Her Majesty: 50 Regal Years

Brian Hoey takes a searching look at the ups and downs of Her Majesty's long reign, and highlights the important difference in people's attitudes towards the Queen personally and the monarchy in general.From the private to the public: we learn what the Queen has for breakfast (the first time she realised she was Queen was when she saw milk bottles from the royal dairy at Windsor with 'E II R' on them), what photographs she has on her desk, what she likes to eat (and drink), how - if she wants one of her family to join her for lunch - her Page of the Backstairs is despatched to deliver the invitation. We learn about her private likes and dislikes as well as her finances and the impact on her of family crises and the death of Princess Diana. Lady Mountbatten talks about her lack of self-pity and absolute self-control, even in private; the late Lord Runcie speaks about her devout Christianity; Henry Kissinger praises her 'world class understanding of international affairs' and her great sense of humour.The Queen has earned widespread respect and admiration as one of the most remarkable people of our time. How she has always put country and Commonwealth before family and personal happiness is the central theme of this book.