COMP CLOSED ‘The Windsor Diaries’ by Alathea Fitzalan Howard

This week’s giveaway is The Windsor Diaries – the never-before-seen diaries of the late Alathea Fitzalan Howard, who lived alongside the young Princess Elizabeth and Margaret at Windsor Castle during the Second World War.

Alathea Fitzalan Howard was born in 1923. Had she been a boy, she would eventually have become Duke of Norfolk, the head of England's leading Catholic aristocratic family, and inherited Arundel Castle. Instead, Alathea's home life was an unhappy one. Her parents had separated and so during the war she was sent to live with her grandfather, Viscount Fitzalan of Derwent, at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. There Alathea found the affection and harmony she craved as she became a close friend of the two princesses, visiting them often at Windsor Castle, enjoying parties, balls, cinema evenings, picnics and celebrations with the Royal Family and other members of the Court.

Alathea's diary became her constant companion during these years as day by day she recorded every intimate detail of life with the young Princesses, often with their governess Crawfie, or with the King and Queen.

Written from the ages of 16 to 22 beginning New Year’s Eve 1939, she captures the tight-knit, happy bonds between the Royal Family, as well as the aspirations and anxieties, sometimes extreme, of her own teenage mind.

These unique diaries give us a bird's eye view of Royal wartime life with all of Alathea's honest, yet affectionate judgments and observations – as well as a candid and vivid portrait of the young Princess Elizabeth, known to Alathea as ‘Lilibet', a warm, self-contained girl, already falling for her handsome prince Philip, and facing her ultimate destiny: the Crown.

We have three copies of this fascinating insight to give away. To be in with a chance to win one, simply tell us WHO your favourite member of the British Royal Family is and WHY (in 25 words or fewer)! Our favourite three answers will WIN a copy of the book.

Entries close midday Monday 26 October 2020, Sydney/Melbourne time.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR YOUR ENTRIES! WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL AND ANNOUNCED IN OUR NEWSLETTER.