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The diaries of ‘Tommy’ Lascelles – as featured in the Netflix hit THE CROWN

‘Brilliantly entertaining and historically priceless’ Spectator

‘Fascinating … as much a contribution to royal legend as to the history of the war’ Daily Telegraph

As Assistant Private Secretary to four monarchs, ‘Tommy’ Lascelles had a ringside seat from which to observe the workings of the royal household and Downing Street during the first half of the 20th century.

These fascinating diaries begin with Edward VIII’s abdication and end with George VI’s death and his daughter Elizabeth’s Coronation. In between we see George VI at work and play, a portrait more intimate than any other previously published.

This compelling account also includes Princess Margaret’s relationship with Peter Townsend, and throws an intriguing new light on the way in which King George VI and Winston Churchill worked together during the Second World War.

Lascelles was a fine writer – like most of the best diaries his are a delight to read as well as being invaluable history.

What's Inside

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Reviews

BELFAST TELEGRAPH
A great read, written with humour and elegance
SPECTATOR
Most - though by no means all - of the facts we know already: it is the angle from which they are viewed and the humour and intelligence of the observer which make these diaries both brilliantly entertaining and historically priceless
Robert Harris, MAIL ON SUNDAY Book of the Year
I greatly enjoyed KING'S COUNSELLOR
DAILY TELEGRAPH
This fascinating volume is as much a contribution to royal legend as to the history of the war
EVENING STANDARD
Elegant and precise ... a revealing glimpse into the drawing rooms of the great during the years of crisis and victory ... Lascelles was an excellent judge of character, and posterity has almost always proved him right
INDEPENDENT
Offers genuine insights into the role of the King's adviser
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Offers fascinating and hitherto unseen glimpses of some of the most significant figures of our age ... however, none emerges more engagingly than the diarist himself