The Crown

Throughout the seismic shifts of the 20th and 21st centuries, the British monarchy has stood strong, weathering war, scandal and tragedy. This is a family bound by more than blood: The House of Windsor represents the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms on the global stage. Yet beneath the crown is a woman and her family. This book brings together both sides of the House of Windsor: the resplendent, opulent public face and the day-to-day lives of those who belong to one of the world’s most famous dynasties. Stunning photographs from official royal photographers Terry O’Neill, Norman Parkinson, Greg Brennan, Douglas Kirkland, John Swannell, David Montgomery, Patrick Lichfield, Snowdon and Benny Gool accompany texts by Grace Coddington, former creative director of American Vogue, and excerpts from an interview with Norman Parkinson, revealing personal experiences of working with the royals.

The book contains five chapters. First is Behind the Scenes, which focuses on the royals’ everyday lives and personal relationships. This is followed by The Weddings, which memorialises the stunning marriages of William and Kate and Harry and Meghan, and Public Facing: Royals on Duty, presenting the royals as official emblems of the state. The Art of Portraiture explores the level of artistry involved in creating official images of the royal family, while Family Life features the House of Windsor’s bonds to one another, and follows the new generations to whom the Crown will one day be passed. This book is one of the finest collections of royal photographs ever assembled.