"The Palace Papers" by Tina Brown (2022)


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Okay, but the future role of the Sussexes or other spouses is not part of the book. Let's please stay on topic to keep the thread open. Thank you.
 
Muhler said:
:previous: So it's actually a good and fair account she's giving?
Would you recommend it?
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I am in chapter 3 now and don't like the book. IMHO there is sooo much opinion in the first two chapters and a lot of that I don't share. A lot of things are happening because people did not think long enough or not at all, even though they should have known (Queen about Diana's suitability as she was born a Spencer, Camilla about Diana's being a puppet etc.) and in the end it's like that everything could have been better if they all had just listened to Tina Brown!



Camilla is portrayed as having inherited from Alice Keppel the ability to be the perfect Royal mistress, but loved Andrew Parker Bowles, who cheated on her. That may have been as Tina Brown says, but all people at court and in their inner circle ar cold and cruel and even the "love" Camilla feels for Andrew doesn't lead to anything emotional in Camilla. They are all just paper-cut outs of people and if that is how their life was in the 70ties, one can only pity the people who have had it all moneywise but nothing else.



I'm only in chapter 3, as I said but I have already the feeling that Tina Brown's view on Royal life is too bland. Most people act from greed (for personal position or for monetarian gain) and those on top, the Royals, don't really realise what kind of pit they have beneath their august shoes.
I just don't buy that. And then the name dropping. Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon rg. is mentioned as having been a debutant/socialite during Camilla's twenties, too. Okay, but there were so many others and there is no "story" behind that apart for the fact that she gave birth to Cressida Bonas who was Harry's girlfriend for a time. So why mention her here? To show that Harry has been part of the same circles his parents were? One could have guessed that. To show Camilla as the scheming over-bitch back then and up to now? Probably. True? Who knows?


So I find the book unreliable , but that may be because I have a different view on people and their needs. I don't subscribe to the POV that history is repeating because people inherit their character and social position from their ancestors. But of course it can be made to look like it is repeating itself.


I will read a bit here and there, but I won't believe many things when it comes to the reasons why things happened, that's for sure.


Not sure if that helps you, Muhler, dear.
 
IMO It's just a book retelling gossip/hearsay.... a lot of stories word for word from tabloids.... Or stories from tabloids translated in her own words.......in other words NOTHING NEW. You can SKIP it.
 
I just saw the article in the Mirror about Australia and it's a bitch frustrating, based on a BBC interview she gave today/last night (I saw this it this morning when I woke up)

I find it hard to believe, this was someone who stayed up and baked food, who wore jeans from a brand that helped abused women that just lost 400 jobs and was about to shut an entire town down and now they're thriving.

And then, it came to waving to crowds and being friendly in Australia, she was called an attention seeker.

So either, she's a viper who dug her nails into Harry and only cared about glamour and stardom and loved going on tours so she can be admired or she's a viper who got her nails into Harry and hated working (which she didn't because she got to work right away) and found things pointless.

And then, the information comes from a palace source...and is it the same source that called her names?

It's frustrating because Meghan is already getting like...serious hate for this.

THAT BEING SAID.

I have to say, Tina is really working the circuit's to promote her book. She has a new thing everyday and so far, it has pretty good reviews (I checked Amazon & Good Reads
) does anyone know if it's selling well? I got into it with someone because they didn't think it'd sell well but Tina is a KNOWN author and didn't her previous books to do well?

I just want to win this bet.
 
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As someone who has worked in PR and in image management - I can only laugh. This is what happens when spin and reality are too far apart.
When your PR campaign is too good that you appear a saint that when the truth or rumour comes out it appears like a complete different person - and that is currently the problem of Harry and Meghan. They seem completely inauthentic as they have used too much PR on their image. The palace worked overtime on Harry's lad image and then on Meghan's image for it to congeal with their current PR coming from Sunshine Saches. What is the truth - who knows - hope they do, as there is nothing worse in this world when celebrities, royals and presidents start believing their own spin was the truth.
 
