Their Majesties as I Knew Them / Personal Reminiscences of the Kings and Queens of Europe

A seasoned courtier recounts personal encounters with a range of European and non-European sovereigns, offering intimate portraits and anecdotal vignettes drawn from official visits and private moments. Each chapter centers on a different ruler, blending character sketches, ceremonial detail, and observations of manners, speech, and temperament. Travel episodes and diplomatic settings provide context for reflections on court rituals, national peculiarities, and the interplay between public duty and private inclination. The tone alternates between amused sympathy and clear-eyed appraisal, favoring vivid reminiscence over systematic historical analysis.