Queen Elizabeth's Final Hours of Her Life Revealed in New Royal Book

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Stunning new details are emerging surrounding Queen Elizabeth 's final hours before Her Majesty's tragic death in September 2022.

According to royal biographer Robert Hardman's new book, New King. New Court. Charles III. The Inside Story , there was little to no indication the queen would die on Sept. 8, 2022 . A royal staff member told the biographer that "at that stage, people were still thinking in terms of days rather than hours -- let alone an hour or two."

In the book, excerpted in The Daily Mail , those at Balmoral were preparing for the inevitable, but no one imagined the queen's death would come on that very day. According to the book, Prince Charles (now King Charles ) was out "gathering mushrooms -- and his thoughts -- while the Duchess [of Cornwall] had gone for a short walk." They had done so to let the queen rest, while Her Majesty's chaplain read to her from her Bible.

Soon after, the queen's doctor got an urgent call shortly after 3 p.m. to come upstairs to the queen's quarters. At the same time, Charles also got an urgent call, prompting him to jump into his Land Rover and race back to the castle.

"It was now a question of minutes. By the time Dr. Glass had reached the Queen's bedroom, she appeared to have stopped breathing -- though only a doctor could say for sure," Hardman writes in his book.

Meanwhile, the queen's private secretary, Sir Edward Young, waited outside the queen's bedroom.

"Finally, the doctor emerged to confirm the worst," Hardman writes. "He agreed a time of death with Sir Edward, who recorded the sequence of events in an internal memo for posterity. It is now lodged in the Royal Archives."

According to the book, the memo reads, "Dougie [Glass] in at 3.25. Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. Death has to be registered in Scotland. Agree 3.10pm. She wouldn't have been aware of anything. No pain."

Even though Charles was on his way back to Balmoral, it was Sir Edward Young's "first duty" to immediately reach the monarch by phone and inform him of his mother's death.

"Imagine if there had been some accident or a hold-up along the way," a senior official explains according to the book. "It was essential that the new King was told before anyone else."

After multiple attempts, Sir Edward Young finally reached Charles via an aide, who then handed the phone to his boss. According to Hardman, Charles knew what was coming next as he pulled into the back drive of the estate. That's when, for the first time, he was addressed as "Your Majesty," and no further explanation was needed.

As ET previously reported , Queen Elizabeth's death certificate stated she died of "old age." She was 96.

Her time of death was listed as 3:10 p.m. BST at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

New King. New Court. Charles III. The Inside Story hits bookstores next week .

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‘No pain’: New book reveals Queen Elizabeth’s final moments, King Charles’ realisation he was no longer a prince

More than a year after the death of Queen Elizabeth, new details reveal the final moments of the iconic monarch, and the making of the new King.

Laurence Karacsony

The final moments of Queen Elizabeth II and the moment King Charles was informed he was no longer a prince have been made public more than a year after her death.

The new book titled: The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, by Robert Hardman, features a memo recorded by Sir Edward Young, the Queen's private secretary who was present at Balmoral at the time of her death.

"Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. Death has to be registered in Scotland. Agree 3.10pm. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain."

Sir Young's memo documenting the immediate moments following the Queen’s death is now part of the Royal Archives.

After being informed of the Queen's imminent death, her son, King Charles, then Prince Charles, rushed onto a helicopter to Balmoral to say goodbye.

On the evening of September 7, Princess Anne and Sir Clive Alderton, Charles' private secretary, advised him to remain on standby in case of his mother's death, telling him to "think how you would feel if you never said goodbye."

Reportedly, the Queen's death was abrupt, the consensus was "a day or two, not an hour or two," revealing the urgency of King Charles' visitation.

Former press secretary to the Queen Dickie Arbiter said "to know that she died peacefully, in no pain, is satisfying, it's pleasing. Because all the while, certainly since the passing of Prince Philip, in April 2021, she had been suffering mobility issues, she had been in pain, but right at the end, she wasn't. That's good news."

The book also includes the private instance when Chares learned his mother had died. Picture: Ben Stansall  - WPA Pool/Getty Images

On his way to Scotland, King Charles read his "London Bridge" briefing, a meticulously prepared protocol for the aftermath of the Queen’s death.

After arriving at Balmoral, King Charles and his wife Camilla, now Queen, stayed at his mother's bedside for an hour in the final moments before her death, according to the book.

Princess Anne and the Queen's senior dresser Angela Kelly took turns by her bedside.

Reverend Kenneth MacKenzie of Crathie Kirk, a small Church of Scotland attended by the British royal family while staying at Balmoral Castle, joined them and read excerpts from the Queen's Bible.

In the meantime, King Charles contacted his sons Prince William and Prince Harry, urging them to travel to Scotland to bid their grandmother farewell, he was reportedly of the understanding she had days to live, rather than hours.

The book also includes the private instance when the King learned his mother had died.

Queen Elizabeth II waits to meet with new Conservative Party leader and Britain's Prime Minister-elect Liz Truss. Photo by Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images

According to the book, King Charles was picking mushrooms top clear his mind at Birkhall, his home on the Balmoral estate, when Princess Anne summoned him back to the castle immediately.

He and Queen Camilla got into a car and while en route to the castle King Charles’ senior aide, Sir Edward Young, prompted him to pull over.

He was then addressed as "Your Majesty" for the first time.

"We’re nearly there," the new King responded.

According to the book, King Charles tried to personally inform his younger son, Prince Harry, but was unable to establish a connection since he was already airborne.

A footman entered the room with one of the Queen’s red boxes containing sensitive state documents. Within the box were two sealed letters, one for King Charles and one for Sir Young.

The subject matter of the letters are unknown, however, they show the Queen understood her death was near and had planned for it.

Her final royal duty was forming a list of candidates to join the order of Merit.

The Queen's was buried at Windsor Castle along with her husband Prince Philip, her father King George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and her sister Princess Margaret.

The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, by Robert Hardman, becomes available January 18.

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New Book Claims Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Kept Their Distance in Final Years

new book queen elizabeth

By Jordan Hoffman

New Book Claims Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Kept Their Distance in Final Years

A forthcoming book about Queen Elizabeth II makes the claim that she and her husband, Prince Philip, would go “weeks” without seeing one another. This practice, according to author Gyles Brandreth , began when Philip retired in 2017.

This detail was one of many hinted at by the Daily Mail in their early look write-up for Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait . Though the couple apparently maintained contact via telephone, Brandreth says that the Queen recognized her husband’s desire “not to be fussed over” and to “see out his days in his own way.” 

The couple apparently found some “new comfort” in one another’s company during the coronavirus lockdown, and decided to spend more time with one another at Sandringham, Windsor, and in Scotland. The book also says that the Queen was determined to be at the Duke of Edinburgh’s side when he passed away, but it happened so quickly that aides were unable to wake her in time. 

Elizabeth and Philip were married for 73 years when he passed in 2021 . He was 99 years old (two months shy of 100) and Elizabeth was 96 when she died earlier this year . She was the longest-reigning British monarch for over 70 years. (Louis XIV of France has her beat by two years, if you are keeping score.) 

Gyles Brandreth is a regular figure on British television, making appearances on travel shows and quiz programs. In the 1980s, he was a presenter on Good Morning Britain . In the 1990s, he was a Member of Parliament for the Conservative party and has written books about the Royal Family before, as well as a biography of Sir John Gielgud, mystery fiction, and books about grammar and Scrabble. He is the world record holder for giving the “ longest after-dinner speech ” at 12-and-a-half hours. 

