From the author of American Princess: The Love Story of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry comes a funny and delightful history of the royal weddings and marriages of Europe’s most famous—and infamous—monarchs. This edition includes bonus chapters! “An irresistible combination of People magazine and the History Channel.”—Chicago Tribune Since time immemorial, royal marriages have had little to do with love—and almost everything to do with diplomacy and dynasty. Clashing personalities have joined in unholy matrimony to form such infamous couples as Russia’s Peter II and Catherine the Great, and France's Henri II and Catherine de Medici—all with the purpose of begetting a male heir. But with tensions high and silverware flying, kings like England’s Henry II have fled to the beds of their nubile mistresses, while queens such as Eleanor of Aquitaine have plotted their revenge... Full of the juicy gossip and bad behavior that characterized Royal Affairs, this book chronicles the love-hate marriages of the crowned heads of Europe—from the Angevins to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry—and ponders how dynasties ever survived at all.

Royal insider and author of the New York Times bestseller Diana in Private, Lady Colin Campbell takes readers behind the palace walls of silence to reveal the secret agendas that have made all the storybook marriages crumble. 8 pages of color photos. Martin's.

A captivating exploration of the role in which Queen Victoria exerted the most international power and influence: as a matchmaking grandmother. As her reign approached its sixth decade, Queen Victoria's grandchildren numbered over thirty, and to maintain and increase British royal power, she was determined to maneuver them into a series of dynastic marriages with the royal houses of Europe. Yet for all their apparent obedience, her grandchildren often had plans of their own, fueled by strong wills and romantic hearts. Victoria's matchmaking plans were further complicated by the tumultuous international upheavals of the time: revolution and war were in the air, and kings and queens, princes and princesses were vulnerable targets. Queen Victoria's Matchmaking travels through the glittering, decadent palaces of Europe from London to Saint Petersburg, weaving in scandals, political machinations and family tensions to enthralling effect. It is at once an intimate portrait of a royal family and an examination of the conflict caused by the marriages the Queen arranged. At the heart of it all is Victoria herself: doting grandmother one moment, determined Queen Empress the next.

This book offers a chronological and geographical study of royal divorce cases from the Middle Ages through to the Reformation period.

Nothing surpasses the pageantry of a royal wedding. Pomp and ritual combine in a spectacle few can resist. That mingling of personal charisma, age-old institutions, and contemporary mores is enough to intrigue the most hardened of hearts! These royal unions embody the hopes, dreams and characteristics of nations as distinct as Sweden, Japan and Spain. Comprehensive text and stunning pictures chronicle the fascinating details that make these state celebrations of personal commitment so unique and memorable. This magnificent volume will fascinate all interested by lavish indulgence fit for a king This richly illustrated volume offers a unique impression of the most spectacular royal weddings ILLUSTRATIONS 125 color & 57 b/w photographs Text in English and German

With a new royal baby we witness fundamental changes in the succession laws, but then rules governing the royal weddings and the succession to the throne have always been shifting. So what is marriage and who decides? What special rules govern royal marriage and when did they come into force? How have royal marriages affected history? Were the 'Princes in the Tower' illegitimate? Did Henry VIII really have six wives? Was Queen Victoria 'Mrs Brown'? how were royal consorts chosen in the past? Did some use witchcraft to win the Crown? History has handled debateable royal marriages in various ways, but had the same rules been applied consistently, the order of succession would have been completely different. Here, all controversial English and British royal marriages are reassessed together for the first time to explore how different cases can shed light on one another. Surveying the whole phenomenon of disputed royal marriage, the author offer some intriguing new evidence, while highlighting common features and points of contrast.

LIFE has covered all of the lavish royal weddings since even before Queen Elizabeth II wed in 1953, and of course the magazine documented in splendid, intimate detail the "wedding of the century," that of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, years later. Now LIFE celebrates the royal engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton. This book includes intimate pictures of William and Kate as they grew to be the splendid adults they are today. The best photographs of royal weddings that have already been, including those of Charles and Diana, Grace Kelly and Rainier of Monaco, Fergie and Andrew, and many others. A detailed look at the Middletons and the Windsors-the latter, royal family dating back to Queen Victoria. Photography from Buckingham Palace insiders, including pictures from Litchfield and Lord Snowdon. Note: As this book was published before the Royal Wedding, it does not contain photography from the wedding.