The Queen's Secret by Karen Harper
Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) was in many ways the strength behind the throne during the reign of King George VI. She was called a "fixer" for getting things done yet looking effortless. She, the king, and daughters Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret presented a unified front that symbolized traditional English values during World War II.
Born Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, daughter of a Scottish earl, young Elizabeth seems to have chased after royalty from a young age (sort of like Lady Diana Spenser). The queen had more than one secret, including her parentage, her flirtation with King Edward VIII before he abdicated the throne, and her attempts to discredit Wallis Simpson. While I didn't find her secrets particularly compelling or even very secretive (the one about her parentage seemed to be fairly well known), I did enjoy the historical aspects of the novel from the perspective of a character who is usually little more than a minor player.
The story does drag a bit and many readers may get tired of Elizabeth's endless internal turmoil. But if you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII or centering on the British royal family, you'll want to read this book. The cover has a photo of Queen Elizabeth doing the royal wave.
Two photos of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for a review.
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