Trading Places

ByLynn Austin
16 Comments

If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be? As the title of my newest novel suggests, one of the themes of “If I Were You” is envy. The novel takes place in England during World War II and, at times, each of the heroines of the story wishes that she could trade places with the other. And if I could be someone else? Well, perhaps I would trade with a British princess.

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with the British royal family. Long before I could follow them on Facebook and Instagram, I have followed them in the news. My interest intensified during my teenage years when I fell in love with the Beatles, but for five generations, my family’s story has had some interesting parallels with the royals.

The Queen Mum (Queen Elizabeth’s mother) was the same age as my grandmother. They both lived to be over 100, they both died in the same year. Their daughters (my mom and the current Queen Elizabeth) are also the same age, and are both still going strong and leading their families well into their 90s. My mom remembers becoming fascinated with the King of England’s two daughters, Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret, as a young girl. At the time, the newspaper printed paper dolls of the two princesses in the Sunday comics, complete with royal costumes to dress them in.

During World War II, while my mom was studying to be a nurse in the U.S. Navy, Princess Elizabeth served her country in the A.T.S., a branch of the Women’s Royal Army Corp that drove and repaired trucks (or lorries, if you’re British).

After the war, it was time for love and marriage and children. Mom married my dad—who had served in the Navy in the Philippines—and they had my two sisters and me. Queen Elizabeth married Prince Philip—who served in the Royal British Navy—and had Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Princes Andrew and Edward. Like many young girls, I dreamed of becoming a princess—and always hoped I would marry real-life Prince Charles.

I was able to follow the British royal family more closely during the years that my husband and I lived in Canada, a British Commonwealth nation. In fact, I waved to Queen Elizabeth when she and her motorcade drove down Portage Avenue near my home in Winnipeg. There were thousands of royal-followers like myself in Canada who watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana on television. I was happily married by then and had long given up hope of marrying Prince Charles. But it so happened that the new Princess Diana and I both learned that we were expecting a baby at the same time. It was a race to see who would have her baby first. Diana beat me by a mere nine days. Her son Prince William was born on June 21, and my son Ben on June 30. We raced once again when she was expecting Prince Harry and I was expecting my daughter Maya—this time I beat the princess by four months.

And now the tradition continues. My daughter has also become a fan of the British royals and eagerly followed the fairy-tale wedding of Prince William to Princess Kate. Children soon followed for this generation, too. Maya’s 4-year-old daughter Lyla is a perfect match for 5-year-old Prince George. And if that doesn’t work out, maybe her daughter Ayla, who is not quite 2 years-old, can marry Prince Louis, who recently turned 2.

We are all still avid royal-watchers, but do I still wish I could trade places with one of them? Their many lovely palaces and grand estates are very tempting. And the clothes! But as a fan of the TV series “The Crown,” I’ve seen another side of their royal lives that is less than enviable. I like my quiet life too much to ever enjoy being in the public eye the way they are. And I don’t think Prince Charles or Queen Elizabeth would approve of my writing career. Or my bike-riding hobby. Then again, maybe they would envy my life?

So, how about you? If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be?

Click the cover image to learn more about “If I Were You” release date June 2, 2020

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Lynn Austin, a former teacher who now writes and speaks full time. Lynn was recently inducted into the Christy Award Hall for Fame for winning eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into a Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home near Chicago, Illinois.

16 Comments

  1. Who would I love to be ? Today, David Attenborough, Tomorrow ? Maybe Alice Walker – just discovering my African American heritage…
    British Royals ? Never …Fascination, perhaps, but envy, or even changing places for a day ? Never in a hundred lifetimes… Once, at Holyrood, visiting an exhibition of royal jewels, I agreed with Anne of Green Gables… Diamonds ? Not for me..Amethysts,
    Life under constant scrutiny by the UK tabloid press would be unbearable. One of the Royal Family was chancellor of my first uni.. Nothing private about their personal life, adding to what must have been distressing for all their family.
    …

    .

  2. I just recently finished listening to your WWII novel While We’re Far Apart and LOVED it! I had watched/listened to the videos of you and Liz Tolsma discussing that book while I was in the midst of listening to the book on CDs. I agree that Penny showed great growth and fortitude as she rose to the occasion in her job as well as caring for Eddie’s children while he served in the war. Mr. Mendel demonstrated understandable doubts and struggles with his faith after his wife died. In turn he served as a rock of stability for Penny and the children while the children’s father was involved in the war. I loved the many opportunities for Penny and the children to learn about Jewish history and culture and how many bridges were being built between Jews and Christians in this novel. I’m looking forward to your new book.

  3. What an interesting article. I’ve never thought about trading places with someone else although it might be nice if I could find someone that lives someplace warm by the ocean with lots of books and iced tea. Haha

  4. How fun to see the similarities between your family and the British royals, Lynn! I must admit that I’ve never longed to be a princess – unless it’s the Disney version. I hate politics and my introverted personality would cringe at the lack of privacy. I’ve really never wanted to change places with anyone, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy living vicariously through the lives of my fictional heroines, doing things my real life self would never have the chance (or maybe the courage) to do.

  5. What a fascinating post! The royal family’s timeline and your family’s timeline really do parallel very closely!

    I, too, am a fan of The Crown. Not only is the quality of the show outstanding, but it’s been interesting to ponder the pressures and duties that accompany life as a royal. Prior to The Crown, it was easy to imagine wanting to trade places with the queen or the princesses, etc. But the show gives you a fresh appreciation for the freedom we enjoy — to choose our own careers, to walk down a city sidewalk alone, to live free of the press snapping pictures.

    1. It would be horrible to read false information about my family, too! I guess I’ll stay where I am.

  7. I enjoy reading about European royals in general. I’ve enjoyed reading “Royalty” and “Majesty” magazines on the news stand. Both are published in the UK.
    In contrast to the British royal family, the royal houses on the European continent don’t get quite as much as attention in our media.

    1. That’s true. I met a German princess who lived a ‘normal’ life. She also wrote books!

  8. I love imagining I am one of the characters in the books I read. Sometimes I would imagine a new character exactly like me appearing in the story.

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