The Princess and the Duchess [Hardcover]

Josephine Fairley (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As she juxtaposes two highly visible royals--the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of York--London journalist Fairley raises the question of growing jealousy. Fergie, we're shown, absorbed herself into the royal family with ease; Di, on her part, is a maverick in terms of blueblood decorum. These are among the less than profound revelations that, along with such trivia as dress size, lingerie preference and food fancies of the two women, accompany another look at the glittering duo at home and at "work." The differences in background, even though both grew up with divorced parents, are examined and proffered as reasons for their heretofore complementary relationship, and for their individual successes with an admiring public. Fairley does not disappoint collectors of royal trivia; among other things they will learn that the Queen travels with a white, kid-leather toilet seat. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (June 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312029667
• ISBN-13: 978-0312029661
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,135,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sit down to some gossip, October 30, 2000

By 

Karina A. Suarez "Karina A. Fogliani-Ahmed" (Walt Disney World, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Princess and the Duchess (Hardcover)

I imagine that back in 1989 (when this book was written) everyone wanted to know what the lives of the two most photographed women in the world was like. Well, if you are this sort of character, then you have a juicy piece of literature here to tell you everything from the places the then Princess of Wales and Duchess of York went to lunch, shop, have their hair done, etc.; to the houses they owned, the palaces they lived in, the sports they practiced and their general lifestyles. This is mostly a volume for young girls who dream about probably the same ideals these two young women once dreamed of - and sadly found there were too different from their own dreams. It is, however, a delightful book, full of details on what a "Royal lifestyle" is like; the clothes, the jewels, the traveling and the spotlight in general. The author is herself a frequent visitor in the "Royal Circles" so she can pinpoint her own opinions quite correctly sometimes. On the other hand, this book is not an interesting piece of literature from the critical point of view and, at the beginning of this new century, now that the masks have worn off and the two ladies are not even part of the Royal Family anymore (one of them sadly and dramatically gone forever), this volume seems hopelessly outdated and, sometimes, silly.