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A review by brooke_review
In Royal Service to the Queen: A Novel of the Queen's Governess by Tessa Arlen
5.0
As one might imagine, it takes a village to "rear royals." When current British monarch Queen Elizabeth II was being brought up, Marion Crawford, affectionately called "Crawfie" by the royal family, was one member of said village, who worked as governess to Elizabeth and her sister Margaret for 16 years until Elizabeth's marriage to Prince Philip in 1947. Crawfie was a much-loved employee of the royal household, but her story with the royal family isn't without scandal. Crawfie's legacy with the Windsors was later tarnished after an ill-advised decision on Crawfie's part, which removed her from the lives of the royal family forever. In Royal Service to the Queen is Crawfie's story of her life "behind the curtain," guiding and educating the future Queen of the United Kingdom, and later being shunned by the family to whom she devoted her life.
In Royal Service to the Queen was my first Tessa Arlen novel, and I was pleased with how well-researched and richly detailed this engaging story was without becoming burdensome or boring. Crawfie, who was essentially a second mother to the young Elizabeth and Margaret, was a significant person in the lives of the little princesses, and it was fascinating to see life in the royal family through her eyes. Arlen integrates Crawfie's life with the princesses with her life outside the castle walls to paint a complete and compelling portrait of the woman who helped mold the future monarch of Britain.
Although I am a fan of all things British royalty, past and present, I had no knowledge of Crawfie's great offense prior to reading In Royal Service to the Queen. I allowed myself to remain in the dark while reading this novel, and was thoroughly surprised to learn how Crawfie fell out of grace with the Windsors, who never spoke to her again after the incident. Because it was such a delightful reading experience to learn of Crawfie's "misdeeds" through this novel, I won't reveal the scandal in case there is anyone else who is unaware of what she did; however, I do believe that the Windsors' treatment of Crawfie was rather harsh considering that the former governess gave much of her life to the royal family, even delaying her own marriage to ensure that Elizabeth and Margaret were grown before leaving their service. Arlen has revealed Crawfie to be a sympathetic character in the history of the Windsors, and shines a light on how inclusive and rigid the royal family can be.
In Royal Service to the Queen is first and foremost recommended to anyone who enjoys biographical fiction, especially that of the current royal family. In Royal Service will also be enjoyed by anyone who loves The Crown or Downton Abbey.
In Royal Service to the Queen was my first Tessa Arlen novel, and I was pleased with how well-researched and richly detailed this engaging story was without becoming burdensome or boring. Crawfie, who was essentially a second mother to the young Elizabeth and Margaret, was a significant person in the lives of the little princesses, and it was fascinating to see life in the royal family through her eyes. Arlen integrates Crawfie's life with the princesses with her life outside the castle walls to paint a complete and compelling portrait of the woman who helped mold the future monarch of Britain.
Although I am a fan of all things British royalty, past and present, I had no knowledge of Crawfie's great offense prior to reading In Royal Service to the Queen. I allowed myself to remain in the dark while reading this novel, and was thoroughly surprised to learn how Crawfie fell out of grace with the Windsors, who never spoke to her again after the incident. Because it was such a delightful reading experience to learn of Crawfie's "misdeeds" through this novel, I won't reveal the scandal in case there is anyone else who is unaware of what she did; however, I do believe that the Windsors' treatment of Crawfie was rather harsh considering that the former governess gave much of her life to the royal family, even delaying her own marriage to ensure that Elizabeth and Margaret were grown before leaving their service. Arlen has revealed Crawfie to be a sympathetic character in the history of the Windsors, and shines a light on how inclusive and rigid the royal family can be.
In Royal Service to the Queen is first and foremost recommended to anyone who enjoys biographical fiction, especially that of the current royal family. In Royal Service will also be enjoyed by anyone who loves The Crown or Downton Abbey.