Princess Margaret insisted on even her closest friends calling her 'Ma'am', but behind her back, people had some much more colourful descriptions: "a poor midgety brute", "the world's most difficult guest" and "a hedgehog covered in primroses" – although some have since opined that that's unfair to hedgehogs.
Until she died in 2002, everyone in certain circles had met the Queen's younger sister at least once – even those who did their best to avoid her. In this highly original and guffaw-inducing biography, satirist Craig Brown has compiled a treasure trove of essays, lists, catalogues, diaries, palace announcements, newspaper cuttings and interviews to draw a rather revealing portrait of a natural-born Princess Ghastly.
Hailed as a sex symbol in 1950, the diminutive royal, who wore her rudeness like a jewel-encrusted crown, drove some men mad with desire. Poet John Betjeman found her "very, very, very frightening but beautiful and succulent like Belgian buns". Pablo Picasso had erotic dreams about her and seriously wanted to put a ring on it.
Princess Margaret insisted on even her closest friends calling her 'Ma'am', but behind her back, people had some much more colourful descriptions: "a poor midgety brute", "the world's most difficult guest" and "a hedgehog covered in primroses" – although some have since opined that that's unfair to hedgehogs.
Until she died in 2002, everyone in certain circles had met the Queen's younger sister at least once – even those who did their best to avoid her. In this highly original and guffaw-inducing biography, satirist Craig Brown has compiled a treasure trove of essays, lists, catalogues, diaries, palace announcements, newspaper cuttings and interviews to draw a rather revealing portrait of a natural-born Princess Ghastly.
Hailed as a sex symbol in 1950, the diminutive royal, who wore her rudeness like a jewel-encrusted crown, drove some men mad with desire. Poet John Betjeman found her "very, very, very frightening but beautiful and succulent like Belgian buns". Pablo Picasso had erotic dreams about her and seriously wanted to put a ring on it.
He didn't, of course. She was adept at putting chaps in their place.
At social gatherings, she always insisted that everyone follow the royal protocol of not continuing to eat after she'd stopped and not leaving until she did, which was sometimes not till 4am. Her 'friends' all went home and bitched in their diaries, but those in her inner circle always came back for another helping of superciliousness.
If you like your biographies naughty, don't miss this one.
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Entry is open only to New Zealand residents. Employees of Bauer Media Group (LP) NZ or [Fourth Estate Publishing], their affiliates, agencies and immediate families are ineligible to enter. No responsibility is taken for lost, misdirected or incomplete entries. Entries are limited to one per person. Open to New Zealand residents only. This promotion commences [Monday 16 July 2018] and ends [Friday 31 August 2018]. By registering their details, entrants give permission for Bauer Media Group (LP) NZ to post, email and mobile text message updates. The prize consists of [one copy of Ma’am Darling by Craig Brown]. We have [five] to give away. The prize package must be taken as offered and is not exchangeable, transferable or redeemable for cash. Bauer Media Group (LP) NZ reserves the right to exchange any item with another item of greater value. Anything not specified in these terms and conditions as being included in the prize package is excluded. The winner will be contacted via [email] between [Monday September 3 2018 and Friday 7 September 2018 ]. The promoter is Bauer Media Group (LP) NZ, Shed 12, City Works Depot, 90 Wellesley Street West, Auckland.
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