“With his unrivaled access to the royal family, to friends of the new king and queen, and to staff across the royal households, bestselling biographer Robert Hardman goes behind the scenes to produce this brilliant portrait of Charles III. He reveals what really happened after the death of the late queen, the dazzling pomp, the inner turmoil, the problems, and the triumphs as Charles set out to make his mark. Faced with fresh debates about a ‘slimmed-down’ monarchy, political upheavals, and a flow of damning headlines, not least those from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Charles could barely afford a misstep. Hardman charts the reality of the transition all through that make-or-break first year and up to the present. He reveals what really happened at the coronation—the joy, the nerves, the hidden meanings, and the near-misses on the day itself. He is also the first writer to be granted access to the classified Royal Archives papers on the previous coronation. This narrative also describes in vibrant detail the vital role played by Queen Camilla, the king’s relationships with his sons and the rest of his family, his plans for reforming the monarchy, and how he is taking his place on the world stage. Authoritative and richly insightful, The Making of a King is a fascinating insider’s account of a very different sort of monarch, one determined to maximize ‘the time God grants me,’ to weather the storms, and, perhaps, even to enjoy it.”-Cover
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