Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne

Written by Christopher Andersen

Narrated by Simon Prebble

A moving and compulsively readable look into the lives, loves, relationships, and rivalries among the three women at the heart of the British royal family today: Queen Elizabeth II, Camilla Parker-Bowles, and Kate Middleton—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Good Son, These Few Precious Days, and The Day Diana Died.

One has been famous longer than anyone on the planet—a dutiful daughter, a frustrated mother, a doting grandmother, a steel-willed taskmaster, a wily stateswoman, an enduring symbol of an institution that has lasted a thousand years, and a global icon who has not only been an eyewitness to history but a part of it.

One is the great-granddaughter of a King’s mistress and one of the most famous “other women” of the modern age—a woman who somehow survived a firestorm of scorn to ultimately marry the love of her life, and in the process replace her arch rival, one of the most beloved figures of the twentieth century.

One is a beautiful commoner, the university-educated daughter of a flight attendant-turned-millionaire entrepreneur, a fashion scion the equal of her adored mother-in-law, and the first woman since King George V’s wife, Queen Mary, to lay claim to being the daughter-in-law of one future king, the wife another, and the mother of yet another.

Game of Crowns is an in-depth and exquisitely researched exploration of the lives of these three remarkable women and the striking and sometimes subtle ways in which their lives intersect and intertwine. Examining their surprising similarities and stark differences, Andersen travels beyond the royal palace walls to illustrate who these three women really are today—and how they will directly reshape the landscape of the monarchy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781508223313

Christopher Andersen

Christopher Andersen is the critically acclaimed author of eighteen New York Times bestsellers which have been translated into more than twenty-five languages worldwide. Two of his books—The Day Diana Died and The Day John Died (about JFK Jr.)—reached #1. A former contributing editor of Time and longtime senior editor of People, Andersen has also written hundreds of articles for a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, Life, and Vanity Fair. Andersen has appeared frequently on such programs as Today, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, CBS This Morning, 20/20, Anderson Cooper 360, Dateline NBC, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, 48 Hours, and more.

Reviews for Game of Crowns

[Diane Johnson Plevelich · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eye opening at times but not surprising at others. What I’ve gained out if this would be King Charles, as he has become, is unsuitable to reign as Monarch. And more unsuitable to be Queen consort is Camilla. At the heart of it these two people lie and manipulate those around them. No one changes without great help from therapists so it is doubtful these two conniving cheating and most selfish people should land themselves on Englands throne. If Charles doesn’t take down the ship it will be a miracle. What a shame that he is to follow Englands most successful and cherished Monarch in history with the possibility of the new Prince and Princess of Wales so close to continuing on the future of the Monarchy. I’m convinced that it is time to abolish the system rather than wait for the current King to take it down himself.
Very good listen.

[Tony Washington · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely wonderful book. A great unbiased look into the Royal family. Such an inspiring, eye opening account on the Royal family.

[lycomayflower · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anderson explores the personalities of the three woman (plus Diana) most connected to the throne in Britain today and identifies what he thinks drives each of them. This is a lot of material any one who follows the Royal Family at all prooobably already knows and is presented in a dishy way rather than a scholarly one. I was sometimes pretty unclear about how Anderson knew what he seemed to know, but that was more because of his presentation style (not always making his sources clear) rather than any real suspicion that he was making anything up. It was an entertaining read, and probably a decent introduction to these women. If you are looking for a really great biography of a member of the Royal Family, I cannot recommend highly enough [[Sally Bedell Smith]]'s [Elizabeth the Queen]. It's very readable and paints a much fuller (and at least apparently better researched) portrait of Elizabeth II than Anderson can here.

[susannelson_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I found this book to be written on a National Enquirer level. It was full of gossip, unnamed "sources" and out and out mistakes. For example, in talking about Diana's alleged suicide attempt while pregnant with William,the author claims she was Charles' wife of two years when in fact their first anniversary came a month after William was born. Similarly,on page 42 he claims a napkin used in serving the Queen's breakfast is mongrammed EIIR which according to him is Elizabeth II Regent when in fact it is Elizabeth II Regina (Regent means an adult serving as monarch for an underage heir, while Regina means Queen.) These were just two of the many little "slips" he made throughout the book and I felt it indicated a lack of careful reading and/or research into his facts. The first chapter I also found to be bizaare I found it hard to finish.

[gingermama-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fast, gossipy read. While some of it feels like pure conjecture (i.e., the first chapter about what might happen when Queen Elizabeth dies, right down to personal conversations), the rest trips along like a 300-page behind-the-scenes look at the politics and rivalries among the current crop of British royals. The perfect book for a lazy summer afternoon.