Queen of the World: Elizabeth II: Sovereign and Stateswoman

by Robert Hardman

On today's world stage, there is one leader who stands apart from the rest. Queen Elizabeth II has seen more of the planet and its people than any other head of state and has engaged with the world like no other monarch in modern history.


The iconic monarch never ventured further than the Isle of Wight until the age of 20 but since then has now visited over 130 countries across the globe in the line of duty, acting as diplomat, hostess and dignitary as the world stage as changed beyond recognition. It is a story full of drama, intrigue, exotic and sometimes dangerous destinations, heroes, rogues, pomp and glamour, but at the heart of it all a woman who's won the hearts of the world.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Royalty, British Literature, Historical, Politics

578 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 2018

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

While most works detailing Queen Elizabeth II focus on her role within the United Kingdom, she also serves as Head of the Commonwealth, a collective of fifty-three sovereign states ranging from Australia to Zambia. In this capacity, while having no direct authority over the states, she regularly flexes her diplomatic soft power. Traveling the world, hosting dinners, receiving guests, her appearance at opportune times alone is sometimes enough to spur negotiations or further an agenda. By visiting over 130 countries throughout her reign, Elizabeth II has become a true Queen of the World.

The best part of this book is Robert Hardman’s access to the Royal Archives as well as individuals close the Queen. This adds authority to the many stories and anecdotes he has amassed, and the sheer heft of the detail he provides feels all-encompassing. It obviously isn’t, considering a rule of over sixty years would be an impossible task. However, readers can walk away with a grasp on what it’s like to navigate as a global diplomat in an ever-changing world.

And what stories he tells.

How do you select gifts for world leaders when one wrong could completely tarnish international relations? The Royal Yacht Brittannia Yacht Britannia served beyond transportation— acting as a vessel for diplomatic meetings. Even the Queen’s fashion has its own tales, with her numerous embellishments depending on her mission receiving plenty of attention. All of this, and more, is described in detail by individuals who were present through it all, and it’s riveting reading about their service in the name of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and the Queen herself.

If there is one fault in Hardman’s work, it’s the exceedingly rosy picture he paints of the royal family. He doesn’t necessarily avoid dust-ups and gaffes, but they are brushed aside easily. This was especially the case with the Duke of Edinburgh on his trip to China in 1986 where he made a racist remark to a group of students. Hardman, rather than offering even minor admonishment, instead focuses on the press’s handling of the story, lamenting that it’s a continually repeated whenever writing about the Duke. This is the most extreme example of needless defense, but it’s common. The royals appear to do no wrong, or it’s always someone else’s fault.

Still, the overall portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as a statesman is stunning, if a bit protected. As a piece of archival research alone, this book is an incredible feat—picking a page at random, most will be impressed by the care and attention paid to the subject. Fortunately, Hardman’s readable style keeps this work both endearing and accessible.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.

[Steve Donoghue]

It honestly never occurred to me that any new book about Queen Elizabeth II could really FEEL new - there've been SO many studies and biographies, ranging from scandal-sheet nonsense to serious scholarly attempts, that I actually found myself thinking a disappointingly cynical thought: that the next truly new book would only come after the Queen's death. But Robert Hardman proved me wrong - this book concentrates on Queen Elizabeth's role as head of the Commonwealth and actually manages to feel fresh. My full review:
https://openlettersreview.com/open-le...

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my fave bios of Elizabeth II, rich with detail I’d not read elsewhere. A fascinating look at England’s longest reigning monarch. 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine. Pub Date 01 Jan 2019. #QueenOfTheWorld #NetGalley

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moderately interesting, much like the Queen herself. Hardman tries with Sisyphean persistence to make Elizabeth II an important figure in world history, but the boulder of her ultimate irrelevance rolls down the hill and crushes him. The book needed a better editor. His premise might have been supported by less attention to soul-killing details of long past state banquets and more to what the Queen (God save her) has actually accomplished that wouldn't have happened without her. I suspect the answer is not much, but would be open to a better case than Hardman makes here. The Crown has slyly managed to make clear what the Windsors and their current matriarch are. The national soap opera. As such, the recent eruption of interest in them has more to do with Harry and Meghan or Andrew and Epstein, and less with whether a nonagenarian is making social twit-twit with world leaders during state banquets.

