The Palace Diaries: A Story Inspired by Twelve Years Behind Palace Gates

by Sarah Goodall and Nicholas Monson

Book Overview

Sarah Goodall spent twelve years working for Prince Charles as a Lady Clerk from 1988 to 2000, the period during which his marriage to the Princess of Wales broke down amid a frenzy of media... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1845961889
• ISBN13: 9781845961886
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Mainstream Publishing Company
• Length: 318 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Bridget Jones and the Prince

Okay,imagine Renee' Z. in the Prince's employ. What a "jolly" romp! All that is missing is the Hugh Grant character. While nothing new is revealed, Sarah Goodall's take on the British royals is an entertaining read.

A fun read

normally don't read books of this type, but, yesterday (Sunday, 21 Sep 2008), I walked into the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Natick, Massachusetts, and discovered a discussion going on with the author of this book, Sarah Goodall. Struck by her attractiveness, I decided to take a seat and listen. In the end, I decided to purchase the book and have her sign it. After she signed her book for me, I told her that the photo on the cover doesn't do her justice (Sarah Goodall is a beautiful woman). And, last night, I read the entire book in one sitting. It's a very easy read. It's a very open and frank account of her life as the Lady Clerk to HRH (Prince Charles) from 1988 to 2000 when she was fired and banned from the palace. She's holds nothing back as we watch her grow (with the help of her inner nanny) amid a very entertaining series of events. She is refreshingly open about her many sexual affairs with men which lends the book an extra spicy appeal -- she's obviously a woman with a very healthy libido. The book paints a good and syspathetic portrait of HRH, who she quietly loves (though never acts upon). I've come away with a different perspective of Prince Charles because of this book. He comes across as a sensitive and well-meaning man who has finally found happiness with Camilla. In the Prologue at the beginning of the book, she confesses that she wrote the book for two reasons: 1) to make some much-needed money, and 2) that her story of her twelve years inside the household of the Royals is an interesting one. Yes, it is, and I do wish her well in her quest to be financially rewarded for a lively and intimate account of her life during this period.

Wildly Entertaining

Even though I am firmly in the Princess Diana Camp, I enjoyed this book from someone who is firmly in the Prince Charles Camp. Written with a wild sense of humor and very tongue-in-cheek, anyone who is curious about life in the palace will really eat this book up. It also confirmed what I've thought about Camilla all along - that she is a schemer and always gets her way, even if it means the wrongful dismissal of a loyal palace employee of 12 years who has become (in Camilla's jealous eyes) a little "too familiar" with Prince Charles for carrying on a casual conversation with him. Shame on HRH for listening to his mistress and bowing to her whims. But after you read this book you will understand that HRH is a man who avoids confrontation at any cost. Too bad he lost an entertaining employee like Ms. Goodall.

Not deep but entertaining

This is pure British: the story of how a 30 something ends up working for HRH Prince Charles in the 90's. It's a fun and easy read, and even though Sarah Goodall's crush on Charles makes her a little biased, it will show many another side to Charles (not so evil after all) and Diana (not such a victim after all). Recommended for anyone interested in a light account of life at the palace and the trials and tribulations of a typical frivolous young British woman.