Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable trash
Review: This book starts out as a sort of 'Hollywood Babylon' of the Royal Family, with some of the grubbier details of their pre-war family life being revealed. For example, she claims that the Queen Mother was artificially inseminated, and that Prince Philip - or Phil the Greek, to his loyal subjects - ran a string of mistresses. It's all highly entertaining, and very revealing of the selfish, narcissistic mindset of the Royals - even if a few of the details are a bit shaky, the way they act seems to ring true. It's no surprise that they took out a court order to stop this book being published in the UK.
Unfortunately the second half of the book is taken over by the twin marital disasters of Princesses Diana and Sarah Ferguson, and rather declines into recycled tabloid stories and below-stairs gossip. Still, it is nice to see these collcted into one sort-of coherent narrative.
It is a pity that Kelley doesn't seem interested in delving into the stories a bit more deeply. For instance, we are told that a gentleman with a radio scanner just happened to chance upon, and record, intimate conversations between Princess Diana and one of her paramours - is this really credible, or were her telephone conversations being monitored (probably either by the police Special Branch or MI5) as she claimed? Don't forget the same thing happened to Prince Charles - UK citizens will remember the Squidgygate tapes with affection! Random chance, or something more sinister?
It's also a pity that she doesn't deal with Prince Edward having to resign from the Royal Marines after a few weeks, or his less than glorious career with Andrew Lloyd Webber's production company - now we'll never know if he progressed beyond being the office tea-boy! I suppose, though, that the American audience this book is primarily aimed at wouldn't have been very interested in this relatively minor Royal.
All in all, this is a long way from being a serious history of the Royal Family. That doesn't mean it's a bad book, however. While undeniably trashy, it's just the thing if you fancy a good dose of schadenfreude, or an insight into the decline of the public's esteem and respect for the Windsors.
For those UK readers who don't have access to the US edition through a helpful friend or relative, try eBay or ABEbooks. eBay worked for me...
Rating: 
Summary: Simply compelling
Review: A tantalizing trip through castle Windsor. Listening to Ms. Kelley narrate her book is a real treat. The amount of delicious gossip and factual information keeps one riveted to their headphones. Ms. Kelley delivers each tidbit with conviction and a hint of humor. While some information may be disputed one cannot help but wonder at the outlandish behavior of this blue blood family and how it tries to deal with its problems. Still, it was interesting to know that even the royals are to an extent as common as everyone else and that the highs and lows of life spare no one regardless of birth or position in society. Highly recommended for a fast listen if you can find a copy somewhere. The book contains four cassettes which are rather short in length. I got through the entire book in just one and a half days.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice trash and not much reality
Review: Thanks Kitty :
Without you we would not be able to get trash books on the shelves.
I really can't wait for your other fiction book on the Bush family.
From what I heard you are really telling the whole truth there. Uhhh!
Rating: 
Summary: Gossipy, and sometimes unbelievable!
Review: Kitty Kelley's books are pretty much all the same--gossipy, tabloid-style writing--but they are fun to read. Some of the theories that she puts across in the book are so outlandish that you wonder if you're not *really* reading one of the tabloids! If you like reading about the Royal Family, and aren't too serious, you'll probably enjoy it. As for the authenticity of what she writes...well, I'll leave that for you to decide!
Rating: 
Summary: sleazy gossip and sly rumors
Review: Those who compare this book to tabloid journalism are somewhat mistaken. Yes this book has its fair share of errors, and yes it is as sensationalistic as tabloid trash, but this book certainly shows enough research and gives enough credible sources to more or less accurately portray the scandals and "misbehavior" in the book. There are those who revere the Royals and don't want this stuff to be true because they want to look up to the Royal Family as the paradigm of family values and correct behavior, but I think with so many scandals and less-than-flattering revelations about the Royals' private lives through the years, most people I'm sure have become disillusioned with and cynical about them. Really, these bluebloods are just as flawed and ordinary as the rest of us, only difference being that they were born into the House of Windsor. What's their use? Well, they're good theatre. Also, they help out charities and other good causes, which is nice.David Rehak
author of "A Young Girl's Crimes"
Rating:
Summary: Reads like a tabloid
Review: Kitty Kelley would make a great gossip columnist, but as a biographer or historian she is absolutely awful.
She seems unaware that when King George IV and his wife Elizabeth visited North America World War II had not yet started. She also seems confused about when Churchill became Prime Minister. If she fails with these basic facts that can be found in any history book, how reliable can the rest of her information be?
Rating:
Summary: Can't put it down!
Review: This book is very readable. If you are interested in the little nasty goings-on 'behind-the-scenes,' then this is your book. Personally, I am an Anglophile and am one of those Yanks who go ga-ga over royalty (especially British Royalty). Ms. Kelley does her best to tarnish my vision of them - but then she polishes it a bit - then tarnishes some more. Great fun really. She actually takes you on a roller coaster ride as your feelings about the Windsors go up and down and over and out. But then...what family doesn't have its up and downs - its bad apples? Don't we all have moments when we're less than kind to people? Fortunately, no one is looking over our shoulder writing down every little faux pas. Ms. Kelley makes the Royals human - which is a blast! I love it when the Queen uses four-letter words. You don't want to miss the joke Kitty tells about the Queen in her Rolls with her lady-in-waiting regarding Princess Margaret (may she rest in peace). I was in hysterics! A 'jolly good' book!
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