Long Live the Queen: 23 Rules for Living from Britain’s Longest-Reigning Monarch

by Bryan Kozlowski

"Does this crown make me look old?" said the Queen never.

Her longevity, health and physical stamina are legendary. Now officially the longest reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II has spent over half a century on the throne, rarely taking a sick day and, in her tenth decade, remains amazingly comfortable in her own skin. How does she do it?

For the first time, step behind palace doors to unlock the little-known secrets behind the Queen's remarkable self-preservation and continued radiance. Investigating the six lifestyle spheres that have kept her going strong for decades, you'll learn how to channel your inner royal - whether at work or at the table - in this fascinating plunge into the House of Windsor's famous fountain of youth.

Extensively researched and delightfully revelatory, it's the story of how one strong queen can make stronger, happier, healthier subjects of us all. Long live you!

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Audiobook, Lifestyle, British Literature, Royalty

306 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2020

About the author

Bryan Kozlowski is a lifestyle and British-culture researcher. Author of Long Live the Queen! and The Jane Austen Diet, along with three previous books, his works have been featured in Vogue, the New York Times and the Washington Post.

From Turner Publishing

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gets a 5 ⭐️ because after reading it from the library, I now want to go and buy my own copy! I have never been interested in the British monarchy but I was intrigued with a book about a women who was in her 90s and still vital and working so fully—the Queen. This book is so much more than what makes the Queen “tick.” The author backs up the “23 Queen’s rules for living” by citing data and examples from notable sources. This book is a guide for all of us on how to live our life kindly and mindfully—whether we live to 95 or not.

[Jessica Fulcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the queen, and I appreciate the amount of research and added first person accounts that were added to the book. I enjoyed most of it. But I was gobsmacked at the attacks the author took toward mental health and the personal struggles that many of the royal family have dealt with. The way the queen has lived her life is noble, and although I appreciate the lessons we can learn from her life, I do not believe her approach is the only one. By demeaning and mocking challenges that Diana had not only made the author appear to be a forthright jerk, but someone very behind the times in speaking about, acknowledging and respecting women. Was this book about the lessons we can garner from the queen or was it a way to push a personal opinion, one reminiscent of tabloid speculation and closed minded pseudo-psychology circa 1960?

[Sariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is literally the best book I’ve ever read in my life. When I’m a mom, I’ll read them this book as their bedtime story. I need to write this book and it’s principles on my heart walls. Probably going to frame all 23 rules and put them on a poster in my room.

Is there a better monarch? No. Does everyone have something to learn from the Queen? Absolutely.

Long live Queen Lizzie!!!

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s a greater dive into the Queen's life than you would suppose. I have greater respect for her than I did before. This book could also be titled 23 Habits for... All of the points had such compelling reasons for adding them to your own routine. Often it would show the opposite example of each rule, interestingly enough in other Royals, and how it ended for them. Having had studied or are currently studying the Monarchs mentioned over the last years, made it fun to enter into exactly what the author was saying. Over all, if anyone adapted their life to have these 23 habits, or the habits they aren't already doing, it would be in their best interest. I found myself standing straighter and taller the whole time I read it. And loved again reading about the habits of being postitive and happy, overall, in life, leads to great outcomes, no matter what someone else thinks.

I was also surprised/ not surprised by how many of these habits are ones that CM talks about a lot. Great minds and all that.

[Catherine Puma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF 2/3 of my way through this book. I really wanted to get good content out of this, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's long life and out of respect in light of her recent passing. The premise of discussing 23 aspects of her personality and habits that we might be interested in incorporating into our own lives is a good one, and could have been a valuable starting point for a holistic discussion of her career. However, this work is mortally crippled by its bad author--and when dealing with a subject so many others have also published--it's just not worth giving Bryan Kozlowski the time of day.

The work is absolutely drenching in idolatry. There is no nuance or wiggle room to discussing the Queen's choices, personality, or lifestyle habits. Everything the Queen does is ideal and anyone who differs is just plain wrong. The worship rhetoric is reminiscent of a Catholic priest invoking Jesus, and this religious level of Kozlowski's fanboy writing is nauseating.

