The Palace Letters and The Truth of the Palace Letters: The Palace Letters: The Queen, the Governor-General, and the Plot to Dismiss Gough Whitlam By Jenny Hocking. Melbourne: Scribe, 2020. Pp. 288. A$32.99 paper. The Truth of the Palace Letters: Deceit, Ambush and Dismissal in 1975 By Paul Kelly and Troy Bramston. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2020. Pp. 272. A$29.99 paper

Whitlam was officially Kerr's adviser under Australia's system of responsible government but Kerr invited Charteris to usurp that role. Kelly and Bramston are very likely right that Kerr did not need any advice from Charteris on such matters to contemplate using them against Whitlam. The Palace Letters and The Truth of the Palace Letters: The Palace Letters: The Queen, the Governor-General, and the Plot to Dismiss Gough Whitlam By Jenny Hocking. [Extracted from the article]