Claudia Joseph has written one of the first biographies of the woman who has not only captured the heart of a prince but also will become the future Queen of England. But this story is not just about the beautiful young woman and her immediate family. In fact, the author takes us back seven generations to the 1700s to meet the ancestors who come from a range of situations.
Joseph has done a significant amount of research. She not only talks about the members of each family but also paints the economic and social culture of the days. She takes it even further by contrasting the lines that led to Prince William with those that lead to the birth of Kate.
There is no lack of intrigue in the telling of the Middleton genealogy. Some died young,others remarried, most had many children. There is economic hardship, imprisonment and even crime in this book.
The tales of one generation after another paint the picture of families who are pretty much like those of our own. There are things to be proud of and things that some never care to speak about.
Prince William and Kate have been dating for more than eight years. In fact, they have lived together for several of those years. They experienced a break up,struggled with career decisions and dealt with the hovering that media and paparazzi fought each other to capture.
Like other young couples, they partied with friends but, until I read this book, I didn't realize just how much they partied! Dates, locations and details of their nights out are even supplemented with quotes of what the Prince had said while drinking.
Another thing surprised me. I hadn't known that William and Kate were world-wide travellers who were frequently out of their home country. Many of their vacations are documented in the book.
Now, we hear about the way that Kate's and William's future will be different from other royalty. They have stated that they want people to give to charities rather than buy them wedding gifts. They also plan to live without having any servants. This is a far cry from William's father Prince Charles who reportedly has 149 servants. Wills and Kate want to be on their own without having the risk of staff might someday write another book.
This book isn't "fluff". It is well-researched and offers a balanced look at how the royals who seem to have so many advantages also go through a number of stages of life that we all experience on our way to adulthood.
I think you will enjoy this one!
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From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
