Queen Elizabeth II

Book categories: The Queen, Her Childhood, Behind the Scenes, Golden Jubilee, Marriage, Prince Philip, Queen's Children, Queen's Parents, Margaret, Windsors, Fiction, DVDs, Children's Books

Biographies of the Queen

The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II by Ben Pimlott. Elizabeth II has quietly become one of the longest-reigning monarchs in English history. This book succeeds in making the Queen seem like a living, breathing person, and also provides a useful introduction to British politics in the second half of the 20th century. (Review © Amazon.com)

Lilibet: An Intimate Portrait of Elizabeth II by Carrolly Erickson. This biography tells the Queen's story from her point of view, showing us a small, shy woman with a sly sense of humor, a woman who enjoys watching wrestling on TV and is most at home among her horses and dogs.

Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II by Robert Lacey. A respectful look at Her Majesty's life.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Birthday Souvenir Album by Jane Roberts. A personal biography in pictures, including numerous unfamiliar images of the Queen from childhood to the present day. This is an official publication celebrating the Queen's 80th birthday.

Queen Elizabeth II edited by Elizabeth Roberts. Unique pictures, taken by members of the Press Association over a period of 80 years, document the life of an extraordinary woman.

The Royal Tour: A Souvenir Album by Caroline de Guitaut. A selection of Queen Elizabeth II's dresses and jewellery worn on visits to Commonwealth countries since her accession in 1952.

Elizabeth: A Biography of Britain's Queen by Sarah Bradford. Examines how the queen was influenced by her father, her troubled relationships with her children, her difficult marriage, and how she copes with the pressures of being the most famous woman in the world. Out of print, but available at Alibris.

The Monarchy: An Oral Biography of Elizabeth II by Gerald Strober and Deborah H. Strober. Uses quotes from over 150 interviews with royal insiders to tell the queen's life story. From Alibris.

Her Childhood

The Little Princesses by Marion Crawford. An account of the childhood of Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret, written by their governess, whom the princesses affectionately called "Crawfie." The royal family are said to have ostracized Crawford for writing this book.

Dolls for the Princesses: The Story of France and Marianne by Faith Eaton. About two dolls which were given to future queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret in 1938 as an expression of the Entente Cordiale between Great Britain and France. Eaton describes the events leading up to the presentation of the dolls, their creation, and the preparation of their wardrobes. 70 photographs and illustrations, 50 in color.

Behind the Scenes

A Year With the Queen by Robert Hardman. What is life like in the 650 rooms of Buckingham Palace? What does a lady-in-waiting do? What do you say to royalty? This book provides an inside look at the extraordinary world of the British monarch and her family.

The Queen and Di: The Untold Story by Ingrid Seward. We all know they didn't get along. But was the queen really a cold and unforgiving mother-in-law? Not according to this book, which claims the queen did her best to welcome Diana into the royal family.

Royal Racing: The Queen and Queen Mother's Sporting Life by Sean Smith is about the abiding passion of Elizabeth II and her mother for horse racing. This illustrated account of their achievements is rich in anecdotes from key figures of the racing world.

Life With the Queen by Brian Hoey. Explores the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the point of view of those who live and work with her.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Woman Who Is Not Amused by Nicholas Davies. The intimate secrets of Queen Elizabeth's reign: a story of "adultery, passion, jealousy, and mental cruelty." Out of print, but available from Alibris.

What's In The Queen's Handbag: And Other Royal Secrets by Phil Dampier and Ashley Walton. Veteran royal reporters take an insider's peek into "some of the most closely guarded royal secrets." Sometimes available from AbeBooks.

Golden Jubilee Books

Queen Elizabeth II: A Celebration of Her Majesty's Fifty-Year Reign by Tim Graham. A photographic history of the queen's reign, from her coronation in 1952 to the Golden Jubilee. The photographs feature both the public pomp and the elaborate preparations that go on behind the scenes.

God Save the Queen: Britain in 1952 by Peter Street. Looks at British life in the year Elizabeth II became queen.

The Queen: 50 Years - A Celebration by Ronald Allison. Details the highlights of each year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. The author was the queen's press secretary for five years. Out of print, but available at Alibris.

