Nine Essential Books to Read If You Love the Royals

Say hi to this series. These books, from the duo known as the Fug Girls, are the fictional-ish version of Will and Kate’s love story. There’s Nick, a future heir to the throne, and Rebecca “Bex” Porter—a commoner—who marries into the royal family. Their courtship doesn’t come without drama (read: a love triangle with Nick’s brother, Prince Freddie) and a host of other royal scandals. (Amazon, Bookshop.org)

Breaking news: this book's for you. This buzzy biography comes from Omid Scobie, the popular Harper’s Bazaar royal editor, and Carolyn Durand, a longtime Elle royal correspondent. They reportedly had access to the inner circle of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and are promising an “honest, and up-close” look at the couple. Add it to your cart to separate royal fact from fiction. (Amazon, Bookshop.org)

Get the real story of Princess Diana. Published five years before her tragic death, this explosive biography shed light on her unhappy marriage to Prince Charles, her suicide attempts, and her struggle with bulimia. Both Diana and Morton denied her being a source for the book, but after her death in 1997, he finally confirmed her heavy involvement with the project. RIP to the “people’s princess.” (Amazon, Bookshop.org)

Relatable. This 2019 fictional rom-com follows a 50-something woman who accompanies her daughter on a work trip to the UK. While her daughter is busy styling the royal family, she falls for a private British secretary. It’s “New Year’s Eve” meets “The Holiday,” and will have you singing “darling, I fancy you.” (Amazon, Bookshop.org)

Get to know the real Margaret. Brown’s book explores the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth, and examines the colorful life of the princess who never got to rule the throne. It’s filled with delicious details about her preferences (she hates the phrase scrambled eggs; they’re buttered eggs to her), her messy love life (an affair, divorce, Picasso wanting to marry her, NBD), and so much more. (Amazon, Bookshop.org)

Imagine if America were a monarchy. Now, imagine no more. Because this book gives you an alternate universe in which George Washington was given a crown after the Revolutionary War. More than two centuries later, the House of Washington still rules with forbidden love and “Gossip Girl”-esque drama included. Oh and...the sequel, “American Royals II: Majesty” is coming this September. (Amazon, Bookshop.org)

There’s more to the Queen than what you see on Netflix. Smith, an esteemed biographer who’s also written about the Kennedys, the Clintons, and Prince Charles, goes deep inside the castle of Buckingham Palace. The book explores Lilibet, from her childhood as a princess, to her life with Philip, and their children. It’s a revealing portrait of the longest-serving monarch in British history. Cheers to her. (Amazon, Bookshop.org)

You’ve got an email-forward rom-com. In this novel, an epidemiology Ph.D. student in NY keeps getting emails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. She thinks it’s spam. Turns out… it’s not. No spoilers on how their love story turns out but let’s just say we’re royally obsessed. (Amazon, Bookshop.org)

Nothing but love. In this one, the son of the first female president in the US goes to the UK to attend a royal wedding. The Prince of Wales is there. And spoiler: the "special friendship" between the US and the UK becomes a littttttle more like a special friendship with benefits. Snog on. (Amazon, Bookshop.org)