Book Review: Queen Camilla

3/5

​This book is bizzare. Sue Townsend is known for her Adrian Mole series (which I loved when I was younger) - her writing is incredibly funny, her wit is unforgiving.

Queen Camilla by Sue Townsend is the story of a parallel universe where England is a republic. The government has created Exclusion Zones for criminals, the obese, anyone deemed unworthy by the general community – includng the Royal Family. The Windsors (as they are known to their fellow Exclusion Zone community members) are placed in the Flowers Exclusion Zone. The Queen is living in a small semi-detached house and is best friends with Vi, a cockney woman next door. Charles and Camilla live down the street - Charles adjusting particularly well to "normal" life, Camilla despairs at his attempts to keep chickens. William and Henry have gone amok and are true chavs. The book begins when the Prime Minister decides to carry out his vendetta against dogs – every household can only have one dog and that animal is heavily taxed. This is terrible news for the Queen and her famous corgies but also for dog owners in England everywhere. Townsend takes you on a rebellious ride, describing what life is like for the royal family now and detailing the ensuing canine uprising.

This book is completely ridiculous and very enjoyable. It’s a little questionable as to whether some of her descriptions are a little offensive for the great Windsor family, but I assume they’ve probably never read it and it’s so tongue-in-cheek that taking offense at this story would be more a reflection on the reader than funny Sue.

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