I enjoyed the bits about the importance of play and the benefits of outdoor recreation in nature. However, I just could not stand Kozlowski's inability to see other walks of life as equal, just different from the Crown's. He is anti-Princess Diana and anti-Meghan Markle, which to a point I expected, but to be dismissive of Diana's bulimia and the racism Meghan suffered? And while I expect him to be pro-House of Windsor, it seemed contrary to that position when he makes fun of the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip's exercise habits. This was during a section on Elizabeth's long life, stamina, and exercise, so to make fun of her husband when he lived as long as she did is in direct contrast with his own thesis. He refuses to engage with any evidence that does not perfectly align with his personal views, and by doing so, his work fails to engage with any readers that don't already agree with him whole-heartedly.

I do not make the decision to set aside a book unfinished lightly. I can count on one hand the number of times I have done so. I'm someone who revisits textbooks during holidays to finish chapters that aren't assigned during the semester, for crying out loud! But when Kozlowski scoffs at anyone who needs therapy or expresses emotions, I just could not even with this book anymore. I cannot in my good conscience recommend this to anyone.

[Marita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unexpected pleasure. I loved every minute of listening to this book and wanted it to keep going. I intend to purchase the hard copy, I enjoyed it that much.

I got this book because it was free on Audible several months ago. Since I love all things royal and British, I I went for it, thinking it was a biography of the Queen. It is not a biography, but rather takes a look at the Queen’s habits and perspectives and personal philosophies, while comparing them to others in the royal family. There are 23 “life lessons” taken from her life and each lesson is further explained by scientific research.

I think I would have enjoyed this no matter what, but certain parts did affect me more strongly due to the Queen’s recent death. In fact, the last portion of the book talks about what will happen when the Queen dies, and it is both sad and surreal to realize it is all happening in real time as I read it.

I was surprised that the author is clearly no fan of Diana. Some of his criticism of her was uncomfortable to hear. He is also no fan of Harry and Meghan- but I didn’t have any trouble listening to that.

This book is an unabashed love letter to Queen Elizabeth. The author pretty much believes she is the perfect monarch and I tend to agree.

This book is much more than that, though. I found the “lessons” relatable and highly inspiring.

[Maggie McKneely · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightfully refreshing book! I went into this expecting a surface level self-help book with some nods to the Queen. What I got was a thoroughly well-researched defense of traditional values (adherence to faith, not being overly emotional, the value of a “stiff upper lip”) as evidenced by Elizabeth’s successful reign. But it also included lots of fun lesser-known stories about the Windsors that support the book’s claims. Entertaining and educational.

[Leanne Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! A wonderfully written book that is full of interesting topics and brings understanding to so many aspects of the Queen that I have often wondered about. My adoration of her has increased even more.

I will read this again and again.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author's snide comments on mental health issues were distasteful.

[Amelia Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This amusing and insightful book chock-full of anecdotes helped me get a sense of who Queen Elizabeth was and what her life looked like.
The author puts down many others in the royal family and frequently compared them to Elizabeth to show her as being more virtuous. I did not appreciate these jabs at others. Though she is admirable in many ways, Queen Elizabeth had her quirks and flaws just as anyone else. There’s nuance to how she chose to behave and live, and it takes wisdom in knowing whether or not some of her mentalities are applicable to one’s own life. The author didn’t have much to say in this matter.

[Christy Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded this audiobook on a whim, but it is one of the most inspirational books I’ve read lately. It’s easy reading (or listening) yet simultaneously deep and thought-provoking on a wide variety of topics related to the queen’s manner of living.

[Negin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pleasure to read, and the premise is a fun, yet also inspiring one. The author goes into depth looking at some of the Queen’s habits and personality traits, areas that she herself probably doesn’t even think about, since that’s how she’s been living, and I’m sure it’s all second nature to her. This is not just a book about the Queen, but a guide on how to live, and how to make little improvements in one’s life, sort of self-help, but in an engaging way.

