Kate was bullied at one school, and removed by her parents. Nobody comes out of this well, with the possible exception of the Middleton family and Kate herself. Prince Charles вЂњjust wasnвЂ™t the kind of person the Queen admiredвЂќ, according to Brown. Like all biographers Brown is apparently obliged to say how wonderful the Queen is, but this is tempered with some sharp comments about her lack of parenting and her emotional coldness. Brown finds out a lot about MeghanвЂ™s background, and at times imagines herself into her head (Photo: Ed Miles) Typical was the treatment of Princess MargaretвЂ™s long-time chauffeur David Griffin вЂ“ working ridiculous hours for years, and then made redundant and told to leave his accommodation when she died. They spend huge amounts of unearned money, but are stingy and thoughtless with others.

They expect loyalty and commitment from staff, and give little in return. This isnвЂ™t a flat-out hatchet job вЂ“ Brown, with her acclaimed 2007 Diana biography already under her belt, is clearly as fascinated by the royals as she is determined to hold them up to the light вЂ“ but this set of pesky royals comes over badly. She presents, very fairly, the doings of the current major Royals and the past lives of the major incomers: Camilla Parker Bowles, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. The long-awaited book from the celebrated editor вЂ“ Brown was formerly at the helm of the likes of Tatler, The New Yorker and Vanity Fair вЂ“ covers the period from Princess DianaвЂ™s death till now, including the deaths of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, the marriages of the old Prince and the young princes, Megxit, and the Prince Andrew disaster.

The utter brilliance of Tina BrownвЂ™s The Palace Papersis that it makes you at the same time think the Royals have unimaginable extraordinary lives вЂ“ and that they are a family just like any other, with this sister-in-law, that mother, and a fight over a social event.

Tina brown