Queen of Our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II
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- Create Date：2022-05-20 06:53:24
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Robert Hardman
- ISBN：1643139096
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Summary
A definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the seventieth anniversary of her reign by a renowned royal biographer。
Shy but with a steely self-confidence; inscrutable despite ten decades in the public eye; unflappable; devout; indulgent; outwardly reserved， inwardly passionate; unsentimental; inquisitive; young at heart。
All of these describe Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II， who has reigned through more seismic social change than any monarch in British history。 From the Abdication to the Sussexes， from World War II to the loss of her life-long partner， she has witnessed family crises on a scale not seen since the days of George III。
She is a 21st Century global phenomenon commanding unrivalled respect and affection。 Sealed off during the greatest peacetime emergency of modern times， she has stuck to her own maxim: ‘I have to be seen to be believed。’ And now she is preparing for an event without parallel in Europe since the reign of Louis XIV: her Platinum Jubilee， celebrating seventy years on the Throne。
Robert Hardman， the acclaimed and respected author of Her Majesty and Queen of the World has already examined the Queen as a modern monarch and her role as a stateswoman abroad。 Now， in this entirely new study， including unpublished Royal Family papers and photographs along with personal stories from other world leaders， he wraps up the full story of one of the undisputed greats in a thousand years of monarchy。
Hardman distils Elizabeth's complex life into a must-read study of dynastic survival and renewal。 It is a portrait of a world leader who remains as intriguing today as the day she came to the Throne at age twenty-five。
With peerless access to members of the Royal Family， staff， friends and royal records， Queen of Our Times brings fresh insights and scholarship to the modern royal story。 There will be no more thorough， more readable， more original book on the record-breaking Elizabeth II as she reaches a landmark which， surely， can never be equaled。
Shy but with a steely self-confidence; inscrutable despite ten decades in the public eye; unflappable; devout; indulgent; outwardly reserved， inwardly passionate; unsentimental; inquisitive; young at heart。
All of these describe Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II， who has reigned through more seismic social change than any monarch in British history。 From the Abdication to the Sussexes， from World War II to the loss of her life-long partner， she has witnessed family crises on a scale not seen since the days of George III。
She is a 21st Century global phenomenon commanding unrivalled respect and affection。 Sealed off during the greatest peacetime emergency of modern times， she has stuck to her own maxim: ‘I have to be seen to be believed。’ And now she is preparing for an event without parallel in Europe since the reign of Louis XIV: her Platinum Jubilee， celebrating seventy years on the Throne。
Robert Hardman， the acclaimed and respected author of Her Majesty and Queen of the World has already examined the Queen as a modern monarch and her role as a stateswoman abroad。 Now， in this entirely new study， including unpublished Royal Family papers and photographs along with personal stories from other world leaders， he wraps up the full story of one of the undisputed greats in a thousand years of monarchy。
Hardman distils Elizabeth's complex life into a must-read study of dynastic survival and renewal。 It is a portrait of a world leader who remains as intriguing today as the day she came to the Throne at age twenty-five。
With peerless access to members of the Royal Family， staff， friends and royal records， Queen of Our Times brings fresh insights and scholarship to the modern royal story。 There will be no more thorough， more readable， more original book on the record-breaking Elizabeth II as she reaches a landmark which， surely， can never be equaled。
Reviews
Ruth Dipple
，
A very thorough and well grounded biography of HM， up to date too。 It is particularly interesting on the political aspects of her reign and her attitudes to the Commonwealth and the Union。
Scott
，
I read new books about the queen and other royals almost as a way to return to “old friends。” I don’t really them to learn new things， but to catch up on the stories that I have come to know in 35 years of reading on these people and this institution。 How surprising it was then， that in Hardman’s new book I was learning things I did not know again and again。 While I know that the queen has authorized more and more people to talk frankly as she has aged， Hardman’s new book is truly a tour de forc I read new books about the queen and other royals almost as a way to return to “old friends。” I don’t really them to learn new things， but to catch up on the stories that I have come to know in 35 years of reading on these people and this institution。 How surprising it was then， that in Hardman’s new book I was learning things I did not know again and again。 While I know that the queen has authorized more and more people to talk frankly as she has aged， Hardman’s new book is truly a tour de force。 Blair， Cameron， Major， Bush， Obama， various Australians and many other commonwealth leaders。 Fascinating stuff。 。。。more
Joseph William
，
4。5
Sally
，
I thoroughly enjoyed this book。 The author did his best to be even-handed when discussing various scandals and problems。 His use of words was charming。。。。 Jeffrey Epstein was mentioned several times as "the inexplicably wealthy businessman"。Hardman struck a good balance between devotion and clear-eyed assessment of the monarchy， I thought， and he made the Queen into a real， really likable person。 Since the book was published quite recently， he mentioned contrasts to the way people and events wer I thoroughly enjoyed this book。 The author did his best to be even-handed when discussing various scandals and problems。 His use of words was charming。。。。 Jeffrey Epstein was mentioned several times as "the inexplicably wealthy businessman"。Hardman struck a good balance between devotion and clear-eyed assessment of the monarchy， I thought， and he made the Queen into a real， really likable person。 Since the book was published quite recently， he mentioned contrasts to the way people and events were depicted in "The Crown"， and I appreciated hearing the bigger picture。 。。。more
