{"product_id":"the-royal-palaces-secrets-and-scandals-9780711269392","title":"The Royal Palaces: Secrets and Scandals","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRoyal expert and TV historian Kate Williams opens the doors to 30 palaces, castles and houses that have been connected with the British royals over the centuries.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWell known for her expert insights in the media and on countless royal documentaries, Kate takes you on a tour of the UK's most fascinating palaces, past and present, to unveil the \u003cb\u003escandalous and little-known stories \u003c\/b\u003ehidden between their walls. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIncluded in the book are such famous royal residences as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but also lesser-known locations such as Falkland Palace and Beaumaris Castle. Covering the breadth of British history, there are\u003cb\u003e tales from the medieval era to the present\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAmong the palaces included are: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSt James's Palace\u003c\/b\u003e, wedding venue for the disastrous union of Caroline of Brunswick and the debauched Prince of Wales, George IV, who turned up drunk and already secretly married \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHolyroodhouse\u003c\/b\u003e, where staff once ran a flourishing side hustle, charging visitors money to see the bloodstains from the murder of Mary, Queen of Scots' secretary in the queen's chamber\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWhitehall Palace and Banqueting Hall\u003c\/b\u003e, home to Charles II's secret laboratory, where he tried to create an elixir of youth using human skulls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTower of London\u003c\/b\u003e, the site of the unsolved mystery of the 'Princes in the Tower' - the disappearance of the two young sons of Edward IV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eGlamis Castle\u003c\/b\u003e, the inspiration for Shakespeare's \u003ci\u003eMacbeth\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eGreenwich Palace\u003c\/b\u003e, where Elizabeth I survived an assassination attempt when poison was placed in her saddle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWindsor Castle\u003c\/b\u003e, where princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were evacuated to during the Second World War, with a secret biscuit tin full of the Crown Jewels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMarlborough House\u003c\/b\u003e, home of Sarah Churchill, the passionate confidante of Queen Anne, before her cousin Abigail usurped her as the new favourite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRevel in the glory and glamour of royal life, as well as the salacious scandals that defined these palaces. The book is vividly brought to life by numerous beautiful illustrations by James Oses, and will be \u003cb\u003eirresistible to anyone interested in British royalty and the history of the United Kingdom\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e Kate Williams is a historian, author and broadcaster. She appears regularly on television and radio, discussing social history, royal history and general politics and culture. She studied for her degree and DPhil at Somerville College, Oxford and is now the Director of Life Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. In 2019 Kate chaired the Women's Prize for Fiction. She is the author of numerous historical biographies, including \u003ci\u003eEngland's Mistress\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBecoming Queen\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eYoung Elizabeth\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eJosephine\u003c\/i\u003e as well as the novels, \u003ci\u003eThe Pleasures of Men\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Storms of War\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eJames Oses\u003c\/b\u003e is an artist and illustrator from south London. He specialises in painting interesting places, often working in ink and watercolours. His work has been published in \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRadio Times\u003c\/i\u003e. Other clients include Borough Market, Marks \u0026amp; Spencer and the Poetry Society. He also teaches at Middlesex University.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Frances Lincoln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50899135725842,"sku":"9780711269392","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_248bd2dc-b97d-4fcc-b78f-674f23a9c96e.jpg?v=1738347871","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-royal-palaces-secrets-and-scandals-9780711269392","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}