The Heir Affair, the follow up to 2015’s The Royal We, is a dishy reality check on an institution we’ve been led to believe is one long fairytale. But as we’ve seen in real life, “the Firm’s” stiff upper lip facade is hiding more intrigue, ego, and deception than you can imagine.
As The Heir Affair opens, Bex Porter and future king Prince Nicholas bolted after scandal erupted at their wedding. They’re living incognito in Scotland, minding a bookstore / AirB&B. But when Queen Eleanor falls ill, they’re called back to London to face the music.
Life under the microscope would be tough for any newlywed couple, but one tabloid reporter in particular is absolutely relentless. He attacks and blames Bex at every turn as the couple gets on with the business of patronages and philanthropic works. While they’ve been away, “the Spare” Freddie has become the new favorite. And the tension behind the scenes ratchets up the competition between the brothers.
The idea of an American joining the Royal Family (even an imaginary one) was prescient when The Royal We came out. But it’s impossible to read The Heir Affair in 2020 without thinking of the absolutely abhorrent treatment Meghan received IRL. Not just because she is American, but also because she’s Black.
Viewed through that lens, The Heir Affair plays it pretty safe. Yes, it’s a fictionalization. It’s based on Will and Kate, and Bex is white, but I was expecting more pointed commentary. Had The Heir Affair come out in 2017 or 2018, I probably would have taken it at face value. But in 2020, I wanted more.
This isn’t your typical family where one sibling is favored over another. We’re talking about hundreds of years of history and entitlement. About duty vs. happiness; manipulation; and how palace handlers support and undermine “The Firm.” And finally about how dangerous tabloid coverage actually can be.
It’s an enjoyable enough read, just not the knockout I was hoping for. The action-packed second half makes up for a slow start. (At 460 pages, it’s about 100 pages too long). Bex and Nick deal with extending the line of succession, (extremely justified) lingering insecurities about why Bex chose Nick. And then there’s the “What the what?” plot twist and reveal. It’s completely bonkers, but it’s the drama the story needed.
Readers simply looking for the next phase in Bex and Nick’s life together will likely enjoy it. I was just looking for a little more meat on those bones, not to mention a more satisfying ending for Freddie.
CW: The Heir Affair addresses some weightier topics — mental health, miscarriage, infertility, and infidelity among them.
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