My only annoyance was all the endnotes. Endnotes drive me nuts on the best of days, but this book really took the cake. Some may be irritated by the author’s bias that clearly comes through. It’s obvious that he doesn’t think too highly of Diana, Harry, and Meghan. Diana, I'm not nearly as in awe of, as I used to be. Harry and Meghan, nope, I don’t like them at all.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and am considering reading his other one about Jane Austen. Here are some of my favorite quotes. As is often the case, there were too many to include here.

Afternoon Tea
“This is no mere ‘cup’ of tea, a sloshing mug of caffeine to power-sip between meetings with cabinet ministers. Tea in the royal household is a borderline sacred tradition. For as long as she can remember, every afternoon at five, a kettle sings somewhere in the Queen’s head, reminding her to temporarily close up shop. All work is put aside for a quiet hour, and she takes time to treat herself to her favorite meal.
‘In our family, everything stops for tea,’ says Prince Charles, one of his few food statements the Queen would heartily support. Because for all her culinary reserve, teatime is when the Queen lets loose.”

“Elizabeth does have a seemingly inexhaustible spring of self-control to tap into, but only because she takes the time to replenish it. Her daily teatime habit is that crucial interval for recharging her willpower batteries, when her muscles of self-discipline relax and her personal weaknesses are indulged. For the Queen, this means getting the chance to temporarily glory in glucose: from the shortbread, the scones and the ‘jam pennies’ (tiny raspberry jam sandwiches) she adores. However quaint it might sound, part of the secret to her unflappable personality is that she takes time for tea.”



Be an optimistic ostrich
“The Queen heartily dislikes confrontation, if she can avoid it, and will choose silence over an emotional flare-up if ever disappointed by a family member or staff. Her worst verbal bombshells, if they surface at all, haven’t been known to extend any further than the mild ‘well, that was a fair-to-average stupid thing to do.’ She doesn’t find pleasure or relief in pouring out her woes to sympathetic listeners, vastly preferring the technique she learned from the ‘imperial ostrich’ herself: 'I find that I can often put things out of my mind which are disagreeable,’ Elizabeth told a friend.'”

Be an undramatic eater
“Cool thinkers (such as the Queen) are people who put psychological distance between them and food. They typically see food as ‘just fuel’ and are not prone to overthink or emote about their next meal. This is directly opposed to ‘hot’ thinkers: people who look at food through a more visceral lens of feelings, past flavor memories and complicated emotions. Think Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, one of the more obsessive ‘hot’ eaters in royal history.”

“The Queen will not eat shellfish when traveling abroad, to avoid the risk of food poisoning, and won’t touch anything infused with garlic, because no one likes a whiffy Queen. Further specifics about Elizabeth’s genuine likes and dislikes have been purposefully kept to a minimum. She will never, for instance, ‘share’ a picture of her prandial adventures on social media. She wouldn’t understand why anyone would seriously care, for one, and wouldn’t want to invite needless criticism, for another. ‘I have no intention of telling people what I have for breakfast,’ as Princess Margaret was wont to say. To appreciate the wisdom, I refer you to Meghan Markle’s unfortunate episode with a posted image of avocado toast in 2019.”

“… anytime she eats a banana. She must reduce it first, using a fork and knife to cut off both ends, make a slit down the middle and slice the inner fruit into small rounds, which she also eats with a fork (this is obviously opposed to the peel-and-scarf technique observable in monkeys). As anthropologist Kate Fox would argue, ‘small is beautiful’ to the well born.
Only the rich could crumble away their time, reducing foods to dainty morsels, thereby showing the less socially fortunate they didn’t have to rush or stuff to survive—habits which formed the bedrock of Western table manners.
Failure to understand this principle was one of the many, many reasons Wallis Simpson collided with royal protocol in the 1930s. … Let’s just say her big plans to Americanize the menu at Balmoral with supersized triple decker sandwiches wasn’t met with rounds of unadulterated applause. It also accounts for the awkward time once had by the Queen Mother in the 1950s, during a round of formal diplomatic dinners in America. A woman of impeccable English manners, she was dumbfounded by the portion sizes across the pond. Writing to her daughter Elizabeth on the occasion, ‘I have never hated anything so much as the two big dinners…. It really is a nightmare, & they give one gigantic bits of meat, bigger than this sheet of paper.’”



