At the time of his death in October 1935, Lord Sysonby, longer and better known as Sir Frederick Ponsonby, had been Keeper of The Privy Purse to King George VI for twenty-one years and Treasury to King George V for fifteen years. He had spent in all more than forty years in service at Court; his experience was unique and his passing was comparable to that of an institution.Sir Frederick stipulated that his reminiscences were not to be published until the last of Queen Victoria's children had died. "The choice of the date at which memoirs should be published", said the late Algernon Cecil in his review of this book, "has never been easy." But posterity relies upon personal memoirs which, to quote Mr. Roger Fulford, are "ample, fascinating and not damaged by mere tittle-tattle", and it was immediately recognized that Recollections of Three Reigns is high in this class."The character sketches are shrewd and admirable and those of the Sovereigns he served are exceptionally valuable. There is a good deal of wisdom and good sense from the store of his vast experience. Some of the country house parties are as amusingly described as Creevy's. Apart from the wit and gaiety there is permanent value in the memoirs. The reader has the good fortune to hear again the voice of Fritz Ponsonby, that Prince of dwardian entertainers, discoursing over the wine, pungent, pointed, polished, never treacherous."John Gore in the Spectator"A linguist, a man of the world and a prodigy of fact, discretion and loyalty, Sir Frederick had every qualification for a courtier. To such men the country s well as the Throne is deeply indebted."Raymond Mortimer in the Sunday Times"Very often the marginalia of history provide the best and most vivid clues to those who come after. Ponsonby's book provides one of the most helpful background pictures to the social and political history of the long forty year during which he was in the service of the royal family. A charming book."E. D. O'Brien in Illustrated London News"The highlight of the portraiture of the book falls beyond a doubt on the figure of Edward VII and it renders him very pleasing. Glimpses of the relations between men of mark form by no means the least interesting feature of an entertaining book."Algernon Cecil in Truth