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Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II and Her Court
Perfect for fans of The Crown, this “intimate portrait” of England’s longest-reigning queen takes you behind the scenes of a thoroughly modern monarchy (BBC Entertainment).
History knows no monarch like her. She has traveled farther than all her predecessors combined, lived the longest of any of them, and known more historic figures—from Winston Churchill to Nelson Mandela, Charles de Gaulle to Barack Obama—than anyone alive. Now, distinguished royal writer Robert Hardman has been granted special access to the world of Queen Elizabeth II in order to produce an unparalleled portrait of one of the most popular public figures on earth.
Arguably Britain’s best-known observer of the royal family, Hardman follows Elizabeth’s journey through her country’s transformation from an imperial power to a multicultural nation; details a twenty-five-year period in which she steered the monarchy through more reforms than in the previous century; and interviews those closest to her, including her grandson Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
Written in celebration of Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty celebrates the head of an ancient institution that remains simultaneously popular, regal, inclusive, and relevant in a twenty-first-century world. “At long last, we have the definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth’s world today,” raves Andrew Roberts, author of The Royal House of Windsor. “Robert Hardman knows the true story and tells it superbly.”
History knows no monarch like her. She has traveled farther than all her predecessors combined, lived the longest of any of them, and known more historic figures—from Winston Churchill to Nelson Mandela, Charles de Gaulle to Barack Obama—than anyone alive. Now, distinguished royal writer Robert Hardman has been granted special access to the world of Queen Elizabeth II in order to produce an unparalleled portrait of one of the most popular public figures on earth.
Arguably Britain’s best-known observer of the royal family, Hardman follows Elizabeth’s journey through her country’s transformation from an imperial power to a multicultural nation; details a twenty-five-year period in which she steered the monarchy through more reforms than in the previous century; and interviews those closest to her, including her grandson Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
Written in celebration of Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty celebrates the head of an ancient institution that remains simultaneously popular, regal, inclusive, and relevant in a twenty-first-century world. “At long last, we have the definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth’s world today,” raves Andrew Roberts, author of The Royal House of Windsor. “Robert Hardman knows the true story and tells it superbly.”
384 pages, ebook
First published October 6, 2011
541 people are currently reading
1237 people want to read
About the author
Robert Hardman
22 books55 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Robert Hardman has covered aspects of royal life for more than twenty years and is the writer of both the film and the book Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work as well as Her Majesty: The Court of Elizabeth II, also available from Pegasus Books. He writes for the Daily Mail in London.
Robert Hardman has covered aspects of royal life for more than twenty years and is the writer of both the film and the book Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work as well as Her Majesty: The Court of Elizabeth II, also available from Pegasus Books. He writes for the Daily Mail in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
February 28, 2021
As many of you may already know, I love all things English, monarchy, basically anything to do with the Queen. This biography was interesting, although I knew most of it already. There were certain parts – the sections on government – that were a bit boring and slow.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
Banquets at Buckingham Palace
“Upstairs, on the balcony, the chairs are laid out for one of the most extraordinary – though invisible – rituals of a Palace banquet. In a tradition harking back to the medieval custom of royal meals as public entertainment, two dozen people will have tickets to sit behind the Band of the Grenadier Guards and simply watch the banquet. The ‘audience’ will be made up of members of staff, each of whom can bring a guest, and it’s always extremely popular as the ‘audience’ have dinner thrown in. However, once seated no one is allowed to budge for the best part of two hours.”
Correspondence
“Everyone gets a reply, usually within a week, but that can depend on the issue. Nothing will stay unanswered for more than a month.”
Health
“She sleeps well, she’s got very good legs and she can stand for a long time. The Queen is as strong as a yak.”
Margaret Thatcher
“Lord Hurd, a Government Minister through both the Thatcher and Major years, travelled all over the world with both the Queen and Mrs Thatcher. He never detected the slightest animosity on either side, although he says that the Queen was occasionally ‘amused’ by Mrs Thatcher’s unyielding stance on a particular point. During the Thatcher years, the Queen allegedly said of her Prime Minister, in fond mock despair: ‘Mrs Thatcher never listens to a word I say.’ Mrs Thatcher, in return, found some of the royal ways equally baffling, not least the Queen’s habit of washing up after Balmoral barbecues with her own bare hands. After one trip to the Highlands, she sent the Monarch a pair of washing-up gloves.”
Over-Familiarity
“Another Queen Mary dictum is as true as ever: avoid over-familiarity. ‘If the Queen ever feels affronted about something, she has the perfect answer,’ explains Kenneth Rose. ‘She just stares at the person with open eyes, absolutely no expression.’
