Takes us into every room of Hampton Court Palace-the stage of some of the most important events in British history, such as the commissioning of King James's version of the Bible and Queen Elizabeth II's coronation ball, illustrating what was at play politically, socially and economically at the time.

"Painfully shy, Elizabeth Windsor's personality was well suited to her youthful ambition of living quietly in the country, raising a family, and caring for her dogs and horses. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated, she became heir to the throne--embarking on a journey that would test her as a woman and queen. Ascending to the throne at only 25, this self-effacing monarch navigated endless setbacks, family conflict, and occasional triumphs...

"The next volume in Alexander Larman's biographical chronicle of the Windsor family, as they go to war with Adolf Hitler-and each other. At the beginning of 1937, the British monarchy was in a state of turmoil. The previous king, Edward VIII, had abdicated the throne, leaving his unprepared and terrified brother Bertie to become George VI, surrounded by a gaggle of courtiers and politicians who barely thought him up to the job. Meanwhile, as the now-Duke...