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The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy Hardcover – January 18, 2024
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No British monarch has had a tougher act to follow.
Now, after seventy years of waiting and preparation, King Charles III is not just the head of the most famous family in the world. He is the custodian of a thousand-year-old institution which must redefine its place in the digital age while others insist on rewriting the past. With unrivaled access to the king, the royal family, and the court, leading royal authority Robert Hardman brings us the inside story on the most pivotal and challenging year for the monarchy in living memory.
From the death of Elizabeth II through to the ancient spectacle of the Coronation, from the rise of a new Prince and Princess of Wales to the latest "truth bombs" from the Sussexes, this is the story of the making of a monarch.
- Print length464 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPegasus Books
- Publication dateJanuary 18, 2024
- Dimensions6 x 1.9 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101639365311
- ISBN-13978-1639365319
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"An impressive account." ― The Washington Post
"Robert Hardman's new biography takes us inside the first year of Charles's reign. A can't miss book for royal watchers." -- Town & Country
“He did it with Elizabeth II and now he has done it again with Charles III. Robert Hardman is the unsurpassed grand master when it comes to the inside story of the modern monarchy. Full of surprises and glorious detail.” -- Andrew Roberts, New York Times bestselling author of Napoleon
“A superb, fascinating account of the new King, his court and the first year of his reign, elegantly written, deeply researched, impeccably sourced and filled with scoops and new details by the most authoritative of royal historians writing today. This is the definitive book.” -- Simon Sebag Montefiore, bestselling author of The Romanovs
Praise for Queen of Our Times:
The Sunday Times Book of the Year
“There are a lot of royal books out there, but Robert Hardman’s majestic treatment of the late Queen reigns glorious over all of them. An impeccably researched front-row seat to a remarkable, gilded and long life.” ― The Times (London)
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Pegasus Books
- Publication date : January 18, 2024
- Language : English
- Print length : 464 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1639365311
- ISBN-13 : 978-1639365319
- Item Weight : 1.4 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.9 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #169,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11 in Welsh History
- #118 in Royalty Biographies
- #520 in Rich & Famous Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Robert Hardman has covered aspects of royal life for more than twenty years and is the writer of both the film and the book Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work. He writes for the Daily Mail in London.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book easy to read and appreciate its interesting details. The content receives positive feedback, with one customer noting its meticulous display of sources. The pacing is well-received, with one customer describing it as tightly scheduled.
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Customers find the book easy to read.
"I enjoyed the book, but it could have stood better editing. For example, it states that Charles was at Kensington Palace when George VI died...." Read more
"...I appreciate the meticulous display of sources as well. Excellent work." Read more
"...and another book from the Harry and Meghan camp this was a delightful experience...." Read more
"It was a clean cut read with a lot of new information." Read more
Customers find the book's content interesting, with one customer noting its meticulous use of sources and another highlighting the detailed coverage of the transition.
"...There is indeed a load of detail about every phase of Charles' reign so far, but that is what modern royalty is: tightly scheduled, continuously on..." Read more
"...The details regarding the transition are detailed - those Brits are quite particular when it comes to their ceremonies...." Read more
"...This writer was either too restrained or too unenlightened to provide much in the way of human interest and evocative events that serve as cement to..." Read more
"Details on how a Coronation is put together was extremely interesting. No wonder it takes a long time to plan it...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's pacing, with one noting its timely approach and another mentioning its tightly scheduled content.
"...of Charles' reign so far, but that is what modern royalty is: tightly scheduled, continuously on the job and no time for gossip-mongering...." Read more
"Book arrived in pristine condition and in very timely manner" Read more
"Fast service good interesting read" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThe thought to get the greatest job in the world, your Mother must die. To wait all those years and create a blueprint for future Prince of Wales and be more successful than past POW. Charles doesn't get the credit he deserves
- Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseI enjoyed the book, but it could have stood better editing. For example, it states that Charles was at Kensington Palace when George VI died. He was a Sandringham. He never lived at KP until he married. The book states that the Duke of Connaught died in 1924. He died in 1942. Sloppy editing.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2024Format: KindleVerified Purchaseespecially the last four chapters about life after the coronation. Then maybe both the Duke and Duchess might get a clue as to how monarchy works, and why their off-stage attempts at sabotage aren't working. There is indeed a load of detail about every phase of Charles' reign so far, but that is what modern royalty is: tightly scheduled, continuously on the job and no time for gossip-mongering. I enjoyed discovering all this. I appreciate the meticulous display of sources as well. Excellent work.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseAfter reading Spare (who knew the Royal Family was just as dysfunctional as the rest of us) and another book from the Harry and Meghan camp this was a delightful experience. The King and Queen are revealed to be normal people with (at times) a wonderful sense of humor. The details regarding the transition are detailed - those Brits are quite particular when it comes to their ceremonies. I would definitely recommend it!
- Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseIf you are interested in every phase of the coronation of King Charles III, then this text will be helpful. It’s loaded with facts. Mostly that is good, but it is actually opinions and perspectives that fill out a book and make it interesting. This writer was either too restrained or too unenlightened to provide much in the way of human interest and evocative events that serve as cement to hold the account together. The text reads with the matter-of-fact tone of a scientific report on the activity of carrier pigeons. It’s a totally colorless account of what must include much more than the facts of a coronation. I’m passing this one on to the thrift store.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseDetails on how a Coronation is put together was extremely interesting. No wonder it takes a long time to plan it. Facts that I didn't know about King Charles made me see him in a very good light. Robert Hardman was very professional of setting the record straight about Harry and Meghan. That needed to be told.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseIt was a clean cut read with a lot of new information.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseI'm not quite finished yet but far enough along to appreciate how this man's whole life has prepared him to be King. His humility. Humanity. Attitude of service to his people. Efforts to save the planet. I never truly understood what a treasure he is.
Top reviews from other countries
- Ken RobertsonReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchaselots of new details from a great writer