The Queen's Secret: A Novel of England's World War II Queen by Karen Harper

 Set during a time period of WWII. Two years earlier Edward, briefly King Edward VIII, abdicates his throne for his American mistress. His younger brother Bertie, King George VI, takes over the throne. His wife Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon vows to make her husband’s reign a success and to keep the former king and his brazen bride away from Buckingham Palace. This is her story; her triumphs and her struggles, including some secrets which she protects at first and then tries to bring them to light.

June 1939, the international situation is deteriorating and war fever is in the air.

Hopeless negotiations are over. “Life soon turned into nightmare (…), when Hitler’s forces invaded Poland on 1 September 1939.”

Elizabeth is appointed commandant-in-chief of the women’s services. Now, just the beginning of the war, the exhaustion is already touching her from all the public visits, inspecting preparedness for war.

She is supportive in her husband’s political decisions and is one of his closest advisors, often looking over his speeches.

Their views do not necessarily align with the new Prime Minister Churchill, but she recognizes his brilliance and that it is better to work with him than against him.

Hitler declares her of being “the most dangerous woman in Europe, making allies, rallying others to England’s cause.”

Her skills for planning are in need to smooth everything out with Mrs. Roosevelt and General Eisenhower. Both are essential to the cause of uniting both countries to end the war. And she takes this very seriously to carry her load to influence them both.

Despite being called the most dangerous woman in Europe, she has a soft side. She is a caring mother to her children and a caring queen to her people in trying times when good word or warm smile can mean so much. She has her weaknesses and struggles as well. She feels miserable as a wife, at least at times, and its cause is rooted in the past event. – This cause gets repeated quite a lot, especially in the second part of the book. It could be curbed a bit.

It is interesting to read the view from British perspective about the beginning of the war. When Poland was horribly bombed, it seemed as nothing was happening on the islands. And how royals from other countries fled to England for safety. And later how Londoners used Underground stations for shelter.

The characters are very likeable, especially the ones coming from different backgrounds, and giving a drastic contrast. The royals contrasting with the humble upbringing of General Eisenhower is brilliant. I also enjoyed the innocent behavior of two daughters, who wanted to look at good looking men in uniforms or fight the Germans with Granny’s walking canes.

The way the snippets of her childhood or past or legend of monster of Glamis are injected into the story shows a very well-thought-through writing.

The story and dialogue flow effortlessly.

P.S. Highly recommend a parallel story about Winston Churchill’s wife – Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict.

Release date: 19 May 2020

Source: William Morrow Paperbacks