David Baldwin is Serjeant of the Vestry of HM Chapels Royal. He has previously served on the staff of Lambeth Palace Library, as a Curator of Durham University Library, as a Virger at St Paul's Cathedral, and in the Armouries of HM Tower of London. He was deployed by the Royal Navy as a NATO Satellite Operator during the Baltic Cold War, was awarded his M.Litt for a study of Seventeenth Century Catholicism in The Queen's Chapel, and became a Fellow of the Linnean Society for work on radar moisture detection in the propagation of arid zone grasses.

"Did you know that Napoleon, who probably numbered King Charles II (merry monarch of many mistresses) among his forbears,was a brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington? Or that the first Princess to christen a ship flung the bottle at its side,missed,and struck a spectator who sued the Admiralty for damages? Or that the tune of the ' Star-Spangled Banner'  was composed by George III's organist at St James's Palace?"   "All these delightfully unexpected details--and many more--garnish the deep but always lightly worn scholarship of David Baldwin. His new book has a richly rewarding theme never previously explored:how over the centuries royal prayers in peace and war have made an immense contribution to national and social unity. Learning with light-heartedness:that's Baldwin's formula,and it's a winner.Put it on your Christmas reading list." - Alistair Cooke OBE MA PhD, Official historian of the Conservative Party and of the Carlton Club

• Introduction: Royal Prayer -- A JustificationChapter 1: Royal Launching and Christening of ShipsChapter 2: 'Near Miss' Royal PrayerChapter 3: The Modern Application of some old Royal Prayers Chapter 4: Royal Prayer in ScotlandChapter 5: Royal Prayer for BonapartesChapter 6: Royal Prayer of AmericaChapter 7: The Washington Prophecy of 1732Chapter 8: The Star Spangled BannerChapter 9: Royal Prayer at times of Personal and National Distress: Natural DisastersManmade DisastersChapter 10: Royal Prayers facing Revolution: Prayers of the Russian Royal FamilyPrayers of a Romanian PrincessPrayers of the Greek Royal FamilyChapter 11 Right GovernanceChapter 12: Royal PatronageChapter 13: Royal RemembranceChapter 14: Prayers of Diana, Princess of WalesChapter 15: Royal Prayer in the Exploration of Earth and Space and the development of Nuclear TheologyChapter 18: EpilogueAppendix: Royal Military Prayersv