The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage

An absolutely delicious, compulsively readable, stylish novel about a young aristocratic woman, who has to choose between duty and her heart – think The Crown meets Taylor Jenkins Reid.

‘I loved it. I devoured every page of this glorious novel.’ Holly Ringland

They would always choose the Crown over their family. It was the pact they made for the honour of wearing it.

Lexi Villiers is a 29-year-old Englishwoman doing her medical residency in Hobart, working too hard, worried about her bank balance, and living with friends. It’s an ordinary, happy kind of life, and getting even better, because as the dawn is breaking on New Year’s Day, Lexi is about to kiss the man she loves for the very first time.

But by midnight, everything will change. Because Lexi is in fact not an ordinary young woman. She is Princess Alexandrina, third in line to the British throne – albeit estranged from the rest of her family and living in voluntary exile on the other side of the world. But following a terrible accident which has claimed the life of her father and her twin brother, Lexi – the black sheep of her family and, until this moment, always destined to be the spare – is now the heir apparent, first in line to the throne once her grandmother, the elderly Queen, dies. Called back to do her duty, she arrives in London to a Palace riven with power plays and media leaks, all the while guarding painful secrets of her own, not knowing who she can trust.

Palace waters are treacherous, rumours are rife, and selling each other’s secrets is a family tradition. And with the Crown just within her grasp, Lexi must choose what bonds she will keep … and what she is willing to leave behind.

‘For everyone wondering who’s going to be the next big thing on the Australian literary scene, I have the answer: it’s Rebecca Armitage. The Heir Apparent is one of the best books I’ve read all year.’ Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Mademoiselle Alliance

‘Completely addictive! I love my sleep but was up until the wee hours finishing this fantastic book. It’s Hello! mag meets Sally Hepworth and I was utterly transported by the evocative, clever storytelling. Five stars!!’ Ella Ward, The Cicada House

About the Author: As an ABC journalist, Rebecca Armitage has reported extensively on the royals and became fascinated by Harry and Meghan when they chose to step away from the royal family. She is the digital editor for the ABC’s International Desk. She was previously a multiplatform producer with the ABC’s Specialist Reporting Team and a producer at 7.30. She lives in Tasmania with her husband.

25 Nov 2025
 

The Heir Apparent: A riveting royal story of being torn between duty and desire, for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Crown and Red White and Royal Blue by Rebecca Armitage ISBN 9781460767900