It is clear from the book that Hardman admires his subject. Fine. So do we all. But his devotion results in a thesis that remains unproven after many, many, many pages.

[Cindy Wiedemer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book was interesting and fairly easy reading, it did feel like just a big long list of all the trips the Queen made after a while. Although I learned a lot, it did make me wonder if things accredited to her really warrant such praise. To assume others are not as forward thinking and compassionate towards the "right" answers without her guidance the book did in small doses show a human side of the Queen which I enjoyed reading much more than all the politics someone who isn't supposed to be political, was involved in. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in a brief but not so brief summary of all the Queens' engaments and travel over her reign.

[Zosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was fantastic. I love the idea of a biography told through travel and I learned so much about England and the commonwealth, especially more modern history that I wasn’t around to see but isn’t old enough to be covered in textbooks. I also thought the case that it made for the continuation of monarchies in the modern world was very interesting. Such an original and fascinating biography of an amazing woman.

[Chrissy Shea Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s sadly appropriate that I am finishing this book on the day the Queen has passed away and Charles becomes King Charles III.

I am definitely interested in the Royal family. Some will argue it has no relevance to my life as an American but I love the promise of this book - that this democratic monarch has seen the world through more time than most of us have been alive. And for that she has been a solid, positive light through a century. And besides, the British monarchy is more interesting and neutral in my life than any other current event, especially those in my own country.

The chapters are long but well organized. Over 20 hours of audio. It was educational about the Queen and all British royalty and its interaction with the government. There are many names from around the world to keep straight but it was interesting.

[Rosanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

After watching the 1st 2 seasons of The Crown on Netflix, I was intrigued and wanted to find out the real story of Queen Elizabeth. This well-researched, detailed, and entertaining book told me everything I wanted to know and much more. I learned about the role of the royal family and its place in world history and politics, the development and purpose of the Commonwealth, and many more details about this fascinating woman's life. While The Crown is historically accurate in some ways, the author points out some of the fiction. This book is the real thing!

[Sura Siri · Rating 3 out of 5]

หนังสือเล่มนี้ตีพิมพ์เมื่อปี ค.ศ. 2018 ซึ่งในขณะนั้นสมเด็จพระราชินีนาถเอลิซาเบธที่ 2(ต่อไปจะเขียนว่า ควีนฯ) ยังมีชีวิตอยู่ (พระองค์ท่านสวรรคตเมื่อวันที่ 8/9/2022)

เมื่ออ่านจบเล่มแล้ว ผมเห็นด้วยอย่างยิ่งว่าชื่อหนังสือ Queen Of The World ค่อนข้างจะสื่อความหมายได้ตรงตามความต้องการของผู้เขียนเลย

ถ้าหากต้องการอ่านชีวประวัติของควีนฯ เกิดที่ไหน นิสัยเป็นแบบไหน การเรียน ความรัก ฯลฯ ไม่สามารถหาอ่านได้ในเล่มนี้แน่นอน แต่เนื้อหาของหนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเรื่องเกี่ยวกับพระราชกรณียกิจ โดยเน้นเฉพาะการไปเยือนประเทศต่างๆ ทั้งในเครือจักรภพและประเทศอื่นๆ รวมไปถึงการรับรองแขกบ้านแขกเมือง เรื่องนี้ผู้เขียนเน้นย้ำเลยว่านี่คือ “Solf Power” ของประเทศอังกฤษ

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very long book so I'd hesitate to recommend it to someone with just a passing interest in the Queen, especially since it focuses on her life as a stateswoman, mostly with the Commonwealth. Still, it does a beautiful job of putting her international work center stage and that's a needed corrective, with so many biographies focusing primarily on her personal and family life. Essential reading for someone trying to understand her long-term importance and how her legacy will develop.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great bio about queen Elizabeth II! Well written and very detailed.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! I had no idea that this was not just "another" book about HM The Queen. It is about HM and her relationship with the COMMONWEALTH and other countries and world leaders. I'm so glad I decided to read it because there were quite a few interesting and funny anecdotes as well.

