Description

Based on a seldom-told true story, this novel is perfect for everyone who is fascinated by Britain’s royal family—a behind the scenes look into the nurseries of little princes and the foibles of big princes.

April, 1897: A young nanny arrives at Sandringham, ancestral estate of the Duke and Duchess of York. She is excited, exhausted—and about to meet royalty. . . .

So begins the unforgettable story of Charlotte Bill, who would care for a generation of royals as their parents never could. Neither Charlotte—LaLa, as her charges dub her—nor anyone else can predict that eldest sons David and Bertie will each one day be king. LaLa knows only that these children, and the four who swiftly follow, need her steadfast loyalty and unconditional affection.

But the greatest impact on Charlotte’s life is made by a mere bud on the family tree: a misunderstood soul who will one day be known as the Lost Prince. Young Prince John needs all of Lala’s love—the kind of love his parents won’t…or can’t…show him.

From Britain’s old wealth to the glittering excesses of Tsarist Russia; from country cottages to royal yachts, and from nursery to ballroom, Charlotte Bill witnesses history. The Royal Nanny is a seamless blend of fact and fiction—an intensely intimate, yet epic tale spanning decades, continents, and divides that only love can cross.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author KAREN HARPER is a former Ohio State University instructor and high school English teacher. Published since 1982, she writes contemporary suspense and historical novels about real British women. Two of her recent Tudor-era books were bestsellers in the UK and Russia. Harper won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for Dark Angel, and her novel Shattered Secrets was judged one of the best books of the year by Suspense Magazine.

Praise For…

“From cozy firesides of country houses to glittering halls of ancestral estates, Karen Harper gives the reader unprecedented access to a world of monarchs. Told through the eyes of an endearing narrator, THE ROYAL NANNY is a gem, revealing that those forgotten in history are often the true treasures.” — Erika Robuck, national bestselling author of HEMINGWAY'S GIRL

“Peels back the decades and pulls aside a protective veil of secrecy, helping us understand the forebears of Queen Elizabeth II, including her father, King George VI, of The King’s Speech fame. A compulsive, page-turning read that reveals both the gilt and the tarnish of the British Royal Crown.” — Sandra Byrd, author of Mist of Midnight

“Fans of Downton Abbey will devour this vivid tale of one nanny’s unwavering love and sacrifices endured for the sake of the royal children in her care. Full of emotion and heart, Lala redefines the meaning of motherhood while Harper gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the Royals.” — Renée Rosen, author of While Collar Girl

“...Beautifully depicts the world of the royal family through the eyes of a kind, loving woman who devoted her life to her young charges...It is the loving manner in which she explores the relationship between Lala and the children...that sweeps readers away. Harper at her best.” — Kathe Robin, RT Book Reviews

“This is a beautifully told novel of a woman who was surrounded by all the glitz and glamour of royalty but remained unaffected...Readers will greatly admire the protagonist while learning about the quirks of the royal family and the events that shook the world in the early 20th century.” — Historical Novel Society