📖 Book Review ~ The Palace Girls by Emma Royal

 

Penguin
3 August 2023

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Buckingham Palace, 1951

The nation is on the road to recovery after World War Two. And so is Milly Hendry.

When her parents were killed in the Blitz, she was taken in by her aunt who works in the prestigious Royal Army of Cleaners. Buckingham Palace has since become like home to Milly, and the people she works with like family.

Though tensions in the palace are rising as the King's health is declining, the staff gather below-stairs to celebrate Milly's 21st birthday. But her day quickly takes a turn when some unexpected post arrives.

Could a letter containing secrets from the past change Milly's whole future?

📖  My Review..

I always love the start of a new historical series and The Palace Girls takes us to London in 1951 as we meet and get to know Milly Hendry who lives and works at Buckingham Palace.  Brought up by her Aunt Edie, Milly has lived in the palace since she was a little girl and now at twenty one she is one of an army of domestic servants who keep the palace spic and span. Milly is a sensible young woman but when an unexpected letter arrives on her birthday it changes everything Milly thought she knew about her life with Edie.

This lovely story imagines what life was like for the behind the scenes people who kept Buckingham Palace functioning and even though the royal family have a small supporting role in the story it's mainly about Milly, her friends Caroline and Helen, and the way in which Milly copes with what fate has thrown at her. There's a homely atmosphere to the story as the palace servants are very much a family and although the sumptuous surroundings of the palace are described in detail, it is in the way that the servants scurry about their business and in their relationships with each other which gives the story its heart and soul. Post-war London features strongly in the story and I enjoyed following in Milly's footsteps as she visits the city on her days away from her duties in the palace.

I've really enjoyed being with Milly, Caroline and Helen, and look forward to more adventures with The Palace Girls in future novels.

About the Author

Emma Royal is the pen name for established romance writer Katie Ginger who also writes as Annabel French. She has always loved historical fiction and has a Masters degree in history. When not writing, she can be found running around after her two children and two dogs along with her husband.

Twitter @authoremmaroyal #ThePalaceGirls

@centurybooksuk