Royals British Royal Family British Royal Family History 10 Books to Read If You Love 'The Crown' You binge-watched Netflix's The Crown and now you're at a loss, wanting to know more about the palace, state dinners, corgis and the good ole red box. To feed your regal fix, here are 10 royally fascinating reads. A version of this article originally appeared on EW.com. By Ruth Kinane Ruth Kinane Ruth is a correspondent who covers TV shows such as Younger, Jersey Shore and The Affair. She will write you a drinking game for any show you want and will remain loyal to Britney Spears no matter how many fashion shows she posts on Instagram. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 3, 2022 12:15PM EDT 01 of 10 Princess Margaret by Christopher Warwick In The Crown, Queen Elizabeth can be seen sacrificing her wants and desires for the good of the country, while her younger sister, Princess Margaret, often gets to indulge in salacious fun. Margaret also encountered some trying times — namely her forbidden romance with Captain Peter Townsend — but all that passion, angst and betrayal makes for an even more gripping read in her biography, written by Christopher Warwick, which dives into the conflicting private and public worlds of the Queen's little sister. Buy it! Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts, amazon.com 02 of 10 Elizabeth the Queen by Sally Bedell Smith In this book, Smith details Elizabeth's early days as Heiress Presumptive, her determination to marry Prince Philip despite her parents' protests and the various ups and downs she experienced as monarch. The best-seller goes behind the late Queen's perfectly presented public poise to explore the wit and charm that was rarely given the chance to flourish outside the palace walls. Buy it! Elizabeth the Queen, amazon.com 03 of 10 Philip and Elizabeth by Gyles Brandreth If Claire Foy and Matt Smith's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's romance is your favorite part of The Crown, this book is for you. The course of true love never did run smoothly, and that's certainly true for the young Queen and her overshadowed husband (and distant cousin). Despite living their entire married life in the public eye, very little is known about what actually went on between the couple behind palace walls. Read this biography to find out if the Duke of Edinburgh was really as surly as the Netflix show suggests. Plus, the book includes a selection of Prince Philip's family photographs as well as pictures from the Queen's royal collection. Buy it! Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage, amazon.com 04 of 10 The Little Princesses by Marion Crawford Written by Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret's nanny of 16 years, Marion Crawford ("Crawfie"), The Little Princesses tells of the girls' royal upbringing and Crawford's attempt to expose the children to the ordinary world outside of the palace. Scandal followed the publication of the book, dubbed the "original nanny diaries," as the press went after Crawford for divulging royal secrets. The Queen Mother — who had given the nanny permission to write the book — never spoke to her again. Buy it! The Little Princesses, amazon.com 05 of 10 Young Prince Philip by Philip Eade Despite having been married to the Queen for more than 70 years, Prince Philip was rather mysterious. This book focuses exclusively on Philip's young life. It details his mother's commitment to a psychiatric clinic when he was just nine years old; his turbulent upbringing across Greece, France, Nazi Germany and Britain; and his time serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Buy it! Young Prince Philip, amazon.com 06 of 10 The Queen Mother by William Shawcross The Queen Mother lived to the impressive age of 101. Shawcross was awarded unrestricted access to the Queen Mother's personal papers, letters and diaries to put this biography together. The Queen Mother's life spanned two world wars; she witnessed the abdication of her brother-in-law; and grieved the death of her youngest daughter, Princess Margaret — making this one gripping read. Buy it! The Queen Mother, amazon.com 07 of 10 Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton Cecil Beaton was an English photographer, designer and diarist. This collection of stunning photos offers a glamorous glimpse into royal life. The images are accompanied by descriptions of how these royal portraits shaped the monarchy's public image from the 1930s to the late 1960s. Buy it! Queen Elizabeth II: Portraits, amazon.com 08 of 10 Not in Front of the Corgis by Brian Hoey Not in Front of the Corgis isn't told from the point of view of one of the Queen's adorable pups. Instead, it's told from the perspective of the palace staff. Deep within the pages are fun facts about the late Queen's television and music preferences, insight into what's served at Prince Charles and Camilla's dinner parties and admissions about which royals really get on the serving staff's nerves. This book is perfect for the reader who wants to believe the royal family members are just like us. Buy it! Not in Front of the Corgis, amazon.com 09 of 10 The Royals by Kitty Kelley The Royals is packed with scandals, including marriage dissolutions, affairs and the ruined lives of regal children. With accusations of Prince Philip's bisexuality and Princess Margaret's anti-Semitism, it's a juicy, shocking page-turner — and, most definitely, an unauthorized biography. Buy it! The Royals, amazon.com 10 of 10 On Duty with the Queen by Dickie Arbiter In this unique look at royal life, former press secretary to the royal family, Dickie Arbiter, reveals the day-to-day workings of Buckingham Palace. Arbiter has four decades of experience covering the former Queen. He's the only royal commentator to have witnessed the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II; covered her Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees; and joined Her Majesty for dishwashing chores after a picnic at Balmoral Castle. Those classy credentials make for fascinating and insightful reading. Buy it! On Duty with the Queen, amazon.com Close