[Dawn Froese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. So much I didn't know. I enjoyed learning about all the connections with the world. Well done.

[Brad Revell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is here: https://www.bradrevell.com/2021/05/qu...

Three key takeaways from the book:

1. The Queen typically will wear a standout colour when walking the crowds. This is so that everybody can catch a glimpse of her, whether or not they see her face.
2. The Queen speaks fluent French. Not sure how I missed that fact!
3. Who has lived through the administrations of sixteen USA presidents—more than one-third of the total. You guessed it, the Queen!

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best royal biography of the year! Most books about Queen Elizabeth II's reign focus on her life and reign within the United Kingdom but Queen of the World examines her role as Head of the Commonwealth and sovereign of sixteen Commonwealth realms, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, in detail. Hardman provides fascinating behind the scenes descriptions of royal tours, state visits and subtle examples of royal diplomacy, especially within the context of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.
The various aspects of royal travels including unique gifts, fashion choices, menus and itineraries are explained in detail. There is a section devoted to the role of the Royal Yacht Britannia in royal diplomacy before the ship was decomissioned in the 1990s. Queen of the World includes interviews with numerous ambassadors, diplomats and members of the royal household as well as Princess Anne, the Countess of Wessex and Andrew Parker Bowles. Over the course of the book, Hardman addresses some of the inaccuracies in The Crown series on Netflix, including the circumstances surrounding the Queen's historic 1961 visit to Ghana.
Hardman places Commonwealth history within the context of current events concerning the monarchy and Commonwealth. Queen of the World begins with the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London, which confirmed that the Prince of Wales will suceed the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth and concludes with the marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, who included floral emblems from the Commonwealth nations in the design of her wedding veil. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the global significance of the monarchy and the Queen's role in international diplomacy.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four-star read about the subtle yet intentional way Queen Elizabeth has navigated political waters in a post-imperial world. Three stars because sometimes the narrative bogs down and feels a bit repetitive; the middle third for me became a "skim," when the pattern of the content became clear after the first couple sections. Recommended for fans of the Royal Family; those interested in "soft power" leadership, as this is taking lessons from the master; and those who believe that the Queen is merely a figurehead, for they are vastly mistaken.

On paper, it is a disaster. Piece by piece, the British empire is--violently or not--shaking off the "shackles" of imperial rule in favor of independence. Queen Elizabeth, however, looked these nations in the eye, applauded their shifts toward democracy, then promptly invited them into the wisest political network, perhaps, in history--the Commonwealth. This organization of 53 nations is voluntary, providing advice, support, and unity on multitudes of issues. As Head of the Commonwealth, the queen may direct one member to another for resources, personnel, etc. Nations long to join. Member nations say things like, "We don't feel so small that we have to reject the monarchy to feel big." This crowning political achievement, I think, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, as many of the nations in the Commonwealth might otherwise have been in competition with one another. Now they are allies. The fate of the Commonwealth when the Queen is no longer Head will be a deciding factor in global history.

Uniting 53 countries is no joke. But it came after decades of using her position as opportunity to "make points" and provide implicit endorsement of politics. As in her 1965 visit to Germany where it was said, "In Germany [and, I would argue also true all around the world], we admire the stylistic expression of grandeur. This was a great theatrical event. And Britain is the great country of the stage." While the British government is, on paper, neatly divided into legislation, run by Parliament, and diplomacy, headed by the Royal Family, the Queen's grand presence is definitely political, because it is respected. She has definite say in where and when she goes on or receives state visits, many of which have been carefully timed to build alliance and provide positive reinforcement in sticky situations. For instance, as the Soviet Union was dissolving and slowly heading toward a form of democracy, the Queen was one of the first to make an official visit, clearly endorsing this political direction of the once "Iron Curtain" section of the world. Had she not, they may easily have fallen into more controlling forms of government more suited to such a large territory.

On any given state visit, the stops made by the Queen also testify to agendas she is supporting. And these decisions are not dictated to the Queen; she is actively involved in her itineraries. So much for remaining silent and neutral. Her voice is just through actions, rather than endless words.

