Omid Scobie is summoned to the ABC News London bureau on September 8, 2022, to report on Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. As he receives confirmation of the event, he reflects on how the death of the country’s longest reigning monarch has more impact on him than he expected. A few days later, alongside a group of other journalists, he observes the Queen lying in state in Westminster Abbey. Scobie spots the crown, orb, and scepter atop the Queen’s coffin and reflects on the intermingling of history, tradition, mystery, and myth in the context of the British monarchy.

Several significant events have transpired since Scobie began writing his book in 2022: The Queen’s death; Charles and Camilla becoming the new King and Queen; Prince Andrew, Duke of York, being stripped of his titles; and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex’s release of a Netflix series and a memoir. All of these impacted the structure of the book and its cast of characters.

Scobie sympathizes with Charles and Camilla: The former is distrusted and disliked by many within the old guard of the “Firm” (the institution of the British monarchy), while many outside of it do not believe Charles is ready for kingship, partly because of the many gaffes in his personal life.