes, but included the criticism they've faced.
The only thing that took me out the book was when Nicholls inserted herself into the story by documenting when she personally broke a story in her column. The first person insertion was jarring and interrupted the flow of the book for no other good reason other than Nicholls patting herself on the back for getting the scoop.
The only thing that took me out the book was when Nicholls inserted herself into the story by documenting when she personally broke a story in her column. The first person insertion was jarring and interrupted the flow of the book for no other good reason other than Nicholls patting herself on the back for getting the scoop.
July 14, 2019
This book was published one week before William and Kate announced their engagement to the world. It’s entertaining because of the stories of their dating life & the on-again-off-again relationship. You don’t read many of those details anymore.
Harry’s section focuses on his relationship with his now-ex Chelsea. All of the speculation of their possible nuptials is unnecessary, turns out, but it’s not like the author would know that.
Reads like a long blog post or biographical feature article. I read it because it was on my shelf. Most of the information is outdated or can be found online, but it was fun to look at old pictures.
Harry’s section focuses on his relationship with his now-ex Chelsea. All of the speculation of their possible nuptials is unnecessary, turns out, but it’s not like the author would know that.
Reads like a long blog post or biographical feature article. I read it because it was on my shelf. Most of the information is outdated or can be found online, but it was fun to look at old pictures.
July 24, 2021
I had read this book out of curiosity. I like learning about the lives of William and Harry after their mom passed away. I thought the book was good but felt like I was reading a tabloid magazine at times. It was okay but not a favorite.
March 5, 2017
perfect reading for getting caught up on the British family before our trip to England!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews