Behind the Throne : A Domestic History of the British Royal Household

An upstairs/downstairs history of the British royal court, from the Middle Ages to the reign of Queen Elizabeth II Monarchs: they're just like us. They entertain their friends and eat and worry about money. Henry VIII tripped over his dogs. George II threw his son out of the house. James I had to cut back on the alcohol bills. In Behind the Throne, historian Adrian Tinniswood uncovers the reality of five centuries of life at the English court, taking the reader on a remarkable journey from one Queen Elizabeth to another and exploring life as it was lived by clerks and courtiers and clowns and crowned heads: the power struggles and petty rivalries, the tension between duty and desire, the practicalities of cooking dinner for thousands and of ensuring the king always won when he played a game of tennis. A masterful and witty social history of five centuries of royal life, Behind the Throne offers a grand tour of England's grandest households. Monarchs : They're Just Like Us. They Entertain Their Friends And Eat And Worry About Money. Henry Viii Tripped Over His Dogs. George Ii Threw His Son Out Of The House. James I Had To Cut Back On The Alcohol Bills. In Behind The Throne, Historian Adrian Tinniswood Uncovers The Reality Of Five Centuries Of Life At The English Court, Taking The Reader On A Remarkable Journey From One Queen Elizabeth To Another And Exploring Life As It Was Lived By Clerks And Courtiers And Clowns And Crowned Heads: The Power Struggles And Petty Rivalries, The Tension Between Duty And Desire, The Practicalities Of Cooking Dinner For Thousands And Of Ensuring The King Always Won When He Played A Game Of Tennis. A Masterful And Witty Social History Of Five Centuries Of Royal Life, Behind The Throne Offers A Grand Tour Of England's Grandest Households-- Black Books And Spangles -- Progress -- Behind The Masque -- Diplomats And Fools -- A Court Without A King -- We Have Called You Gods -- The Catholic King -- Mrs Morley And Mrs Freeman -- Happy Families -- An Agitation Of Spirits -- Regent -- The Respectable Household -- After Albert -- Court Circular -- That Dear Little Man -- Secretaries -- Gloriana -- Affectionate Memoirs -- It's All To Do With The Training. Adrian Tinniswood. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 347-375) And Index. "Monarchs : they're just like us. They entertain their friends and eat and worry about money. Henry VIII tripped over his dogs. George II threw his son out of the house. James I had to cut back on the alcohol bills. In Behind the Throne, historian Adrian Tinniswood uncovers the reality of five centuries of life at the English court, taking the reader on a remarkable journey from one Queen Elizabeth to another and exploring life as it was lived by clerks and courtiers and clowns and crowned heads: the power struggles and petty rivalries, the tension between duty and desire, the practicalities of cooking dinner for thousands and of ensuring the king always won when he played a game of tennis. A masterful and witty social history of five centuries of royal life, Behind the Throne offers a grand tour of England's grandest households"-- Provided by publisher Black books and spangles Progress Behind the masque Diplomats and fools A court without a king We have called you gods The Catholic king Mrs Morley and Mrs Freeman Happy families An agitation of spirits Regent The respectable household After Albert Court circular That dear little man Secretaries Gloriana Affectionate memoirs Postscript : it's all to do with the training. The royal household might be described as a domestic institution on a massive scale. Those in service to the monarch held traditional titles, and as with any large group working in close proximity, there were many feuds as well as considerable accomplishments. The stories told are interesting and illuminating about how the British monarchy works.