Crime at Royal Events
“… it usually stuns the press that crime rates tend to go down during big royal events.
Newspapers in London once braced for a dramatic surge in thefts on Elizabeth’s coronation day in 1953. Nobody knew what a tightly packed mob of 30,000 onlookers could get up to. Their best behavior, so it seemed. There was a surprising decrease in thefts that day. It happened again in the 1980s. Despite one of the biggest precautionary police forces deployed for Prince Charles and Diana’s wedding, nothing unorderly took place. ‘There is something about a royal show which mysteriously reduces the crime rate on the day to negligible figures instead of quadrupling it as everyone expects,’ writes biographer Elizabeth Longford, who attributes ‘the common source of grace’ to ‘royalty itself.’ A grace which extends to children too.”

End-of-Life Regrets
“Elizabeth I, who gloried in the accumulation of wealth throughout her life, counted those riches as nothing as she drew closer to death. More time was what she most wanted now. ‘All my possessions for a moment of time,’ she pleaded before passing. Though few end-of-life regrets are as hauntingly sad as the one by French writer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette: ‘What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.’”

“Elizabeth’s Christian faith, like every great religion, is layered with reminders that life can only be lived fully when we remember that it is limited.”

“London Bridge is Down”
“… Elizabeth has been preparing for it (her funeral) since the 1960s. Twice a year she has thought about and tweaked the details of a massive ten-day spectacle, her biggest yet, which she won’t be present for. Involving the coordinated efforts of a dozen government departments, the army, police force and media heads, nothing has been left to chance. Nighttime rehearsals of her funeral procession along the streets of London are secretly practiced and perfected every year. The timing has been impeccably rehearsed, with the wheels of her cortège coming to a stop outside Westminster Hall just before Big Ben’s tenor bell tolls. ‘The next great rupture in Britain’s national life has, in fact, been planned to the minute,’ says journalist Sam Knight.
A stock of headlines, stories and documentaries to accompany the event are already in place. Many in the press rehearse their announcements of Elizabeth’s death every six months.
The level of preparation has been unparalleled, but not entirely unprecedented. The Queen Mother’s funeral was ongoingly planned for 22 years. Princess Margaret’s day of reckoning was endlessly tweaked as well. ‘I am always altering the arrangements for my funeral,’ she told a friend. Queen Victoria chose the items she wanted buried alongside her almost 30 years in advance of the occasion. And Winston Churchill, who was practically a royal by adoption, summoned a committee of 31 people to discuss his ceremonial parting six years prior to his death, arrangements they code-named ‘Operation Hope Not.’ A bit too obvious for the Windsors, who have chosen more incognito code names for their final farewells. Based on various bridges throughout Britain, there was ‘Operation Tay Bridge’ for the Queen Mother, ‘Forth Bridge’ currently for Prince Philip, ‘Menai Bridge’ for Prince Charles and ‘London Bridge’ for the Queen. ‘London Bridge is down’ is assumed to be the phrase by which the current prime minister will be quietly notified of Elizabeth’s passing.”



Posture
“The Queen Mother was always adamant that ‘a lady’s back should never touch the back of her chair.’”

“… maintaining good posture while sitting is the only way to avoid chronic muscular and skeletal pain in the long run. Elizabeth’s straight-back technique, moreover, happens to be the same graceful pose recommended by physical therapists as the easiest and cheapest antidote for office-related aches. The most expensive ergonomic chair doesn’t come close to matching the pain-free support your body can provide naturally.”