Brandreth first met Queen Elizabeth in 1968, when he was 20 years old, and stayed in her orbit for 50 years at public and private events. Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait ’s marketing page says that he “kept a record of all those encounters, and his conversations with the Queen over the years, his meetings with her family and friends, and his observations of her at close quarters are what make this very personal account of her extraordinary life uniquely fascinating.”

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Princess Diana confided in Andrew Morton. What more is there to divulge?

In morton’s new book, ‘the queen: a life,’ the author, who is dramatized on ‘the crown,’ mines his notebook and observations since his explosive 1992 biography.

If 1992 was Queen Elizabeth II’s annus horribilis , she had Andrew Morton to blame for many of her woes. In his book “ Diana: Her True Story ,” published that year, Morton disclosed Princess Diana’s struggles — strained relations with Prince Charles, the threatening presence of Camilla Parker Bowles, her bulimia and suicide attempts — revealing a shocking degree of dysfunction in the House of Windsor. The account became even more damaging when, just after Diana’s death in 1997, Morton revealed that Diana had fully cooperated with him by sending him secret tapes. “I have a few royal Deep Throats,” Morton once bragged. For a former tabloid journalist, it was the ultimate scoop. In the new season of “The Crown,” this collaboration is immortalized on screen, with Diana, aided by her friend James Colthurst, narrating her story into a tape recorder.

Morton’s new biography of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September, asks us to remember these earlier feats. “The dam burst on June 14, 1992, with the publication of the biography, ‘Diana: Her True Story,’” he boasts in the early pages of “ The Queen: Her Life .” “The response,” he continues, “was explosive.” Fair enough: When Diana’s role was disclosed, Buckingham Palace denounced the book and threatened to have it banned . Anyone looking for similar revelations in Morton’s new book, however, will be disappointed by his latest effort to stir the royal pot. For a more scandalous read, Tina Brown’s “ The Palace Papers ” is the better bet.

Tina Brown’s royal revelations spare no one, especially Meghan Markle

No spilling the tea on the queen here. Instead, Morton works mostly from his previous books and other published sources, recycling what has long been part of the public record. Even the organization of the material seems informed more by “The Crown,” for which Morton served as a consultant on the latest season, than by the vagaries of Elizabeth’s life. The most scandalous bits — the inclusion, for instance, of a letter from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to Diana acknowledging he couldn’t “imagine [that] anyone in their right mind would leave you for Camilla” — come to us courtesy of a report printed in the Daily Mirror . The result is a narrative that hits all the plot points but without the shock value.

Of course, this is precisely as Queen Elizabeth would have wanted it. If Diana was the ultimate rule-breaker, Elizabeth was the ultimate rule-follower. She may have had a “fine appreciation of the absurd,” as Morton observes in his preface, but she rarely breached convention or emoted in public. “Never complain, never explain,” was her mantra. Such rigidity can produce its own forms of tension.

It’s painful, for example, to read about the awkward early attempts by Elizabeth and Philip to forge a “combined existence,” with all the rewriting of gender codes that entailed. It’s disturbing, too, to be reminded of the very real challenges that Elizabeth confronted as one of the “few working mothers who held high-ranking positions” during the 1950s and ’60s. How understandable, then, that Elizabeth would hesitate when reunited with young Charles and Anne after spending six months away on a royal tour in 1954. What version of motherhood was she expected to perform in front of the cameras? Handshake or hug? (She chose the handshake.)

Even the perennial criticisms of the queen’s mien — that she didn’t smile enough, despite her best efforts — reveal the bind of a woman with power. Not surprisingly, it’s in recounting these scenes that Morton’s narrative is most affecting, precisely because it offers glimpses of the human struggle. For the most part, however, Elizabeth’s self-discipline means she was able to control her story, a boon to her long reign but frustrating to no end for muckraking journalists. Anyone who has watched the many dramatizations of the queen’s life — including “The Crown” — or the coverage of her death is already well-versed in the problems of always maintaining a stiff upper lip.

Princess Diana was the queen of revenge fashion

Morton’s reluctance to probe, though, is not just born of Elizabeth’s stoicism. It’s also a choice. Where he once placed himself firmly on Team Diana, here he equivocates, and only more so as his narrative marches toward the present. (The book was written before King Charles took power but was rushed to print to take advantage of it.) This cautiousness is most apparent in Morton’s treatment of the scandal surrounding Prince Andrew’s friendship with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This is uncomfortable ground for Morton. At one point, he describes Andrew as a “witless royal falling prey to the generosity of wealthy friends of dubious provenance.” But was Andrew really “witless” in his relationship with the underage Virginia Giuffre , who has accused the Prince of raping her? Morton ought to give Andrew — and all of the royals — more agency, and more responsibility, in this story. The issues are too fresh, and too consequential, to be addressed with such platitudes.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, also pose dilemmas for the author. Meghan, Morton suggests, at one point promised to help make “the monarchy seem more relevant and inclusive in an ever-changing world.” But where does their withdrawal from royal life leave that inclusive project? In his epilogue, Morton wonders why “a white, Anglo Saxon Christian family automatically represent a diverse multiethnic nation and Commonwealth.” It’s an excellent question, and one that has become all the more urgent in light of the charges of racism that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have leveled at the royal family — within the context of a much broader history of royal entanglements with the slave trade and imperial expansion.

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Morton is certainly not the only commentator opting for a milder approach following the queen’s death. Since September, there has been much hand-wringing among the public and pundits alike about the proper way to honor the sovereign and safeguard her legacy. Note the heated exchanges about historical veracity that took place in the lead-up to Season 5 of “The Crown” — capped by Dame Judi Dench’s plea for disclaimers at the start of each episode. This anxiety even extends to the royal family. Ahead of the publication of Harry’s memoir, “ Spare ,” and a docuseries about Harry and Meghan, the couple now seem to be questioning their commitment to candor. Let’s hope that Penguin Random House and Netflix prevail. Harry and Meghan’s truths, like those of Diana 30 years ago, may be just what the monarchy needs right now.

Arianne Chernock is a professor of history at Boston University. She is the author of “ The Right to Rule and the Rights of Women: Queen Victoria and the Women’s Movement .”

By Andrew Morton

Grand Central. 448 pp. $30

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New book released for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

new book queen elizabeth

A new book has been released to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: Platinum Jubilee Celebration, 70 Years 1952–2022, published by Pitkin, was released earlier this month in the UK and will be released in April in the United States.

The book chronicles the 70-year reign of The Queen, from the triumphs to the challenges she has faced throughout her reign. It discusses her childhood and time during World War II and, of course, her accession to the throne and coronation.

Each decade of her reign is broken up, looking at her family life and role as monarch. It details what a working day as Her Majesty is like and the contributions she has made to the United Kingdom and beyond.

new book queen elizabeth

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: Platinum Jubilee Celebration, 70 Years 1952–2022 contains plenty of images to cover her entire reign – from her childhood and time as heir to the throne to present-day engagements alongside the Prince of Wales, the Cambridges and the late Duke of Edinburgh.

It covers the past to the future, where Holey discusses what the future holds for Queen Elizabeth and the monarchy and pays tribute to The Queen’s years of dedication and service to her people.

Billed as a “true celebration of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee,” the book is just under 100 pages, making it an easy and light read in honour of Her Majesty.

