Kate Williams – författare

From Cleopatra to Grace Kelly, an epic new history of royal women that shatters the myths we have built around them.'Erudite, clever, brilliant' KATE MOSSE'A royal smash. Kate Williams is at the top of her game' KATE LISTER'A fascinating and excellent chronicle of female rulers' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE'Williams enlarges our past, transforming our understanding of power' DAN SNOWStories about royal women form some of our most foundational myths about femininity, and yet their legacies have been almost entirely constructed by the words and images created by men.In Regina, acclaimed historian Kate Williams leads us deep into a world of queens, empresses, princesses, mistresses and courtiers, uncovering how their ambitions were shaped, celebrated and often thwarted, exposing a tangled web of women and power that spans thousands of years. Ranging from the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Mesopotamia to the opulent courts of the pre-modern world and the last days of colonialism, Williams delves into the lives of these remarkable women, revealing both their trials and triumphs as they navigate political intrigue, family rivalries and personal sacrifices.From Hatshepsut and Boudica, through Tudor queens Catherine of Aragon and Lady Jane Grey, to Queen Victoria's contemporaries Yaa Asantewaa of Ghana and Queen Lili'uokalani of Hawaii, and right up to Princess Diana, this is a thrilling, globe-spanning story of queens and royal woman, of female power through the ages that unlocks how we understand women, politics and power today.

University students are typically exposed to a much wider variety of academic sources at university – including monographs, textbooks, journals, reports – and, crucially, a much larger proportion of their time is spent on independent academic reading, relative to their time in school.There are lots of study skills texts which deal with academic writing in some form or other, but there are far fewer resources which provide helpful guidance about how to manage the early stages of an assignment. The quality of a student’s written work reflects the quality of their reading and note-making skills. If students don’t understand what their assignment is asking; if students don’t take control of their reading list and consult the most appropriate sources; and if students don’t end the process of reading with meaningful notes it’s very unlikely that they will score high marks for their assignment.This book helps readers to take charge of their reading at university and provides succinct and practical guidance at key stages of the assignment. It helps students to understand what their assignment title means and how to identify useful, reliable academic sources. It helps students to apply different reading strategies, depending on the task at hand, and to approach texts actively so that they are questioning and evaluating materials as they go. In addition to reading strategies, the Pocket introduces readers to useful strategies and tips for note-making. The final part helps readers to make the most of their notes by engaging with and reviewing the material they’ve created.New for this edition:- A science-based example for STEM students- New section which helps readers think about what type of information and evidence they need to find- New tips on managing large volumes of reading- Updated material on note-making software and online tools to reflect latest technology

From first steps to final submission, this accessible guide takes students through each stage of the assignment-writing process and equips them with the skills they need to construct and develop convincing academic arguments.Concise and compact, it offers practical advice on forming ideas, structuring arguments and finding your academic voice. The authors, both of whom are experienced in working directly with students, also provide valuable guidance on a number of important subtleties in academic writing, including expressing reservations or enthusiasm in academic writing and using evidence to convey different viewpoints.The second edition contains new material on synthesizing ideas from different sources, as well as more varied examples of what ‘finding your academic voice means’ in the context of different assignments, including blogs and observations.Applicable to different types of assignment, this is an essential resource for all undergraduates and postgraduates who are looking to communicate their arguments effectively and improve the quality of their academic writing.

This indispensable guide shows students what successful academic writing involves and gives them the tools they will need to write successfully themselves. It separates fact from fiction and takes students through the five essential elements of academic writing: writing critically; using sources; developing your own voice; having a clear structure and style; and editing and polishing drafts. Chapters include annotated extracts of real students' academic writing from a range of subject areas. This third edition has been revised throughout, and contains three new sections on originality, argument and synthesising sources.Writing for University is an essential resource for students making the transition to university-level study and a valuable reference point for all students doing academic study in English. It is suitable for students of all disciplines, from education and business through to social work and psychology.

