Royal: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Ii

ROYAL is the new biography of Elizabeth II the human being, and of an institution shaped over the years by the wishes and dreams - and sometimes the anger and unhappiness - of the people. ROYAL is a celebration and analysis of Britain's monarchy - an explanation of why most people feel good about The Queen and why it is OK to feel that way - tracing the evolution of monarchy's alliance with popular culture which is both its strength and weakness today. One of the very first gestures Elizabeth learnt as a baby was to wave to the crowds. Destiny thrust the crown upon her and she has worked to do her duty with unfailing seriousness and simplicity. A biography of someone who is both a human being and an institution, the book examines the relationship between Elizabeth and Prince Philip, assessing the rumours that he has been unfaithful, a relationship at the heart of the story and one which had a crucial impact on the disastrous marriages of the royal children. The book looks at these dramas along with the turning points in Britain's recent history from the point of view of The Queen herself, showing how she felt and what she believes. She is the heroine of the adventure.