The book is written by royal biographer Brian Holey who has penned books about Prince Charles and the Princess Royal, the late Duke of Edinburgh and Diana, Princess of Wales. His repertoire consists of 36 books about royalty, and he is known to contribute to broadcasts and newspapers across the globe on royal matters.

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Queen Elizabeth's right-hand woman shares personal stories in a new book

VIDEO: New book from Queen Elizabeth’s dressmaker shares secrets from the palace

A new book by Queen Elizabeth’s dresser and close confidant of 25 years, Angela Kelly is sharing rare personal anecdotes and unseen photos in a new book out Tuesday, Oct. 29.

The book titled, “The Other Side of The Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and The Wardrobe,” reveals the secrets behind some of the queen’s most iconic moments and how some of the royal family’s most memorable fashion statements were achieved.

Kelly has worked with the Queen since 1994, joining the Royal Household as an Assistant Dresser to the Queen. She now holds the role of Personal Advisor, Curator and Senior Dresser to Her Majesty The Queen (The Queen’s Jewellery, Insignias and Wardrobe), as well as in-house designer. Kelly has been the curator and designer of the Queen’s clothing , since 2002 and has been responsible for creating some of the Queen’s most famous looks.

new book queen elizabeth

(MORE: Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 65th anniversary of her coronation: Look back at her royally good style)

new book queen elizabeth

She also has helped create some of the royal family’s ensembles as well.

In its latest issue and online, Hello! Magazine exclusively shared several excerpts from the new book ahead of its release, revealing how Kelly was able to achieve the look behind the royal baby christening gown that all royal babies since 2008 have worn.

In the book, Kelly details how she traveled to Italy to source the lace and recreated the look in Britain. The secret behind the gown’s color was Yorkshire tea.

In Hello! Magazine’s online excerpt from the book, Kelly said, “Together, we sourced the lace to complement that being made in Italy, and to make sure it looked authentic we dyed it in Yorkshire tea (the strongest, as we all know) … We placed each piece of lace in a small bowl, from the Dressers’ Kitchen, filled with cool water and a tea bag, and left it for about five minutes, checking regularly until the colour was perfect.”

new book queen elizabeth

(MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan release photos of baby Archie’s christening)

Kelly also shared that she wears the queen’s shoes first before engagements to “ensure that they are comfortable and that she is always good to go .”

new book queen elizabeth

In addition to the secrets behind the fashion, Kelly is also using the book as a way to set the record straight about past reports.

In 2009, former First Lady Michelle Obama was photographed with her arm around the queen during a G20 reception at Buckingham Palace.

According to the magazine , the act prompted global headlines about a supposed breach of protocol at the time.

new book queen elizabeth

But Kelly dispelled the reports and said that the gesture was of “affection and respect for another great woman” and “when human instincts kick in, sometimes this is absolutely the appropriate thing to do.”

Another noteworthy anecdote that Kelly describes in the book is Queen Elizabeth’s appearance alongside James Bond for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Games .

Kelly recalls how she was called to a meeting with director Danny Boyle and Private Secretary Edward Young to discuss the audacious idea in 2011 .

Kelly wrote, “She was very amused by the idea and agreed immediately. I asked then if she would like a speaking part. Without hesitation, Her Majesty replied: ‘Of course, I must say something. After all, he is coming to rescue me.’”

The Queen delivered the iconic line, “Good evening, Mr. Bond.”

Hello! Magazine said that Kelly created two identical peach outfits for the project: one for the queen and one for her stuntman, Gary Connery, who famously plunged from a helicopter over the stadium wearing the dress, hat and matching bloomers.

Angela Kelly’s book, “In The Other Side of The Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and The Wardrobe,” will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

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Queen Elizabeth's Life in Lockdown to Be Revealed in Trusted Aide's Book (Including Who Cut Her Hair!)

Angela Kelly, the Queen's personal stylist and dressmaker, has updated her bestselling book with personal new details in honor of the Platinum Jubilee

new book queen elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth is allowing personal details of her life in lockdown amid the pandemic to come to light — including who was entrusted to cut and style her hair!

One of the monarch's most trusted aides, Angela Kelly, is updating her bestselling book about dressing the Queen to include reflections on the Queen's life during the coronavirus pandemic. In the book, which is being updated in honor of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Kelly reveals that it fell to her to cut Her Majesty's hair when the Queen's support staff was scaled back to a small "bubble" of aides and servants.

In the new version of her 2019 book, The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe , Kelly will also write about the funeral of Prince Philip , following his death last April .

According to publishers HarperCollins, the additional chapter will also capture the Royal Household's isolation during the pandemic-enforced lockdowns at Windsor Castle (including how Kelly cut and set the Queen's hair) and what went on behind the scenes of the monarch's first public engagements as the lockdowns lifted.

The book, which comes out in the U.K. on May 12, promises redesigned commemorative packaging and new photography.

The book also marks another chapter in the remarkable life of Angela Kelly, who began her career at Buckingham Palace 28 years ago as the Queen's Senior Dresser and rose to become Her Majesty's personal stylist, curator, wardrobe and in-house designer — and one of her closest confidantes.

The first edition of the book caused a sensation among royal fans as Kelly gave a behind-the-scenes look at the Queen's style, including how Kelly cleans the Queen's priceless jewels using gin and water. Kelly also revealed how one of the only times the Queen doesn't do her own makeup is when she records her televised Christmas address. Since she wears the same shoe size as Her Majesty, Kelly also breaks in the Queen's shoes , she revealed.

The book sold more than 100,000 copies in hardback, HarperCollins says. HarperNonFiction editorial director Katya Shipster said in a statement that they wanted to commemorate the Queen's 70 years on the throne "as well as bring the content of the book right up to date following on from the unprecedented events of the past two years."

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"It tells the story of the Royal bubble as well as the lengths Angela and the Royal Household went to, to ensure the safety of our Monarch. There is no better look at what goes on behind the pomp and circumstance than this wonderful book," she said.

The book is unprecedented as Kelly is the first of the Queen's personal staff to be given permission to write books about her royal role. Her first, Dressing the Queen, was published in 2012 ahead of Queen Elizabeth 's Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen's then-assistant private secretary Samantha Cohen wrote in the foreword, "Nobody is better placed to tell this hitherto unknown story than Angela Kelly. [She] has undertaken the exceptional responsibility of managing all aspects of The Queen's wardrobe with unstinting pride in her work, attention to detail."

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Queen Elizabeth’s Final Moments Before Her Death Revealed in New Book

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Intimate details about the Queen’s final moments have come to light in a new book by royal biographer Robert Hardman

Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images

More than one year after Queen Elizabeth 's death, new details have emerged, casting a revealing light on the circumstances surrounding the iconic monarch's death.

In an excerpt from royal biographer Robert Hardman’s new book, The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy (out Jan. 18), in Daily Mail on Friday, the author shares a memo of the monarch's final moments from her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, who was at Balmoral when the Queen died on Sept. 8, 2022.

"Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn't have been aware of anything. No pain," Young notes in the previously unseen memo that's now part of the Royal Archives, according to Daily Mail.

The outlet also revealed that while there were concerns for the Queen's well-being at the time, her death occurred with such abruptness that King Charles (then Prince Charles) found himself hastily boarding a helicopter for an eleventh-hour journey to Balmoral. En route, he read his "London Bridge" notes, a meticulously prepared protocol for the aftermath of her death.

