The Queen's Secret

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The Queen's Secret follows the life of Katherine of Valois, Queen of England. When most people think of princesses, they think pampered little girls. Katherine's life was far from easy. She and her siblings were horribly neglected by their mother. Their father was attentive when he was sane, but his sanity was often short-lived. Then, Katherine marries the King of England and her life is so wonderful. Even during the best times, the scars left from her childhood remain. When her husband dies and her son is taken from her, she finds a new love and creates a new family. Their views do not necessarily align with the new Prime Minister Churchill, but she recognizes his brilliance and that it is better to work with him than against him. In 2013 the Queen gave her consent to the parliamentary bill to build the High Speed 2 rail line between London and Birmingham. Transport ministers had notified the palace that the bill affected the “interests of the crown” as the department needed to acquire 21 plots of land owned by the crown estate during the construction of the line. As for that very specific date on which the letter can be opened (which is still 63 years away), in 1986, a Malaysian company signed a 99-year lease on the building until 2085, which is – yep, you've guessed it – the same year the Queen’s letter is due to be opened in (which sounds to us like more than a coincidence?). Perhaps in the letter, the Queen has asked for the lease to be extended, suggesting that the building is so close to her heart she wishes for it to remain safe (and standing) even after her death. However, the passing of the Queen and the accession of the King draw attention to the republican sentiment that continues to bubble under the surface in Australia.

Because Australia is a Commonwealth country, Queen Elizabeth II served as the country’s head of state for 70 years. While on the throne, she made 16 trips to Australia – the last visit being in 2011. Now, as the current reigning British monarch King Charles III is Australia’s head of state.Seeing the sheer range, in this relentless list form, really drives home the sheer breadth of things that the procedure captures.” Lucy Morgan is a brilliant character. Used by the Queen and the Earl as a spy, her anxieties could be clearly felt. She is a heroine that acts without thinking. In the Author’s Note at the end of the book we find out that Lucy Morgan did exist and as part of the Queen’s attendants. I think there is more to ‘tell’ about Lucy’s life and would love the author to write another story that includes her!

The other character in this novel is Kenilworth Castle itself. This is one place I know well, having grown up in Kenilworth, the Castle was my playground. Victoria Lamb brings the Castle to life and describes the life of Elizabeth’s court with intelligence and accuracy which gives this novel authenticity. The book is fully narrated by Elizabeth so that the reader is privy to her private fears, her thoughts about the war, and how heavily her secrets weighed upon her as she lived in constant fear of having them exposed.

Customer reviews

This Elizabethan historical mystery is set in 1585 when Queen Elizabeth I visits Kenilworth, home of her favourite, Robert Dudley. Robert is desperate to marry Elizabeth and hopes that by wooing her at Kenilworth she will finally consent to be his wife. However, Elizabeth is as capricious as she is beautiful and with flirtatious cynicism she is content to leave Robert waiting for her decision. However, waiting in the wings is one of Elizabeth’s beautiful ladies in waiting, Lettice Knollys, wife of the Duke of Essex, who is more than happy to accommodate Robert Dudley’s attentions. Elizabeth is incensed by the growing attraction between Robert and Lettice, and undertakes the services of Lucy Morgan, a young singer in her entourage, to spy on the couple. Combined with the ostentatious portrayal of life in the Elizabethan court, is the story of Lucy Morgan, a young woman who is well used to the world of espionage.Gradually,she uncovers a plot that will have devastating consequences, not just on on Elizabeth’s court, but also on Lucy herself. So, despite the oversaturation of world war II novels, which I’ve been avoiding for a long while now, I decided to give this book a try.

Politicians infrequently question the procedure. One of the rare occasions was in 2015 when the Labour peer Lord Berkeley asked why the Queen’s consent was required for the enterprise bill after the rote passage had been read out.I think what bothered me the most was how much the characters changed from first book to the next even though they happened right after each other. Shadow/Lilac was this fearless girl who stood up for herself but the Lilac we got here was the pitiful meek little girl who couldn't do a thing for herself. She just sat in her room and complained about her life and how unfair everything was. But then would get randomly jealous and be angry for no reason. I just did not like her at all in this book. Cal pretty much stayed the same so at least there was that... I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Hopeless negotiations are over. “Life soon turned into nightmare (…), when Hitler’s forces invaded Poland on 1 September 1939.” The Queen's Secret by Victoria Lamb is a look into the inner circle of the Elizabethan Court. Unlike most historical novels however, Lamb has chosen to give us a peak into the Court during a specific event in history. The story centers on a trip Queen Elizabeth and her court took in July of 1575 to Kenilworth, home of Earl Robert Dudley, one of the Queen's long-time favorites. Using the Queen herself and a number of other observers, we get an inside look at the intrigue, romance, and folly of this much-recounted period in history.

She is supportive in her husband’s political decisions and is one of his closest advisors, often looking over his speeches. Praise for The It Girls:“ The It Girlsis a glorious romp through the lives and loves of the scintillating Sutherland sisters.... Readers who enjoy historical fiction are in for a treat!” The Tudor period is a historical period that's held a fascination for many people for a long time, me included. As such there have been many books written on it and films and even a TV show made about it. One of the most fascinating figures from this period is of course Elizabeth I of England. She's had her fair share of biographies, biopics and historical novels written about her, but people still love to discover more about her. But with the amount of works already devoted to Elizabeth and her reign, is it still possible to add something original to what's already out there? It's probably very difficult, but Victoria Lamb definitely gives it a good shot. And I'd dare to say that her look at the Elizabethan court and the love triangle between Elizabeth, Leicester and Lettice Knollys from the perspective of Shakespeare's 'Dark Lady', Lucy Morgan is pretty unique.

The way the snippets of her childhood or past or legend of monster of Glamis are injected into the story shows a very well-thought-through writing. I loved this book for several reasons. The first reason is the setting, it is set over a few weeks in 1575 when Elizabeth I visits Kenilworth Castle, home of her favourite the Earl of Leicester, on her summer progress. I have read quite a lot of Tudor-set novels and most of them take place over years, for example the adult life of a famous figure or for the duration of a relationship. To dip into the life of Elizabeth I over such a short time was refreshing. It meant there was more room for the descriptions of the more mundane events in her everyday life such as getting dressed, her meals etc which made great settings for the conversations and gossip that would have been so much the part of court life. It made the events, and characters, in the book seem much more real to me. The whole story of Edward abdicating the throne and being removed from his Royal duties creates a lot of interest. Were all fascinated by the Royal family and it has to be one of the most famous families in the world. Queen Elizabeth was the matriarch of her family, she supported her husband during WW II, when he died she supported her daughter Elizabeth when she became the Queen of England. Karen Harper uses theories regarding the queen mother’s parentage and her relationship with her husband Bertie in her latest book and some of story seemed a little farfetched to me?