The Quest for Queen Mary: James Pope-Hennessy's official biography of Queen Mary, edited by 'the most knowledgeable royal biographer on the planet' - Financial Times

'A complete delight, conjuring up, with a few sharp strokes of the pen, a mad, exotic species from a world gone by... one of this year's funniest and most eccentric books' - Craig Brown, The Mail on Sunday

When James Pope-Hennessy began his work on Queen Mary's official biography, it opened the door to meetings with royalty, court members and retainers around Europe. The series of candid observations, secrets and indiscretions contained in his notes were to be kept private for 50 years.

Now published in full for the first time and edited by the highly admired royal biographer Hugo Vickers, this is a riveting, often hilarious portrait of the eccentric aristocracy of a bygone age.

Giving much greater insight into Queen Mary than the official version, and including sharply observed encounters with, among others, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Duke of Gloucester, and a young Queen Elizabeth, The Quest for Queen Mary is set to be a classic of royal publishing.