While at Balmoral, Charles and his wife Camilla (now Queen Camilla) spent an hour with the Queen privately at her bedside before she died, according to the book.

Princess Anne, along with Angela Kelly, the Queen's senior dresser and trusted confidante, took turns by her bedside. The Rev Kenneth MacKenzie, a seasoned minister at the nearby Crathie Kirk, joined them, reading passages to the Queen from the Bible.

Meanwhile, Charles personally reached out to both of his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry , urging them to make their way to Scotland to bid their farewells, the outlet reports. During that moment, he still held the belief that the Queen had not mere hours, but rather days, remaining before her passing.

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The book also includes the private moment when Charles learned his mother had died — and he was now monarch.

While Charles was out gathering mushrooms to clear his mind after visiting his mother, he received the news of her death while driving back to Balmoral, reports the Daily Mail . His senior aide took a call, prompting Charles to pull over. In that moment, he was addressed as "Your Majesty" for the first time, and in that moment he realized his mother had died.

According to the excerpt, despite numerous attempts, the King tried to personally inform his younger son, Harry, but since he was already airborne, he couldn't get through to him.

Related: Prince Harry ‘Completely by Himself’ amid Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Exclusive Book Excerpt

Upon the Queen's passing, the United Kingdom — where she reigned for a record 70 years — mourned. Around the world, including in the other nations that called her the head of state or sovereign, her death was grieved by those to whom she was an unwavering fixture amid the turmoil of ever-changing times.

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The loss was most profound for her large family, including her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The monarch's state funeral was held at Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 19, gathering 2,000 leaders and royals from around the world. The service was followed by a committal service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where she was later buried in a private ceremony beside her husband Prince Philip, her father King George VI, her mother Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret.

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4 Fascinating Books About Queen Elizabeth II

Go beyond ‘the crown’ for in-depth stories about her life and reign.

a young princess soon to become queen elizabeth the second reading a book at buckingham palace

Christina Ianzito,

The  queen’s passing  may have piqued your interest in her life and the remarkable story of a quiet young woman crowned at age 25 and reigning for 70 years as Britain and the world were transformed. These four books explore their subject in different ways: Two are more traditional biographies, another describes the relationship between the queen and her sister Margaret, and the fourth considers her among Britain’s 1,000 years of monarchs and puts her reign in perspective.

Queen of Our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II  by Robert Hardman (2022)

queen of our times the life of queen elizabeth the second by robert hardman

British journalist Hardman offers a weighty in-depth look – 630 pages worth, plus 22 pages of photos — at the queen’s life and often challenging reign. The young queen, he writes, was handed “a unique task” when she succeeded to the throne, “one which no new monarch had ever been expected to deal with before: manage decline.” The author knows his stuff. He also penned 2019’s well-reviewed  Queen of the World: Elizabeth II: Sovereign and Stateswoman  and  Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth and her Court , which was timed to her diamond jubilee in 2012, but his latest, which begins with her birth and ends just shy of her recent passing (the book came out in April), is billed as “a definitive portrait.”   

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Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters  by Andrew Morton (2021)

elizabeth and margaret the intimate world of the windsor sisters by andrew morton

The prolific Morton — author of books on Prince Andrew, Meghan Markle and many others — focuses here on the queen and her sister Margaret, whom viewers of  The Crown  know as a slightly wild, rather embittered character forever and inevitably in her more reserved sibling’s shadow. This book adds detail to the portrait of two very different girls, then women, and the growing tension between them. While they were the best of friends as children, when Elizabeth was crowned at age 25, Margaret suddenly was in a position where she “would have to curtsey to the sister she called ‘Lillibet.’ And bow to her wishes,” he writes. If this book leaves you wanting more, there’s more coming: Morton’s publisher has just pushed up the release date for his next book about the queen, called, yes,  The Queen , out on Nov. 15

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Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch  by Sally Bedell Smith (2012) 

elizabeth the queen the life of a modern monarch by sally bedell smith

This bestseller, marking the queen’s 60 years on the throne, goes deep into her romance and marriage with Prince Philip, motherhood, royal tasks, political crises and personal hardships. It’s familiar territory, but like other writers on this list, Bedell Smith has steeped herself in the monarchy, authoring books on Prince Charles and  Princess Diana , among many other notables. She’s also a skilled writer who offers colorful anecdotes that together paint a vivid picture of the queen. For example, she writes, young Elizabeth “showed an early ability to compartmentalize-a trait that would later help her cope with the demands of her position. Recalled Lady Mary Clayton, a cousin eight years her senior: “She liked to imagine herself as a pony or a horse. When she was doing that and someone called her and she didn’t answer right away, she would then say, ‘I couldn’t answer you as a pony.’ ”

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Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy, from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II  by Tracy Borman (2022) 

crown and sceptre a new history of the british monarchy from william the conqueror to elizabeth the second by tracy borman

A bit different than the other three biographies included here, this book looks at Queen Elizabeth II in the context of almost 1,000 years of the  British monarchy , “one of the most iconic and enduring institutions in the world,” writes Borman, England’s joint chief curator of historic royal palaces and chief executive of the Heritage Education Trust. The author includes all the drama and blood-spilling you’d expect from a British royal history book, but also explores how the relationship between the monarchy and its subjects evolved, particularly as the power of the Parliament grew. “By the time Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, the sovereign no longer ruled; they reigned,” she notes. And Elizabeth II carried the weight of all that history, even as the legitimacy of her position was questioned as never before.  

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20 of the Best Books About Queen Elizabeth II

From exhaustive biographies, to illustrated coffee table books, and dishy accounts from former palace staffers.

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Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

On the one year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's passing, you may find yourself wanting to deepen your knowledge of the longest-reigning female monarch in world history. There's a wealth of books out there to delve into. From exhaustive biographies, to illustrated coffee table books, to dishy accounts from former palace staffers, here are 20 of the best books you can read about the queen.

Sally Bedell Smith Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch

Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch

Angela Kelly The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe

The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe

To be fascinated by the Queen is to be fascinated by her wardrobe, and The Other Side of the Coin is a must-read for anyone wanting the inside scoop on those impeccably coordinated suits. Angela Kelley is the Queen’s personal dresser , and was given permission to share this exclusive glimpse into the royal costuming process, complete with never-before-seen images.

Hearst Home Town & Country: The Queen: A Life in Pictures

Town & Country: The Queen: A Life in Pictures

This carefully curated coffee table book from T&C was created by longtime royal reporter Victoria Murphy. The photographic tribute to Queen Elizabeth II features more than 300 photographs from the seven decades of her reign, spotlighting significant moments from both her public and private spheres, all accompanied by commentary and context from Murphy. The collection encompasses her coronation, her marriage to Prince Philip, her numerous royal tours around the world, her evolving wardrobe through the years, the births of her children and grandchildren, and much more.

Ingrid Seward My Husband and I: The Inside Story of the Royal Marriage

My Husband and I: The Inside Story of the Royal Marriage

If you were gripped by season two of The Crown ’s deep dive into Elizabeth and Philip’s once-troubled marriage , you’ll want to prioritize this one. Seward delves into the couple’s 70-year long marriage with a lightness of touch, detailing their courtship and ups and downs as well as their formidable bond.

Robert Lacey The Crown, The Official Companion

The Crown, The Official Companion

If while watching The Crown , you're simultaneously fact-checking each episode, this is the book for you. Written by the show's historical consultant, Robert Lacey, it offers an in-depth look at the true story behind the drama. While this volume only addresses seasons two and three, hopefully Lacey will offer a season four version soon.

