Jane Ridley (14:00)

Jane Ridley (14:00)

Sat, May 14, 2022, 11:00 AM UTC

George V – Never a Dull Moment

Exploring previously inaccessible archive, Jane Ridley has written the first candid biography of George V – the Queen’s grandfather, and with Queen Mary, the creators of the modern monarchy.

Often written off as the dullest of kings, the subtitle of Ridley’s riveting book ’Never a Dull Moment’ begs to differ. He navigated constitutional crises, the First World War, the fall of 13 European monarchies and the rise of Bolshevism, while Queen Mary emerges as an important figure in her own right. Ridley’s description of the royal marriage throws new light on their family life including the King’s strong affection for his granddaughter Princess Elizabeth ‘which was touching to behold’.

A.N.Wilson has described the book as ‘the best royal biography I’ve read in decades’. Jane Ridley’s talk, like her book, is not to be missed.

In conversation with Anna Somers Cocks



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