“A former official recalls: ‘Once, when everyone had just come back from their Christmas holidays, I said to the Queen: “Did you have a nice Christmas?” I got a very cold stare back. It was the kind of remark that you would make to anyone else but you were not encouraged to make to the Queen. Everybody had the same experience. You’d think: “Wow, we’re getting on really well.” And then she’d do something that just reminded you, that just pushed you back at a distance.’ It was not a mark of displeasure or rudeness. On another occasion, all was explained: ‘The Queen told me that she was very influenced by Queen Mary who had given her tips about how you behave as a Queen. One of them was that you never allow yourself to get too close to your advisers. It was very clear in the Royal Family generally, but the Queen was very strong on this.’ To outsiders, it can seem a peculiar code of behaviour but the royal/courtier working dynamic is a unique one. ‘You’re not there to be their mate. You mustn’t cross the line for very good reasons.’”
Pool at Buckingham Palace
“For many years, this was royal-only territory. Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princess Margaret were keen users. The Duke of Edinburgh taught his children to swim in this pool. Today, the swimmers might be an entire cross section of Palace life – an equerry, a chauffeur, a secretary from ‘up the road’ at Clarence House or St James’s Palace. Sometimes, they are joined by the most senior non-royal figure in these parts, the Lord Chamberlain.”
Prince Charles
“… the tensions between the Queen’s staff at Buckingham Palace and the Prince of Wales’s officials who had set up a fiercely independent operation at St James’s Palace. The Prince’s new team were determined to rebrand their man their way and resented what they regarded as old-school interference from ‘over the road’ at the Queen’s office. As the Prince’s environmental messages became more forceful, his mother’s advisers became more uneasy. Says one: ‘We got a lot of: ‘If the Prince wants to talk about the environment he will do so and he’ll clear it with the Department of the Environment. So get off our backs. We’re grown-ups. We can deal with the government.’ It was that sort of tone.’”
Prince Phillip and the Queen
‘There are some people who don’t need many friends,’ says a close friend of the family. ‘And those two, they’re just a real love story – taking tea together every day, talking about everything. He might take out a letter and read it to her or crack a joke. They just adore each other.’ Both are fit and abstemious (one aide puts it down to ‘iron self-discipline’). The Duke avoids wine – he prefers beer and the occasional dry martini – and tries not to mix protein with carbohydrate. Back in 2000, as the Queen Mother was celebrating her centenary, the Duke told Gyles Brandreth: ‘God, I don’t want to live to be a hundred. I can’t imagine anything worse.’ Yet, at ninety, he continues to view old age as another country, shedding a few patronages but continuing at much the same pace as before.”
Princess Anne
“Queen Victoria survived six assassination attempts. Her second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, was shot and badly wounded during the first royal visit to Australia in 1868 and the future Edward VII escaped uninjured from shots fired by an anarchist in Brussels in 1899. In March 1974, Princess Anne escaped a kidnap attempt by an armed loner during which her protection officer was shot three times. The Princess proved an imperturbable target. On being ordered out of her car by the kidnapper, she replied ‘not bloody likely’.”
Public Opinion
“… short of a revolution, the greatest threat to the throne has always been indifference.”
“public attitudes towards the monarchy were just the same as they had been before and have continued to remain since (give or take a couple of percentage points): 18 per cent in favour of a republic, 73 per cent in favour of the monarchy and 9 per cent unsure. It is a remarkably consistent figure, as any pollster will confirm. Indeed, it has barely changed since the giddy days of Coronation Britain when the Queen could do no wrong and yet 16 per cent of people still favoured a republic.”
The Queen’s Guests
“The Queen is always consulted on whom she has to stay even though, ultimately, it is not her choice. And she has had to put up with some pretty objectionable guests over the years. She was clearly uncomfortable with the government’s decision to invite the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu for a full state visit in 1978, so much so that she took drastic steps to avoid meeting him any more than necessary. While out walking her dogs in the Palace gardens, she spotted Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, heading down a path in her direction. As the Queen told a lunch guest some years later, she decided that the best course of action was to hide behind a bush rather than conduct polite conversation. No guests have annoyed her more than the famously corrupt and unhinged President Mobutu of Zaire and his wife – the aptly named Marie-Antoinette – who paid a state visit in 1973. Mobutu’s penchant for barmy titles and executing his opponents in front of large crowds must have made the small talk challenging. But what made the Queen angrier than some had ever seen her was learning that Mrs Mobutu had smuggled a small dog through customs. Worse still, the President’s wife was ordering it steak from the Palace kitchens. ‘The Queen was very, very angry,’ says Ron Allison, the Queen’s former Press Secretary.
The trusted Deputy Master of the Household, Lord Plunket, was summoned by an incandescent Sovereign and told: ‘Get that dog out of my house!’ ‘I don’t know how he did it,’ says Allison, ‘but it was taken off to the kennels at Heathrow.’ The late Martin Charteris, Private Secretary to the Queen at the time, recalled: ‘She really was shaking with anger.’”
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
Banquets at Buckingham Palace
“Upstairs, on the balcony, the chairs are laid out for one of the most extraordinary – though invisible – rituals of a Palace banquet. In a tradition harking back to the medieval custom of royal meals as public entertainment, two dozen people will have tickets to sit behind the Band of the Grenadier Guards and simply watch the banquet. The ‘audience’ will be made up of members of staff, each of whom can bring a guest, and it’s always extremely popular as the ‘audience’ have dinner thrown in. However, once seated no one is allowed to budge for the best part of two hours.”