Elizabeth and Philip: A Royal Love Story

Elizabeth and Philip: A Royal Love Story

Similar to Seward's text, this special edition of Town & Country centers on the Queen and Prince Philip's romance, and features the true story of their courtship and 70+ year marriage alongside rarely seen photos of the royal couple.

Sali Hughes Our Rainbow Queen: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and Her Colorful Wardrobe

Our Rainbow Queen: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and Her Colorful Wardrobe

This beautiful coffee table book by Welsh journalist Sali Hughes offers a photographic voyage through nine decades of the Queen’s wardrobe, and more importantly her color schemes .

Brian Hoey Not in Front of the Corgis: Secrets of Life Behind the Royal Curtains

Not in Front of the Corgis: Secrets of Life Behind the Royal Curtains

Admit it, this one had you at the title. Though this book isn’t exclusively about Queen Elizabeth’s famous collection of corgis (disappointing), it’s still a fun, deliberately lightweight collection of trivia and tidbits about royal life.

Sarah Bradford The Reluctant King: The Life and Reign of George VI, 1895-1952

The Reluctant King: The Life and Reign of George VI, 1895-1952

In order to fully understand Queen Elizabeth, and the turbulent circumstances of her ascension to the throne, you need to understand her father, King George VI. Now most famous as the subject of 2010's The King's Speech , George was forced to become King after his brother abdicated the throne, a saga which Sarah Bradford chronicles in fascinating detail.

The Queen Mother: The Official Biography

The Queen Mother: The Official Biography

As important as King George VI is to Queen Elizabeth's story, the Queen Mother played a far more central role in her daughter's reign, having lived to see its first five decades. William Shawcross’s official biography, published seven years after the Queen Mother's death in 2002, is a weighty tome packed with details and insight into her daily life.

Carol Ann Duffy Jubilee Lines: 60 Poets for 60 Years

Jubilee Lines: 60 Poets for 60 Years

Though not technically a book about Queen Elizabeth at all, Jubilee Lines is nevertheless an evocative portrait of her reign. In this collection, published in 2012 for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, 60 poets are each assigned one of the 60 Jubilee years, and write a poem related in some way to the events or reality of that year.

Ben Pimlott The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II

The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II

Originally published in 1996, this definitive and acclaimed biography of Queen Elizabeth was updated in 2002 to mark her Golden Jubilee. Written by the late, highly respected historian Ben Pimlott, The Queen was described by The Independent newspaper as “the standard work on its sovereign subject, while The New York Times Book Review called it a “superbly judicious biography of Elizabeth II.”

Pegasus Books Queen of the World: Elizabeth II: Sovereign and Stateswoman

Queen of the World: Elizabeth II: Sovereign and Stateswoman

Veteran royal chronicler Robert Hardman focuses his 2019 biography on a specific aspect of Queen Elizabeth – her role as the head of Commonwealth of Nations—and thus avoids retreading familiar ground. Queen of the World was described by the BBC as “an intimate portrait of the Royal commitments at home and abroad.”

Andrew Marr The Diamond Queen: Elizabeth II and Her People

The Diamond Queen: Elizabeth II and Her People

Scottish journalist Andrew Marr has a unique perspective as royal biographer, having once been a diehard republican (i.e. opposed to the existence of monarchy). Now an admirer of the Queen, Marr argues in this biography that “Britain without her would have been a greyer, shriller, more meagre place."

Sarah Bradford Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life In Our Times

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life In Our Times

In this relatively recent biography of the Queen—published in 2012—Sarah Bradford places the Queen’s life in a broader historical context. Per The Telegraph , the book represents “a familiar story being sparked into new life by a skilled practitioner.”

Marion Crawford The Little Princesses

The Little Princesses

For a truly one-of-a-kind perspective on the Queen’s formative years, look no further than this extraordinary biography by Marion Crawford, who was governess to the young Elizabeth and her sister Margaret for 17 years (they called her “Crawfie”). The 1950 publication of The Little Princesses caused a stir, and Crawford was reportedly shunned by the royal family for writing it.

Gyles Brandreth Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage

Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage

Another option for those fascinated by the Elizabeth/Philip dynamic, this biography by Gyles Brandreth is unusual for being focused primarily on Philip’s perspective.

Catherine Ryan The Queen: The Life and Times of Elizabeth II

The Queen: The Life and Times of Elizabeth II

This beautifully presented coffee table book takes a photo-centric approach to chronicling Queen Elizabeth’s life and reign.

Dickie Arbiter On Duty With The Queen

On Duty With The Queen

In his part-autobiography and part-royal biography, former palace spokesman Dickie Arbiter recounts how he went from working in broadcast journalism to being appointed as press secretary to the Royal family in 1988. Given Arbiter’s unparalleled access to the Queen—not to mention Princess Diana—it’s no surprise that this is a compelling, if restrained, read.

Cecil Beaton Queen Elizabeth II: Portraits by Cecil Beaton

Queen Elizabeth II: Portraits by Cecil Beaton

Society photographer Cecil Beaton was chosen to take the official photographs of the Queen’s Coronation in 1953, and his portraits became some of the most iconic images from her entire reign. Along with the pictures themselves, this book offers insight into Beaton’s long relationship with the royals, and the role his work played in their public image.

Headshot of Emma Dibdin

Emma Dibdin is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles who writes about culture, mental health, and true crime. She loves owls, hates cilantro, and can find the queer subtext in literally anything.

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New Book Details the Exact Moment King Charles Found Out His Mother, Queen Elizabeth, Had Died

With just two words, Charles’ world completely changed.

Prince Charles kisses the hand of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Sang Tan / WPA Pool for Getty Images

A new book is giving deeper insight into September 8, 2022—the day Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland—specifically from King Charles ’ perspective. Charles was driving a Land Rover to Balmoral (Her late Majesty’s home in Scotland) from Birkhall (Charles’ home in Scotland) alongside Queen Camilla and their team when he was told to pull over, and then told that his mother had died—but not in so many words.

Charles was picking mushrooms on the grounds of his Birkhall estate when he was summoned to Balmoral. Charles was driving the Land Rover and was racing to make it to the Queen ’s bedside as she drew her last breath—but he wasn’t able to make it in time, Robert Hardman writes in his new biography The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy (per The Mirror ).

The late Queen’s private secretary Sir Edward Young’s first duty was to tell Charles before anyone else could. “There was no question of waiting for the car to pull up at Balmoral,” Hardman writes. A senior official told Hardman for the book “Imagine if there had been some accident or a hold up along the way. It was essential that the new king was told before anyone else.”

Sir Edward called the Balmoral switchboard, which worked its way through a list of phone numbers—“though the signal was patchy in rural Aberdeenshire, and staff would have had their phones on silent while attending to the members of the Firm,” The Mirror reports. “However, one at Charles’ party felt their phone vibrating and recognized the number.”

The new King was asked to pull over and was told Sir Edward was on the phone. “The new monarch knew exactly what was coming next,” Hardman writes in an excerpt published by The Daily Mail . “He had just turned off the B976 onto the back drive of the estate when, at the age of 73, he was addressed as ‘Your Majesty’ for the first time. No further explanation was needed.”