Quotable quotes from the book: Prince Phillip, on seeing the site where one of his ancestors was brutally massacred--"You can't condemn a whole nation for what a few extremists do or did." Regarding newspapers--"The media are seldom, if ever, in the business of helpful quotes. Their business is conflict."

[Xq Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

世界离不开女王
2022年9月8日，女王去世，接下来的追悼活动着实让人感受到英国人对女王的真挚热爱。为了向女王灵柩表达最后的敬意，他们通宵排队十几二十个小时，队伍长达5英里。在白金汉宫、温莎城堡，格林公园、不少纪念物周边，普通民众敬献的鲜花、卡片堆积成山，且不时有民众出来整理摆放。这是民众最朴素的情感流露，无尽的怀念之情令人泪目。不得不说，英国人，真实！

找到这本书就是想看看女王的一生，她是怎样赢得民众喜欢的。这本书是著名皇家传记作家罗伯特·哈德曼所著，2021年7月份出版。他从女王的旅程活动来记述女王。从中可以感受到女王不仅在英国，而且在全世界都有着巨大的影响力，她的责任与格局、她的宽厚与谨慎、她的美丽与高贵贯穿一生，她走过灿烂的一生，给世间留下的无以伦比风采。

在漫长的一生中，女王走过世界上大多数国家，这一时期虽是英国由盛转衰，由日不落大英帝国逐步退到英伦三岛，然而英国的影响力并未因此减低，女王的作用是无疑的。

女王访问过126个国家，她不仅代表英国，还代表15个女王领地，见过最多的国家元首。每个世界领导人都希望见到女王，尤其是在国内形势不太好的情况下。
不过安排女王的访问是件非常复杂的事，需要考虑很多因素，比如访问多个国家时的顺序安排，要考虑邻国的关系等，为此女王的私人秘书会做大量的前期准备工作。
女王出行一般是35人左右，当要举办宴会时，会增加到50人。
女王在出访飞行中的大部分时间都在做访问的准备工作，她会了解会见对象的性格特征等非常具体的内容。
女王对着装相当重视，她不同时期的独有风格令设计师都颇为惊奇，不仅时尚，而且几乎适应各种色彩。
女王出访的交通工具跨越了轮船、火车到超音速客机时代，但是最令女王留恋还是用了四十多年的皇家不列颠尼亚号游轮，它的布局接近女王的家，在出访期间女王会在这里宴请客人。有些时侯游轮还会临时移交给英国工业界，举办商业贸易活动。
女王很在意媒体，虽然有时它们起到反作用。女王认为，想要被人信任，首先要被人看见，而通过媒体引发民众对王室的关注，其作用要大于其他任何方面。
女王重视礼品的准备，她甚至会考虑所住酒店的工作人员的礼品。
在正常的访问程式中，女王常作出随意向人群致意的行为，这时她的随行人员极为紧张，但女王喜欢这种与民众的互相时刻。
女王并不总是和蔼可亲，当面对独裁者时，她会相当严厉地提出建议。
关于演讲，虽然女王访问期间的演讲稿都有政府大臣准备，但是女王都会做出修改，女王不喜欢把话说得很满，华美的比喻和溢美的形容词不会超过1分钟，而且爱丁堡公爵的意见会受到特别重视。
女王的访问结束后，政府方面会整理一份秘密总结报告，也反馈到王室，这对后续的王室访问无疑是是有价值的。


除了出访，女王接待的来访也非常多，按记录，她为109位国家元首组织了103次国事访问，而正式访问更是不计其数，访问带来了巨大的影响力，特别是在女王年长日益偶像化之后。像1989 年戈尔巴乔夫对英国的历史性访问成为结束冷战和铁幕落下的关键。而2015年接待中国代表团的访问方面，让王室清楚了中国是多么重视礼节。
国宴是访问的重头戏，正如戴维·卡梅伦所说，王宫的晚宴赢得现代世界领袖的称赞：餐前酒，迎宾队列，与女王握手，吃饭，做演讲和祝酒，吃你的三道菜，喝一杯，相当高效。
女王喜欢当主人的感觉，接待各种类型代表团，她都能从容应对，不过女王最喜欢的还是别国王室的来访，这是因为他们可能面对共同的问题和挑战。
女王也接待过难缠的客人，像乌干达的残暴总统阿明，他着实让女王捏了一把汗，不过他对女王始终保持着尊敬和爱戴。而像蒙博托这样带着狗入住白金汉宫的，还是遭到了女王的冷眼。要说最糟糕的访客还是齐奥塞斯库，他们夫妇两人总是期望被奉承和浮华的东西，这点令王室反感，而且其随行人员更有席卷住处财物的坏习惯。