Correspondence
“Everyone gets a reply, usually within a week, but that can depend on the issue. Nothing will stay unanswered for more than a month.”
Health
“She sleeps well, she’s got very good legs and she can stand for a long time. The Queen is as strong as a yak.”
Margaret Thatcher
“Lord Hurd, a Government Minister through both the Thatcher and Major years, travelled all over the world with both the Queen and Mrs Thatcher. He never detected the slightest animosity on either side, although he says that the Queen was occasionally ‘amused’ by Mrs Thatcher’s unyielding stance on a particular point. During the Thatcher years, the Queen allegedly said of her Prime Minister, in fond mock despair: ‘Mrs Thatcher never listens to a word I say.’ Mrs Thatcher, in return, found some of the royal ways equally baffling, not least the Queen’s habit of washing up after Balmoral barbecues with her own bare hands. After one trip to the Highlands, she sent the Monarch a pair of washing-up gloves.”
Over-Familiarity
“Another Queen Mary dictum is as true as ever: avoid over-familiarity. ‘If the Queen ever feels affronted about something, she has the perfect answer,’ explains Kenneth Rose. ‘She just stares at the person with open eyes, absolutely no expression.’
“A former official recalls: ‘Once, when everyone had just come back from their Christmas holidays, I said to the Queen: “Did you have a nice Christmas?” I got a very cold stare back. It was the kind of remark that you would make to anyone else but you were not encouraged to make to the Queen. Everybody had the same experience. You’d think: “Wow, we’re getting on really well.” And then she’d do something that just reminded you, that just pushed you back at a distance.’ It was not a mark of displeasure or rudeness. On another occasion, all was explained: ‘The Queen told me that she was very influenced by Queen Mary who had given her tips about how you behave as a Queen. One of them was that you never allow yourself to get too close to your advisers. It was very clear in the Royal Family generally, but the Queen was very strong on this.’ To outsiders, it can seem a peculiar code of behaviour but the royal/courtier working dynamic is a unique one. ‘You’re not there to be their mate. You mustn’t cross the line for very good reasons.’”
Pool at Buckingham Palace
“For many years, this was royal-only territory. Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princess Margaret were keen users. The Duke of Edinburgh taught his children to swim in this pool. Today, the swimmers might be an entire cross section of Palace life – an equerry, a chauffeur, a secretary from ‘up the road’ at Clarence House or St James’s Palace. Sometimes, they are joined by the most senior non-royal figure in these parts, the Lord Chamberlain.”
Prince Charles
“… the tensions between the Queen’s staff at Buckingham Palace and the Prince of Wales’s officials who had set up a fiercely independent operation at St James’s Palace. The Prince’s new team were determined to rebrand their man their way and resented what they regarded as old-school interference from ‘over the road’ at the Queen’s office. As the Prince’s environmental messages became more forceful, his mother’s advisers became more uneasy. Says one: ‘We got a lot of: ‘If the Prince wants to talk about the environment he will do so and he’ll clear it with the Department of the Environment. So get off our backs. We’re grown-ups. We can deal with the government.’ It was that sort of tone.’”
Prince Phillip and the Queen
‘There are some people who don’t need many friends,’ says a close friend of the family. ‘And those two, they’re just a real love story – taking tea together every day, talking about everything. He might take out a letter and read it to her or crack a joke. They just adore each other.’ Both are fit and abstemious (one aide puts it down to ‘iron self-discipline’). The Duke avoids wine – he prefers beer and the occasional dry martini – and tries not to mix protein with carbohydrate. Back in 2000, as the Queen Mother was celebrating her centenary, the Duke told Gyles Brandreth: ‘God, I don’t want to live to be a hundred. I can’t imagine anything worse.’ Yet, at ninety, he continues to view old age as another country, shedding a few patronages but continuing at much the same pace as before.”
Princess Anne
“Queen Victoria survived six assassination attempts. Her second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, was shot and badly wounded during the first royal visit to Australia in 1868 and the future Edward VII escaped uninjured from shots fired by an anarchist in Brussels in 1899. In March 1974, Princess Anne escaped a kidnap attempt by an armed loner during which her protection officer was shot three times. The Princess proved an imperturbable target. On being ordered out of her car by the kidnapper, she replied ‘not bloody likely’.”
Public Opinion
“… short of a revolution, the greatest threat to the throne has always been indifference.”
“public attitudes towards the monarchy were just the same as they had been before and have continued to remain since (give or take a couple of percentage points): 18 per cent in favour of a republic, 73 per cent in favour of the monarchy and 9 per cent unsure. It is a remarkably consistent figure, as any pollster will confirm. Indeed, it has barely changed since the giddy days of Coronation Britain when the Queen could do no wrong and yet 16 per cent of people still favoured a republic.”