The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on tour in Fiji, 1977

Resilience
“’Resilient people are really good at choosing carefully where they select their attention’ and ‘make an intentional, deliberate ongoing effort to tune into what’s good in [their] world.’ The habit of looking for the positive in every circumstance (what psychologists call ‘benefit finding’) is now identified by Hone as one of the universal ‘secrets of resilient people.’ Intimately the power of one strategic question: Is indulging in this negative thought or behavior ‘helping or harming me?’—a truly self-caring query if there ever was one, and something which sounds remarkably similar to the Queen Mother’s refusal to dabble in ‘unhelpful’ topics of discussion.”

Royal Compassion
“We often think the age of royal compassion began and blossomed with Princess Diana, but the Queen got a substantial head start. In 1956 she broke one of the oldest charitable taboos by becoming the first head of state to not only visit a leper colony in Nigeria, but also shake hands with one of the inhabitants. Since then she has become the patron of a staggering number of charities and public service organizations (totaling 600 when she turned 90), raising billions of pounds for ‘good causes.’”

Royal Yacht Britannia
“The insensitive, hyper-extroverted British press has never understood its tremendous importance, especially in 1997. While still smarting from Diana’s death, a frenzied rush to ‘modernize’ the monarchy included demands that the Royal Yacht Britannia be decommissioned, after over 40 years of service to the Crown. It was an ill-judged move in retrospect. Not only did it ignore Britannia’s vital function as a floating diplomatic office, allowing the Queen, as head of state, to visit remote parts of the Commonwealth she would never have been able to reach, it ignored its dual role as a royal sanctuary where the Queen, for a few treasured days each year, could experience a level of privacy her subjects daily take for granted. More cozy than opulent inside, visitors remarked on the ‘homeliness’ of the yacht ‘which fits in with the Queen’s personality. It’s not a grand place.’ But Elizabeth, as ever, graciously bowed to the latest whims of shortsighted politicians and gave it up, only shedding a few tears at the decommissioning ceremony—one of the rare moments Elizabeth has cried in public. The tears weren’t for a mere ship, as the press blindly liked to believe; they were for the precious solitude and the cherished family memories it represented. Which could explain why other monarchies throughout Europe—including the Danish, Spanish and Norwegian—have ignored their critics and wisely kept hold of their own royal yachts.”



At the De-Commissioning Ceremony of the Royal Yacht Britannia, 1997

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional life advice under the guise of a stunning tribute to an extraordinary lady. We could all benefit from some of these tactics.

The author obviously has great admiration for his subject and a bit of disdain for the, shall we say, less than upstanding other royals we are currently dealing with. Has a touch of sassy wit throughout to boot. Such an uplifting read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful book that could have been even more beautiful had the author not felt the persistent need to prove Queen Elizabeth II was better at everything - by tearing into lesser mortals - most notably Princess Diana; especially jarring was the author's insensitive comments about eating disorders and mental health.
3.5

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The research and historical importance of Queen Elizabeth II is tarnished by the author's disregard to acknowledge any other way to handle a situation than how queen did. What works for one person may not work for another. But according to the author, if you're doing anything differently than Her Majesty, you are most definitely doing it wrong Therefore all problems in your life (including illness, grief, and mental health problems) are your fault and you've no one to blame but yourself. The queen is portrayed with an amazing lack of compassion and tolerance for anything she sees as weakness. Demeaning remarks about royal family members personal struggles were dismissive, condescending and completely lacking in compassion. It's difficult to say if these are the Queen's views or the author's slant but they are most definitely ignorant, outdated, and intolerant. I actually started out enjoying this book, but the author's continual worshiping of Elizabeth made it difficult to stomach as the book progressed. What could have been an interesting and historically important story of a woman's six decade reign turned into a sycophantic tribute piece.

