There is much about the Prince of Wales that I do not particularly like. His self-pity comes across as tiresome, and his touchiness over perceived personal slights is a very unappealing characteristic. Some of his causes, such as climate change, don't interest me in the least. Others, like modern architecture, particularly brutalist architecture, I am sympathetic with. But the way he tackles them, with such self-righteous indignation, just seems to annoy everyone. Yet every time I have met him on one of his walkabouts, he is friendly, funny, interested and relaxed.
So I was curious to see how Sally Bedell Smith would handle the paradox of a likeable man who so often I don't particularly like. In general, Prince Charles: the Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life gives a balanced overview of the life of the Prince of Wales so far. But she is far from an apologist, and tackles the good and the bad. Her sources are many, and are usually named in the extensive notes, though some are confidential. There is not very much in the way of new material, but it is an engaging read.
There is, of course, no avoiding the elephant in the room. The late Diana, Princess of Wales features prominently in the book, but Miss Smith does not give a blow by blow account of the whole sorry mess. Suffice to say incompatibility and jealousy, on both sides, destroyed the marriage. Personal opinions on the late Diana, Princess of Wales, will determine how the reader reacts to Miss Smith's conclusions. But, for me, they seemed reasonable, and were supported by appropriate evidence.
The book is clearly written with an American audience in mind. The Prince's Royal Visits to the United States feature very heavily, while Commonwealth visits barely get a mention. Miss Smith shows her ignorance of the Commonwealth Realms by referring to republican movements as a independence movements. She also claims that Jamaica is the fourth largest of the Queen's realms, after Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Jamaica actually comes after Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Finally, one of my pet hates. Every country in the world uses the metric system, apart from the Republic of Liberia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the United States of America. Even if the author is American, measurements should be in metric in books published for international distribution.
In conclusion, Prince Charles: the Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life is a readable book. It keeps the drama of his first marriage in perspective, and shows how the Prince's second marriage finally brought some happiness and stability to his life. It helped me appreciate the good qualities of the Prince of Wales, and understand his less than attractive behaviour. His reign is destined to be short, but I think he will make a thought provoking, and generally likeable King when the time comes.