This concise, no-nonsense guide shows students how to adopt a critical approach in order to unlock their academic potential. It explains:- what 'getting critical' means- why students need to adopt a critical approach- how students can integrate critical analysis into their research, reading and writingEach succinct chapter is visually engaging and informative, and includes plenty of snippets of real students' work to show readers what good critical writing looks like. This 3rd edition has been updated throughout, and now contains new chapters on getting critical with numbers and critical appraisal, fresh examples from a wider range of assignments and more STEM examples.Getting Critical is an invaluable resource for all students who are required to write essays, reports and other pieces of extended writing as part of their course. It is also an ideal text to be used in conjunction with study skills programmes and critical thinking modules at Higher Education and Further Education level.

Packed with practical advice, this concise guide explains what reflective writing is and how to approach it. It equips students with all the key information and strategies they need to develop an appropriate reflective writing style, whatever their subject area. Annotated examples from a range of disciplines and contexts show students how to put these tips into practice. It concludes with a section on applying reflective practices to personal development and career planning.This handy guide is an indispensable resource for students of all disciplines and levels, who are required to develop and demonstrate reflective qualities in their work. It will be particularly useful to students writing reflective logs on placements. New to this Edition:- Contains more content on the value and importance of reflection in other life contexts, so that students can appreciate its relevance from an early stage;- Features a short overview of academic writing genres, to help students make connections between reflective writing and other forms of academic writing with which they are already familiar- Covers alternative ways of capturing reflection, such as free-writing, blogs/vlogs and other technologies- Includes new examples which show how students have re-worked their initial drafts to produce a better, more appropriate response

A dramatic, sparkling tale of sex, glamour, intrigue, romance and heartbreak, England's Mistress traces the rise and rise of the gorgeous Emma Hamilton.Born into poverty, she clawed her way up through London's underworlds of sex for sale to become England's first media superstar. Nothing could stand in the way of her dreams- except her self-destructive desires. Drawing on hundreds of previously undiscovered letters, and told with a novelist's flair, England's Mistress captures the relentless drive, innovative style and burning passion of a true heroine. In a world of tabloid fame and three-minute wonders, Emma's life is truly a tale for our time.

___________________________________'Scintillating, provocative... An elegant synthesis of royal biography and political thriller.' Daily TelegraphA Times History Book of the Year: a story which inspired the Hollywood film MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.Mary, Queen of Scots & Elizabeth I of England. Two powerful monarchs on a single island. Threatened by voices who believed no woman could govern.Surrounded by sycophants, spies and detractors. Accosted for their dominion, their favour and their bodies. Besieged by secret plots, devastating betrayals and a terrible final act. Only one queen could survive to rule all. ___________________________________'Brings us a fresh Mary, set in a gloriously rich context, a tragic heroine - irresistibly real and relevant... There isn't a line wasted in this taut, dramatic and utterly beguiling biography.' Charles Spencer author of Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I'The perfect combination of scholarship and storytelling, meticulous research and emotional insight, Kate Williams brings Mary vividly to life in all her complexities and contradictions.' Kate Mosse, author of The Burning Chambers'It takes a special kind of historian to turn an old story on its head. Eye-opening, provocative, this is the great rivalry re-imagined for the #MeToo generation.' Lucy Worsley

This is the incredible rise and unbelievable fall of a woman whose energy and ambition is often overshadowed by Napoleon’s military might. In this triumphant biography, Kate Williams tells Josephine’s searing story, of sexual obsession, politics and surviving as a woman in a man’s world.Abandoned in Paris by her aristocratic husband, Josephine's future did not look promising. But while her friends and contemporaries were sent to the guillotine during the Terror that followed the Revolution, she survived prison and emerged as the doyenne of a wildly debauched party scene, surprising everybody when she encouraged the advances of a short, marginalised Corsican soldier, six years her junior. Josephine, the fabulous hostess and skilled diplomat, was the perfect consort to the ambitious but obnoxious Napoleon. With her by his side, he became the greatest man in Europe, the Supreme Emperor; and she amassed a jewellery box with more diamonds than Marie Antoinette’s. But as his fame grew, Napoleon became increasingly obsessed with his need for an heir and irritated with Josephine’s extravagant spending. The woman who had enchanted France became desperate and jealous. Until, a divorcee aged forty-seven, she was forced to watch from the sidelines as Napoleon and his young bride produced a child.

