Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival

Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning sovereign of the British monarchy. Born in 1926, she ascended the throne in 1952 at the age of 26 and ruled as Queen for 70 years until her death in September 2022. The Queen was an enigmatic public presence, constantly adhering to the royal family adage of “never complain, never explain.” Her reserved reputation stands in contrast to Charles’s willingness to share his opinions on politically charged issues.

The Queen’s ascension to the throne at a young age meant that she disappeared into her royal role relatively early in life and dedicated herself to service and duty. Thus, very little is known of her personal feelings and beliefs, except what can be assumed from her actions as sovereign. For instance, she ordered Diana and Charles to divorce, displaying her displeasure at their penchant to share their family secrets with the public. Similarly, her delay in stripping Andrew of his titles until years after the Epstein associations first emerged reveals her blind spot for her favorite son. However, the air of mystery that the Queen maintained around her contributed to her widespread popularity and evolution into a national symbol. Her death marks a major turning point for the royal family, signaling the beginning of a new era.

King Charles III is the British sovereign at the time of Endgame’s publication. As a function of his mother being the longest-reigning sovereign, Charles was the longest-serving monarch-in-waiting in British history, having ascended the throne at the age of 73.

Charles was first married to Lady Diana Spencer. After their troubled marriage owing to Charles’s affair with Camilla Shand, Charles and Diana divorced, and he went on to marry Camilla some years after Diana’s death. Charles’s personal life is relevant to his public perception, and he is rated lower than both his mother and his son. His popularity took a hit following the breakdown of his marriage, especially because Diana was beloved by the public. Furthermore, Charles has vocalized his feelings and beliefs; unlike his mother, he has advocated for numerous political and environmental causes, which is unusual for a sovereign and rarely well received.

Charles’s inability to separate his personal life from his public duties has weakened not just his popularity as king, but also the position of the monarchy. His rule depicts a flawed human being, no different than the common man, which dispels the mystique that otherwise surrounds the royal family. This is why Charles is seen as a “transitional king,” with William hailed as the true future of the monarchy.

William, Prince of Wales, is the current heir to the throne (at the time of the book’s publication). He is the older son of Charles and Diana, married to Kate Middleton, and is the father of three children. William is one of the more well-liked royals, eclipsing even his father in popularity. He presents a calm and composed public persona, although reports are that he is different behind closed doors. Glimpses of his short temper are seen in his brother’s memoir. However, the public doesn’t see this side of William, as he has been successful in keeping his private self and public life separate, just like his grandmother.

William distinguishes himself from the older crop of royals because of his youth and active efforts to stay relevant. Because he is seen as the future of the monarchy, he has received institutional support all his life. This gives him the confidence to do things differently and not always defer to tradition. For instance, William held a “day job” as a pilot for much longer than anticipated, deferring taking on royal duties for as long as possible to give his family a relatively normal life. He is also more involved as a father than his own was and prioritizes his children’s well-being alongside his royal duties. Over the years, however, William has increasingly disappeared into his royal role, his changing attitudes most reflected in his fractured relationship with his brother.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is Charles and Diana’s younger son. He and his wife, Meghan, officially exited the royal family in 2020, following the extensive harassment, lack of support, and worsening mental health that Meghan experienced during her time with the royal family.

Leading up to and following Harry’s exit, he has been perceived as the “black sheep” of the family. Harry has been one of the only members of the royal family to acknowledge and address some of the systemic issues within the institution, from racism and unconscious bias to institutional cruelty. He refused to bow down to the pressures to conform and has been both vocal and confrontational about the negativity, inaccuracies, and hatred spread about him and his wife. Thus, alongside Meghan, Harry did an interview with Oprah Winfrey, released a Netflix docuseries, and penned a memoir about his life as the “spare” in the royal family. Harry’s priority has been to safeguard his wife and children’s well-being and take control of their narrative.

Following his exit and his efforts to set the record straight, Harry has been focusing his time and energies on causes he believes in, such as encouraging a more ethical and responsible press, which informs the legal battles against various publications that Harry is involved in. Harry’s actions have ruptured many of his family relationships, including with his father and brother.