If you are a fan of Netflix’s The Crown, then this book will interest you. Anne Glenconner was the eldest child of the 5th Earl of Leicester, a neighbor of the royal family’s estate of Sandringham. Anne grew up as a childhood friend of Elizabeth and Margaret. In adulthood, her mother was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber, the highest ranking Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth, and Anne was appointed Maid of Honor in the Queen’s Coronation court. After her marriage to Lord Glenconner, and the birth of five children, her friend Princess Margaret asked her to serve as one of her Ladies in Waiting. Anne held this position for three decades.

On a personal level, the story of Anne, her husband Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner, and the travails and joys of their children, is a remarkable saga of highs and lows. Colin acquires the Caribbean island of Mustique, taking it from undeveloped cotton plantation to a protected playground for royalty and celebrities. The close friendship of Princess Margaret and Anne is a mutual salvation, supporting each other through marital woes, tragedies, as well as shared extraordinary experiences. Learning more about Margaret is fascinating, as she had to endure the loss of love in loyalty to the crown, the endless service to the kingdom, and the lack of protected personal life. Anne brought normalcy, friendship, and the opportunity for Margaret to share herself and give what she could bring to make Anne’s load lighter at critical times of need in her life. The depth of relationships depicted here are engrossing.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in an inside look at the lives of British royalty. Highly recommend.