In 1936, the British monarchy faced the greatest threats to its survival in the modern era -- the crisis of abdication and the menace of Nazism. The fate of the country rested in the hands of George V's sorely unequipped sons: a stammering King George VI, terrified that the world might discover he was unfit to rule a dull-witted Prince Henry, who wanted only a quiet life in the army the too-glamorous Prince George, the Duke of Kent -- a reformed hedonist who found new purpose in the RAF and would become the first royal to die in a mysterious plane crash the Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, deemed a Nazi-sympathizer and traitor to his own country -- a man who had given it all up for lovePrinces at War is a riveting portrait of these four very different men miscast by fate, one of whom had to save the monarchy at a moment when kings and princes from across Europe were washing up on England's shores as the old order was overturned. Scandal and conspiracy swirled around the palace and its courtiers, among them dangerous cousins from across Europe's royal families, gold-digging American socialite Wallis Simpson, and the King's Lord Steward, upon whose estate Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess parachuted (seemingly by coincidence) as London burned under the Luftwaffe's tireless raids. Deborah Cadbury draws on new research, personal accounts from the royal archives, and other never-before-revealed sources to create a dazzling sequel to The King's Speech and tell the true and thrilling drama of Great Britain at war and of a staggering transformation for its monarchy.

Princes At War. The British Royal Family's Private Battle In The Second World War.

Cadbury, Deborah, author

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Bloomsbury Continuum

Bloomsbury, London,

Perseus Books Group

Bloomsbury Circus

Wisden

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

Place of publication not identified, 2016

United States, United States of America

First edition, New York, 2015

1st, First Edition, PT, 2015

First edition, London, 2015

New York, USA, 2015

Illustrated, 2016

2015-04-09

In 1936, the British monarchy faced the greatest threats to its survival in the modern era?the crisis of abdication and the menace of Nazism. The fate of the country rested in the hands of George V?s sorely unequipped sons:?a stammering King George VI, terrified that the world might discover he was unfit to rule?a dull-witted Prince Henry, who wanted only a quiet life in the army?the too-glamorous Prince George, the Duke of Kent?a reformed hedonist who found new purpose in the RAF and would become the first royal to die in a mysterious plane crash?the Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, deemed a Nazi-sympathizer and traitor to his own country?a man who had given it all up for love Princes at War is a riveting portrait of these four very different men miscast by fate, one of whom had to save the monarchy at a moment when kings and princes from across Europe were washing up on England?s shores as the old order was overturned. Scandal and conspiracy swirled around the palace and its courtiers, among them dangerous cousins from across Europe?s royal families, gold-digging American socialite Wallis Simpson, and the King?s Lord Steward, upon whose estate Hitler?s deputy Rudolf Hess parachuted (seemingly by coincidence) as London burned under the Luftwaffe?s tireless raids. Deborah Cadbury draws on new research, personal accounts from the royal archives, and other never-before-revealed sources to create a dazzling sequel to The King?s Speech and tell the true and thrilling drama of Great Britain at war and of a staggering transformation for its monarchy

The five sons of King George V and Queen Mary were very different characters, with very different strengths and weaknesses, all of whom were brought up to fulfil different roles within the Royal Family; until the eldest of the brothers rejected his role as King of England and plunged the family into crisis. The personal lives of the British Royals were successfully kept out of the public eye by mutual agreement of the press and royal family, but this all changed in 1936 when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne and spurned his responsibility for the sake of the glamorous American socialite and divorcee, Wallis Simpson. During the Second World War, though the world's press focused on the far more public conflict tearing nations apart, the royal romance provided light relief for the British public. But this relationship had a darker side, and in Princes at War, Deborah Cadbury reveals evidence that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor colluded with Hitler to take back the British throne from Edward's younger brother, King George VI, should Germany prevail in the War. Drawing on new research and recently released files, Deborah Cadbury shows that not only did George VI have to battle to lead his country but battle constantly to keep his brothers, and especially his older brother, in check

Princes at War takes up the story the film The King's Speech began, at the moment Edward VIII's abdication plunges the Royal family into turmoil and George VI takes the reins ... King George V predicted that his eldest son, Edward VIII, would destroy himself within a year of succeeding to the throne. In December 1936 he was proved right, and the world's press broke their Great Silence: King Edward VIII was abandoning his throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced American socialite. A life spent in the shadow of his charismatic elder brother left the new king, George VI, magnificently unprepared for the demands of ruling the kingdom and empire; this would be a baptism of fire. Hitler's Third Reich was tearing up the old Kingdoms of Europe one by one. As Great Britain braced herself for war, the faltering new king struggled to manage internal divisions within the royal family and feared betrayal as intelligence mounted of the Duke and Duchess of Windsors' suspected treachery during the worst days of the war. Drawing on personal accounts from the royal archives and other new sources, Deborah Cadbury uncovers the very private conflict between George VI and his too charming older brother; a conflict so bitter it was unresolvable while they were both alive

In 1936, the monarchy faced the greatest threats to its survival in the modern era - the crisis of abdication and the menace of Nazism. The fate of the country rested in the hands of George V's sorely unequipped sons: Edward VIII abandoned his throne to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson; Prince Henry preferred the sporting life of a country squire; the glamorous and hedonistic Prince George, Duke of Kent, was considered a wild card; and stammering George VI felt himself woefully unprepared for the demanding role of King. As Hitler's Third Reich tore up the boundaries of Europe and Britain braced itself for war, the new king struggled to manage internal divisions within the royal family. Drawing on many new sources including from the Royal Archives, Princes at War goes behind the palace doors to tell the thrilling drama of Britain at war.

xiv, 357 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : 25 cm
British author Cadbury explores the many layers involved in the abdication crisis of 1936, which ceded the British crown to the seemingly least prepared of the four sons of George V, George VI, aka Bertie, who revealed himself in the subsequent crisis of war to be the most suitable and stalwart of all
Includes bibliographical references (pages 309-338) and index
December 1936-September 1939: Circumstances without parallel ; A very full heart ; Enmity and fear -- September 1939-August 1940: In this grave hour ; Into the unknown ; The decisive struggle ; Treachery -- August 1940-December 1942: There will always be an England ; Ever widening conflict ; It's my brother -- January 1943-January 1952: Tested as never before in our history ; Something more than courage ; For valour

British Author Cadbury Explores The Many Layers Involved In The Abdication Crisis Of 1936, Which Ceded The British Crown To The Seemingly Least Prepared Of The Four Sons Of George V, George Vi, Aka Bertie, Who Revealed Himself In The Subsequent Crisis Of War To Be The Most Suitable And Stalwart Of All. December 1936-september 1939: Circumstances Without Parallel ; A Very Full Heart ; Enmity And Fear -- September 1939-august 1940: In This Grave Hour ; Into The Unknown ; The Decisive Struggle ; Treachery -- August 1940-december 1942: There Will Always Be An England ; Ever Widening Conflict ; It's My Brother -- January 1943-january 1952: Tested As Never Before In Our History ; Something More Than Courage ; For Valour. Deborah Cadbury. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 309-338) And Index.

A very unusual biography of the four brothers of the royal family during the Abdication crisis of 1936 as well as the war years until the death of George VI. Traces the self confidence and loyalties of the King and the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent from light hearted young men to their responsibilities in marriage and as soldiers and leaders of men. The war is seen as a tragedy for their cousins in Greece, Scandinavia and the Balkans in the greater tragedy of humanity. Very critical of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Well researched and annotated with official records and illustrations.

2023-06-28