The trickiest part of his assignment is maintaining a dignified aura while stooping to snoop. So he invokes the royals' most loose-lipped employees. And he brings some wit to this mission. The valet who wrote about Prince Philip, he says, delivered "a memoir of his happy years as the prince's trouser-presser." And he tells Paul Burrell, the butler who wound up with some of the clothing of Diana, Princess of Wales, after she died, "Your trouble was that you fell in love with Diana because Judy Garland was dead."
Inevitably, this admiring yet lively book must address what will be a point raised by Prince Philip's obituaries (according to Brandreth, who has already studied them): How much of a ladies' man has he been? The author's tactics here are nothing if not resourceful, especially after he tells readers: "I am going to try to nail the issue once and for all."
In ensuing pages he incorporates the most outrageous rumors, expresses concern that this may seem exploitative (because it is), tracks down women with whom Prince Philip has been friendly and defends an older man's need for "the occasional confidential companionship of a sparky, larky girl who is flattering, intelligent and fun." He does a fine job of defending the prince's behavior until he brings up Lewis Carroll as another innocent victim of calumny.
In the end, typically, Brandreth loyally dismisses the matter. He dutifully praises the prince's honor and the queen's understanding nature. And he amusingly thanks "Mrs. Thompson (the Brandreth family's lone cleaning lady)" for refusing to tell tales.
Publication Notes:
`Philip and Elizabeth: portrait of a royal marriage'
By Gyles Brandreth
413 pages
WW Norton
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