So You’re Bored and You Like Royals

Look no further, dear reader. Entertain your royal-wannabe self with the below links. My personal favorite is the tour of palaces around the world (mostly homes of the House of Windsor).

You’re bored, you like royals, and you love podcasts.

• Royally Obsessed // Royally-obsessed journalists Kaitlin Menza and Lisa Ryan sit down every week to go through the royal news you need to know and provide their fun commentary along the way (always with a royal refreshment). Generally very light-hearted!
  
  
• Pod Save the Queen // I’m fairly new to this pod, but I appreciate the candor the host (Ann Gripper) and guests bring. They tend to get critical of the royals, so if you’re looking for a royal-themed pod that keeps it real, I’d highly recommend having a listen.

You’re bored, you like royals, and you love reading.

• The Royal We // This one is a no-brainer for fans of the royals. Written by the Fug Girls (also known as Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan), this is a fictional take on Wills and Kate’s courtship and eventual engagement… if Kate was an American studying abroad. I know it sounds inspired by Meghan and Harry, but it was really inspired by Wills and Kate and their uni days (college days, for American folks). This is one of my favorite books. I hope to do a fuller post about it later on before the sequel comes out (pre-order the sequel here!) 

• The Other Side of the Coin // “Fully endorsed” by Queen Elizabeth II herself, this book by HM’s trusted confidant and dresser Angela Kelly includes never-before-seen photos of the Queen and details her royal wardrobe and their 25-year bond. 

• American Royals // Disclaimer: this book will be a series, and the sequel comes out this fall. Getting that out of the way so you don’t read this book and then get mad at me for it ending on a cliffhanger. We good? Ok. This book is young adult fiction by Katharine McGee. Super fun premise: imagine that George Washington became the King of the United States instead of President. This book takes place in present-day and follows the Washington offspring. Think Gossip Girl, but make it royalty and tie in some fun American history facts. 

• The Diana Chronicles // Tina Brown is the prolific former Editor-in–Chief of Tatler (one of England’s gossip rags), Vanity Fair (it can be rightfully argued that she turned that whole magazine around when she took over), and The New Yorker. Brown knew Princess Diana personally and gives her own insight into the dynamics between the royal fam and the people’s princess. Some of the details have been criticized, but it’s overall a quick read about someone who you think you already know everything about. 
  
  Bonus points: if you want to know more about Brown and her time at Vanity Fair, listen to the audiobook of The Vanity Fair Diaries – she kept detailed journals during her time at the magazine and gives juicy insider accounts of that time period. Many, many wild stories! 

You’re bored, you like royals, and you love historical architecture.

• Virtual Palace Tours // Take a tour of Europe’s grand palaces… without leaving your home! I’ve been fortunate to visit two of these palaces in-person so far (Palace of Versailles – see below – and Buckingham Palace), and these virtual tours bring you up close to some areas that are usually off-limits to the general public. Highly recommend taking a gander, and then planning future trips to these locations!

• Historic Royal Palaces // Get lost in the U.K.’s Historic Royal Palaces website and archives. HRP is an independent charity that cares for and maintains some of the most popular palaces in the U.K. (for example: Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace). They like to educate the public about how monarchs and people shape society (and some of the palaces that have played their part in doing so). 

You’re bored, you like royals, and you love to stare at a screen.

• The Crown // This is also a no-brainer. Although, I’m guessing if you’re already a fan of the royals and love to stare at a screen, then you’ve already seen this Netflix TV series. It released its third season late last year. 

• A Royal Affair // This 2012 Danish period drama is set in the 18th century, at the court of the mentally ill King Christian VII of Denmark, and focuses on the romance between his wife, Caroline Matilda of Great Britain (played by Alicia Vikander), and the royal physician Johann Friedrich Struensee (played by Mads Mikkelsen). I love this movie and its lavish setting and costumes. Highly recommend for the great performances (and a story you might not be familiar with!) 

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That’s it’s for today, but I’m hoping to put together more of these types of posts in the future. Since I’m always looking for new things to watch, read, or listen to, feel free to drop your own royal recommendations in the comments!

(PS – I don’t live under a rock, so it might be weird to post this on the day it was announced that Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus. I think he’s been a great father to William and Harry – although, how could I really know? lol – and he seems dedicated to his royal service. I hope he, along with everyone else battling this awful virus, has a speedy and full recovery)