At Home with the Queen: Life Through the Keyhole of the Royal Household

Publisher and industry reviews

UK Kirkus review

Anyone hoping for juicy revelations about the goings-on in the Royal household will be disappointed in this book by veteran royal chronicler Brian Hoey. Rather, it provides a measured, some would say wooden, account of the workings of a household which has changed little since Tudor times. Decidedly deferential in tone, it displays a disappointing reluctance to take on some of the major issues surrounding the running of the monarchy and although there is some critical comment, this seems to be confined to one or two members of the family itself, past and present, rather than to the institution itself. Leafing through the first few chapters, which describe the day-to-day running of the household from the perspective of some of its lowlier staff, even the most cynical reader cannot fail to be intrigued, if somewhat bemused, by the quaint traditions and hierarchies of this archaic and creaking edifice. However, as one progresses through further chapters on subjects such as the likes and dislikes of various members of the Royal Family, their animals and the system of royal Honours and Orders, one finds oneself becoming increasingly irritated by the petty and outdated conventions of royal life and the vast resources required to fund them. Although we are frequently led to believe that the younger royals, in particular, are in favour of a more relaxed and modern approach to the monarchy, if what Hoey has to say is true there is little evidence for this in the daily rituals of the family and its staff, described here in exhaustive detail. However, the sheer necessity of putting the royal finances in order and dealing with an ever more intrusive media has led to the appointment of professionals from the business world, and accounts of their activities, as well as those of the Royal Protection Force and those responsible for the complex travel arrangements of the family and the vast Royal art collection make for more interesting reading. In amongst the minutiae, there is an ample peppering of anecdotes to satisfy the public's apparently insatiable curiosity about royal affairs, and with a selection of fine photographs, this book will undoubtedly appeal to royal enthusiasts. (Kirkus UK)

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