Helpful Score: 2
This engaging book chronicles Charlotte Bill's employment by the British royal family in 1897 as a nanny to their growing family, which included future kings David and Bertie. Nicknamed "Mrs. Lala" by the children, she is a source of comfort and positive reinforcement when their parents are physically or emotionally absent. She is especially devoted to the sixth child, Prince John, who struggles with epilepsy and autism and later becomes known as The Lost Prince. This is an interesting, well-researched view of the lives of King George and Queen Mary, his parents and their extended European relatives. WWI presents new challenges for the royal family, and for Mrs. Lala as she continues to love and care for all of them through childhood and beyond.
According to Wikipedia, there's debate how "negligent" Prince John's (1905-1919) was, and how sheltered and out of the public limelight he was.
The little known story of Prince John is delved into in this historical fiction. A sad story of Lala Bill, who spent most of her life being the Nanny to the Royal family of George V and Queen Mary, six children altogether. Any anglophiles and Royal family fans will enjoy this story.
Charlotte Bill was asked by the Duke and Duchess of York to be nursemaid for their children following cruel treatment of the oldest sons. As an assistant to that woman, Charlotte witnessed how she treated the boys, particularly before they came before their parents. This cruelty affected their development even as they grew into adults.
The children called her LaLa, a name bestowed by young Bertie who had trouble saying Charlotte. Her charges expanded to include the later children - Mary, George, Harry and John. LaLa became especially fond of the youngest, Prince John, treating him as her son.
Charlotte was a gentle loving individual who viewed her role as an important one because the parents were absent to often. She treated each child according to their personality.
good hard look at these young lives, the royal residences, their parents, grandparents, the furnishings, the ceremonies, the many things and lessons it took to be royal. The author introduced a love interest for Charlotte, Chad, even though there was no documentation that he existed. She felt that Charlotte must surely have had some romantic interest during her life.
The children called her LaLa, a name bestowed by young Bertie who had trouble saying Charlotte. Her charges expanded to include the later children - Mary, George, Harry and John. LaLa became especially fond of the youngest, Prince John, treating him as her son.
Charlotte was a gentle loving individual who viewed her role as an important one because the parents were absent to often. She treated each child according to their personality.
good hard look at these young lives, the royal residences, their parents, grandparents, the furnishings, the ceremonies, the many things and lessons it took to be royal. The author introduced a love interest for Charlotte, Chad, even though there was no documentation that he existed. She felt that Charlotte must surely have had some romantic interest during her life.
Historical fiction based on life of Charlotte Bill known as Mrs. Lala, nanny to the children of King George and Queen Mary - the father, aunt and uncles of Queen Eliz II. Focused on the youngest child John who suffered from epilepsy. Some history of the royals as it starts near the end of Victoria and Albert (the great grandparents of the children for whom she is a nanny, as Queen Victoria died in 1901) and through until Queen Elizabeth's father was on the throne, with a mention of her being Queen at the end. Includes references to the cousins of Victoria including the royal families in Russia and Germany and the effect of WWI. But the history takes a back seat to the relationship of the nanny to the children, especially John.
I enjoyed this novel based on the real nanny for the boys who became Edward VIII and George VI, as well as their siblings. Includes sympathetic look at the youngest son who was epileptic and probably autistic.