Dark and compelling, The Pleasures of Men is a gothic thriller which marks Kate Williams as a stunning new voice in historical fiction. Spitalfields, 1840.A murderer nicknamed The Man of Crows.A heroine with a mysterious past and a vivid imagination.Catherine Sorgeiul lives with her Uncle in a rambling house in London's East End. When a murderer strikes, ripping open the chests of young girls and stuffing hair into their mouths to resemble a crow's beak, Catherine is fascinated, and devours news of his exploits.As the murders cause panic throughout the city, she comes to believe she can channel the voices of his victims and that they will lead her to The Man himself. But she's already far closer than she realises - and lurking behind the lies she's been told about her past are secrets more deadly and devastating than anything her imagination can conjure.'Wonderfully imaginative and gripping' Times'Intense, intelligent and hugely entertaining' Guardian'Intoxicating and disturbing . . . a soaring talent let loose' Independent on Sunday'Fans of Sarah Watesr will love this' Good Housekeeping'A spine-tingling and seductive thriller' Woman & Home

Construction Adjudication and Payments Handbook provides a user-friendly and practical guide to adjudication and payments under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and subsequent legislation. It provides a compendium of case law and materials which is invaluable to the construction industry, adjudicators, legal practitioners, and students. The book covers both the adjudication and payment provisions of the Act. It is set out in an accessible format dealing in turn with each of the major sections of the Act. It also covers how the courts approach challenges to enforcement of adjudication decisions. Alongside commentary from four expert authors, the book presents extracts from the leading cases, comprehensive tables, and insightful summaries of the relevant cases throughout. This title provides an indispensable review of the statutory framework and the judicial guidance and is an excellent resource for construction lawyers and industry professionals.

Construction Adjudication and Payments Handbook provides a user-friendly and practical guide to adjudication and payments under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and subsequent legislation. It provides a compendium of case law and materials which is invaluable to the construction industry, adjudicators, legal practitioners, and students. The book covers both the adjudication and payment provisions of the Act. It is set out in an accessible format dealing in turn with each of the major sections of the Act. It also covers how the courts approach challenges to enforcement of adjudication decisions. Alongside commentary from four expert authors, the book presents extracts from the leading cases, comprehensive tables, and insightful summaries of the relevant cases throughout. This title provides an indispensable review of the statutory framework and the judicial guidance and is an excellent resource for construction lawyers and industry professionals.

When people witness occasions when police use their powers to investigate crime and arrest offenders, how do those members of the public assess what they have seen? This book reports research in which a variety of groups from the West Midlands watched short video-clips of such real-life incidents and then discussed their appraisal amongst themselves. What emerges from those discussions is that the practice of policing is deeply controversial. On most issues, group members were divided and strongly, often passionately arguing their case. There was no ''blank cheque'' for the police, neither was there unremitting criticism, even though some of groups comprised young offenders or the homeless. People worried about whether or not the police on the video-clips had justification for their suspicions; how they managed situations to prevent them getting out of hand; and whether any use of force was justified. Allowing the reader to ''hear the voices'' of dissension that were analysed, the authors present implications which are profound for the police and for all those who are policed - suspects, victims, bystanders, and the public at large - as well as practical proposals for police officers and police governance.

