Have you ever wished you were a prince or a princess? Do you think it would mean you could sail on yachts, live in castles, wear jewels, and do whatever you liked? If so, you might find that being royal is harder than you thought.
It is a fact that life as a royal comes with perks. Many royals have a staff which helps them complete their royal duties. Royals in line for the throne have bodyguards who keep them safe. They have opportunities to meet celebrities, and they don't have to stand in line at theme parks. Sometimes they even get elaborate gifts. Charlotte of Monaco, for example, received an island off the coast of Italy for her fifth birthday.
But if you take a closer look, you might decide that no perks could possibly make up for the kind of life a royal has to live. Royals can represent their country at hundreds of events during a single year, with reporters and cameramen following them where ever they go. There aren't many breaks from this kind of scrutiny, either. Even on vacations, a royal has little chance of real privacy and must always be on guard for reporters trying to get exclusive photos and stories.
In her book, Growing Up Royal, Jane Billinghurst presents the pros and cons of growing up as part of a modern-day royal family of Europe. If you're wondering what Kate Middleton's new life as the wife of Prince William will be like, Growing Up Royal will give you the opportunity to see what she'll find as the newest addition to Britain's royal family.
To see if you have what it takes to be a royal, check out Growing Up Royal in our local Batavia, Schaumburg, or Gail Borden libraries. Do you think you could do it? Leave a comment and tell us why you would or wouldn't want to be part of a royal family.
Publisher: Annick Press
ISBN: 1-55037-623-3
Source of review copy: Gail Borden Public Library
Comments