• Game of Crowns

  • Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne
  • By: Christopher Andersen
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (446 ratings)

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Game of Crowns  By  cover art

Game of Crowns

By: Christopher Andersen
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Publisher's summary

The number-one New York Times best-selling author of William and Kate and The Day Diana Died takes a compulsively listenable look into the relationships and rivalries of Queen Elizabeth, Camilla Parker Bowles, and Kate Middleton.

One has been famous longer than anyone on the planet - a wily stateswoman and an enduring symbol of a fading institution. One is the great-granddaughter of a king's mistress and a celebrated homewrecker who survived a firestorm of scorn to marry her lover and replace her archrival, a beloved 20th-century figure. One is a beautiful commoner, the university-educated daughter of a self-made entrepreneur, a fashion idol, and wife and mother to two future kings.

Master biographer Christopher Andersen takes listeners behind palace walls to examine the surprising similarities and stark differences among three remarkable women - Queen Elizabeth; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; and Princess Kate. Andersen reveals what transpires within the royal family away from the public's prying eyes; how the women actually feel about each other; how they differ as lovers, wives, and mothers; and how they are reshaping the landscape of the monarchy in this addictive listen that will shock even those who are spellbound by the royal palace.

©2016 Christopher Andersen (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Game of Crowns

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A Well Reasoned Vision of the Future of the British Monarchy

This book is part biography, part analysis, of the highest ranking royals in Britain. It has its gossipy aspects, but what Mr Andersen does best in this book is provide us with a vision of the future of the monarchy after the death of Queen Elizabeth. He lays out his reasoning in straightforward terms that most of us would likely agree. As for myself, I have come to a wait-and-see attitude in terms of the rule of Charles III (in my opinion, a bad choice of name given the experience of those that took the name so very long ago). A very enjoyable and, at times, insightful read.

Mr. Prebble's reading was measured and hit just the right tone to perform this slightly gossipy prose. I especially enjoyed his impersonation of Prince Phillip, which caused me to laugh out loud.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun, interesting, love the narration

What made the experience of listening to Game of Crowns the most enjoyable?

Have really enjoyed the author's work on other stories - this is also fun.Simon Prebble - couldn't have chosen a better voice for this book.

What did you like best about this story?

Learned a lot about the history and expectations of the British royal family

What does Simon Prebble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Fabulous voice - have enjoyed him in the Winemaker Detective Series - elegant

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes - really ruined all my plans for the week-end! Couldn't stop listening!

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Trashy Fun

What made the experience of listening to Game of Crowns the most enjoyable?

A slightly more literate version of the Daily Mail

What did you like best about this story?

Gossip par excellence

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Always the Best - reading the phone book, or anything else

Any additional comments?

Wish it could have gone on twice as long!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

It was very disappointing and poorly put together. There were some parts that felt like they were copied word for word from Paul Burrell's book about Diana. Very badly done. I would not recommend this to anyone.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

OK! magazine in book form

I'm slightly ashamed that I read this. It's a gossipy long form article, that is quite enjoyable. (Not that I'd ever admit that I've either read it or enjoyed it).
I wasn't expecting any new insights, and I didn't get any. Christopher Andersen saved me the trouble of gathering together every piece of gossip on the royals, as he did it for me quite neatly.
I learned nothing new. I was guiltily amused.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Didn't care for it.

The narrator was wonderful and I enjoyed his voice, will look up some of his other books and have a listen! The content of this book didn't hold my attention very well and I stopped listening about half way through.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent listening experience.

From the first chapter to the last, the listener becomes well versed in the shady but redeeming experiences of love lost, infidelity, power and when compromise is your only way out you take it at Buckingham Palace.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Nothing New or Exciting Here

A very dull rehash of Royal info. Boringly read by the usual great Simon Prebble.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Much more Gossip than I Expected

I thought this would be less titillating and more biographical, especially regarding Camilla and Catherine.

There was a little bit of new information, mainly about various scandals and shortcomings. The narrator was the best part of the book for me.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book to listen to!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Since the arrival of Megan Markel on the royal family, I have been more interested in them. It’ll be interesting to hear this authors take on MM joining the family. I listen to this book in one day.

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2 people found this helpful