Prince Charles

The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life

De: Sally Bedell Smith

Narrado por: Rosalyn Landor, Sally Bedell Smith

From the New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth the Queen comes the first major biography of Prince Charles in more than twenty years—perfect for fans of The Crown.

Sally Bedell Smith returns once again to the British royal family to give us a new look at Prince Charles, the oldest heir to the throne in more than three hundred years. This vivid, eye-opening biography—the product of four years of research and hundreds of interviews with palace officials, former girlfriends, spiritual gurus, and more, some speaking on the record for the first time—is the first authoritative treatment of Charles’s life that sheds light on the death of Diana, his marriage to Camilla, and his preparations to take the throne one day.

Prince Charles brings to life the real man, with all of his ambitions, insecurities, and convictions. It begins with his lonely childhood, in which he struggled to live up to his father’s expectations and sought companionship from the Queen Mother and his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten. It follows him through difficult years at school, his early love affairs, his intellectual quests, his entrepreneurial pursuits, and his intense search for spiritual meaning. It tells of the tragedy of his marriage to Diana; his eventual reunion with his true love, Camilla; and his relationships with William, Kate, Harry, and his grandchildren.

Ranging from his glamorous palaces to his country homes, from his globe-trotting travels to his local initiatives, Smith shows how Prince Charles possesses a fiercely independent spirit and yet has spent more than six decades waiting for his destined role, living a life dictated by protocols he often struggles to obey. With keen insight and the discovery of unexpected new details, Smith lays bare the contradictions of a man who is more complicated, tragic, and compelling than we knew, until now.


With a Preface read by the Author


Advance praise for Prince Charles

“Prince Charles is an eighteenth-century gentleman with a twenty-first-century mission. His love of tradition combines with an outlook that can be bracingly avant garde. Sally Bedell Smith captures his contradictions and his convictions in this fascinating book that is not just about a man who would be king, but also about the duties that come with privilege.”—Walter Isaacson

“For all we know about Prince Charles, there is so much we didn’t know—until now. Sally Bedell Smith has given us a complete and compelling portrait of the man in the shadow of the throne. It’s all here, from the back stairs of the palaces to the front pages of the tabs. Read all about it!”—Tom Brokaw

Great Book about a "Misunderstood" Royal

I really loved this biography of Charles. It's one of the best I've seen on Charles. Usually an author will talk mostly about the fact that he'll be
heir to the Queen and about his years with Diana, with perhaps, a bit about William and Harry. But, this author has pretty well talked about most of the fascets in Charles's life along with the pros and cons, as well as what will change once he becomes King. The book also talks about Camilla in an honest and forthrite way, talking truthfully about whether she'll ever be Queen. whoever you are you just might want to read this book, and see where the future King of the UK is coming from and what he's thinking and doing before he becomes King.

Well written

Well written and informative. Great resource for anyone interested in the subject; but performed by the worst narrator I've heard. Dropped to four stars because of this.

Highly recommend

I liked this book very much and recommend it highly to anyone who is interested in the lives of the British monarchy. While I disagree vehemently with some of Prince Charles’ positions on several things, I admire him and enjoyed learning more about him. Furthermore, it was refreshing to hear Diana portrayed in a more honest and authentic way as opposed to the usual canonization of her. She was neither a saint nor the paragon of virtue as she is so often depicted. I wish King Charles III the best as he ascends the throne.

a very long story

It is a well written book, but at times I struggled to maintain my interest. It was long, with many, many details.

Fantastic! There are always two sides to a story.

There are always two sides 5o any story and this is Charles Prince of Wales. Loved it!