Quest for Queen Mary

"Almost every page is a gem, but the chapter about Henry Duke of Gloucester must be one of the most hilarious pieces of English prose in our language." ―A.N. Wilson, Spectator

'A scary portrait of put-upon servants and potty aristos ... this is arguably the most riotously funny volume published this year'  --Max Hastings, Sunday Times

The highly acclaimed unexpurgated notes taken by James Pope-Hennessy for his official biography of Queen Mary, the present Queen's grandmother. Published in full for the first time and edited by much-admired royal biographer Hugo Vickers.

When James Pope-Hennessy began his work on Queen Mary's official biography, it opened the door to meetings with royalty, court members and retainers around Europe. The series of candid observations, secrets and indiscretions contained in his notes were to be kept private for 50 years. Now published in full for the first time and edited by the highly admired royal biographer Hugo Vickers, this is a riveting, often hilarious portrait of the eccentric aristocracy of a bygone age.