In response Charles replied, softly, “We’re nearly there.” Camilla, now Queen, and others in the car voiced their condolences. The King put the 4x4 back in gear and drove on. Moments later, he was greeted by his sister, Princess Anne , at Balmoral. Anne and Queen Elizabeth’s confidante Angela Kelly alternated at her bedside at the end; Charles wasn’t present because it was thought that the Queen had days, not merely hours, left to live.

Later, Queen Elizabeth’s footman took a locked box of paperwork from next to her deathbed; it was found to contain two sealed letters—one to King Charles and one to Sir Edward. The contents of these letters are unlikely to ever be made public, “but do highlight her devotion to her role and that she was well aware she was close to the end,” The Mirror writes. The box also contained her final piece of paperwork and last royal order—her choice of candidates for the prestigious Order of Merit for “exceptionally meritorious service” across the Commonwealth.

The Making of a King is out January 18. 

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Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of  Podcast Royal , a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts  I’d Rather Be Reading , which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more. 

“Despite the challenges, I feel nostalgia for those days, when we had nothing.”

By Rachel Burchfield

He said she “had a star quality about her” even then.

This movement-friendly detail can change an entire look.

By Emma Childs

In the leadup to Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding, the Queen had some reservations.

One did not want to awaken Her late Majesty’s disapproval or displeasure.

Harry caught the earliest flight he could to visit his father, who is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer.

He's grateful for the public's kindness at this time.

By Iris Goldsztajn

They're on the right track.

It’s in stark contrast to Charles' grandfather King George VI, who died 72 years ago today from cancer—of which the public was totally unaware.

While of course we’d all like to know, the reason makes sense.

Harry wasted no time heading to his father’s side after the shocking announcement.

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new book queen elizabeth

Marca

New Royal Family book makes revelations about Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles

Written by Ingrid Seward.

A new royal book delves into the intricate dynamics between Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles , offering fresh insights into their mother-son relationship. Titled "My Mother and I" by Ingrid Seward , the book reveals surprising details not only about the Queen and Charles but also about Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Princess Diana .

Released on the heels of Harry and Meghan 's emergence after the launch of their new royal website, sussex.com, the book raises eyebrows with its revelations. Among the most striking claims is the late Prince Philip 's coded nickname for Meghan Markle, 'DoW', likening her to Wallis Simpson , the Duchess of Windsor.

Despite the Queen's initial optimism about Meghan, the book suggests that Prince Philip harbored reservations. It also sheds light on the Queen's reserved remarks about Harry and Meghan's wedding, particularly her view on Meghan 's wedding gown being "too white" for a divorcee remarrying in church.

"Lady Elizabeth told me that the Queen had made only one remark to her about Meghan and Harry 's wedding, which was that the bride's Givenchy wedding gown was 'too white'," the book reads.

"In the monarch's view, it was not appropriate for a divorcee getting remarried in church to look quite so flamboyantly virginal.

"In the monarch's view, it was not appropriate for a divorcee getting remarried in church to look quite so flamboyantly virginal."

More revelations

Moreover, the book highlights the strain in relations between Harry and the royal family, particularly his high-handed attitude and subsequent departure from royal duties. The Queen and Prince Charles were reportedly dismayed by Harry's actions, leading to damaged relationships within the family.

In addition to insights into Harry and Meghan 's marriage, the book delves into the rift between Harry and his brother William , sparked by disagreements over royal protocol. It also explores Diana 's concerns about Harry 's self-esteem in comparison to William , revealing a complex family dynamic.

Furthermore, the book touches on Charles ' irritation with the Queen's involvement in what he deemed undignified activities and Diana 's grievances during their courtship. These revelations offer a glimpse into the complexities of royal life and relationships, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the monarchy's inner workings.

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New Book Details Queen Elizabeth's Final Days On Earth

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Even as Great Britain celebrated Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, there was a growing sense that this 70th year on the throne would be her last. As indomitable as she seemed, the queen had been in declining mobility for some months. Even so, the news of the queen's heartbreaking death  on Thursday, September 8, 2022, came as a shock both to the world and to her closest family members.

Now, a new biography being released in the U.K. is detailing what really occurred during the last few days of Queen Elizabeth's life. "Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait," by Gyles Brandreth, is dropping on December 8 on the other side of the pond. Brandreth, a writer and former member of Parliament, was also a friend of the late Prince Philip and met the queen on many occasions over the decades. The Daily Mail has published an excerpt, and it reveals that the queen was active and alert right up to the very end. 

The queen had been staying at her beloved Balmoral estate in Scotland over the summer, as was her custom. During her final weekend, she hosted the Right Reverend Iain Greenshields, who recalls that she was "in fantastic form" as she discussed everything from her past memories to current world affairs. Just two days before her death, Her Majesty not only phoned her racehorse trainer, but she also hosted former prime minister Boris Johnson and then-PM Liz Truss — and posed for what would be her final official photo.

Had the queen secretly been battling a fatal illness?

Royal confidant Gyles Brandreth explains that on September 7, his son-in-law alerted him that military groups were assembling to discuss " Operation London Bridge ," the elaborate plans for the proceedings following the queen's death. Early in the morning of September 8, then-Prince Charles was rushed to Balmoral by helicopter to join his mother and his sister, Princess Anne, who was "at her mother's side to the end." By the time the rest of the immediate family arrived that afternoon, it was too late. 

Although the official cause of Queen Elizabeth's death was said to be "old age," according to her death certificate (via CNN ), Brandreth has a different take. "I had heard that the Queen had a form of myeloma — bone marrow cancer — which would explain her tiredness and weight loss and those 'mobility issues' we were often told about during the last year or so of her life," he writes in his biography (per Daily Mail ). Multiple myeloma is most likely to affect individuals 65 and older, and bone pain in the back and ribs is a common symptom, according to WebMD . 

Brandreth suggests that the queen might have been receiving IV medication to keep her comfortable, which would explain a bruise on the back of her hand that was seen in her final photograph. Still, "The truth is that Her Majesty always knew that her remaining time was limited," he writes. "She accepted this with all the grace you'd expect."

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Queen felt ‘uncomfortable’ over King Charles walking Meghan down the aisle, claims new book

A new book going inside the royal family has made claims about the Queen’s state of mind at the time of Harry and Meghan’s wedding.

Harry and Meghan's latest rebrand

’Reduced to tears’: King Charles shock

‘Reduced to tears’: King’s surprise reveal

‘Reduced to tears’: King’s surprise reveal

Meghan and Harry’s secret ‘split’

Meghan and Harry’s secret ‘split’

A new royal book has revealed some shocking revelations about Queen Elizabeth II’s state of mind around the time Prince Harry married Meghan Markle

Ingrid Seward’s latest book My Mother and I takes a close look at King Charles’ bond with the late Queen, and also shares insight into the late monarch’s relationships with other royal family members.

Queen Elizabeth had reportedly grown “uncomfortable” with the idea of King Charles walking Meghan Markle down the aisle. Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images.

Before Harry’s wedding to Meghan, it had been speculated that her father, Thomas Markle Sr., would not be able to walk her down the aisle because he had undergone heart surgery. Charles then stepped in and offered to do it.

According to Seward, her late Majesty had shared with Charles that she was “not comfortable” with the then-Prince of Wales standing in for Meghan’s father by walking her down the aisle of St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle, in front of millions of viewers.

But that wasn’t the only thing rubbing her the wrong way about the wedding. The Queen allegedly also wasn’t best pleased with the ceremony itself, with much of her concern coming from American archbishop Michael Curry’s lively sermon.

Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. Picture: Jonathan Brady/Getty Images

Bishop Curry’s talk was a little different to what the royals were used to, from the length, to the impassioned way of speaking, to the topics covered.

Towards the end of his sermon he assured anyone struggling to focus that he was almost done, saying, “We gotta get y’all married”, which elicited laughter from most of the chapel, including the royal couple themselves.

Her Majesty was “like everyone else, startled by the impassioned spoutings of the American archbishop,” according to Seward.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex have faced intense scrutiny ever since they first became a couple. Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images.

The Queen’s tumultuous relationship with Prince Harry is alluded to within the book.

More Coverage

new book queen elizabeth

According to Seward, she had grown increasingly “upset over Harry’s ‘high-handedness’, both before and after the wedding, and their relationship was “quite badly damaged by it all” as a result.

Meanwhile, Seward also goes on to talk about Princess Diana, who the author claims once made a surprising remark about a then young Harry.

“Diana once told me, ‘William is very sensitive and Harry is very lively,’” said Seward, before claiming that the late Princess added she was concerned Harry may have “inherited some of his father’s more unattractive characteristics”.

The UK PM told the King yesterday “the country is behind you” as he returned to duty after treatment for cancer.

The monarch made an unexpectedly emotional admission as he returned to public duties following his shock cancer diagnosis.

The stark detail in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big announcements is very telling about where their relationship is heading.

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9 New Books We Recommend This Week

Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times.

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It’s too early to know the full story behind the mass shooting at yesterday’s Super Bowl parade in Kansas City, but for the back story — the broader context of America’s love affair with guns and the resulting steady drumbeat of horrific incidents — you might look to two of our recommended books this week: Dominic Erdozain’s “One Nation Under Guns” and Jonathan M. Metzl’s “What We’ve Become,” which take cleareyed but different approaches to the country’s gun culture and its intractable challenges.

Also up this week, we recommend a couple of big biographies, of the choreographer Martha Graham and the Marxist revolutionary Frantz Fanon, along with a memoir of undocumented immigration and a true-crime history about a 1931 murder that exposed a network of political corruption. In poetry, we recommend Mary Jo Bang’s latest collection, and in fiction we like new novels by Paul Theroux and the British writer Dolly Alderton. Happy reading. — Gregory Cowles

ONE NATION UNDER GUNS: How Gun Culture Distorts Our History and Threatens Our Democracy Dominic Erdozain

This galvanizing polemic by a historian appalled at American gun violence scrutinizes the historical record to show where contemporary interpretations of the Second Amendment have departed from the framers’ apparent intentions, with disastrous results.

new book queen elizabeth

“Considers guns from cultural, legal and historical perspectives. ... So comprehensive and assured that the moment I finished it, I immediately went back to the beginning and read it again.”

From Rachel Louise Snyder’s review

Crown | $28

WHAT WE’VE BECOME: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms Jonathan M. Metzl

Homing in on a mass shooting at a Nashville Waffle House in 2018, Metzl, a psychiatrist and sociologist, argues that America’s gun violence epidemic requires us to address racial and political tensions deeply embedded in our history.

new book queen elizabeth

“Casts a wide net. ... How, he asks, have public health experts failed to effect changes in policy, given their thousands of studies devoted to the myriad ways firearms increase risk and danger?”

Norton | $29.99

THE REBEL’S CLINIC: The Revolutionary Lives of Frantz Fanon Adam Shatz

This absorbing biography of the Black psychiatrist, writer and revolutionary Frantz Fanon highlights a side of him that’s often eclipsed by his image as a zealous partisan — that of the caring doctor, who ran a secret clinic for Algerian rebels.

new book queen elizabeth

“Part of what gives ‘The Rebel’s Clinic’ its intellectual heft is Shatz’s willingness to write into such tensions…. Portrays a man whose penchant for ‘rhetorical extremity’ could obscure how horrified he was by the brutality he had seen.”

From Jennifer Szalai’s review

Farrar, Straus & Giroux | $32

GOOD MATERIAL Dolly Alderton

Alderton’s novel, about a 35-year-old struggling to make sense of a breakup, delivers the most delightful aspects of romantic comedy — snappy dialogue, realistic relationship dynamics, funny meet-cutes and misunderstandings — and leaves behind clichéd gender roles and the traditional marriage plot.

new book queen elizabeth

“Alderton excels at portraying nonromantic intimate relationships with tenderness and authenticity.”

From Katie J.M. Baker review

Knopf | $28

ERRAND INTO THE MAZE: The Life and Works of Martha Graham Deborah Jowitt

In the hands of a veteran dance critic, this rigorous biography excels at describing the flamboyant choreographer’s work and distinct style. About the messy life between performances, Jowitt is comparatively mild.

new book queen elizabeth

“A study in balance and grace. ... A distinguished biography: its description rich, its author’s rigor unquestionable.”

From Alexandra Jacobs’s review

Farrar, Straus & Giroux | $35

THE BISHOP AND THE BUTTERFLY: Murder, Politics and the End of the Jazz Age Michael Wolraich

The 1931 murder of “Broadway Butterfly” Vivian Gordon exposed an explosive story of graft, corruption and entrapment that went all the way to the top of the state. Wolraich brings a journalist’s eye and a novelist’s elegance to this story of Jazz Age New York.

new book queen elizabeth

“A disquieting reminder of how tragedy can be used to effect change, but also how it is often leveraged for advancement.”

From Lesley M.M. Blume’s review

Union Square | $28.99

MY SIDE OF THE RIVER: A Memoir Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez

When Gutierrez was 4, her parents moved the family from Mexico to Arizona in hopes of giving their children better opportunities than they would have had in their “violent little narco town.” In this moving, timely memoir, she considers the ripple effects of that decision.

new book queen elizabeth

“A testament to the abiding allure — and often daunting reality — of the American dream.”

From Julia Scheeres’s review

St. Martin’s | $29

BURMA SAHIB Paul Theroux

This novel explores George Orwell’s years in colonial Burma, where he trained and worked as a police officer in the 1920s. Theroux’s Orwell is uneasy about his job and repelled by the British ruling class. But these experiences, the book suggests, made Orwell into the sharp thinker he became.

new book queen elizabeth

“The Burma that he conjures in these pages is wonderfully present in lush and dense prose. ... Theroux is now in his early 80s and this novel is one of his finest, in a long and redoubtable oeuvre.”

From William Boyd’s review

Mariner | $30

A FILM IN WHICH I PLAY EVERYONE Mary Jo Bang

The poems in Bang’s latest collection, her ninth, are full of pleasure, color, sound and light — but also torment.

new book queen elizabeth

“The work of miniaturizing a life is painstaking, and Bang’s poems have a characteristic clockwork precision — they tick and spin like mechanical music boxes.”

From Elisa Gabbert’s poetry column

Graywolf | Paperback, $17

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

Even in countries where homophobia is pervasive and same-sex relationships are illegal, queer African writers are pushing boundaries , finding an audience and winning awards.

In Lucy Sante’s new memoir, “I Heard Her Call My Name,” the author reflects on her life and embarking on a gender transition  in her late 60s.

For people of all ages in Pasadena, Calif., Vroman’s Bookstore, founded in 1894, has been a mainstay in a world of rapid change. Now, its longtime owner says he’s ready to turn over the reins .