女王最早出访是以公主身份在1947年进行的，这是一次以南非为主的非洲之旅。那时正值二战后，英国风雨飘摇，帝国走向解体，最宝贵的殖民地印度也快要独立了。不过南非的访问取得了巨大的成功，南非人民相信，英国的君主制是值得保留的投资，而最令人满意的是未来女王的惊人进步。她展示出的是一种健康的有趣，她可以应对那些无聊的事情，绝不会把自己禁锢在那令人筋疲力尽的王室职责上。在她这个年纪，她对别人有着惊人的关怀，那种无私并不是那个家庭的普遍品质。她变得非常有生意头脑，她理解如果不守时的话，对员工来说是一个多么大的负担。在这次非洲之行中，未来女王发表了著名的宣言：“我的一生，无论长短，都将献给你们和伟大的王室。”

关于印度，它的独立意味着它将离开英联邦，但乔治六世国王考虑到印度离开英联邦，可能给俄罗斯扰乱东南亚创造机会，因此希望留住印度。为此英联邦做了制度改变，去掉了英王必须是参与国国家元首的要求，从此留住了印度。1961年，女王访问印度，欢迎的场面盛况空前，尼赫鲁总理有意在向女王展示印度独立后发展的成果。印度媒体盛赞英国赋予了印度自由，从而使之走向工业化发展的道路。

英联邦主要由那些从英殖民地独立出去国家组成，它不像七国集团（G7 ）或二十国集团（G20 ）那样光鲜，在联合国面前更是相形见绌，但是它是由于友谊而形成的联盟，它是一个教堂、一个俱乐部还是一个闹哄哄的蜂巢。同样的语言、同样的法律制度、非常相似的公务员制度和非常相似的议会民主制度使得这个组织有着天然团结的力量。英联邦内部最尖锐的一个问题是多种信仰，但女王恰到好处地解决了这个问题，这也促成了英国多元包容文化的特征。英联邦的固有优势之一就是没有规则，一切问题都通过协商来解决，它不是权力中心，而是一个关系网，王室的存在，为那些寻求素质进步的国家提供了范例，或许也为越来越多的国际组织提供了一种运行机制。随着英联邦的发展，有些原来并不属于英殖民地的国家也申请加入这一组织，甚至包括日本。英联邦运作费用极低，其开支甚至不如联合国的食堂。而英联邦的各种活动却特别有吸引力，象英联邦运动会更是充满着童话的故事，拥有更多的快乐。

在英联邦内，除英国外，有15个国家认女王为他们的国家元首，这些地方属于女王的领地。当然，女王对这些国家有相应的职责和权力，不过，女王一直在做减法，使自己的权力减到最少，同时也尽可能地减少民众对君主的追捧。事实上，女王一生中多次面临君主制困境，特别是英国加入欧共体时，英联邦国家对英国的失望及对君主制的冲击。新西兰、澳大利亚、加拿大和加勒比地区等国都曾反对君主制，澳大利亚和加勒比更是进行了全民投票，是民众选择继续留住女王。不过女王早就表达了她尊重领地人民的选择，这种务实作派却使她在这些地区屹立不倒。

英美关系具有天然特殊性，而女王在其中的作用是极特别的，她接待了所有她任内的美国总统，也多次访问美国。除了对美国客人的特殊礼遇外，她在美国独立200周年庆典活动中的讲话说明了一切，她说：美国的开国元勋们给英国上了非常宝贵的一课。我们失去了美洲殖民地，因为我们缺乏“在正确的时机，以妥协的方式应对不可挽回的潮流”的政治家风度。我们因此学会了尊重他人以自己的方式管理自己的权利。这种情况下以英国习俗、英国意志、英国法律、英国政府为基础建立的美国怎么可能忽视曾经统治自己的英国。