The Queen’s Guests
“The Queen is always consulted on whom she has to stay even though, ultimately, it is not her choice. And she has had to put up with some pretty objectionable guests over the years. She was clearly uncomfortable with the government’s decision to invite the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu for a full state visit in 1978, so much so that she took drastic steps to avoid meeting him any more than necessary. While out walking her dogs in the Palace gardens, she spotted Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, heading down a path in her direction. As the Queen told a lunch guest some years later, she decided that the best course of action was to hide behind a bush rather than conduct polite conversation. No guests have annoyed her more than the famously corrupt and unhinged President Mobutu of Zaire and his wife – the aptly named Marie-Antoinette – who paid a state visit in 1973. Mobutu’s penchant for barmy titles and executing his opponents in front of large crowds must have made the small talk challenging. But what made the Queen angrier than some had ever seen her was learning that Mrs Mobutu had smuggled a small dog through customs. Worse still, the President’s wife was ordering it steak from the Palace kitchens. ‘The Queen was very, very angry,’ says Ron Allison, the Queen’s former Press Secretary.
The trusted Deputy Master of the Household, Lord Plunket, was summoned by an incandescent Sovereign and told: ‘Get that dog out of my house!’ ‘I don’t know how he did it,’ says Allison, ‘but it was taken off to the kennels at Heathrow.’ The late Martin Charteris, Private Secretary to the Queen at the time, recalled: ‘She really was shaking with anger.’”
January 23, 2013
Not a biography at all, but a wonderfully wonky account of the inside workings of the various offices that keep the monarchy running and how they've changed over the decades.
August 22, 2021
Brilliant, insightful and touching. Creates a sense of endearment towards a monarchy that has adapted to the changing times of modern society. Without the advice and thoughtfulness of Her Majesty, the Commonwealth would not be as strong and resilient as it is considered to be today. Would highly recommend.
August 19, 2012
Just in time for the Jubilee and the London Olympics, a sympathetic portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II by a knowledgeable journalist and longtime royal-watcher. I checked this one out of the library by mistake, having confused it with "Elizabeth the Queen," which is a scholarly biography. This book is dissimilar -- it is chatty, very British (some of the slang expressions and references to popular television shows quite baffled me), concentrates on the present-day monarch, and is more informal and anecdotal. It has two sections of beautiful color plates of the Queen and her entourage at the opening of Parliament and other festive occasions. The author is more sanguine than this reader about the long-term prospects for the survival of the British monarchy, but he rightly states that the Queen has been more successful than most other present-day monarchs in adapting to the 21st century. The 86-year-old Queen, one of the longest-reigning monarchs in British history has served diligently since 1952 as an oasis of calm, civility, and political neutrality amid the fractious squabbles of partisan politics and sometimes scandalous private lives of her children (known by the media as "the Waleses, "the Cambridges," and other irreverent monikers.)She is believed to be the most widely-traveled monarch in history, having visited even the most dangerous and inconvenient reaches of the Commonwealth, and reportedly has long enjoyed an enviable 70 percent approval rating among the British populace. Long gone are the days early in the Queen's marriage when film footage documenting a rare royal domestic squabble could be confiscated immediately from the offending photographer. The modern Buckingham Palace is staffed by media-savvy professional managers, many hired from private businesses, whose organization and inner workings are described in fascinating detail. The Queen's corgis even have their own web page! The financial support of the royal family, based largely on investments and other non-taxpayer-funded sources, is described in detail. One learns that some of the modern-day uniformed attendants are female; their smaller body size enables costly, 150-year old uniforms, custom-made when the average man was much smaller, to be thriftly recycled. Women are now also among the 98 volunteer Lord-Lieutenants who deputize for the royal family when they are unable to attend public functions. Novice Lord-Lieutenants are provided with a compact disc explaining how to exit gracefully from an automobile wearing a ceremonial sword. The snooty debutante balls of the 1950's have given way to afternoon teas hosted by the Queen for invitees representing all races and classes. The author estimates that 2 million British citizens from all walks of life have met the Queen. All in all, a delightfful read.
January 4, 2026
A portrait of the Queen today (2012), not a life story.
“The Queen loves her mail and does not like to be shielded.”
The royal staff have a book club - and a book exchange.
In 2010, the Queen received move than 2,000 birthday cards and 4,000 Christmas cards (“from ordinary people.”)
“The Queen loves her mail and does not like to be shielded.”
The royal staff have a book club - and a book exchange.
In 2010, the Queen received move than 2,000 birthday cards and 4,000 Christmas cards (“from ordinary people.”)
