‘The Crown in Crisis: Countdown to the Abdication’ by Alexander Larman, published by Weidenfeld and NicolsonRead review
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‘Finding Freedom’ book: Royal titles to read after the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle biography
From King Edward VIII to Princess Diana, these non-fiction tomes document the lives of the other members who removed themselves from the fold
Eva Waite-Taylor
Monday 08 March 2021 03:58 EST
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'My Story' by Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York and Jeff Coplon, published by Pocket BooksRead review£6
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, published on 11 August, is the latest tell-all, unofficial biography about Harry and Meghan.
The hotly anticipated book provides a unique insight into what led the couple to exit from royal life.
On 8 January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a statement on Instagram declaring that: "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
"We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen."
The news that the couple would be stepping back from royal duties came as an unprecedented surprise, even to Buckingham Palace.
But, Harry and Meghan are not alone in their endeavour to leave royalty behind. Princess Diana, for example, sought to live a more independent life, while King Edward VIII famously abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson.
Ahead of publication, Finding Freedom was serialised by The Times and The Sunday Times, which exposed details of the book, including how the Sussexes felt their complaints were not taken seriously, and that they believed other members of the royal household were leaking stories about them to the press.
From courtship to controversy it is a powerful expose into "Megxit" and the inner workings of the royal family. Take it from us, once you've finished reading it, you won't want to stop there, so here's a round-up of the other biographies about the other royals who have taken a step back from their duties – but all for very different reasons.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
‘The Crown in Crisis: Countdown to the Abdication’ by Alexander Larman, published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson
The abdication of King Edward VIII had seismic repercussions for the royal family. King for just 326 days, he avoided a constitutional crisis by stepping down as the monarch to marry two-time divorcee Wallis Simpson. The Crown in Crisis uses previously unpublished and rare archival material, as well as interviews with those who knew Edward and Wallis. It explores how an unthinkable event tore the country apart. Documenting the personal and national reverberations of the love affair, it's an engaging, detailed, and suspenseful read; one that is equal parts empathetic and entertaining. You will be gripped.
'My Story' by Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York and Jeff Coplon, published by Pocket Books
Prince Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, was reportedly frozen out of the royal family following the break down of her marriage in 1996. Following the couple's divorce, Ferguson became known as the Duchess of York but no longer held any royal privileges. My Story is a tell-all book that exposes her divorce from Prince Andrew and documents the Duchesses's experiences as a member of the royal family – the frustrations, humiliations, and occasional joys of life as a Windsor, while also outlining how she felt she was continually undermined by the press.