The Queen's life is dedicated to her public - every move is scrutinised, every word noted. But her homes are havens where peace can be found, away from watchful eyes; sanctuaries of private calm in a whirlwind life of public duty. In The Queen's Houses, Alan Titchmarsh takes us on a tour of the royal residences, examining the personal family stories behind these magnificent buildings. Through personal reflections, interviews with royal staff and meticulous historical research, Alan looks beyond the formal grandeur of Buckingham Palace, the imposing structure of Windsor Castle and the private escape offered by Balmoral and others. Illustrated with intimate family photographs and evocative memorabilia, The Queen's Houses offers a glimpse of life behind the state banquets and sovereign duties - a respectful study of the royal family at home.

Author Biography

Alan Titchmarsh is the author of over 40 books about gardening, including How to be a Gardener Book 1- Back to Basics, the fastest- selling of all time in the genre; natural history titles including British Isles- A Natural History and The Nature of Britain; three bestselling autobiographies and a number of bestselling novels. He has twice been named 'Gardening Writer of the Year' and for four successive years was voted 'Television Personality of the Year' by the Garden Writers' Guild. Alan has appeared on radio and television both as a gardening expert and as an interviewer and presenter, and is the current presenter of Love Your Garden and Grow Your Own At Home on ITV.