My Husband and I by Ingrid Seward Book Review

When a young Princess Elizabeth met and fell in love with the dashing Naval Lieutenant Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, it wasn’t without complications. The romance between the sailor prince and the young princess brought a splash of color to a nation still in the grip of post-war austerity. When they married in Westminster Abbey in November 1947, there were 3,000 guests, including six kings and seven queens. Within five years, as Queen Elizabeth II, she would ascend to the throne and later be crowned in front of millions watching through the new medium of television.

Throughout her record-breaking reign, she has relied on the formidable partnership she had made with her consort. Now, after 70 years of their marriage, acclaimed royal biographer Ingrid Seward sheds new light on their relationship and its impact on their family and on the nation.

My Husband and I reveals the challenges faced by Prince Philip as he accompanies the Queen in their many public appearances, and also offers insight into how their relationship operates behind closed doors. Throughout the years, there have been rumors of marital troubles, fierce debates over how to raise their children, and numerous family traumas—from scandalous divorces to shocking deaths—in the full glare of the public eye. But somehow, their relationship has endured and provided strength and inspiration to those around them. My Husband and I is not only a vivid portrait of an iconic marriage—it is also a celebration of the power of love.

The longevity of The Queen and Prince Philip’s marriage has made it a somewhat mythical marriage – the kind of marriage we would all like to have. Nevertheless, we know very little about the private side of their marriage. My Husband and I promises us insight on their relationship behind closed doors. Naturally, that was never ever going to happen. The book chronicles Elizabeth and Philip’s relationship, what we know of it anyway, from the beginning and tends to focus on the things Philip has had to give up. I enjoyed the flow of the book but I didn’t read anything new.

My Husband and I by Ingrid Seward in paperback is available now in the UK and will be released on 20 November 2018 in the US.