This book is simply outstanding. Anne Edwards’ writing is terrific. I fell in more love with HM Queen Mary. I also recommend James Pope-Hennessy’s Queen Mary, the official biography. But Matriarch should’ve also been deemed official, as it is wonderful.

Excellently detail read

Knowing very little about Mary prior to reading this book, I became increasingly fascinated with each chapter. So much dignity, wisdom, grace and strength. Quite simply, an amazing woman — the kind we never see anymore. However, the author pacifies David and makes excuses for him by blaming his mother (Queen Mary) for not intervening in his affair with Simpson, even though David was a grown man responsible for his own actions. Frankly, it seems that he involved himself with Simpson knowing Parliament would not approve her, giving him the alibi to abdicate a throne he never wanted anyway. He went on to lead an idle life in an empty marriage with a selfish woman. Queen Mary lived a full and effective life—adored by the people she served. We shall never see the likes of her again. Unfortunately, the world is increasingly full of Simpsons.