February 4, 2020
With all the drama going on in the royal family from a prince involved with a pedophile (no comment on if he took part in the crimes) and a certain other prince and his wife showing disrespect for her majesty (face it they could've done it more gracefully than they did) it was nice to take a step back to the diamond jubliee year 2012. Considering we're two years from a platinum jubliee it was long ago and things were so much rosier. Prince William just married the lovely Catherine, London was about to host the Olympics where the Queen would make a surprise appearance with James Bond, Brexit and all the turmoil and uncertainties that would bring hadn't even been thought of. This book takes a look at the life of Her Majesty the Queen, but not in a traditional way. It meanders along and at times it feels like you might've read it but maybe not. The usual events are covered from Prince Phillip's many gaffes, to the Diana, Charles, Fergie and Andrew issues in the 90's, Princess Margaret and all her scandals, and so much more. But instead of looking at those events, the book goes behind the scenes to show how things good and bad were dealt with, whether it's making the Queen pay taxes, or dealing with children and in laws gone rouge, which makes this book unique. I really only picked up this book because it had insights from members of the royal family. Loved hearing from Prince William about his grandmother, cringed with Prince Andrew as in hindsight well let's just say nothing he's said in the past has aged well. It was a solid biography but hard to follow at times as it does jump around. One paragraph you're reading about Diana's funeral and poof you're onto a tangent about something else only to go back to funeral arrangements again. But it was good. I'd be interested in getting updates on what's currently going on inside the palace but that will have to wait until the dust settles on the drama and chaos left in the wake of the actions of her majesty's son and grandson (My tablet autocorrects son as con which might be a bit too on the nose).
August 25, 2012
Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II and her Court by Robert Hardman provides an overview and analysis of Queen Elizabeth II, her reign, and the many changes and reforms that have transpired over her sixty years on the throne.
Well chosen photographs illustrate the Queen's activities including
opening Parliament, Trooping the Colour, visiting a mosque, at the National Stud in Ireland, Garter Day, a state dinner at Windsor, and at a G-20 summit. My favorite photos are welcoming home a wounded soldier, at the Aldgate tube station, watching a flyover, with Prince William at Anglesey, and cheering at Derby Day.
Ogranized into nine chapters, Hardman produces a good portait of the Queen, her reign, and the many reforms and changes that have occured during those sixty years. Key topics include The Commonwealth, her court, politicians, reforms, her family (and their ups and downs), the royal budget, the happy people business, the military, Prince Philip, her many travels and walkabouts, charities, and the Queen's devotion to her duties. Examples, quotes, and anecdotes illustrate key points.
This well-researched book provides a solid, positive analysis of Queen Elizabeth II, and her reign. It is very detailed and is not a quick read. This book would have been improved with the inclusion of information about royal titles, and a map (or list) of the Queen's travels. The bibliograpohy gives further reading suggestions to those inclinced to learn even more.
For high school and above, British history, British monarchy, royalty, biography, royal watchers, and fans of Queen Elizabeth II and Robert Hardman.
Well chosen photographs illustrate the Queen's activities including
opening Parliament, Trooping the Colour, visiting a mosque, at the National Stud in Ireland, Garter Day, a state dinner at Windsor, and at a G-20 summit. My favorite photos are welcoming home a wounded soldier, at the Aldgate tube station, watching a flyover, with Prince William at Anglesey, and cheering at Derby Day.
Ogranized into nine chapters, Hardman produces a good portait of the Queen, her reign, and the many reforms and changes that have occured during those sixty years. Key topics include The Commonwealth, her court, politicians, reforms, her family (and their ups and downs), the royal budget, the happy people business, the military, Prince Philip, her many travels and walkabouts, charities, and the Queen's devotion to her duties. Examples, quotes, and anecdotes illustrate key points.
This well-researched book provides a solid, positive analysis of Queen Elizabeth II, and her reign. It is very detailed and is not a quick read. This book would have been improved with the inclusion of information about royal titles, and a map (or list) of the Queen's travels. The bibliograpohy gives further reading suggestions to those inclinced to learn even more.
For high school and above, British history, British monarchy, royalty, biography, royal watchers, and fans of Queen Elizabeth II and Robert Hardman.
July 25, 2013
Read my full thoughts on my blog.
"Considering my lifelong love of British royal history, I found myself surprised by how much I learned from Her Majesty...Hardman demonstrates the breadth of the Queen's activities, the modern role of the royal family and how it has developed, and the significance of the Commonwealth.
Hardman was granted several key interviews which made the book not only more reputable, but also more enjoyable for us royalists. Prince Andrew - Duke of York and the Queen's second son - and Prince William - Duke of Cambridge, Queen's grandson, second in line for the throne, and new father - both offered perspective into the Queen's life and work. From the amount of content from each of them, I guess they only had one meeting each with Hardman. Still, having the personal, familial touch really did add something to the work."
"Considering my lifelong love of British royal history, I found myself surprised by how much I learned from Her Majesty...Hardman demonstrates the breadth of the Queen's activities, the modern role of the royal family and how it has developed, and the significance of the Commonwealth.
Hardman was granted several key interviews which made the book not only more reputable, but also more enjoyable for us royalists. Prince Andrew - Duke of York and the Queen's second son - and Prince William - Duke of Cambridge, Queen's grandson, second in line for the throne, and new father - both offered perspective into the Queen's life and work. From the amount of content from each of them, I guess they only had one meeting each with Hardman. Still, having the personal, familial touch really did add something to the work."
