List of British royal memoirs

Last updated

The following is a list of memoirs published by members of the British royal family. [1] [2]

Contents

List

ImageNameTitleYearPublisherRef.
Queen Victoria by Bassano.jpg Queen Victoria Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands from 1848 to 18611868 Smith, Elder
More Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands from 1862 to 18821884Smith, Elder
Duke and Duchess of Windsor - Google Art Project (Duke cropped).jpg Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor A King's Story: The Memoirs of H.R.H. the Duke of Windsor1951 Cassell and Co.
Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein 1920.jpg Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein My Memories of Six Reigns1956 Evans Brothers Ltd
Vincenzo Laviosa - Duke and Duchess of Windsor - Google Art Project (cropped).jpg Wallis, Duchess of Windsor The Heart Has Its Reasons: The Memoirs of the Duchess of Windsor Michael Joseph
Princese Alice d'Albany.jpeg Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone For My Grandchildren: Some Reminiscences of Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone1966Evans Brothers Ltd OCLC   654367087
Princess Alice in King George VI's Coronation (cropped).jpg Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester The Memoirs of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester1983Collins ISBN   0002166461
Memories of Ninety Years1991Collins & Brown Ltd ISBN   1855850486
Sarah, Duchess of York 1997.jpg Sarah, Duchess of York My Story 1996 Simon & Schuster ISBN   9780684835815
Finding Sarah: A Duchess's Journey to Find Herself 2011 ISBN   9781439189542
HRH The Duke of Kent 5 Allan Warrenjpg.jpg Prince Edward, Duke of Kent A Royal Life2022 Hodder & Stoughton ISBN   9781529389708
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex 2020 cropped 02.jpg Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Spare 2023 Penguin Random House ISBN   9780593593806

Other authorised biographies

Some members of the royal family have collaborated with biographers on books that have subsequently been described as 'authorised'. Diana, Princess of Wales collaborated with Andrew Morton on the 1992 book Diana: Her Story , recording answers on tape to questions he gave her and allowing access to her friends to be interviewed. [3] The 1994 biography of King Charles III, The Prince of Wales: A Biography by Jonathan Dimbleby was authorised by Charles. [4] A spokesperson from St James's Palace described it as an 'authorised account' that was produced with Charles's co-operation. [5] Dimbleby's book extensively quoted from Charles's diaries, journals and letters and from interviews with Charles and people close to him. [6] The biography of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand titled Finding Freedom was written with the couple's contribution and published in 2020. [7] [8]

Official biographers have also been appointed to provide an account of a royal's life posthumously, including John Wheeler-Bennett for King George VI (King George VI: His Life and Reign, 1958), James Pope-Hennessy for Queen Mary (Queen Mary, 1959), and William Shawcross for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother: The Official Biography, 2009). [9] [10]

References

  1. Goldsmith, Annie (30 October 2023). "The juiciest royal memoirs to snap up right now". Town & Country. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  2. Waxman, Olivia B. (7 January 2023). "Spare might be the biggest bombshell royal memoir ever. But it's not the only one". Time. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  3. Macnaughton, Ollie (25 November 1994). "Princess Diana biographer Andrew Morton reveals attempted blackmail by leading photographer". Tatler Magazine . Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  4. "Book leaves Britain abuzz over monarchy". United Press International . 17 October 1994. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  5. Bennett, Will (17 October 1994). "Prince Charles says he has no regrets over Dimbleby book". The Independent . Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  6. Kakutani, Michiko (25 November 1994). "BOOKS OF THE TIMES; 'He Says, She Says' on a Royal Level". The New York Times . Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  7. Nicholl, Katie (18 November 2020). "Meghan Markle Admits She Really Did Help with Finding Freedom". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  8. "Duchess of Sussex apologises to court for biography exchanges". BBC. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  9. Burchfield, Rachel (18 November 2024). "King Charles Will Appoint an Official Biographer of Queen Elizabeth 'In Fairly Short Order,' Royal Biographer Says". People. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  10. Queenan, Joe (5 November 2009). "Her Royal Century". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 December 2025.