Table of Contents
Introduction: The way it was ix
1 The prospect in 1939 1
2 The situation of women 15
3 The first court 24
4 The Ides of March 34
5 The rituals of coming out 37
6 Official entertaining 45
7 Reception at the India Office 54
8 Dinner with the Chamberlains 59
9 The Prime Minister 67
10 Nearer to war 74
11 The right way to dress 82
12 As the summer starts 92
13 Parties in May 97
14 Negotiations and frivolities 108
15 Health and panaceas 116
16 May - grand houses 128
17 Servants 139
18 The royal transatlantic visit 148
19 The tragedy of the Thetis 163
20 Fourth of June 173
21 Flaming June 181
22 Royal Ascot 188
23 Oxford and Cambridge 194
24 A tense July 203
25 The Eton-Harrow Match 209
26 July parties 216
27 August 223
28 Last days 234
Select bibliography 248
Source of illustrations 250
Index 251