When people witness occasions when police use their powers to investigate crime and arrest offenders, how do those members of the public assess what they have seen? This book reports research in which a variety of groups from the West Midlands watched short video-clips of such real-life incidents and then discussed their appraisal amongst themselves. What emerges from those discussions is that the practice of policing is deeply controversial. On most issues, group members were divided and strongly, often passionately arguing their case. There was no ''blank cheque'' for the police, neither was there unremitting criticism, even though some of groups comprised young offenders or the homeless. People worried about whether or not the police on the video-clips had justification for their suspicions; how they managed situations to prevent them getting out of hand; and whether any use of force was justified. Allowing the reader to ''hear the voices'' of dissension that were analysed, the authors present implications which are profound for the police and for all those who are policed - suspects, victims, bystanders, and the public at large - as well as practical proposals for police officers and police governance.

When people witness occasions when police use their powers to investigate crime and arrest offenders, how do those members of the public assess what they have seen? This book reports research in which a variety of groups from the West Midlands watched short video-clips of such real-life incidents and then discussed their appraisal amongst themselves. What emerges from those discussions is that the practice of policing is deeply controversial. On most issues, group members were divided and strongly, often passionately arguing their case. There was no 'blank cheque' for the police, neither was there unremitting criticism, even though some of groups comprised young offenders or the homeless. People worried about whether or not the police on the video-clips had justification for their suspicions; how they managed situations to prevent them getting out of hand; and whether any use of force was justified. Allowing the reader to 'hear the voices' of dissension that were analysed, the authors present implications which are profound for the police and for all those who are policed - suspects, victims, bystanders, and the public at large - as well as practical proposals for police officers and police governance.

With its vibrant, student-focused approach and authoritative yet accessible coverage of all key topics, The Oxford Textbook on Criminology is the essential companion to exploring, explaining, and responding to crime. While other books simply impart information The Oxford Textbook on Criminology goes further, equipping readers with the confidence and skills to form their own views and treating them as fellow knowledge-generating criminologists.This highly engaging introduction supports undergraduates throughout their criminological journey, from their first encounter with the discipline to conducting independent research and considering career options. Its fresh, contemporary account of the subject includes chapters dedicated to the hot topics of global criminology, social harm, and green criminology, as well as 'New frontiers' boxes which highlight recent and emerging developments in each area.At every turn, concepts and theories are set into a real world context and readers are encouraged to unpick the issues. 'What do you think?' boxes challenge students to question their assumptions and critically reflect on their personal viewpoints, while 'Controversy and debate' and 'Conversations' boxes help students apply the knowledge they've gained. The authors' explanations are brought to life by the voices and experiences of a wide variety of people connected to criminology and the criminal justice system, from students and academics to police officers and crime victims.Digital formats and resourcesThe second edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and is supported by online resources.- The e-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with self-assessment activities, answers to the review questions, and links that offer extra learning support: www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks- These study tools that enhance the e-book are also available as stand-alone online resources for use alongside the print book.Online resources for students:- Over 300 multiple choice questions- Suggested answers to the end of chapter questions- Additional chapters on the criminal justice systems of the UK's devolved jurisdictions- Checklists, templates, and resources on academic writing; research ethics; and employability For lecturers:- Exam and essay questions for each chapter- Customizable PowerPoint slides for each chapter- A teaching pack for each chapter, containing ideas on how to use the book material in lectures and smaller groups- Downloadable versions of all figures in the book

Construction Adjudication and Payments Handbook provides a user-friendly and practical guide to adjudication and payments under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and subsequent legislation. It provides a compendium of case law and materials which is invaluable to the construction industry, adjudicators, legal practitioners, and students.The book covers both the adjudication and payment provisions of the Act. It is set out in an accessible format dealing in turn with each of the major sections of the Act. It also covers how the courts approach challenges to enforcement of adjudication decisions. Alongside commentary from four expert authors, the book presents extracts from the leading cases, comprehensive tables, and insightful summaries of the relevant cases throughout.This title provides an indispensable review of the statutory framework and the judicial guidance and is an excellent resource for construction lawyers and industry professionals.

