Their Majesties as I Knew Them

Imagine a French official whose job was to smooth the visits of Europe’s most powerful royals. Xavier Paoli spent his days arranging tea for emperors, escorting queens, and quietly observing the quirks behind regal pomp. His memoir opens with a Paris encounter, where a king’s simple request for port wine and a griffon dog reveals the humanity beneath the crown.

From the courts of Austria to the salons of Persia, Paoli’s chapters sketch intimate portraits of monarchs such as King Alfonso XIII, Tsar Nicholas II, and Dutch queen Wilhelmina. He blends sharp forensic observation with gentle humor, noting everything from secret anxieties to unexpected pleasures like dancing‑girls in Cambodia. The result is a mosaic of anecdotes that feels both historically rich and conversationally intimate.

Readers get a rare glimpse into the private world of royalty, filtered through the eyes of the man who made their stays “as pleasant as possible.” The book reads like a series of lively sketches, each offering insight into the personalities that shaped early‑20th‑century Europe. It’s a companion for anyone curious about the human side of history’s crowns.