Friday Mood Recs: Royal reads for KateGate enthusiasts
History lessons, smart commentary, and fabulous fiction for the royal rubberneckers
Who else has been consumed by the Kate Middleton theories this week? I can’t deny I’ve been more online than usually unable to look away from all of the speculation about the princess’s whereabouts and wellbeing. In addition to being drawn to a (relatively) low stakes drama, I’ve also been fascinated to witness all of the larger cultural commentary springing from a single photograph (okay, maybe not a single photograph, but you get my meaning…).
There’s been commentary on the staying power of the British monarchy, the long-reaching impact of colonialism, the treatment of women’s bodies by the media, and how that treatment affects women of color differently. There’s also been compelling conversations about the future of news, our increasing skepticism of institutions, and the importance of trusting what we see for a stable society. We can both take away and put so much onto this cultural moment. There’s so much more to this story than one woman’s health and location, and I find that fascinating.
Today I’m offering some recommended reading for anyone who finds this whole thing equally fascinating. I’ve got royal fiction and nonfiction alongside some fantastic histories of the British monarchy (because I am a Tudor-obsessed nerd. Sorry). I’ve also rounded up some of the more interesting and less clickbaity think pieces about what’s going on today. I hope you enjoy this royal deep dive, and I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments!