April 29, 2012
A little fawning, but I like the Queen too, so it didn't bother me that much. Really interesting look at the monarchy and how it has changed (and not) in the 60 years of Elizabeth II's reign, and how it has transitioned to the 21st century. The author is a long-time Royal observer and writer, and clearly has a lot of 'ins' with the family and staff. The only place it lost me was the the discussion of the county lieutenants - boring!! The stuff about the Commonwealth was interesting - I'm a part of it but don't honestly know much about what it does. This book is current, up-to-date, and well done!
My favourite bit was learning about the invitation extended by Estonia in 1994 after their break from the Soviet Union to Edward, asking if he wanted to come be King of Estonia. Awesome. (He politely declined.)
My favourite bit was learning about the invitation extended by Estonia in 1994 after their break from the Soviet Union to Edward, asking if he wanted to come be King of Estonia. Awesome. (He politely declined.)
June 28, 2012
As the author states, the thoughts and feelings of the Queen will come out when access to her papers and journals are available. Unfortunately, that will not happen until the Queen dies.
After reading this, I have a better understanding of the monarchy and the way it works. That part was fascinating, as was the information about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's marriage and relationship. I think the Queen sounds like a fascinating woman, with a lot to offer the world.
It is not a fast read, especially since I spent a lot of time looking up what titles were, and locations mentioned. I'm pretty much an expert now.
If I were to do it again, I would not read it, and just wait for the biography/memoir that comes out after the Queen's journals are available. With that, I feel smarter now that I have read it, which is always good after a nonfiction read.
After reading this, I have a better understanding of the monarchy and the way it works. That part was fascinating, as was the information about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's marriage and relationship. I think the Queen sounds like a fascinating woman, with a lot to offer the world.
It is not a fast read, especially since I spent a lot of time looking up what titles were, and locations mentioned. I'm pretty much an expert now.
If I were to do it again, I would not read it, and just wait for the biography/memoir that comes out after the Queen's journals are available. With that, I feel smarter now that I have read it, which is always good after a nonfiction read.
June 22, 2015
I recommend Our Queen to anyone interested in the Queen herself, the workings of the royal household, and the role of the monarchy in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth today. Hardman’s work is beautifully written, and filled with interesting material about Elizabeth II and the transformation of the monarchy during her reign.
Read full review at: http://www.royalhistorian.com/diamond...
Read full review at: http://www.royalhistorian.com/diamond...
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February 5, 2013I liked this book. It was interesting and informative. Goota love the Queen!
April 2, 2020
Maybe this should be 2 stars, especially from me because I'm a tough grader. 3 starts is a pretty good book in, well, in my book. I rarely elaborate with a review, but feel like I should explain. It actually wasn't a well-written book, or a skillfully compelling read, and the writer is an absolute royalist who might've left out "the other side" of some events. However, it wasn't horrible either, and it aptly responds to a reader like me who was curious about what the Queen's job really is these days, what the Commonwealth means in functional terms, and what a contemporary royal court is like. So I know things I didn't know before = 3 stars.
November 19, 2017
This book took me forever to read. I’m not entirely sure why, because it was interesting. I did have a few times I had to wait to get it back from the library.
This is not so much a biography of the Queen and her life as it is a biography for her reign. Organized by topic (prime ministers, royalist vs republic debates, foreign interactions, etc.) instead of chronologically, it was a good format.
I learned quite a bit and enjoyed the reading.
This is not so much a biography of the Queen and her life as it is a biography for her reign. Organized by topic (prime ministers, royalist vs republic debates, foreign interactions, etc.) instead of chronologically, it was a good format.
I learned quite a bit and enjoyed the reading.
April 9, 2020
I learned a lot about the workings of the Court and found that very interesting. I appreciate the "long view" of monarchy and the changes since Queen Elizabeth II became queen were quite interesting. Overall, a good read of the ups and downs and the steadfastness that the Queen brings. Learning more of the family dynamic, in as much as it was discussed and about a few more individuals in the Royal family and their unique contributions was also very interesting.
November 9, 2021
"It turns out that some of the governors are worried about a flower arrangement which may be obscuring the plaque which the Queen will unveil." If sentences like this excite you, this is your book. I recommend instead "The Palace Diaries: Twelve Years with HRH Prince Charles" by Sarah Goodall if you really want to learn about the people behind The Firm.
September 18, 2019
Good overview of the many Prime Ministers that QEII has interacted with over the many years of her reign. There are many other interesting stories interwoven throughout the book. But most will find this as more of a historical account and not the "story from downstairs."
July 21, 2020
Comprehensive look at Her Majesty ‘s reign up to 2014.
This is for history buffs. The detail involved is at times almost exhausting, but if you want a look at the accomplishments , trials and and decades of challenges this book is for you.
This is for history buffs. The detail involved is at times almost exhausting, but if you want a look at the accomplishments , trials and and decades of challenges this book is for you.
January 23, 2018
proprio non sono riuscita a leggerlo, non è scritto in un modo che mi piace
February 2, 2018
Enjoyable and informative read
I really enjoyed this book. It is quite mind boggling to see everything this marvelous woman has done and seen since she became Queen and before that.
