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The Queen

By: Andrew Morton
Narrated by: Andrew Morton,Judy Bennett
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Summary

In this entertaining and insightful biography, award-winning writer Andrew Morton, author of Diana, Her True Story and Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters, takes you behind the scenes to uncover the woman and her world.

For years she prayed for her mother to give birth to a son. She longed to be spared her destiny as Britain's future Queen. Her dream was to live in the country surrounded by children, dogs and horses.

But Elizabeth did her duty, the young princess pledging before her people that she would dedicate her whole life to the service of Britain and the Commonwealth. She hoped that that day would be a long way off. It was not to be. Only 25 when she became Queen after the premature death of her father, King George Vl, Elizabeth has become the stuff of superlatives: the longest reigning, most travelled and, for a shy woman, the Queen who has shaken more hands and made more small talk than any other monarch in history. She has been seen and believed by millions, either in person, on television or film.

Elizabeth was set firmly on the road to becoming sovereign because of the D word—divorce. In 1936, her uncle David, King Edward VIII, wanted to marry a twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. When he couldn't he abdicated. Since that national trauma, divorce and the fall-out from divorce has shaped her reign. She has witnessed her sister Margaret, three of her children and several grandchildren divorce. And she has lived long enough to see the wheel turn full circle, watching as another American divorcee, Meghan Markle, walked down the aisle with her grandson Prince Harry.

While her reign has been defined by divorce, her private life has been moulded by an irascible husband, an extravagant mother and a querulous eldest son. In the winter of her reign she refereed a war between two of her grandsons, brothers William and Harry who were once inseparable friends. As she celebrates her platinum anniversary, the first monarch to reign for 70 years, she has, during a once in a lifetime pandemic, become the reassuring face of hope and optimism, the grandmother to the nation.

©2022 Andrew Morton (P)2022 Audible, Ltd

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  • Overall
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RIP Your Majesty

It is 8 September 2022 and the mother of our great nation, Queen Elizabeth II, has died! The reviews for this book are, for the most part, very good, so I have downloaded the book in the hope it fulfils it's promise. If it does, then I will leave this review as a thank you to both Andrew Morton and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. If it doesn't, then I will edit it!

2 people found this helpful

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Fascinating

Brilliantly narrated and a lovely story. Lots of new things to learn . Long Live the Queen

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A wonderful insight into a truly inspiring lady

This book successfully shows the woman behind the crown, loyal, faithful, hard working and devoted

2 people found this helpful

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Must read

Like myself whom very fond of England and the monarchy and it’s heritage this book is a must read/listen. Shows Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth from a different angle, who has strong characteristics with a fun side. A beautiful individual and an incredible love story, that I believe lots of people would love to experience.

1 person found this helpful

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Interesting, but……

I enjoyed this book, but I wish Mr. Morton had remembered that she is not only ‘ queen of England’.

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Fascinating

While it's leaning towards regiphilia its a good listen and a seemingly open insight into one of the most famous regal families in the world

1 person found this helpful

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Good book

Really good book challenging interesting learned a lot informative Easy to read I highly recommend

1 person found this helpful

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Nothing new or revealing

It’s a nice book but it’s just a rewrite of everything we already know - nothing new .

1 person found this helpful

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Quite good

It was quite good great narrator just thought that some the most important parts were not told long enough

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Fine, but very biased

author speaks more damningly of Meghan Markle than of prince Andrew... puts further friendship with Epstein post-conviction down to Andrew being a good mate.