Churchill and the Crown with Ted Powell at Hatchards, Piccadilly
We are delighted to welcome Ted Powell here at Hatchards this evening to discuss his new book, Churchill and the Crown.
The story of Winston Churchill's long relationship with the Crown—from radical liberal under Edward VII to his last premiership as an old man under the young Queen Elizabeth II.
Winston Churchill was born in a palace and was given a funeral worthy of a king. His family had enjoyed an intimate association with the British monarchy stretching back centuries. As King Edward VIII said of him, 'I have never met anyone of royal blood who exemplified in such high degree the ideal of the 'good king.'
Churchill and the Crown tells the story of Churchill's relationship with the various kings and queens he served during his long political career. From young journalist under Edward VII through his dramatic fall from grace in the First World War under George V, to the frustrations of appeasement during the interwar period and his relationship with Edward VIII during the abdication crisis of 1936. All of this culminated in his Finest Hour in the Second World War under George VI and the coda of Churchill's public service to his final monarch: Queen Elizabeth II.
Ted Powell analyses Churchill's writings on monarchy and his role in preserving and establishing monarchies outside Britain. At the core of the book is Churchill's relationships with the monarchs he served, examining both Churchill's view of individual monarchs and their attitudes towards him. They shed light not only on Churchill's career but also on the changing role of the monarchy in 20th century Britain.
It promises to be an absolutely fascinating evening, do come along if you can!