Queen Elizabeth II: An extraordinary lifetime, told in the words of those who were there

Lieutenant Commander Michael Parker, then equerry-in-waiting to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, provides a detailed and global portrait of a life lived in service. The Queen was deeply affected by the death of King George VI and was determined to carry on with her duties. The book includes eye-witness accounts from the early years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign to the present, including interviews with staff, family, and friends. It also contains memories from important figures now lost to us, such as Winston Spencer Churchill and Nelson Mandela. The book offers a revealing insight into the workings of Buckingham Palace and the strengths and weaknesses of the Royal Family, asking questions about conflict and change and the monarchy's journey as a colonial institution.

Format: Hardback
Length: 560 pages
Publication date: 25 November 2021
Publisher: September Publishing

A full, detailed, and global portrait of a life lived in service. Lieutenant Commander Michael Parker, then equerry-in-waiting to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, speaking about the death of King George VI: The Queen was really bowled over. Forlorn. Fully conscious of the fact that she was Queen, and that she must tend to affairs immediately, but at the same time carrying the load of this new, awful news. A brave person. Gosh! If I loved her before, boy did I love her after that! Queen Elizabeth II paints a spirited, global portrait of a life lived in service. It is packed full of fascinating eye-witness accounts; from the early years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign - the shocking death of her father and the adjustment required of a newly married couple - through to the children's marriages, the death of Princess Diana, and Prince Harry and Meghan's move to the United States. It features interviews from diverse sources: staff (recognizable from their portrayals in The Crown), family and friends, such as Lady Pamela Hicks, and public figures, including Rabbi Julia Neuberger, Michael Heseltine, and Andy Burnham. Originally published in 2002, it also contains memories from crucial figures now lost to us, such as Winston Spencer Churchill and Nelson Mandela. This extraordinary oral history presents a revealing view into the workings of Buckingham Palace and the strengths and weaknesses of the Royal Family, asking questions about conflict and change, and the monarchy's journey as a colonial institution. With a broad spectrum of views on Queen Elizabeth II - from her role as leader of the Commonwealth to her personality in private - this unique book offers a remarkable insight into our Monarch. Both of us having dogs, mine being my seeing-eye dog, Her Majesty and I had something in common. We both loved our dogs. I remember one occasion when I was visiting Buckingham Palace and I was walking through the gardens with Her Majesty. We came to a small pond and there were two ducks swimming in it. One of the ducks was blind and the other one was not. Her Majesty looked at the blind duck and said, "Poor thing." I could see that she was really touched by the duck's plight. Later on, we went to the stables and we saw a horse that had been injured. The horse was in a lot of pain and it was struggling to walk. Her Majesty looked at the horse and said, "Poor thing." She was really concerned about the horse's well-being. I could see that she had a deep love and compassion for all animals. Her Majesty was a very kind and caring person. She was always willing to help others and she was always there for those in need. She was a true leader and she inspired people all over the world. She will always be remembered as one of the greatest monarchs in history.

Weight: 868g
Dimension: 169 x 243 x 49 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912836932