[Becky Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Live the Queen offers a unique behind the scenes glance into the multi-faceted life of Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Aspirational factoids such as “her daily teatime habit is that crucial interval for recharging her willpower batteries” provide context, and colorful descriptions of the Queen’s everyday activities such as working, eating, multi-tasking, and even loving, make her more relatable to us "common folk."In depth research combined with expert commentary and humor gives insight into the Queen's character and royal rituals, helping explain just why she has ruled so long. I felt like I was taking in an extended episode of The Crown when reading this book! I especially enjoyed the fun, informative nuggets featured in the footnotes.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be a fun, easy read. I was surprised to find it more far more substantial and researched than expected - 10 pages of references, from a Mayo Clinic study on NEAT to Susan Cain’s “Quiet,” just to name two. I would have liked to have seen a discussion included on the social determinants of health, which likely have impacted the Queen’s longevity as much as the author’s “23 Rules.”
I take from this book reminders to practice duty, purpose, moderation, and to turn to nature as an outlet. Recommended for Anglophiles/Britophiles.

[Janene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm one of those mildly interested people in the House of Windsor and the history of the royal family. Occasionally I'll get sucked into the rabbit hole and want to know more about their lives. Before Queen Elizabeth's death last year I had added this book to my shelves. Just curious to know about her. I mean, she has been the Queen of England my entire long-ish life, PLUS 24 YEARS. She became Queen at the age of 25! She has just been this constant powerful presence on the other side of the pond. ;) And while she may not mean much to me personally, she has certainly been everything to her subjects, her family, and truly the entire world.

This book is all you wanted to know, and thankfully nothing you didn't want to know (because about her there is less to find -- haha) about what made this lady tick, and what kept her ticking so well and for so long. How was she raised? What was she like as a child? What were her personal standards? How and why has she been so unflappable and steady, especially when her world and kingdom become shaky and/or shady? She was the woman for her time and the way she pulled it off is all in here.

My only complaint was repetition of Princess Diana's errors, more than I thought was necessary. It was used as an example of what doesn't work, I guess for "staying power" in the royal family...? Her life and how she conducted herself illustrates a lot of his points, but he could have mentioned it once and that probably would have been enough.

Loved glimpses into her closest relationships, and of course that circle had to remain small and tight. Little bits of her husband Prince Philip, his humor and spontaneity that brought balance to their relationship and family. It was interesting to learn so much about so many things, beyond the headlines at the grocery store that I've taken in since I was able to read.

Some of my favorite of Queen Elizabeth's rules for living:

Be treatful with yourself - give yourself permission to indulge in some of the things you enjoy! Take time for tea, as it were. :)

Be poised and posturally powerful - how you carry your frame matters, stand up tall! People naturally improved their posture whenever they were in the Queen's presence. She set the tone by how she presented herself.

Be devoted to your devoir - enjoy and give energy to your work.

Be a child at play, no matter your age

Be insistent on rest

Be an optimistic ostrich - most problems, if ignored, will shrink and go away. Exercise reticence, find the power in observing, waiting, in usually being silent.

Be ok with being disliked - there is power in quiet confidence.

Be faithful to a higher Throne - she was devoted to God and Christ. In her life-calling as Queen, she retained her faith in the highest authority. "I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good times and the bad, ... I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings and to put my trust in God." (Queen Elizabeth II, 2002)

Be kind to your face, and kindly face the inevitable - age gracefully and jubilantly - be continually open to change. Read: keep using face cream at night, move your body every day, give thanks for the journey of aging, and never stop reading. :)

[Gargi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wonder what the queen would have thought about this book. Would she have taken kindly to the author criticizing her family members with little to no compassion for their life situation? Or would she have basked in the glory of her own magnificence? If she is anything like the book describes her to be, the latter would certainly not be her reaction.

The book starts off okay, I was even enjoying it until I got to the chapters on Think like a Queen which really made be cringe. Mental health, eating disorders, personal struggles etc. are real issues that the author simply undermines. He makes vulnerability sound like a bad word.

The queen’s life and work is inspiring. It’s not easy being and staying at the top for so long. The book could have worked just as well if it focused only on the queen and her work instead of on the “lesser souls” aka her family coupled with some hackneyed psychological research.

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Turner Publishing Company for the review copy.