This practical guide is full of advice on how to make the most of the PhD experience. It covers the practicalities of embarking on a PhD and guides students through the process, from selecting a topic and securing finance to writing and publishing their thesis. It also includes a wealth of workshop activities to help students sharpen their focus and clarify their thoughts, and top tips for further development.This is an essential guide for all current and soon-to-be PhD students. It also offers useful guidance for anyone considering pursuing research-based career.

This friendly guide is packed with practical, succinct advice on the core processes involved in making the final push to successfully finishing a thesis and preparing for life after submission. It contains comprehensive guidance on writing for others, presenting research, networking and preparing for the viva. Hands-on workshop activities keep students engaged and help them to develop a positive approach to overcoming hurdles.This is an indispensable guide for PhD students of all disciplines. It is also an ideal companion to Planning Your PhD.

This pocket-sized guide provides students with practical advice and suggestions for successfully managing all aspects of their time while studying, from prioritising tasks to planning for individual assignments, group tasks and exams. Activities and self-assessments help students to identify how they learn best so that they can develop time management strategies that work for them.Concise yet effective, this is an essential resource for any student looking to improve their time management skills. Ideal for self-study, it contains a section on troubleshooting for those looking for a quick-fix solution.

This pocket-sized guide provides students with practical advice and suggestions for successfully managing all aspects of their time while studying, from prioritising tasks to planning for individual assignments, group tasks and exams. Activities and self-assessments help students to identify how they learn best so that they can develop time management strategies that work for them.Concise yet effective, this is an essential resource for any student looking to improve their time management skills. Ideal for self-study, it contains a section on troubleshooting for those looking for a quick-fix solution.

This friendly guide is packed with practical, succinct advice on the core processes involved in making the final push to successfully finishing a thesis and preparing for life after submission. It contains comprehensive guidance on writing for others, presenting research, networking and preparing for the viva. Hands-on workshop activities keep students engaged and help them to develop a positive approach to overcoming hurdles.This is an indispensable guide for PhD students of all disciplines. It is also an ideal companion to Planning Your PhD.

From CNN’s official royal historian, a highly praised young author with a doctorate from Oxford University, comes the extraordinary rags-to-riches story of the woman who conquered Napoleon’s heart—and with it, an empire.   Their love was legendary, their ambition flagrant and unashamed. Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, Josephine, came to power during one of the most turbulent periods in the history of France. The story of the Corsican soldier’s incredible rise has been well documented. Now, in this spellbinding, luminous account, Kate Williams draws back the curtain on the woman who beguiled him: her humble origins, her exorbitant appetites, and the tragic turn of events that led to her undoing.   Born Marie-Josèphe-Rose de Tascher de La Pagerie on the Caribbean island of Martinique, the woman Napoleon would later call Josephine was the ultimate survivor. She endured a loveless marriage to a French aristocrat—executed during the Reign of Terror—then barely escaped the guillotine blade herself. Her near-death experience only fueled Josephine’s ambition and heightened her  determination to find a man who could finance and sustain her. Though no classic beauty, she quickly developed a reputation as one of the most desirable women on the continent.   In 1795, she met Napoleon. The attraction was mutual, immediate, and intense. Theirs was an often-tumultuous union, roiled by their pursuit of other lovers but intensely focused on power and success. Josephine was Napoleon’s perfect consort and the object of national fascination. Together they conquered Europe. Their extravagance was unprecedented, even by the standards of Versailles. But she could not produce an heir. Sexual obsession brought them together, but cold biological truth tore them apart.   Gripping in its immediacy, captivating in its detail, Ambition and Desire is a true tale of desire, heartbreak, and revolutionary turmoil, engagingly written by one of England’s most praised young historians. Kate Williams’s searing portrait of this alluring and complex woman will finally elevate Josephine Bonaparte to the historical prominence she deserves.Praise for Ambition and Desire  “Not just a scholarly work, but a page-turner . . . Williams is no stranger to creating works on strong and influential women, and, as in those works, here she does an admirable job of demystifying Josephine. . . . This engrossing and accessible account is for all readers who enjoy historical biography.”—Library Journal   “[A] riveting account . . . Williams perfectly illustrates all that was bizarre and maddening about French life during the reign of Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte.”—Publishers Weekly   “Intelligent and entertaining.”—Kirkus Reviews   “An in-depth portrait of the substantive woman behind the throne.”—Booklist“Reading [Ambition and Desire] is like watching Silk Stockings, the 1957 Hollywood masterpiece with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. The book flows and jumps, taking the reader by the hand through tormented times in French history without ever letting you go or losing itself in the intricacies of French politics.”—The Times   “A sparkling account of this most fallible and endearing of women.”—Daily Mail   “A whirlwind tour of French history.”—The TelegraphFrom the Hardcover edition.