Queen and Country: The Fifty-Year Reign of Elizabeth II by William Shawcross. Over half a century of rule, Shawcross suggests, the queen has risen to every occasion and capably led the British Commonwealth and the royal family, even if both have given her plenty of troubles. Well-illustrated. From Alibris.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Jubilee Portrait in Stamps by Fay Sweet. Illustrated with the stamps produced in Britain and the Commonwealth to commemorate the key events in the queen's reign. Also included are stamps designed or illustrated by members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth's Marriage

Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage by Gyles Brandreth. The first major biography of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. The author has met all the principal players in the story; he quotes no anonymous sources; he has known the Duke of Edinburgh for 25 years and has interviewed him. Illustrated with Prince Philip's family photographs and pictures from the Queen's royal collection.

Queen and Consort - Elizabeth and Philip: 60 Years of Marriage by Lynne Bell, Arthur Bousfield, and Garry Toffoli. An illustrated study of Queen Elizabeth II's marriage.

Elizabeth and Philip: 20 November 1947 by Val Horsler. A behind-the-scenes look at the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth and Philip: A Royal Love Story by Judith Campbell. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Philip: A Family Portrait by Queen Alexandra. The former queen of Yugoslavia tells the story of her first cousin, Prince Philip of Greece, who grew up with Alexandra. Out of print, but available at Alibris.

Prince Philip: An Informal Biography by Basil Boothroyd. Discusses his family background, engagement to Elizabeth, their marriage, and more. From Alibris.

Prince Philip by John Dean. Philip's former valet shares memories of a likeable prince. From Alibris.

Prince Philip: A Biography by Denis Judd. The author explores Prince Philip's history and his immense contribution to the royal family and Britain. From Alibris.

The Duke: A Portrait of Prince Philip by Tim Heald. A 1991 biography, written with the cooperation of Buckingham Palace. From Alibris.

Prince Philip: His Secret Life by John Parker. Royal playboy or faithful consort? Overbearing bully or devoted father? This book rips away the veil of secrecy covering the world's most famous husband. From Alibris.

Duke of Hazard: The Wit and Wisdom of Prince Philip by Phil Dampier and Ashley Walton. A comprehensive list of the Duke's notoriously acerbic, blunt one-liners. Sometimes available from AbeBooks.

Alice: Princess Andrew of Greece by Hugo Vickers. Biography of Philip's mother. Born deaf, Princess Alice led a dramatic, often tragic life, and ended her days as a nun.

More Books About Prince Philip
Books About Greek Royalty

Queen Elizabeth's Parents & Sister

Books About the Queen Mother and George VI
Books About Princess Margaret

Queen Elizabeth's Children & Grandchildren

Books About Prince Charles
Books About Princess Anne
Books About Prince Andrew
Books About Prince Edward
Books About Prince William & Prince Harry
More British Royalty Books

Fiction and Poetry

The Uncommon Reader by Allan Bennett. A humorous novella. When the Queen in pursuit of her wandering corgis stumbles upon a mobile library, she feels duty bound to borrow a book and discovers the pleasures of the written word.

The Autobiography of the Queen by Emma Tennant. Faced with the loss of her beloved home, Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II escapes alone to the Caribbean.

Death at Buckingham Palace: Her Majesty Investigates by C. C. Benison. A novel in which -- yes -- Queen Elizabeth II plays detective! (Don't you wonder if the queen reads these books?)

Death at Sandringham House. Sequel to Death at Buckingham Palace

Death at Windsor Castle. Her Majesty plays sleuth again.

The Queen by Peter Morgan. The screenplay for the acclaimed film about the British royal family's reaction to Princess Diana's death.

Diana, Charles, & the Queen by William Heyen. Poems about the royal family.

Books About British Royal History
Books About World Royalty

Children's Books

Queen Elizabeth II: Monarch of Our Times by Sara Barton-Wood. Book for children ages 9 to 12.

Tell Me About Queen Elizabeth II by John Malam is a biography for children ages 4 to 8.

Titus Rules by Dick King-Smith, illustrated by John Eastwood. Tells the humorous (and fictional) story of one of Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Titus, and his adventures while living in the palace. For children ages 9 to 12.

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Movies & Documentaries

These DVDs are formatted for North American audiences.

The Queen starring Helen Mirren. Very popular 2006 movie about Queen Elizabeth II's reaction to the death of Princess Diana. Helen Mirren won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the Queen. The movie was also nominated for Best Motion Picture.

The Monarchy: Queen Elizabeth II. TV documentary.

Queen Elizabeth II: 60 Glorious Years. Documentary.

Royal Wedding Bells. What happens when a member of Britain's royal family choose a marriage partner? This documentary goes behind the scenes of the weddings of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1957; the 1981 joining of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer; and the 1986 wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

50 Golden Years - Queen & Prince. A 2001 documentary from the "Royal Family Collection."

More Documentaries About the Windsors
Other DVDs About Royalty