英国对欧洲大陆的关系一直是比较微妙的。在戴高乐时期，英法两国政府关系就不太好，主要矛盾是戴高乐反对英国加入欧共体。不过这没有影响法国对女王的喜爱，女王的出身和经历都使她对法国有着特殊的影响力。她多次访问法国，民众对她的欢迎一次超过一次。不过在女王行程安排上的外交协商并不容易，女王的正式讲话也是反复修改，极为谨慎，她从不会把话说得很满。另外法国人喜欢女王，也与女王的时尚感和与时俱进有关，女王每隔几个月就邀请行业精英共进午餐，使她始终了解不同行业的发展趋势。

非洲对于女王来说有着特别的感情，不管是殖民时还是所有国家独立后，但是那里局势的动荡使得女王的出访充满风险。第一次在非洲卢萨卡举行的英联邦会议女王就面临着可能被暗杀的危险，但责任使然，女王去了，而且会议非常成功，正如当时的坦桑尼亚领导人尼雷尔所说：只有英国才有“责任、经验和政治意愿”，为饱受战争蹂躏的殖民地制定一种持久的宪制。从此英联邦的发展动力也更为强大，女王在关键时刻的稳定作用和外交天赋具有特殊意义的疗愈。

王室在上世纪八九十年代经历了多件大事，有欣喜也有悲剧，君主制在英国国内也遭到指责，英联邦走入低谷，这期间的两个人物与女王关系密切，英国首相玛格丽特·撒切尔和南非总统曼德拉，前者与女王在诸多方面的有着不同的看法，而后者却是与女王在责任���、使命感上有着相同认识，但他们都有不可磨灭的历史贡献，对女王也产生了重要影响。

在女王一生有四次访问可谓破冰之旅，冷战时的德国、进入改革开放的中国、重新起步的俄罗斯和家门口的爱尔兰。
在德国，虽然英德之间一战二战后成了敌国，但女王的一句“我们关系中的这个悲惨时期现在愉快地结束了。”不仅令德国高兴，也使英国国内的民粹情绪被压制下去。
女王对中国的访问是在中英关于香港问题达成协议后进行的，女王十分清楚中国与英国的不同，但女王认为，通过接触，人们越来越认识到，虽然相互之间传统不同，但对未来的希望都只有一个。事实上，这之后三十年，虽然有时有小摩擦，但中英关系一直相当好。
女王对俄罗斯的访问是在苏联解体的早期。站在英国的角度，这是一次对叶利钦民主改革的支持行动；对俄罗斯来说，则意味着俄罗斯赢得了国际社会的尊重。叶利钦称赞女王是不稳定世界中的稳定的灯塔。女王对叶利钦的使命则充满信心，“变革的过程带来了不确定性，并不是所有人都相信这一巨大努力会得到回报。但我坚信会的。”
英国与爱尔兰可谓相爱相杀，既有着牢不可破纽带：婚姻、文学、体育、音乐等，又有着祖辈传下来的苦痛、宗派冲突和政治不信任。在访问期间，从未向任何人弯腰的女王向爱尔兰民族主义的英雄鞠躬。女王说：我向所有因我们过去的苦难而受苦的人，致以诚挚的思念和深切的同情。有了历史的后知后觉，我们都能看到，有些事情，做或者不做，以什么方式做。我们希望以不同的方式做或根本不做的事情。这是最接近人们期望的道歉了，女王在化解双方矛盾方面做了最大的努力。

女王能对世界产生如此大的影响，离不开她的家人的参与。当然最重要的就是查尔斯王子。女王很早就给亲王压担子，王子从二十几岁就开始独立履行王室职责，虽然对不少工作，比如英联邦事务早期认识不足等。但随着阅历的积累，外界认为亲王很好地继承了女王的理念和风格，在政治和宪制方面界限的把控变得成熟，富有包容的心态，遇事冷静，由此在英国和英联邦内都赢得信任，君主制也得到越来越广泛的认同。

