Every time I picked up "The First Royal Media War", I learned something about the role of the media during the abdication crisis of 1936.

I can only imagine the amount of research Adrian Phillips must have done for this non-fiction book, as he delves deeply into the various sides that were involved with this era in history, explores differing opinions, those who held them, and how the media was both affected by, and effected things at that time.

I recommend this book.

NetGalley, Ashley Maimes

An interesting look at the media’s role in the Abdication crisis. So many years later we are still witness to the drive of the media in reporting a story, for better or worse.
Undoubtedly, the romance of Edward (David) and Wallis made headline news and the differences of the public and the press created the constantly stirred ‘media pot’. Opinion, impression, personal gain were only a few of the ingredients that fueled this headline making story.
Adrian Phillips provides an intriguing view of what it was like in 1936, opening an untouched door into the character and private world of Edward and his reliance on his popularity to steer an already turbulent course.
Over and over, I could not help but see the similarities between Edward, Princess Margaret and Harry and the judgements made from tabloid like reporting.
A much enjoyed and worthwhile read.

NetGalley, Susan Derbacher

'This is a fascinating book. The Abdication Crisis was much more- and much more interesting- than a tragic royal love story. Adrian Phillips shows, in meticulous and absorbing detail, how King, press and government used and were used by each other, in an episode that feels in some ways very much of its time, and in others, startlingly contemporary.'

Andrew Connell

This is an interesting take on the entire Abdication Crisis of Edward VIII and the attempt to rewrite the narrative through the media. Of course, back in the 1930s and beyond, there was no internet. Books, magazines and newspapers were the primary source although there was dabbling in the broadcast media too. There was not the instant spread of the stories, fictions or not, but there was a clear agenda on both sides before the Abdication and primarily on the side of the Duke and Duchess afterwards.

As he did so often, Edward misread the tea leaves and thought more highly of his appeal and popularity than it turned out he had. While much of the blunders and missteps were not reported until after the fact, he called the bluff of the government and establishment and was shocked when they did not fold. From that point on, he attempted to rescue both his and his wife’s reputations. He thought he was far more cunning than those around him as they manipulated him and the story for their gain too.

What he did accomplish, much to the chagrin of future Royals, was his opened the floodgates for innuendo and gossip. What had been off limits now was fair game and a very profitable one. Recent events have proven that. I found the media influence through titans such as Hearst and Beaverbrook fascinating. The King became a pawn. And things would never be the same. Four purrs and two paws up.

NetGalley, Susan Johnston

Once again Adrian Phillips has combined meticulous historical research with consummate story telling. This book gives a fascinating insight into how much has changed (and how much hasn’t!) in the Royal family’s relationship with the media. I would suggest it should be required reading for any Royal Press Officer!

Sally Page

This is a fascinating book in which the vanities of the main players are set against the self-interest of the newspaper barons and the manoeuvrings of politicians, in a crisis caused by a king who failed to distinguish between the private and constitutional aspects of a monarch. The desire of different parties to record their own version of their involvement in and the handling of the abdication continued for decades until 1985, when the royal family’s position was presented in Royal Feud. Phillips blends wide research with a pacy story that brings the past into the present. When the Duke of Windsor (with a ghost writer) published A King’s Story in 1951, ‘a precedent had been set for royals openly to engage in public discussion on controversial aspects of their lives.’ The genie was out of the bottle.

Jane Dismore, author of 'Princess: The Early Life of Queen Elizabeth II'

