The best book about the Royal family I've read so far. Andrew Morton doesn't try to sensationalize their lives or dig up any dirt. He sticks to the facts in this engaging read. ( )

This is an in- depth portrait of two sisters, both close in age, one (Margaret) was an extrovert who loved to over drink at parties and dress in a scandalous manner. With both her behavior and non ability to fit in to all the rules, she spun out of control. The other (Margaret) was less extroverted, and had a lot to overcome when she inherited the throne of England which occurred when she and her husband Philip were in Africa for a royal tour. A few days after she left for the tour, her father died.

Their Uncle, Edward VIII was not fit for the throne -- he hated the role. He fell dramatically fell in love with American Wallis Simpson who had two divorces to her name, and furthermore was a non- royal woman. Edward chose a life with Wallis, and he abdicated the throne, which then placed Elizabeth the Queen of England.

While they were close as children, Elizabeth and Margaret's relationship was forever changed when the crown was placed on Elizabeth's head. Now, Margaret had to curtsey to her not -too -much older sister. In her childhood, it was their father who called Elizabeth "Lilibet." When she became queen, that name was no longer used, and this was but one of the changes in both their lives.

Margaret forever struggled to find her way in life as the position of her sister was elevated and she would forever be forced in the tumultuous path of "not as good, not as powerful, not as important." In childhood, Margaret became jealous when noticing Elizabeth's dress train was much longer than hers. She was promptly put in her place by her mother who reminded her she would always need to adjust to the possibility that her sister might one day be in charge. Margaret was in many ways, reminded she was, and always would be, the second best, As the family, in childhood, prepared Elizabeth for the possibility of life of the Crown, should that occur one day, both Elizabeth and Margaret had to adjust when that did become reality.

Not only was Elizabeth suddenly the keeper of the history of, and the ruler of the country of as she inherited the role of queen, she also was placed in charge of representing the church. Fraught with tension, their relationship was forever changed, not only because of Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, but the fact that two very different personalities who loved each other, but when that love was tested, Margaret lost.

The most damaging event occurred when Margaret fell deeply in love with a divorced man. Group Captain Peter Townsend returned her love, but alas in her role of overseeing the rules of the church, Elizabeth would/could never bless this marriage. It was one of the final blows to their relationship. Elizabeth would not approve the marriage, and made Margaret chose either marriage to someone she loved, or loss of status and her financial source of income, thus losing her titles and monetary support.

Their divergent paths were severe as Margaret became quite known in the social set of famous actors, and people unknown to the crown. Taking a close look at the two sisters, the author does quite a good job of portraying the conflict in personalities, and the love they shared.

Four Stars ( )

Beschrijving van de hechte band tussen de Britse koningin Elizabeth II (1926-) en haar enige jongere zus Margaret (1930-) ( )

I am not a "royal" devotee, but after reading the description of this book I was intrigued. At the beginning I felt that I was reading a dry recounting of British history, and wasn't sure I would continue. Then suddenly it began to read like "People" magazine and I couldn't put it down, in a cringe-worthy way.

The book describes the royal family's early years in pedestrian fashion, often pointing out how Elizabeth is being groomed for the monarchy while describing Margaret's overly-dramatic attention-getting behavior. When the sisters become teens, the book alternates chapters between the lives of Elizabeth and Margaret. But after Elizabeth is crowned queen, the focus of the book is primarily on Margaret, whose life becomes more and more flamboyant and ostentatious by the royal standard of avoiding scandal at all costs.

I was stunned by the similarities between how Margaret and Princess Diana were treated by the media and the monarchy. It was history repeating itself, with Elizabeth and her royal advisors learning nothing from earlier experiences. Many of the scandalous episodes chronicled take place in the early 1960s when "jet setters" was a new term, most likely coined to describe Margaret and her pals. I felt sad for Margaret when I finished the book, as she seemed so misunderstood, and not able to do anything about her subservient position as sister to the queen.

The book was thoroughly researched, with footnotes and a detailed index. It was startling to be reading about this family beginning in pre-war Britain and feeling like it took place in the past, when Morton begins to refer to Diana, and even Harry and Meaghan.

Throughout their lives, even though they were so very different in personality, goals, and behavior, according to author Andrew Morton, they remained loving sisters "united yet divided by love and duty." ( )