Raising Royalty

Today's parents think they have it tough, monitoring screen time and shuttling kids to soccer matches. Imagine being King William I, the Conqueror, who in 1079 had to fight his firstborn son on the battlefield; or Henry II, whose villainous son, John, is today best known as Robin Hood's arch enemy. Carolyn Harris's history of royal child rearing is a must read for anyone interested in the never-ending saga of royal families and a fascinating read. * Mark Reid, Editor of Canada's History Magazine *
Carolyn Harris has taken an innovative approach with this engaging new work, bringing together a millennia of royal parenting from Edgar “the Peaceable” and Elfrida of Northampton right up to the present day with the children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Harris has deftly woven together the history of various rulers, evaluating their relationships with their children and bringing in wider trends in parenting in different eras. She notes both rivalry and tension between parents and children, as aptly illustrated by the Hanoverian monarchs of England, as well as evidence of affection and strong bonds between rulers and their offspring. Any reader with an interest in the history of monarchy or parenting itself will find this an absorbing read, both accessible and replete with interesting information. A real strength of this book is that it puts our present-day fascination with current and recent monarchs and their children in a long-term historical context. * Dr. Elena Woodacre, Senior Lecturer in Early Modern European History, University of Winchester *
How to raise the kids? It is a question that has confounded parents for centuries. Imagine how parenting has been for royalty throughout the ages? Royal historian Carolyn Harris’s newest book focuses on this very topic. In Raising Royalty, Harris’s detailed research [explores] how royal parenting has evolved throughout the last thousand years. Harris focuses on twenty royal parents — from Edgar the Peaceable and Elfrieda of Northampton to Prince William and Catherine Middleton. This book is delightfully readable, infused with the brilliance of pure scholarship. * Marlene A. Eilers Koenig, author of Queen Victoria's Descendants *
Carolyn Harris’s encyclopedic knowledge infuses Raising Royalty with fascinating insights into the lives of Europe’s Royal Families. Moving through the centuries, Harris highlights unique and evolving family dynamics and traditions right up to our present day. An essential addition to any royal enthusiast’s collection, Raising Royalty provides a captivating look at the families occupying the centre of some of the world’s greatest monarchies. * Nathan Tidridge, author of Canada's Constitutional Monarchy *
A fascinating and engaging analysis of royal childhood through the centuries. * Amy Licence, author of Royal Babies: A History: 1066-2013 *
Informative, amusing, and royally riveting. * Hello! Canada *
A fascinating source of well-researched information and a great addition to the shelves of royalists and historians alike. * History of Royals Magazine *