爱丁堡公爵在国际上最重要的角色就是女王的陪同，几乎一辈子都在女王身边，除此之外，公爵还有多项固定工作，不过他最伟大的世界成就是爱丁堡公爵奖，已经有70年了，此项工作为英联邦培育了一大批人才。女王的其他儿女和孙辈们也都在王室的安排下从事着不同的工作，除了敏感的政治工作外，包括大量的环保和慈善事业。

女主所做的一切都显示，这个世界越来越发现不是女王离不开世界，而是世界离不开女王。

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Hardman is a seasoned veteran who has studied, reported on, and written about the Royal Family for many years. He does his homework and doesn't participate in meaningless clickbait or other foolishness. What sets "Queen of the World: Elizabeth II: Sovereign and Stateswoman" apart from the many other biographies of the Queen is that this volume breaks new ground in analyzing the Queen's role on the global stage. Hardman's book is refreshing in that it's not simply another re-hashing of the Queen's life chronologically (birth, youth, abdication, WWII, marriage, ascension, early years, mother, U.K. prime ministers, Diana, jubilees, institution) and with a primary focus on the U.K. Many of those biographies simply repeat threadbare and well-known events.

"Queen of the World" advances the historiography of the Queen and of the Commonwealth in this fresh book with an abundance of new material focused on the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth and as a deft and skilled stateswoman. Hardman recounts the Queen's role both in the Commonwealth and in the world. Indeed, it is true that the Queen has seen more of the world and has known more world leaders than any other living person. Her expansive knowledge of different nations, their culture, and their leaders gives the Queen a unique lens making her one of the few people who is truly a world leader. Hardman outlines how she earned that respect over the course of her reign by visiting almost every nation on the globe and by hosting world leaders. The book makes the case for why a constitutional monarchy led by someone of the caliber of the Queen is effective and helpful.

A well-written and innovative biography of one of a truly fascinating person.

[Hrtnsoul28 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a journey, at times a bit dull but informative. Mostly the book was about the many meetings of many individuals the queen has met over her reign. State dinners,royal tours, private and public events.
Many different things caught my attention:
1. The Queen was once considered to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. However, she preferred to give awards not receive them.
2. Obama had a great respect for her, he gave a public wish for her 90th birthday and was one of the first to call and talk to her on her birthday.
3. The Queen has noted and saved every gift she has received from people around the world. Well, except the live animals. Lol, that part was funny.
4. The Queen has traveled to so many countries, even scary places in the world, but never for pleasure.
5. After 911, she had flags in England at half mast and requested during guard changes to have Star Spangle Banner played.
6. The Queen had great admiration for JFK, she wanted to go to his funeral, but alas, she was pregnant and could not travel.
One of the biggest things that made me sad was her last visit with her uncle who abdicated the thrown and whom her mother blamed for Elizabeth's fathers early death. Too many people had opinions and the poor woman could not just visit her uncle without strategic planning and drama.
I did love all the little mentions of Princess Diana. How she always stayed true to herself and what she wanted to do in the world. I, also, am excited to see what William and Kate do in the future.
The books was full of information and for anyone who is a fan of the royal family would enjoy the stories of the Queen. I am impressed with how she always learned about people and customs and could ask them personal questions to show she knew them and their interests.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be 'the book of the series' but it's so much more than a mere TV show in word form. It's a doorstop of a book (indeed how could it not be) covering HM The Queen's overseas tours and reciprocal UK State Visits, rather than the well worn path of simple biographical facts. It really was a fascinating insight into lesser known aspects of the foreign 'business' side of monarchy, with some downright hair raising details, now declassified, about real danger HM might have been in, flying into warzones as Head of The Commonwealth, when her British Ministers were desperate to stop her. A wealth of research has gone into this, with diplomatic archives being delved into, and Heads of State, as well as former Staff, offering up their memories of every Official Royal Tour, Commonwealth and State Visit from 1952 to 2017.

[Dave Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo! What a fantastic book about possibly the most fascinating and influential leader of my lifetime. I grew up in an African colony that later gained it's independence so it was a must read for me. This book chronicles how QE2 managed to build a Commonwealth of Nations which included the very countries that had fought Britain for self rule. How she pulled that off is nothing short of miraculous. With a calm presence, a kindness to others, and a an underrated wisdom she was the constant in an ever changing world. Those who thought she was merely a figurehead will quickly learn that is far from the truth. This book documents all of the diplomatic work with lots of peaks behind the curtain. The insider accounts are terrific and my admiration for THE Queen went up (already having been exceedingly high).