Do you want to be a better reader?   Here’s some helpful advice to show you how to get the most out of your literary endeavor .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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  1. New book explores the faith of Queen Elizabeth II

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  2. Queen Elizabeth II Book Review And Giveaway ⋆ A Rose Tinted World

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  3. The Queen : The Life and Times of Elizabeth II (Hardcover)

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  4. Queen Elizabeth Books

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  5. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Picture Book: Queen Elizabeth Platinum

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  6. LGB Queen Elizabeth II: A Little Golden Book Biography by Jen Arena

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COMMENTS

  1. Queen Elizabeth II is the focus of two new books

    (DZY/Getty Images) The Platinum Jubilee celebrations might be over, but royal fascination is forever. Fans of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II have new options for learning about her seven-decade...

  2. Queen Elizabeth's Final Hours of Her Life Revealed in New Royal Book

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  3. 9 Books About Queen Elizabeth II

    Yousuf Karsh By The New York Times Books Staff Sept. 8, 2022 During the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, through times of turbulence and peace, celebration, controversy and scandal, the...

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    Royals New Book Reveals Intimate Details About the Final Years of Her Late Majesty's Life She knew her time was limited, and "she accepted this with all the good grace you'd expect." (Image...

  5. 'No pain': New book reveals Queen Elizabeth's final moments, King

    'No pain': New book reveals Queen Elizabeth's final moments, King Charles' realisation he was no longer a prince More than a year after the death of Queen Elizabeth, new details reveal the final moments of the iconic monarch, and the making of the new King. Laurence Karacsony Digital Reporter 2 min read January 14, 2024 - 1:00PM 6 comments

  6. Elizabeth II: A Queen for Our Time

    List Price: $45.00 Details Save: $7.24 (16%) FREE Returns FREE delivery Monday, December 18. Order within 16 hrs 33 mins Arrives before Christmas Select delivery location Only 9 left in stock (more on the way). Qty: 1 Add to Cart Buy Now Ships from Amazon.com Sold by Amazon.com Returns Returnable until Jan 31, 2024 Payment Secure transaction

  7. New Book Claims Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Kept Their Distance

    New Book Claims Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Kept Their Distance in Final Years The Duke of Edinburgh spent "his days in his own way." By Jordan Hoffman November 27, 2022 By...

  8. The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown

    Amazon.com: The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown: 9780306827976: Nicholl, Katie: Books Books › Self-Help › Relationships Kindle $12.99 Available instantly Audiobook $0.00 with membership trial Hardcover $9.32 Paperback $17.43 Other Used, New, Collectible from $1.78 Buy new: $9.32 List Price: $28.00 Save: $18.68 (67%)

  9. Book review: The Queen: Her Life, by Andrew Morton

    Morton's new biography of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September, asks us to remember these earlier feats. "The dam burst on June 14, 1992, with the publication of the biography, 'Diana ...

  10. New book released for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

    A new book has been released to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: Platinum Jubilee Celebration, 70 Years 1952-2022, published by Pitkin, was released earlier …

  11. Queen Elizabeth's right-hand woman shares personal stories in a new book

    A new book by Queen Elizabeth's dresser and close confidant of 25 years, Angela Kelly is sharing rare personal anecdotes and unseen photos in a new book out Tuesday, Oct. 29.. The book titled, "The Other Side of The Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and The Wardrobe," reveals the secrets behind some of the queen's most iconic moments and how some of the royal family's most memorable ...

  12. Queen Elizabeth's Life in Lockdown at Windsor Castle Revealed in New Book

    Royals Queen Elizabeth's Life in Lockdown to Be Revealed in Trusted Aide's Book (Including Who Cut Her Hair!) Angela Kelly, the Queen's personal stylist and dressmaker, has updated her...

  13. Queen Elizabeth's Final Moments Before Her Death Revealed in New Book

    January 12, 2024 · 3 min read. Intimate details about the Queen's final moments have come to light in a new book by royal biographer Robert Hardman. Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images ...

  14. 4 Compelling Books About Queen Elizabeth II

    Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith (2012) Lerner Publishing Group This bestseller, marking the queen's 60 years on the throne, goes deep into her romance and marriage with Prince Philip, motherhood, royal tasks, political crises and personal hardships.

  15. The Queen: Her Life: Morton, Andrew: 9781538700433: Amazon.com: Books

    #1 New York Times bestselling biographer Andrew Morton provides the definitive, most comprehensive account of Queen Elizabeth II's legendary reign. Painfully shy, Elizabeth Windsor's personality was well suited to her youthful ambition of living quietly in the country, raising a family, and caring for her dogs and horses. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated, she became heir to ...

  16. Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life and Reign

    Biography of Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (born 1926) by the author of Diana in Search of Herself (RC 48833). Covers her childhood, coronation, and work ethic. Includes anecdotes about palace intrigues and her relationships with family, friends, and politicians. Concludes with Queen Elizabeth II's 2012 Diamond Jubilee. Bestseller. 2012.

  17. 20 of the Best Books About Queen Elizabeth II

    Sally Bedell Smith Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch Now 37% Off $13 at Amazon Sally Bedell Smith has written biographies of towering figures on both sides of the pond,...

  18. New Book Details the Exact Moment King Charles Found Out His Mother

    A new book is giving deeper insight into September 8, 2022—the day Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland—specifically from King Charles' perspective. Charles ...

  19. New Royal Family book makes revelations about Queen Elizabeth II ...

    A new royal book delves into the intricate dynamics between Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles, offering fresh insights into their mother-son relationship. Titled "My Mother and I" by Ingrid ...

  20. New Book Details Queen Elizabeth's Final Days On Earth

    By Shana Aborn / Nov. 27, 2022 3:58 am EST We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Even as Great Britain celebrated Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, there was a growing sense that this 70th year on the throne would be her last. As indomitable as she seemed, the queen had been in declining mobility for some months.

  21. New Book about Queen Elizabeth II Explores her Complex ...

    The relationship that existed between Queen Elizabeth II and the Princess of Wales is infamously complex. A new book about the monarch, The Queen's Speech: An Intimate Portrait of the Queen in ...

  22. Elizabeth by Gyles Brandreth

    Told with authority, a refreshing dose of humour and moving honesty from a totally unique viewpoint, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait is the must-have biography of the longest-serving monarch in English history, of a woman who represented not only her people but stood as an emblem of fortitude and resilience worldwide throughout her long life.

  23. Queen of Our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II

    Queen of Our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II: Hardman, Robert: 9781643139098: Amazon.com: Books Books › Biographies & Memoirs › Community & Culture Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery Kindle $15.99 Available instantly Audiobook

  24. New book about Queen Elizabeth includes lots of new detail

    00:00 / 36:57. "The Queen: Her Life" by Andrew Morton c.2022, Grand Central Publishing $30.00 448 pages.

  25. Royals latest: Queen felt 'uncomfortable' over King Charles walking

    Queen felt 'uncomfortable' over King Charles walking Meghan down the aisle, claims new book. A new book going inside the royal family has made claims about the Queen's state of mind at the ...

  26. 9 New Books We Recommend This Week

    9 New Books We Recommend This Week. Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times. Feb. 15, 2024. It's too early to know the full story behind the mass shooting at yesterday ...

  27. Nine royal bombshells in new book: Meghan's brutal nickname, Queen's

    King Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth's complex relationship is explored in a brand new royal book that hit the shelves today.. It contains a number of explosive claims not only about the ...