The Windsor Diaries depicts what life was like for Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret during World War II

A fascinating insight into wartime at Windsor
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret playing with their pet chameleon in the grounds of Windsor Castle, 1941Lisa Sheridan / Studio Lisa / Getty Images

A new book offering a personal insight into royal life during the outbreak of World War II, entitled, The Windsor Diaries has been released in paperback this week.

Written by Alathea Fitzlan Howard, a cousin of the Duke of Norfolk, who was sent, as a teenager, to live with her grandfather at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park during WWII, the diary entries reveal some of her childhood memories growing up alongside Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Howard’s niece, Isabella Naylor-Leyland, adapted the book after her aunt's death in 2001.

During her time at Windsor, Howard, who was 17-years-old at the time, three years older than Princess Elizabeth, naturally bonded with the sisters, learning about Elizabeth’s early affections for strapping soldier Prince Philip and keeping a detailed diary of her experiences while residing at the royal residence.

Speaking to Town & Country ahead of the book’s release, Naylor-Leyland said: 'I think with the Queen, it was a sort of a typical teenage friendship, and they would laugh and giggle and enjoy each other's company and didn't discuss anything too serious.'

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret making their first broadcast, 1940Topical Press Agency / Getty Images

She added: 'Princess Margaret was the sort of naughty one. And I think Alathea adored her, really, and admired her spirit. And, unwittingly, she often wishes that Lilibet, as she was called at the time, had more of her sister’s spark, but, of course, we all know that it's extremely lucky that she didn't and that she was a much more steady character.'

The Royal family at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, 1940Lisa Sheridan / Studio Lisa / Getty Images

Naylor-Leyland also spoke of her aunt’s closeness to the King and Queen: 'They included her a great deal in their children's lives and they were extremely nice to her, particularly the Queen Mother. She was always complimenting her and saying how nice her clothes were or how her hair was, and this meant the world to Alathea because she didn't get that at home. And, the King was absolutely sweet to her, you know, not in the same kind of maternal type of way, but they were incredibly warm and welcoming and friendly to her and made her feel very included.'

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The diary extracts in the book see Alathea refer to Princess Elizabeth as Lilibet and Margaret as M, while the King is K and Queen is W.

In one extract, Alathea writes:

‘M made me die with laughter by asking me if I thought L and her and myself were pretty! She is an angel, that child. I am so very fond of them both, as well as the K and Q, and Crawfie and Mrs K etc. In time of trouble I should never desert them and whatever may happen in the dim future I shall openly stand by them.

‘The K and Q came down and had to pass through my room first! They both said goodbye to me in my bed, so I couldn’t curtsey! It wasn’t a bit embarrassing; I feel perfectly at my ease with them now, especially the Q. She wants me to come again, as she says it’s nice for both L and me. I feel I am one of the most fortunate people in the world. We went to sleep after the news, about nine fifteen, as we bring the wireless down.’

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The Windsor Diaries, published by Atria Books, by Alathea Fitzalan Howard, is out now.