Sara K Joiner: Royal Reads

Trees from William and Kate's wedding
in Westminster Abbey in 2011.

photo by Sara K Joiner

With the wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle only days away, it's a great excuse to dig into some historical fiction set in the world of real-life royal families.

Since this is a British royal wedding, it's only fair that we start with historical fiction featuring the British royal family, a.k.a. Harry's ancestors.

Victoria Rebels - Carolyn Meyer
Using diary entries, this novel covers the life of the second-longest ruling monarch in British history from age eight to 24.

The Redheaded Princess - Ann Rinaldi
Young Elizabeth grows up on an estate away from her father and faces danger and intrigue on her way to becoming queen.

VIII - H.M. Castor
Hal is skilled in battle, intelligent and gifted, but once he becomes king and his power grows, he falls into despair and paranoia that ultimately consumes the lives of many around him.

The Case of the Perilous Palace - Jordan Stratford
Ada Lovelace and Mary Shelley, two young crime-solvers, tackle the case of finding Princess Alexandrina Victoria's missing diary.

Gilt - Katherine Longshore
When Kitty's friend Catherine Howard becomes queen, Kitty must learn the complex world of the royal court, including who to trust.

My Name Is Victoria - Lucy Worsley
Miss V is sent by her father to be the companion to Princess Victoria and to make sure the princess follows his strict rules. As her friendship with the princess grows, Miss V must decide whether to serve her father or her future queen.

In light of the fact that Queen Elizabeth II's last Corgi died recently, here are two books that celebrate her history with the breed.

Susan - Kate Klimo
The corgi given to Princess Elizabeth on her 18th birthday tells readers about life in Buckingham Palace.

Titus Rules! - Dick King-Smith
The queen's youngest corgi manages to prevent multiple disasters at Windsor Castle and earns his own special title.

The following books feature royals from other countries.

The Potato King - Christoph Niemann
Frederick the Great of Prussia wants his citizens to eat potatoes, but they refuse. When he plants a field and has armed guards keep people out, they become more interested.

The Haunting of Falcon House - Eugene Yelchin
A young Russian prince travels to Saint Petersburg to begin his royal training, but the house he's inherited is haunted.

Blueberries for the Queen - John & Katherine Paterson
During World War II, the Queen of the Netherlands finds safety in Massachusetts where a boy who lives down the street decides to bring her some blueberries.