An irreverent look behind the secretive walls of Balmoral
Devon author launches royal satire book.
As scrutiny of the royal family builds with books such as Andrew Lownie’s Entitled topping the charts and Norman Baker’s new book Royal Mint, National Debt set for release, Sid Ishun takes aim at the Windsors with a tongue-in-cheek satire.
Releasing 10th October across ebook, paperback and audiobook, Harry Windzor and the Magic of Monarchy brings together the scandal of The Crown and the magic of Harry Potter. Following in the footsteps of University of Exeter alumni, J.K. Rowling, Exeter-based author, satirist and royal expert Sid Ishun explores the meaning of majesty and the spell that the Windsors cast over the British public.
The book retells the story of a young Prince Harry, scarred by the tragic loss of his parents, as he is invited back into the royal fold after growing up in ignorance of his true identity. Sceptre in hand, Harry is whisked away to Balmoral School of Monarchy and Majesty, where tax evasion is on the syllabus and good PR is everything. As Harry learns what it truly means to be a royal, he discovers long-buried secrets, a bitter rivalry with a twin he never knew he had, and whispers of a plot to steal an ancient relic that could unravel a dynasty…
As British politics is heating up, and the royal family are coming under increasing levels of scrutiny, Sid Ishun aims to explore the fairytale of a monarchy in the 21st century that is starting to fray at the edges.
“I’ve always been interested in the public fascination with the royal family, and the wider culture this creates. We all have an image of the Queen in our imagination, an idea of who she was and what she stood for, but very few of us ever met her, so would have no idea of what she, or any other royal, was really like. It made me reflect on how this persona was akin to fiction.”
Reflecting on recent publications, Sid explains why he thinks political satire and pop-culture references offer a new way to engage with readers and highlight some of the more scandalous elements of royal life.
”I think humour is a great way to cut through class, inhibitions and status quo. To me, satire and parody allow readers to see established norms in a new light, and they are invaluable means to get people thinking, and perhaps change their minds about things they’ve just accepted without really questioning why.”
Harry Windzor and the Magic of Monarchy will be available worldwide from October 10th in ebook (£2.99), paperback (£7.99), and audiobook (via Audible and iTunes).