Some of the most important and best lessons in a doctor’s career are learnt from mistakes. However, an awareness of the common causes of medical errors and developing positive behaviours can reduce the risk of mistakes and litigation. Written for junior paediatric staff and consultants, and unlike any other paediatric clinical management title available, Avoiding Errors in Paediatrics identifies and explains the most common errors likely to occur in a paediatric setting - so that you won’t make them.  The first section in this brand new guide discusses the causes of errors in paediatrics. The second and largest section consists of case scenarios and includes expert and legal comment as well as clinical teaching points and strategies to help you engage in safer practice throughout your career. The final section discusses how to deal with complaints and the subsequent potential medico-legal consequences, helping to reduce your anxiety when dealing with the consequences of an error. Invaluable during the Foundation Years, Specialty Training and for Consultants, Avoiding Errors in Paediatrics is the perfect guide to help tackle the professional and emotional challenges of life as a paediatrician.

Some of the most important and best lessons in a doctor’s career are learnt from mistakes. However, an awareness of the common causes of medical errors and developing positive behaviours can reduce the risk of mistakes and litigation.Written for Foundation Year doctors, trainees and general practitioners, and unlike any other clinical management title available, Avoiding Errors in General Practice identifies and explains the most common errors likely to occur in an outpatient setting - so that you won’t make them.  The first section in this brand new guide discusses the causes of errors in general practice. The second and largest section consists of case scenarios and includes expert and legal comment as well as clinical teaching points and strategies to help you engage in safer practice throughout your career. The final section discusses how to deal with complaints and the subsequent potential medico-legal consequences, helping to reduce your anxiety when dealing with the consequences of an error.Invaluable during the Foundation Years, Specialty Training and for Consultants, Avoiding Errors in General Practice is the perfect guide to help tackle the professional and emotional challenges of life as a GP.

Avoiding Errors in Adult Medicine Some of the most important and best lessons in a doctor’s career are learnt from mistakes. However, an awareness of the common causes of medical errors and developing positive behaviours can reduce the risk of mistakes and litigation Written for junior medical staff and consultants, and unlike any other clinical management title available, Avoiding Errors in Adult Medicine identifies and explains the most common errors likely to occur in an adult medicine setting - so that you won’t make them. The first section in this brand new guide discusses the causes of errors in adult medicine. The second and largest section consists of case scenarios and includes expert and legal comment as well as clinical teaching points and strategies to help you engage in safer practice throughout your career. The final section discusses how to deal with complaints and the subsequent potential medico-legal consequences, helping to reduce your anxiety when dealing with the consequences of an error. Invaluable during the Foundation Years, Specialty Training and for Consultants, Avoiding Errors in Adult Medicine is the perfect guide to help tackle the professional and emotional challenges of life as a physician. For more information on the Avoiding Errors series, please visit: www.wiley.com/go/avoidingerrors For more information on the complete range of Wiley-Blackwell medical student and junior doctor publishing, please visit: www.wileymedicaleducation.com To receive automatic updates on Wiley-Blackwell books and journals, join our email list. Sign up today at www.wiley.com/email All content reviewed by students for students Wiley-Blackwell Medical Education books are designed exactly for theirintended audience. All of our books are developed in collaboration with students.This means that our books are always published with you, the student, in mind. If you would like to be one of our student reviewers, go to www.reviewmedicalbooks.com to find out more. More titles in the Avoiding Errors series Avoiding Errors in Paediatrics Raine et al. 2013 9780470658680 Avoiding Errors in General Practice Barraclough et al. 2013 9780470673577 This title is also available as an e-book. For more details, please see www.wiley.com/buy/9780470674383 or scan this QR code:

Royal expert and TV historian Kate Williams opens the doors to 30 palaces, castles and houses that have been connected with the British royals over the centuries.Well known for her expert insights in the media and on countless royal documentaries, Kate takes you on a tour of the UK’s most fascinating palaces, past and present, to unveil the scandalous and little-known stories hidden between their walls.Included in the book are such famous royal residences as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but also lesser-known locations such as Falkland Palace and Beaumaris Castle. Covering the breadth of British history, there are tales from the medieval era to the present.Among the palaces included are:St James's Palace, wedding venue for the disastrous union of Caroline of Brunswick and the debauched Prince of Wales, George IV, who turned up drunk and already secretly married Holyroodhouse, where staff once ran a flourishing side hustle, charging visitors money to see the bloodstains from the murder of Mary, Queen of Scots' secretary in the queen’s chamberWhitehall Palace and Banqueting Hall, home to Charles II's secret laboratory, where he tried to create an elixir of youth using human skullsTower of London, the site of the unsolved mystery of the ‘Princes in the Tower’ – the disappearance of the two young sons of Edward IVGlamis Castle, the inspiration for Shakespeare’s MacbethGreenwich Palace, where Elizabeth I survived an assassination attempt when poison was placed in her saddleWindsor Castle, where princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were evacuated to during the Second World War, with a secret biscuit tin full of the Crown JewelsMarlborough House, home of Sarah Churchill, the passionate confidante of Queen Anne, before her cousin Abigail usurped her as the new favouriteRevel in the glory and glamour of royal life, as well as the salacious scandals that defined these palaces. The book is vividly brought to life by numerous beautiful illustrations by James Oses, and will be irresistible to anyone interested in British royalty and the history of the United Kingdom.

Royal expert and TV historian Kate Williams opens the doors to 30 palaces, castles and houses that have been connected with the British royals over the centuries.Well known for her expert insights in the media and on countless royal documentaries, Kate takes you on a tour of the UK’s most fascinating palaces, past and present, to unveil the scandalous and little-known stories hidden between their walls.Included in the book are such famous royal residences as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but also lesser-known locations such as Falkland Palace and Beaumaris Castle. Covering the breadth of British history, there are tales from the medieval era to the present.Among the palaces included are:St James's Palace, wedding venue for the disastrous union of Caroline of Brunswick and the debauched Prince of Wales, George IV, who turned up drunk and already secretly married Holyroodhouse, where staff once ran a flourishing side hustle, charging visitors money to see the bloodstains from the murder of Mary, Queen of Scots' secretary in the queen’s chamberWhitehall Palace and Banqueting Hall, home to Charles II's secret laboratory, where he tried to create an elixir of youth using human skullsTower of London, the site of the unsolved mystery of the ‘Princes in the Tower’ – the disappearance of the two young sons of Edward IVGlamis Castle, the inspiration for Shakespeare’s MacbethGreenwich Palace, where Elizabeth I survived an assassination attempt when poison was placed in her saddleWindsor Castle, where princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were evacuated to during the Second World War, with a secret biscuit tin full of the Crown JewelsMarlborough House, home of Sarah Churchill, the passionate confidante of Queen Anne, before her cousin Abigail usurped her as the new favouriteRevel in the glory and glamour of royal life, as well as the salacious scandals that defined these palaces. The book is vividly brought to life by numerous beautiful illustrations by James Oses, and will be irresistible to anyone interested in British royalty and the history of the United Kingdom.