I really enjoyed this book. It is quite mind boggling to see everything this marvelous woman has done and seen since she became Queen and before that.
March 19, 2018
Loved it!
June 6, 2020
Interesting in a lot of places. In the others, the English was Dutch to me😊
June 28, 2020
Took a long time, because it didn't always grab me. But I finished it!
January 13, 2021
Very interesting
Amazing to consider the length of the Queen’s reign and all that she has seen, observed and participated in. God Save The Queen!
Amazing to consider the length of the Queen’s reign and all that she has seen, observed and participated in. God Save The Queen!
December 26, 2021
Very Interesting life of the Queen.
November 3, 2016
Excellent book. Good introduction to the unwritten British constitution.
Notes to myself:
p. 166: note that "one of the great strengths of Britain's unwritten constitution that it can adapt to the unexpected" as it did when Gordon Brown resigned as PM while the other parties had still not decided whether they could work together
p. 168,169 about the proposal to sell homes belonging to the Crown Estate, with a goal of reinvesting the proceeds since it 'was a good time to invest. "The Queen was unimpressed. She replied that it could hardly be the ideal time to sell the homes of 1,230 families in the middle of a recession. All summer she deployed the same tactic she had described to that Dean of St. Paul's: if in doubt, keep on asking more questions….But we do know this: in October 2010 a new deal was suddenly struck whereby the houses were not sold to a private developer for 250million pounds. Instead they were sold for 150million to the Peabody Trust, a well respected housing association…..and the politicians patted themselves on the back. No one thought to ask what the Queen had to say on the matter. Why should they? She could not possibly get involved in anything political. Could she?
p. 250 about a staff member who once worked in the Royal Mews….."he will always be grateful for his years at the Palace…..'I learned about pride in your work and perfection."
p. 252 The former Daily Telegraph editor has written that Britain is the most matriarchal society in the modern world, in that the four most famous public figures since the Second Wrld War have been women: the Queen, the Queen Mother, Diana Princess of Wales, and Margaret Thatcher. It seems fitting that the Queen's personal legacy to the way Britain salutes its own should strike a feminine--though not a feminist--chord.
p. 252 on the Elizabeth Cross: "it is classless, different and, simply, very her. By definition it can only be conferred on those who lived and died in uniform. It is both a brooch and an emblem, suitable for men and women….[given to the families of those who have died.]
p. 253, on the subject of medals and awards…"Someone will always feel neglected or hard one by. Kenneth rose is fond of quoting Winston Churchill on the subject: "A medal glistens. But it also casts a shadow."
p. 264 "This reign can be characterized in many ways, not least by the number of closed doors which are now open."
Notes to myself:
p. 166: note that "one of the great strengths of Britain's unwritten constitution that it can adapt to the unexpected" as it did when Gordon Brown resigned as PM while the other parties had still not decided whether they could work together
p. 168,169 about the proposal to sell homes belonging to the Crown Estate, with a goal of reinvesting the proceeds since it 'was a good time to invest. "The Queen was unimpressed. She replied that it could hardly be the ideal time to sell the homes of 1,230 families in the middle of a recession. All summer she deployed the same tactic she had described to that Dean of St. Paul's: if in doubt, keep on asking more questions….But we do know this: in October 2010 a new deal was suddenly struck whereby the houses were not sold to a private developer for 250million pounds. Instead they were sold for 150million to the Peabody Trust, a well respected housing association…..and the politicians patted themselves on the back. No one thought to ask what the Queen had to say on the matter. Why should they? She could not possibly get involved in anything political. Could she?
p. 250 about a staff member who once worked in the Royal Mews….."he will always be grateful for his years at the Palace…..'I learned about pride in your work and perfection."
p. 252 The former Daily Telegraph editor has written that Britain is the most matriarchal society in the modern world, in that the four most famous public figures since the Second Wrld War have been women: the Queen, the Queen Mother, Diana Princess of Wales, and Margaret Thatcher. It seems fitting that the Queen's personal legacy to the way Britain salutes its own should strike a feminine--though not a feminist--chord.
p. 252 on the Elizabeth Cross: "it is classless, different and, simply, very her. By definition it can only be conferred on those who lived and died in uniform. It is both a brooch and an emblem, suitable for men and women….[given to the families of those who have died.]
p. 253, on the subject of medals and awards…"Someone will always feel neglected or hard one by. Kenneth rose is fond of quoting Winston Churchill on the subject: "A medal glistens. But it also casts a shadow."
p. 264 "This reign can be characterized in many ways, not least by the number of closed doors which are now open."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2023
A well written and interesting book about the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. A bit dated today, the book was published in 2011 in the run-up to its diamond jubilee. The author Robert Hardman has included in the book many homely and fascinating details, interviews and comments from family and individuals close to Queen Elizabeth II. Together with a good series of photos, the book shows the hard work of the Queen, her immense sense of duty and her often sensible, level-headed and caring approach to life, her family and her people.
The book gives a human image of Queen Elizabeth. With the book we get a nice insight into her way of governing, with fun moments, less fun moments also pass by. There is also room in the book for Prince Philip, her husband for over 70 years. Not only her husband but especially her rock.
