The
Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II Hardcover – April 21, 2022
by Ian
Lloyd (Author)
At the
time of Elizabeth II’s accession, Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of
the United Kingdom, Harry S. Truman was President of the United States and
Joseph Stalin still governed the Soviet Union. It has often been said that she
never put a foot wrong during her seven decades as monarch, and even those
ideologically opposed to Britain and its governments have lauded her.
Remarkably, she retained her relevance as sovereign well into her nineties,
remaining a reassuring constant in an ever-changing world.
Royal
biographer Ian Lloyd reveals the woman behind the legend over seventy themed
chapters. Drawing on interviews with relatives, friends and courtiers, he
explores her relationship with seven generations of the royal family, from the
children of Queen Victoria to Elizabeth’s own great-grandchildren. He also
sheds light on some lesser-known aspects of her character, such as her
frugality and her gift for mimicry. In addition, we see her encounters with
A-listers, from Marilyn Monroe to Madonna, and her adept handling of several of
the twentieth century’s most difficult leaders.
Above
all, Lloyd examines how the Queen stayed true to the promise she made to the
nation at the age of 21, ‘that my whole life, whether it be long or short,
shall be devoted to your service’.