Adrian Phillips’ fascinating new offering provides a lively (and perhaps timely) account of the First Royal Media War, namely ‘the drama of the abdication crisis and the fight to control its memory’ (p.196). The actual story of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson takes something of a back seat, therefore, to a rigorous and entertaining analysis of the story of the story of this most infamous royal romance, the direct constitutional ramifications, and the bitter battle to direct the narrative in the years that followed. Concentrating primarily on the mid-1930s through to the early 1960s, the actions of a wide range of interested parties on both sides of the Atlantic are forensically dissected, from politicians to media barons, courtiers, lawyers, historians and ambitious journalists.
The author pulls few punches in his assessment of the contrasting motives of the major players in this affair. Thus, for Phillips, far from being the starry-eyed, detail-averse drifter he is often characterised as, Stanley Baldwin emerges as a deft and decisive calculator, unafraid to authorize the covert use of MI5 agents as well as wiretapping in an effort to shroud sensitive royal matters in a cloak of secrecy – then to smear Edward, ‘Mrs Simpson’, and their various supporters once swords were drawn and the crisis peaked. Figures like Geoffrey Dawson, editor of the Times, Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, John Reith, Director General of the BBC, and even Alec Hardinge, Edward’s Private Secretary (he of the famous letter), are all pawns manipulated in a chess game played by a savvy Prime Minister desperately fighting his corner and trying to conduct the business of government free from clumsy royal intrusion.
Less surprising, perhaps, is Edward himself, presented here as the petulant, litigation-hungry Nazi-sympathiser, convinced of his own ‘divine right of celebrity’ (p.12), and never backwards in exploiting an opportunity to undermine the Prime Minister. As King – and then former King – Edward is utterly dominated by Simpson and remains bitter for the rest of his life over their treatment by the Windsors, particularly on the vexed question of royal titles. Thus, the busy couple seek to court a string of useful allies for their own egotistical ends, from Lord Beaverbrook and the Rothermeres (proprietors of the Express and Mail, respectively) in the UK, to media tycoon William Randolph Hearst in America. This is done, first, in an attempt to secure a virtual news blackout around matters relating to the divorce in Britain and to promote the dream of ‘Queen Wallis’ in the US, then, second, to garner sympathy for their position during the abdication itself and the apportioning of blame thereafter.
Perhaps most enjoyable is Phillips’ examination of Beaverbrook, seen as an Ahab-like fantasist, motivated throughout the crisis with an ‘obsessional hatred of Baldwin’ (p.154), determined to oust his rival from power and supplant him with Churchill. In the long years that followed, Beaverbrook exploited any opportunity to meddle in the presentation of the royal couple, largely for his own amusement, and with the primary motive of settling old scores. Thus, in the unseemly scramble to write the first ‘historical’ accounts of this period – heavily briefed by the main players from each side – interesting characters like Compton Mackenzie, Walter Monckton and Philip Guedalla are all discussed. Beaverbrook then dominates the post-war historiographical playing-field, sticking his fingers into various literary pies (as well as the BBC), seeming almost at times to relegate Edward and Wallis to secondary actors behind his insatiable desire to dance on Baldwin’s grave.
What emerges from all this is a great read, dripping with intrigue, throwing new light onto a fascinating period, sure to be regarded as an essential source for anyone interested in the royal scandal – as well as politics and the press in the UK (and wider) during this tumultuous era.

Andrew Stedman, author of Alternatives to Appeasement: Neville Chamberlain and Hitler’s Germany.

All in all, a fascinating review of how the press/media worked almost 100 years ago, and how it could make a difference in the political life in a country. The power of the press became a powerful thing, indeed.

NetGalley, Diane Fairbanks

Very timely read for those who can't get enough of the scandal that is Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.

NetGalley, Kelly Baroletti

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

King Edward VIII was the first celebrity!. His romance and possible marriage with Wallis Simpson - American divorcee - made headlines in the British newspapers. Some newspapers supported the king and his right to marry but others opposed it. Then the whole media war started. The book is well researched and detailed. Highly recommended!

NetGalley, Meg Gajda

This was an interesting read and certainly timely. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same. So many similarities between Edward and Harry.

NetGalley, Allison VonVange

I am a huge fan of all things royal history pre Queen Victoria onwards and I found this book fascinating. I knew quite a bit from watching various documentaries on the abdication etc however what Adrian has done is taken it up another level and shown us what was really going on behind closed doors and also for me showing the Duke of Windsor’s real character.
I found it an easy & interesting read.

NetGalley, Cennin Thomas

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating look at the Abdication and Edward’s failed attempts to ‘modernize’ the monarchy and how he bungled his image in the media, and how the media worked with conservative elements opposed to Edward to force the abdication. This book has special significance given the media coverage of Hillary Clinton’s emails that helped her lose an election.

NetGalley, Caroline Palmer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

What an excellent and timely book given what is happening today! A fascinating and deeply researched analysis of how the media dealt with the relationship between Edward V111 and Wallis Simpson and the abdication crisis. The battle lines were drawn between the Hearst American press, eager to print details of the scandalous affair and help put an American on the English throne and the Beaverbrook titles who were anti Stanley Baldwin the prime minister.

Edward was unable to publicise his point of view and the English press tactfully remained silent about the truth of the matter until almost the end - so unlike the media frenzy of today.

This was a fascinating subject impeccably and forensically covered by an author who certainly knows his subject.

Highly recommended.

NetGalley, Greville Waterman