An entertaining and insightful guide to Queen Elizabeth II's extraordinary vitality over the course of a nearly 70 year reign. While there are many books that note the similarities between the Queen and past monarchs, Kozlowski discusses how the Queen has surpassed her predecessors, remaining active and engaged well into her 90s as Britain's longest reigning monarch. Kozlowski identifies 23 aspects of the Queen's life and reign that have contributed to her health and happiness including "Be renewed by nature" and "Be insistent on rest." The Queen blends her grandmother Queen Mary's sense of duty and continuity with her mother Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother's optimism and sense of fun. Long Live the Queen is an engaging royal guide to life!

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read, very interesting factoids about the Queen, and quite a bit of science, psychology, and sociology to back up the author's observations. Not fluffy at all! The big take away for me was a life spent in moderation leads to success. No strange diets or fitness habits, just brisk walking in the country air with the corgis. No detailed, expensive beauty regiment, just don't eat and drink to excess, and stay out of the sun. Keep your hands and your mind busy -- the Queen does several crosswords a day in addition to the business in her "red boxes." All the common sense habits most of us already know are exemplified by the Queen and backed by science. Makes one feel gratified, it does. May she live many more revolutions around the sun.

[Cathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how this book flew under my radar, but I'm very happy to have found it. It's not just another book about The Queen. There's a lot more here - philosophy of life and living it well. There was one snarky comment which rankled (regarding Camilla's looks) but later praised her for being steady, so I forgave it. I do recommend this one if you admired Queen Elizabeth II. Personally, I did not learn anything new (let's face it, I don't think I will after reading dozens of books about HM and the British Royal Family) but I'm glad I read this because it left me with a warm, nostalgic feeling.

[Jo C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a different take on the habits of England's longest ruling Queen. Some of the examples of the rules are somewhat questionable (the queen remembering a brass band from over thirty years before-likely she had been reminded of this by an aide before the event), the tips are certainly sound. In general, they are: be humble, be moderate, and work to develop your mind. Sound advice. I am glad to have read this book, and can recommend it to those who are interested on the habits of a woman who has lived a long and happy life.

[Valerie J K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my interest because I'm quite fascinated with Queen Elizabeth. I saw it was an "included" Audible book AND narrated by my 2nd cousin, so I decided to give it a try. I wondered how it would take nearly 9 hours to cover 23 rules, but the book is well researched and goes outside of the Queen's life to explain why each habit is beneficial. It covers her stoicism, strict routines, longevity, loyalty, manners, poise, recreation, optimism, faith, health, and devotion to her country and calling. Four stars for the book, and five stars for the narrator :)

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely read! The author broke down the book into perfect bite-sized bits of information about Queen Elizabeth II and how she carried herself in work and duty, in thought and play, and everything else in between. The “rule” taught about in each chapter makes you want to self-reflect and also reveals that the way the Queen lived is really more attainable than you might think.

There were so many fascinating details sprinkled in spanning from toddler years through her mid-90s. This book was written just two years before she would pass away.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of self-improvement tips based on the behavior of the longest reigning monarch in British history who has lots of experience with difficult people and situations, quotes, and fun tidbits about the royals. At first I thought it was silly, but then when I started practicing some of the Queen's methods, such as the "freeze-out" when you just stare at someone who displeases you, I found them effective and fun to do.

[Rosy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at some healthy habits-physical and mental- and how Queen Elizabeth II has incorporated them into her life over the years. Cute premise, and I am a fan of the Queen. I’m not sure the correlation is as close as he makes it out to be, but I did enjoy this book quite a bit. Four stars for what it is.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating and full of witty wisdom about subjects ranging from table manners to preparing for the inevitability of your own death. I definitely have a greater respect and appreciation for Queen Elizabeth and the way she has lived her personal and professional life for the better part of a century.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed review to come... But this book is more than a way to indulge your risk fascination or your love (or dislike) of the queen. It's a well researched five into how you can improve your life by becoming a thoughtful and intentional person of elegance. There are practical, actual actions to take within these pages and research to back them up. Highly recommended.

[Lisa Suit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this in the days after Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022, and finished it the day after her funeral. This excellent book helped me to appreciate her even more than I already did, and I will be adapting the tips for my own life. It felt like a master class in living well from not only a royal, but a generation gone by. Highly recommend!