The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper is about Charlotte Bill, a nanny who devoted her life to the Duke and Duchess of York (King George V & Queen Mary) and their children. This was a well researched, accurate account of the growing up years of the six children – David, Bertie, Mary, Harry, George and Johnny. Their personalities and character traits are well documented and I found this to be fascinating behind the scenes look at these Royals.

Charlotte, called Lala by the children and family, grew to love all the children but her heart truly belonged to the youngest child, Johnny, who was an epileptic and was a little slow due to a very difficult birth. He needed her constant attention and supervision which she gladly gave. When his seizures become frequent, he and Charlotte were moved to their own residence on the Sandringham Estate, and she was with him until his death at age fourteen. During her time with the children, many historic events occurred, from the death of Queen Victoria, through to their own father being crowned King. She worried about the eldest and heir to the throne, David, as he was rather weak and easily led and she was disappointed in him when he decided to abdicate. Her life was lived in the shadows of the Royals, but they thought a lot of her and she was even supplied an apartment on the Sandringham Estate to live out her life.

The Royal Nanny was an absorbing read and I found myself constantly googling various people and castles as they came up in the book. Charlotte’s steadfast loyalty and unconditional care and concern for these royal children found her sacrificing her personal life for one of servitude. This hidden history aspect of Royal life and it’s upstairs-downstairs point of view made this book a fun read that I really enjoyed. ( )

I read The Royal Nanny after I started to watch Netflix tv-series The Crown. I also, years ago, watch The Lost Prince about Prince John and now I want to rewatch it after reading this book. This book was really fantastic and I'm glad that I took the time to read it.

One thing that really struck me about this book was what a fantastic life Charlotte Bill had. Sure, not an easy life, with sacrifices and lot of sadness. But, she lived through a time of changes, world wars, kings, and queens, and she saw it all.

Reading this book made me wonder how much was true and how much was added to the story. Charlotte's "love story" with Chad, a very platonic relationship I might add (since working for the royal family as nanny prohibited marriage) felt like the thing that was added to make the story a bit more tragic & romantic. At first, I did not really find myself enjoying that angle, but as the story progressed did I find myself more and more enjoying their story. Who knows, Charlotte was young once, and giving up the idea of a marriage life to take care of other people's children can't have been an easy decision.

I think Karen Harper has written a superb book about a woman who gave up her life to take care of six children, two that would later one become Kings. One thing towards the end that really made me think was Charlotte's thought about David, when he was old and not King anymore, how he never managed to get over how his previous nanny had treated him, and after that, how he spent his whole life being attracted to the same dominated kind of women until he married one. Interesting...

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review! ( )

Given the subject I am surprised that I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would have. I found the story dragged and at times just plain boring. I think the love story was what through me off. I just wasn't buying what the author was trying to sell me. I would have liked to have learned more about Lala herself. ( )

While I have covered many different historical fiction stories, this story of a young nanny who comes to work for the royal family is the first for me. Charolette Bill comes to Sandringham house in 1897 to serve as under nurse to 2 royal children with another baby on the way. Circumstances change quickly when she discovers that the head nurse is abusing the oldest boy,David, who also happens to be the heir. She finds herself as head nurse in care of three children. Three become six as Charolette, affectionately known as Lala, serves loyally through the years. She finds her beacon of light after the sixth and last child, Johnnie, is born. A chronically sick child, Johnnie is intellectually disabled and he starts having seizures. Seen as an embarrassment, and a liability he is shunned to a degree by the family, but Lala loves him and looks after him as if he were her own. Forsaking romance and a chance at life of her own Lala serves the family and Johnnie imparticular. This is a really interesting story, that tells a little known tale of the royal British family, and in the background historic events such as WW1 play on. I had a fun time reading this and it should appeal to fans of historical fiction and British family histories. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy. ( )

I wish the author hadn't tried to include a love story in this book. I understand her desire to show that Charlotte had interests and dreams that didn't include the children, but it was the weakest part of the book. In the beginning we don't get to see her relationship with Chad develop, so when she is agonizing about choices she's made regarding him, there is no resonance, though, this aspect did improve in the second half of the book.

On the other hand, the parts focusing on the children were excellent. It was interesting and sad to see how the parents interacted with the children as compared to how Charlotte did, especially when it came to Johnnie who was the heart of the story.

Something additional worth noting: this was one of the most well-rounded portrayals of David I've seen in page or on screen.

I'm glad I read this novel. Not only was it interesting, but I was also ultimately moved by it. ( )