The author offers a new view of the young 'Bertie's' relationship with his father, Albert, together with portraits of the less well-known inmates of the Royal nursery the captivating Vicky, mechanically-minded Alfred, Alice and Louise, sensitive and artistic Arthur who was crazy about soldiers and Helena about horses Finally Leopold, her 'child of anxiety' and the devoted Beatrice who cared for the ageing Queen at the cost of her own happiness