Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of illustrations, a 'Dramatis Personae', fourteen pages of Notes, and a five page Bibliography, "The Queen's Frog Prince: The Courtship of Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou" is exceptionally 'reader friendly' in both organization and presentation. ~ Midwest Book Review, https://www.midwestbookreview.com/lbw/aug_23.htm#worldhistory

Queen Elizabeth 1 is remembered partly as being a 'stony-hearted' great Queen who was 'married to England', and used her romances for political and strategic purposes, except for her love for handsome Robert Dudley. She was so keen on Dudley that she might have married him if his wife Amy Robsart had not died in mysterious circumstances. After suspicion fell on the pair, and rumours flew about the Queen's romance with Dudley, marrying him was not possible. She had many suitors, but her courtship by the Duke of Anjou when she was quite old (but still perhaps young enough to have children) lasted a long time. How did she really feel about him, and why didn't she marry him? David Lee discusses their relationship eloquently, providing a different look at this always fascinating Queen. He dispels several myths about her, and after reading it I felt that I knew much more about Elizabeth 1, and her true feelings. This book was extremely well-researched, and I liked reading the affectionate letters between the Queen, and the Duke. Lee made a convincing case for his argument, and I would be very interested in reading more of his books. ~ Book Addiction, https://bookaddiction.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-queens-frog-prince-by-david-lee.html

David has done such a good job with his research. He uses a mix of primary and secondary sources, which I love. He presents his argument in a way that makes sense. He gathers the facts and uses the facts to back up what he is saying. I love this. ~ Alyson Serena Stone, https://serenastone.livejournal.com/350167.html

The forgotten love story of England’s virgin queen and the husband that was denied to her. Revealing Elizabeth, the woman behind the mask of monarchy, her desire to love and to be loved. That’s what the new book by author David Lee is about. Elizabeth I remained unmarried throughout her life and was nicknamed the Virgin Queen, although it was actually a monarch’s duty to marry and provide a successor. Philip II, widower of her older sister, had been the first to make her an offer, even when Mary was alive, was the first to be turned down. Many suitors would follow, and just as many rejections. She was rumored to have a relationship with Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, and she probably seriously considered marrying him, especially after his wife died in 1560. However, the circumstances of Dudley’s wife’s death were suspicious and for that reason alone, Elizabeth would have damaged her reputation by marrying Dudley. Until Dudley’s death in 1588 she maintained a good, but never fully clarified relationship with him. A late, but serious candidate for political reasons around 1579 was the 23 years younger French prince and Duke of Anjou, the younger brother of the French king. Both France and England had bad relations with Spain. She liked this French prince (she sometimes called him her ‘little frog’), but he encountered too much resistance from the population because of his Catholicism. The marriage never happened, for various reasons. Of course, we are not going to describe that here. You have to read the book yourself for that. However, by not marrying anyone, Elizabeth I presented herself as a queen married to her people. This book largely deals with the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou. This is done on the basis of documentation and the letters that have been preserved from both of them. These letters give a beautiful insight into the feelings of Elizabeth and her Frog Prince… The author has done a thorough job of his book, you notice that everything has been well-researched. To avoid confusion for the reader, the book is started with the characters who appear frequently in this story. A short biography is given of each person. Very handy, that saves the reader who is not familiar with these names a lot of searching. After reading the book you as a reader have a good idea about how and what happened between Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou. It is a good and special book because little was known about this relationship, until now. It looks well cared for, fairly easy to read and it is completed by photos of the main characters in the book. Do you want to know more about the “heart affairs” of Queen Elizabeth I? Then this book is definitely recommended! ~ Elma Bruin - The New Royalty World Blog, https://thenewroyaltyworldblog.wordpress.com/2023/06/30/review-the-queens-frog-prince/

Beautifully written and thought provoking, The Queen's Frog Prince brings vividly to life the woman behind the mask of monarchy. David Lee retells the story of the courtship of Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou in illuminating detail. An engrossing and moving read! ~ Natalie Grueninger

Lee has taken one of the lesser-known of Elizabeth I's suitors, the Duke of Anjou,and brought him to life in an immensely readable volume. His examination of the relationship between queen and suitor is illuminating and gives us a deeper understanding of the 'Virgin Queen'. A must read for readers of Tudor and Elizabethan non-fiction. ~ Sarah-Beth Watkins, Author of Lady Katherine Knollys: The Unacknowledged Daughter of Henry VIII