Courtiers

Intrigue, Ambition, and the Power Players Behind the House of Windsor

De: Valentine Low

Narrado por: Valentine Low

This program is read by the author.

The gripping account of how the Royal family really operates, from the journalist who has spent years studying them. Who really runs the show and, as Charles III begins his reign, what will happen next?

Throughout history, the British monarchy has relied on its courtiers—the trusted advisers in the King or Queen's inner circle—to ensure its survival as a family and a pillar of the country. Today, as ever, a carefully selected team of people hidden from view steers the royal family's path between public duty and private life. Queen Elizabeth II, after a remarkable 70 years of service, saw the final seasons of her reign without her husband Philip to guide her. Now, a newly ascended Charles seeks to define what his future as King, and that of his court, will be.

The question of who is entrusted to guide the royals has never been more vital. Yet, as the tensions within the family are exposed to global scrutiny like never before, the task these courtiers face has never been more challenging. With a dark cloud hanging over Prince Andrew as well as Harry and Meghan's controversial departure from royal life, William and Kate—equipped with a very 21st century approach to press and public relations—now hold the responsibility of making an ancient institution relevant for the decades to come. In fascinating and explosive detail, Valentine Low explores the previously unknown relationship between modern courtiers and the royal family.

Courtiers pulls back the veil to reveal an ever-changing system of complex characters, shifting alliances, and a battle of ideas over what the future of the institution should be. This is the inside story of how the monarchy really works, at a pivotal moment in its history.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2023 Valentine Low (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"The royal correspondent of The Times delves into the world of the courtier, the advisers who for good or ill guide the House of Windsor through today's choppy waters."—The Times (UK)

Informative and interesting

Enjoyed the book helps explain many of the inner workings of the family and the history of the relationships

Best explanation of the Sussex exit.

Very well written & equally sourced. Once you understand the history or the Private Secretary you can understand the system on the whole.
Having insight directly from the staff that worked for Harry & Megan cleared up a lot of misconceptions. I think the public seems even now to misunderstand who Meghan is & more importantly, how she works.
There’s one final point I think everyone should ask, men seem to miss this when writing about The Duchess of Sussex, What pregnant woman goes to Human Resources to discuss her suicidal feelings before she calls her OBGYN??? The first call is always the OBGYN. Enough said!

Excellent and so insightful

Fascinating behind the scenes look into how the palace works. Also blew me away with even more horror stories about Harry and Meghan. Having been the victim of two verbally and emotionally abusive bosses, I feel for those palace employees who endured the same at the hands of the former Royals. Great book and great narration !

Very Informative

I wish I had a hard copy because the narrative was not well edited. The narrator, the author, continues reading when his voice is tired and I am unable to understand what he is saying. That is not the fault of the narrator; it’s the fault of the production team. Otherwise, he has a good voice.

Interesting but Hard to Listen To

Mr. Low gives us good insight into the lives of the palace’s “men in gray.” With that, we learn about the personalities and management style of the Royal Family. The only problem with the audiobook is Mr. Low’s narrative. His British accent makes it hard to decipher words and he speaks quickly, making it even more difficult. A professional reader would have done a much better job.