The Other Windsor Girl

A Novel of Princess Margaret, Royal Rebel

By: Georgie Blalock

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

If you love The Crown, then this is the audiobook for you!

Diana, Catherine, Meghan...glamorous Princess Margaret outdid them all. Springing into post-World War II society, and quite naughty and haughty, she lived in a whirlwind of fame and notoriety. Georgie Blalock captures the fascinating, fast-living princess and her “set” as seen through the eyes of one of her ladies-in-waiting.

In dreary, post-war Britain, Princess Margaret captivates everyone with her cutting edge fashion sense and biting quips. The royal socialite, cigarette holder in one hand, cocktail in the other, sparkles in the company of her glittering entourage of wealthy young aristocrats known as the Margaret Set, but her outrageous lifestyle conflicts with her place as Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister. Can she be a dutiful princess while still dazzling the world on her own terms?

Post-war Britain isn’t glamorous for The Honorable Vera Strathmore. While writing scandalous novels, she dreams of living and working in New York, and regaining the happiness she enjoyed before her fiancé was killed in the war. A chance meeting with the princess changes her life forever. Vera amuses the princess, and what - or who - Margaret wants, Margaret gets. Soon, Vera gains Margaret’s confidence and the privileged position of second lady-in-waiting to the princess. Thrust into the center of Margaret’s social and royal life, Vera watches the princess’ love affair with dashing Captain Peter Townsend unfurl.

But while Margaret, as a member of the Royal Family, is not free to act on her desires, Vera soon wants the freedom to pursue her own dreams. As time and Princess Margaret’s scandalous behavior progress, both women will be forced to choose between status, duty, and love....

©2019 Georgie Blalock (P)2019 HarperAudio

Thoroughly Enjoyed!

A surprising find! Very enjoyable story, and the narrator was wonderful! A highly recommended read.

A very well written book

I might have given this book a higher rating if I didn't dislike princess Margaret so much! I'm actually not without compassion for her because if one was in her position you would certainly feel like you got shafted. But she was, after all, a poor little rich girl, and I always want this kind of person to grow up and have to live in the real world. Anyway, I do think the author did a good job with the story. It seems accurate according to everything else I've read or seen about princess Margaret, so I assume it must be somewhat accurate anyway. I don't know if Vera actually existed, but it doesn't matter if she was fictionalized. I liked her character, and I do recommend the book.

Nothing new that we didn’t know already

It was nicely narrated but apart from a few personal bits about Vera - everything else is in the history books.

Didn’t want it to end nerration was perfect

Great story. I’m always fascinated with the Monarchy and this didn’t disappoint. Princess Margaret is someone you want to hate if she wasn’t so pitiful. Highly recommend

Margaret's Story from an Interesting Point of View

The Other Windsor Girl is a fictionalized account of Princess Margaret's life from the perspective of one of her ladies in waiting. If you've watched The Crowne, you already know the major plot points in the book. Princess Margaret certainly suffered from wanting the spotlight and living in her sister's shadow. Even though she wishes she had been the older sister who got the crown, she also wishes her uncle never abdicated so that she could follow her heart instead of the edicts of the queen's advisors.

Most interesting in this book is the story of Vera (second lady in waiting). Vera understands Margaret's plight because she too lives in the shadow of a well-regarded older sibling. Vera has been just as unlucky in love, however, Vera has chosen more suitable men. Both of these characters made me want to pull my hair out at times. Their choices at times seemed like self-sabotage.

The author nicely wraps up the story in the end by fast forwarding a few decades and tying up loose ends. The audiobook is brilliantly narrated by Ann Marie Gideon.

Really enjoyed it

“Fan fiction” for those of us who are fascinated by the Crown and the royals.

Just ok

I would have liked the story to be more about Princess Margaret. There were a few facts and a lot of assumptions made about the princess.

I think in this case I wanted a little more historical and a little less fiction.

Finally a book to end my 2022 dry spell

The Other Windsor girl managed to keep my attention the whole way through, which is saying something when you consider the mess that is *gestures wildly* the world. I've read a few books this year so far, and I've struggled through them. Not so with this book. The narration is strong, and I felt real-life emotions listening to the saga. Bravo.

Poignant story...

This was a lighter historical novel even so I really liked it. I have definitely always thought that Margaret was always in an untenable situation and societal rules of the time made things even worse. She may have had a life of privilege but I doubt that is brought her much joy. The narration was excellent.

Based on Truth

Although this is a fictitious account, it is based on many known facts and facets about Princess Margaret’s adult lifestyle. Taken from the point of view of a Lady in Waiting it is quite believable