“In this sweeping, immersive novel, Clare McHugh draws readers into the mesmerizing world of the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria – Princess Vicky – as she emerges into a powerful force in her own right and ascends to become the first German Empress.” —Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room  

To the world, she was Princess Victoria, daughter of a queen, wife of an emperor, and mother of Kaiser Wilhelm. Her family just called her Vicky…smart, pretty, and self-assured, she changed the course of the world.

January 1858: Princess Victoria glides down the aisle of St James Chapel to the waiting arms of her beloved, Fritz, Prince Frederick, heir to the powerful kingdom of Prussia. Although theirs is no mere political match, Vicky is determined that she and Fritz will lead by example, just as her parents Victoria and Albert had done, and also bring about a liberal and united Germany.

Brought up to believe in the rightness of her cause, Vicky nonetheless struggles to thrive in the constrained Prussian court, where each day she seems to take a wrong step. And her status as the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria does little to smooth over the conflicts she faces. 

But handsome, gallant Fritz is always by her side, as they navigate court intrigue, and challenge the cunning Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, while fighting for the throne—and the soul of a nation. At home they endure tragedy, including their son, Wilhelm, rejecting all they stand for.

Clare McHugh tells the enthralling and riveting story of Victoria, the Princess Royal—from her younger years as the apple of her father Albert’s eyes through her rise to power atop the mighty German empire to her final months of life.

About the Author

Born in London, Clare McHugh grew up in the United States. She also grew up fascinated by this story as her great-grandfather was a coachman who actually drove Vicky’s brother, the King of England, and her son, Kaiser Wilhelm. Clare went to Harvard, studied Bismarck, and taught high school history, before becoming a newspaper reporter at The New York Post. She served most recently as the Senior Director of Editorial Operations for Time Inc’s News and Lifestyle brands, 12 in total, including Time, Fortune, Money, Real Simple, Essence, Southern Living, Travel & Leisure, and Food & Wine. In that capacity, she was responsible for an editorial staff of over 250 people. Married to a fellow editor, she now works as consultant to a number of prominent media companies in New York City and has two grown children. This is her first novel.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins US; Illustrated edition (2 December 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062997602
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9780062997609
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.49 x 2.08 x 20.32 cm