The book is interesting, but it should be noted that you have to keep your attention because of the many circuits of people and the many names that pass by. The book does not read smoothly. However, it is a valuable source of information about a person who emerges as someone you were fortunate to have as your monarch.
In summary: This book offers a nice perspective on her life and reign. The book chronicles the workings of the royal household and the role of the monarchy in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth under Elizabeth II. There was so much to learn in the book. Despite its somewhat older age, the book is certainly recommended for anyone interested in the British Monarchy.
The book gives a human image of Queen Elizabeth. With the book we get a nice insight into her way of governing, with fun moments, less fun moments also pass by. There is also room in the book for Prince Philip, her husband for over 70 years. Not only her husband but especially her rock.
The book is interesting, but it should be noted that you have to keep your attention because of the many circuits of people and the many names that pass by. The book does not read smoothly. However, it is a valuable source of information about a person who emerges as someone you were fortunate to have as your monarch.
In summary: This book offers a nice perspective on her life and reign. The book chronicles the workings of the royal household and the role of the monarchy in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth under Elizabeth II. There was so much to learn in the book. Despite its somewhat older age, the book is certainly recommended for anyone interested in the British Monarchy.
May 21, 2014
We shelve this in Biography, and yet, this is not a biography in the true sense of the word. Rather, it is a history of the monarchy and how it and the members of Elizabeth's Court have evolved since she became Queen.
A couple of chapters in this book were extremely interesting. I loved reading about "Her People" -- the men and women who work in this "corporation" to ensure that everything works and runs the way it's supposed to. The people who work for the Monarchy -- the Chefs, Footmen, Maids, etc. are often educated and some have advanced degrees. These are not the staff that you read about in Historical Romance novels.
The other interesting chapter was about "Her Strength and Stay" -- Prince Philip. I knew quite a bit about him before (I've read a couple of biographies), but I learned a bit more from this book. For example, Prince Philip is now the only remaining major figure on the world stage who saw active service in WWII.
I could not get into the chapter about "Her Politicians", at all. The facts about Churchill (Yes, Elizabeth has been Queen that long) were interesting, but the rest of it ....
Finally, I only gave this book 2 stars. I finished it, but it was not an easy read. As a matter of fact, it was often "dry as dirt". Having trouble sleeping? This book worked wonders for me, more than once.
A couple of chapters in this book were extremely interesting. I loved reading about "Her People" -- the men and women who work in this "corporation" to ensure that everything works and runs the way it's supposed to. The people who work for the Monarchy -- the Chefs, Footmen, Maids, etc. are often educated and some have advanced degrees. These are not the staff that you read about in Historical Romance novels.
The other interesting chapter was about "Her Strength and Stay" -- Prince Philip. I knew quite a bit about him before (I've read a couple of biographies), but I learned a bit more from this book. For example, Prince Philip is now the only remaining major figure on the world stage who saw active service in WWII.
I could not get into the chapter about "Her Politicians", at all. The facts about Churchill (Yes, Elizabeth has been Queen that long) were interesting, but the rest of it ....
Finally, I only gave this book 2 stars. I finished it, but it was not an easy read. As a matter of fact, it was often "dry as dirt". Having trouble sleeping? This book worked wonders for me, more than once.
September 4, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though it was eerily similar to the author's previous work on the subject, "Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work". The reader is taken behind the scenes of some of the most testing times of the monarchy in the modern era and to the day to day management of the various offices which play an important role in bringing the monarchy and the people together. There was a lot of new anecdotes and insights into the Queen's personality and character and that of her husband alongside lots of information that I had already heard about. This was a good book but I would respectfully disagree with some of the endorsements on the back of the dustcover of the hardback edition which extolled how this was the definitive portrait of Elizabeth II. It wasn't; it was just a nice and cozy read about the life and world of a beloved sovereign of 16 nations which I would heartily recommend to general reader and royal enthusiast alike.
February 4, 2016
Well, you can see that it took me about two years to read this book, because I only read it on my Kindle when I was using the elliptical or stationary bike at the gym. Now you know how often I've been to the gym in the past two years.
Having lived in England for two years, including at the time of the Queen's Silver Jubilee, I'm a fan, and I enjoyed learning all about the official lives of Elizabeth and the royal family. This book focuses on tons of details, both historical and contemporary. For example, it explains how Elizabeth has ushered in all sorts of incremental and key improvements to the operations of the royal family. I especially liked learning about the Commonwealth.
If you're a detail-oriented person, and you love the British monarchy, you'll appreciate this book.
Having lived in England for two years, including at the time of the Queen's Silver Jubilee, I'm a fan, and I enjoyed learning all about the official lives of Elizabeth and the royal family. This book focuses on tons of details, both historical and contemporary. For example, it explains how Elizabeth has ushered in all sorts of incremental and key improvements to the operations of the royal family. I especially liked learning about the Commonwealth.
If you're a detail-oriented person, and you love the British monarchy, you'll appreciate this book.
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