[Sanna-Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, not quite four.

The Queen is a seemingly never ending source for biographies and Hardman has already written a few. This one cleverly avoids repeating itself terribly by framing the Queen as part of world politics nd diplomacy. It's a deep dive into her relationship with the Commonwealth especially but also other nations and regions.

Hardman is a fanboy of the Queen (as he should) and the biography is not critical at all. You also need to be quite interested in her and generally to the foreign policies of UK to be able to read this all the way through. Speciality piece but a good one at that.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on Audible (Included).

This book was so very long. If you’re looking for a book that gives you a lot of fluff or gossip on the royal family—this isn’t it. It mostly gives excessive details about 70 years of the Queen’s state visits. There are a few chapters on other subjects, like the Royal Yacht Brittannia, Prince Charles’ state visits, and other royals state visits. The book’s focus is on the Commonwealth from the beginning of Queen E2’s reign to the present. I was hoping to get more biographical information on QE2 than is given in this book. It is well written and expertly narrated, but unless you really dig statesmanship, this book might put you to sleep.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **

4 stars! What a knowledgeable book about the British monarchy and their role of being “Head of the Commonwealth.” I did enjoy how this went into detail about all of Queen Elizabeth’s countries and territories, both past and current, and just how much work goes into keeping their relationships running smoothly, even during times of trouble within the country. Definitely a read if you want to learn more about the history of the Commonwealth as well as some of the history of the Windsor monarchy.

[Heather E Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is long, but then, Elizabeth II has reigned longer than any other monarch in British history. She's not just Queen of the United Kingdom, but of 16 other 'realms' within the Commonwealth of Nations. Read this book to gain an understanding of what the Commonwealth is, what it means for HRH to be "Head of the Commonwealth", and to really gain a sense of the place of the royal family's role in the world today, and how much of British and Commonwealth international relations has been influenced by Queen Elizabeth II.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive look at all things related to the Queen and her history as Princess and Queen and her family and her years as a diplomat. Some much history is covered as she reigned over the Commonwealth. I stand in even more in awe of this amazing woman and truly believe there won't be another like her for a long time to come! If you like history, this book will take you on a deep dive. However, even for me who loves history, it was too much! 23 hours on Audible! I did enjoy most of this book.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book as an audiobook, narrated by the author and I think it certainly gave the book a touch of immersion that reading the text may not have given me. There were definitely sections that I could easily ignore whilst driving and listening because it was just a lot of date/time log type information that I don’t particularly find riveting.

Here’s the thing about this book I realised toward the end - it was released on January 1, 2019 and a large purpose of this book may have been to counteract some of the drama that had and were about to ensue. Harry & Meagan had just gotten married, and within months after, they announced they were stepping back from their senior royal duties.
We also know that series “The Crown” was causing public confusion between reality and “inspired by reality” after the first two seasons. There was an hiatus of episodes through 2018 as well.

If we’ve learned anything from how the Royal Household functions, especially after reading this book, very little is done by coincidence - everything has a place and purpose. This book does as well.

Well done - game, set, match!
~C

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book and it was great. A long recounting of Elizabeth's travels, her clothing and designers, her interactions with world leaders (including US Presidents, her marriage, her children and their families, and her Commonwealth. A little to glowing about harry and Meghan I thought. I loved the royal Yacht and I want to know more about the Princess Royal. Grandly narrated by the author. I would probably never read it but listening is divine on long trips. Is real,

[Regina Mastrogiacomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is this woman needs a vacation, an amazing woman. She travelled the globe to create a family network with countries that use to be part of the realm and has done it with heart. She has also inspired many others to be of service to other and change it for the better. I found some of the book to be a little wordy and with all the information in it I found I could only read a little at a time.

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II after her death on September 8, however, it was actually hard to read because like so many authorized biographies of members of the Royal Family, its fawning prose was almost laughable. Does writing an authorized biography mean that you cannot say anything in the least negative about one’s subject? It makes an overly long book a real slog to wade through.