Kataryn said:
Not sure if that helps you, Muhler, dear.
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It does. Thank you. :flowers:

I appreciate all reviews, together they help form a picture. Especially for me, as someone who does not follow the BRF that closely.
 
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FigTree said:
I sincerely hope that if Charlotte and Louis work for the firm that any future spouse be allowed to keep their own careers if they want…and be given the choice to do what they want. Wouldn’t it be something if George’s future partner actually had a life focus that wasn’t royal. Now that would be progress. We can dream.
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I don't think that that's going to be possible for George's partner. But no-one ever suggested that Mark Phillips or Anthony Armstrong-Jones give up their jobs. All that needs to change is that female partners of anyone other than the direct heirs not be expected to give up their jobs either.

Come to that, no-one suggested that Prince Philip give up his naval career, until his wife actually became the monarch.
 
Alison H said:
I don't think that that's going to be possible for George's partner. But no-one ever suggested that Mark Phillips or Anthony Armstrong-Jones give up their jobs. All that needs to change is that female partners of anyone other than the direct heirs not be expected to give up their jobs either.

Come to that, no-one suggested that Prince Philip give up his naval career, until his wife actually became the monarch.
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Tina makes the point in the book that the women who marry in are treated appallingly by the press. But the press writes what sells. Within the pages is a continuous story of sexism. Megsxit itself being such a word.

Erin9 said:
I find it fairly believable that she didn’t really get or appreciate what a royal tour is- and is not. So- I can see her disliking it.
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I think it’s understandable. Tina is sympathetic to her and paints her more as someone who likes nice things and wants to have a voice. Also full of drama. Just a bit fame hungry. She wanted a driver on Suits even thought she was too far down the call list. But she got one. She made sure to socialise with the best people. None of those things are crimes. She has the perfect right to choose the life she wants. I can see her part being a bit Becky Sharpe like. Sadly for her the royal family was just a life she hated and Harry was no help. Tina pits a lot of blame on him and the dynamic between the two which is all fire and brimstone and no healing balm.
 
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FigTree said:
Tina pits a lot of blame on him and the dynamic between the two which is all fire and brimstone and no healing balm.
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That's an interesting point. I don't know enough about Meghan's previous partners to comment about their relationships, but I think Harry and Chelsy had a similar dynamic. Two high maintenance people in one relationship doesn't make for an easy life. That's not a criticism of anyone, just an observation.
 
iceflower said:
The book launch took place in London this evening:


** gettyimages gallery **
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It has been out a week already. Guess it depended when she could get over to do press.

All I will say finally is I liked the book. You need to read it to have a full opinion. Her interviews are led by what people want to talk about - Andrew, Meghan and Harry. There is a lot more there.
 
Speculations about the duke and duchess of Sussex have been deleted.
 
Prinsara said:
https://wapo.st/3vcu1SW

Full title "Inside the House of Windsor — The Truth and Turmoil". A new book by the former editor of the New Yorker and Tatler focuses on all the recent Windsors, including Catherine, Harry, Meghan, and Andrew (who is apparently mean to Sarah). The review is long and interesting.

Please respect the mod team's wishes and only discuss the Sussexes if it's derived from something in this book to avoid thread closure.
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Oh,really,how NOT interesting...Another former so and so writing for a better bank account based on what?Indeed,hear say and bla bla...Not a fan of this sort of...well...what...
 
how is it different to ohter royal books?
 
I just brought this book based on some of the reviews in here. I haven't read Tina Brown since 1999. Wondering if I should get Revenge next.
 
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XeniaCasaraghi said:
I just brought this book based on some of the reviews in here. I haven't read Tina Brown since 1999. Wondering if I should get Revenge next.
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I haven't read this one yet, but have read Revenge and I thought it was very good.
 
So I am reading this book now and I am put off by Tina's thinly veiled contempt for the Middleton's especially Carole. Everything they do is somehow strategic manipulation whether it's Kate having a boyfriend her first year at St. Andrews', or Carole comforting her brother after he was ridiculed in the press.
 
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