Louis and the Prince: A Story of Politics, Intrigue and Royal Friendship - Hardcover

Greig, Geordie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340728825 ISBN 13: 9780340728826

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, 1999

Synopsis

Louis Greig, a war hero and rugby international, entered the privileged world of the British royal family as mentor, physician and friend to a young and hesitant Prince Albert.

Greig's influence helped to guide the prince from a stammering, shy schoolboy to become one of the most respected constitutional monarchs, seeing the nation through the Second World War and bringing the monarchy closer to the people.

In this intimate and balanced portrayal of a friendship which lasted almost half a century, author Geordie Greig, the grandson of Louis Greig has drawn on private family papers, the Royal archives at Windsor Castle, libraries at Oxford and Cambridge and used newly discovered letters, journals and photographs for this remarkable, previously untold story.

About this title

Product Description:

1st edition 1st printing hardcover book as new fine condition vg++ price clipped dw, In stock shipped from our UK warehouse

Review:

Subtitled "A story of politics, intrigue and Royal friendship", this is an eye-opening and sometimes very moving biography of Sir Louis Greig, the author's grandfather, and his 45-year friendship with Prince Albert, Duke of York, later crowned King George VI. Greig was outgoing, sociable, tall, blue-eyed, a great sportsman and brimming with energy and confidence. Poor Albert was afflicted with a terrible stammer, shyness, low self-confidence and a real horror of his unexpected destiny. It was George V who quickly realised how wonderful Greig was for the young prince and encouraged their friendship, referring to Greig as "The Tonic." Later in life Greig added politics to his familiarity with royal circles, easing the communications between the Court and the first Labour government under Ramsay MacDonald, at a time when the royal household was still so formal and forbidding that visiting Cabinet ministers were expected to wear a gold-embroidered coat with white knee breeches and silk stockings when attending an evening court. MacDonald became so fond of Greig that he even composed limericks on him, one beginning, "There once was a courtier called Louis, who lived upon tea and Drambuie ... ". This is the best kind of biography: a hitherto unknown but fully worthy subject, whose life story ramifies to encompass an entire age and a vanished way of life. --Christopher Hart

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0340728825
• ISBN 13: 9780340728826
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320