Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and her country

Author: William Shawcross
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The private lives of the British Royal Family have become widely reported and sensationalized gossip, with every detail scrutinized by the media. However, for the heart of the monarchy—the Queen—we still know very little. She remains shrouded in mystery and an enigmatic depth. Through interviews with a wide range of individuals who have had contact with the Queen (including staff from Buckingham Palace, politicians, nobles, commoners, etc.) and extensive research into historical records, William Shawcross reveals the Queen's life over the past 50 years, her passions and dislikes, her contributions to the Commonwealth and Great Britain, as well as her efforts to uphold the constitutional monarchy and the status of the Royal Family.
In 1558, England saw the rise of a "Elizabeth Queen." The last Tudor monarch (1558-1603), she ascended the throne amid perilous times. Over her 45-year reign, she strengthened autocratic rule with the support of the bourgeoisie and the new aristocracy, rapidly expanding England's power and laying the foundation for its later dominance in modern history. As a woman, Elizabeth I was renowned for her dignity, sternness, and resilience. She remained unmarried throughout her life, earning the title "Virgin Queen." Nearly 400 years later, England witnessed the emergence of its second "Elizabeth Queen." However, with the passage of time, the world after the war saw traditional values fading and republican ideals gaining acceptance among more people, and even the conservative British could not escape this trend. Faced with these profound changes and upheavals, how would the hereditary monarchs cope? Under the constitutional monarchy, could the Queen still maintain the dignity, sternness, and resilience of her ancestors? How long would the fairy-tale realities of the Royal Family and the monarchy endure?
The book collects many precious photographs of the Queen and the Royal Family. Notably, in this book, you can see how the Queen, over the 50 years of her reign as Head of the Commonwealth, continuously adapted and transformed herself and the Royal Family to align with societal changes in the face of relentless domestic and international upheavals. Through narratives and reflections on various aspects of the Queen as a public figure (including her relationships with successive Prime Ministers), William Shawcross presents an image of unwavering determination amidst storms. Her resilience, composure, and elegance have earned her the respect and admiration of the entire nation.