Such was Chow Phya Sri Sury Wongse when I was first presented to him: a natural king among the dusky forms that surrounded him, the actual ruler of that semi- barbarous realm, and the prime contriver of its arbitrary policy. Black, but comely, robust, and vigorous, neck short and thick, nose large and nostrils wide, eyes inquisitive and penetrating, his was the massive brain proper to an intellect deliberate and systematic. Well found in the best idioms of his native tongue, he expressed strong, discriminative thoughts in words at once accurate and abundant. His only vanity was his English, with which he so interlarded his native speech, as often to impart the effect of levity to ideas that, in themselves, were grave, judicious, and impressive.
Often called the 'most royal Princess in Europe', Olga's life is imbued with drama from the outset: Taken 'hostage' by her Romanov grandmother, she is further traumatised by the assassination of her grandfather, the King of Greece, followed by a humiliating Swiss exile and being cast aside by a future Danish king. While Olga's marriage to the Prince Regent of Yugoslavia finds her raised to the rank of Consort, it eventually leads to her being branded a 'dangerous traitor' and sent as a 'political prisoner' to Kenya. Yet, as readers will discover, this is ultimately a story of duty, determination and redemption.