Steve
，
Robert Hardman is one of the most knowledgeable and insightful of royal biographers。 Hardman's latest book， "Queen of Our Times: The Life if Queen Elizabeth II" is a fine addition to the historiography of the Queen。 Perhaps most importantly， Hardman capably and effectively pushes back against the now-prevailing narrative created by Peter Morgan in "The Crown" which says that the Queen is constantly put upon and dismayed by both her ministers and her family。 Hardman's thesis is that the Queen gen Robert Hardman is one of the most knowledgeable and insightful of royal biographers。 Hardman's latest book， "Queen of Our Times: The Life if Queen Elizabeth II" is a fine addition to the historiography of the Queen。 Perhaps most importantly， Hardman capably and effectively pushes back against the now-prevailing narrative created by Peter Morgan in "The Crown" which says that the Queen is constantly put upon and dismayed by both her ministers and her family。 Hardman's thesis is that the Queen genuinely likes being Queen， and this book proves that in spades。 Celebrating her Platinum Jubilee， there is no arguing that she has more experience than any world leader in modern history。 Hardman demonstrates how the Queen "sees the relevance of what she's doing in a wider context。" That is a skill lacking in almost all politicians today。There some chapters that are slow moving and don't cover any new territory。 Because of the Queen's longevity， so much has already been written about her early life and the first quarter century of her reign。 Yet it's all here again without too much new information。 Hardman excels when he gets beyond the Silver Jubilee in 1977。 Hardman shows how the Queen is excellent in a crisis。 "The Queen has always lived by the doctrine 'This too shall pass。' While the Queen has sometimes been accused of being slow to act， there has never been a charge of panic。 Her default mode in the face of a crisis is stillness。" Hardman demonstrates how this philosophy has served her well over the past 70 years。 The Queen takes the long view， saying， "It has sometimes been observed that what leaders do for their people today is government and politics。 But what they do for the people of tomorrow - that is statesmanship。"While not popular today， Hardman demonstrates how her personal faith guides the Queen。 "Not all of us can do great things。 But we can do small things with great love。" "Jesus Christ lived obscurely for most of his life。。。And yet， billions of people find in him the guiding light for their lives。 I am one of them， because Christ's example helps me see the value of doing small things with great love。" Hardman helps us see the Queen's uncommon common sense。He also underscores that the value of the Queen and the monarchy is in the power it denies to anyone else， particularly politicians。 "Queen of Our Times" is an insightful interesting book showing how for 70 years and counting， the Queen has not only been devoted to her role as sovereign， she has enjoyed it。 。。。more
Carolyn Harris
，
The best biography of Queen Elizabeth II to be published during the Platinum Jubilee year。 Hardman provides a thoughtful analysis of the Queen's cautious yet innovative approach to her role as sovereign and her important diplomatic role in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth。 Hardman also examines the future of the monarchy， discussing how Prince Charles and Prince William will build on the Queen's legacy。 The biography examines events all the way up to 2022 and draws upon both familiar and newl The best biography of Queen Elizabeth II to be published during the Platinum Jubilee year。 Hardman provides a thoughtful analysis of the Queen's cautious yet innovative approach to her role as sovereign and her important diplomatic role in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth。 Hardman also examines the future of the monarchy， discussing how Prince Charles and Prince William will build on the Queen's legacy。 The biography examines events all the way up to 2022 and draws upon both familiar and newly available source material。 Highly recommended。 。。。more
MAM
，
In-depth info about Her Majesty that adds dimension to her already impressive background。 Hardman seems to have meticulously researched the Queen's history and shed light on times that had only been depicted in news articles。I learned a lot about the politics of the various eras over which she's ruled - sometimes with a bit too much detail but informative nonetheless。I'll be at the Platinum Jubilee celebration as I was at the Diamond Jubilee。 With this added knowledge， I can't wait to cheer HM o In-depth info about Her Majesty that adds dimension to her already impressive background。 Hardman seems to have meticulously researched the Queen's history and shed light on times that had only been depicted in news articles。I learned a lot about the politics of the various eras over which she's ruled - sometimes with a bit too much detail but informative nonetheless。I'll be at the Platinum Jubilee celebration as I was at the Diamond Jubilee。 With this added knowledge， I can't wait to cheer HM on！ 。。。more
David Robert Bloomer
，
I've never been a Monarchist but I felt duty bound to read at least one book about The Queen， during this Platinum Jubilee year。 Saw this in a local supermarket and thought I'd go with it; wonderful picture of the Queen in the cover caught eye。 It hasn't disappointed and I would even go so far as to say it has， not only given me an insight into Her Majesty but has made me a little more of a Monarchist than I have ever been。 You can't really sum up the reign of the Queen in a single volume; some I've never been a Monarchist but I felt duty bound to read at least one book about The Queen， during this Platinum Jubilee year。 Saw this in a local supermarket and thought I'd go with it; wonderful picture of the Queen in the cover caught eye。 It hasn't disappointed and I would even go so far as to say it has， not only given me an insight into Her Majesty but has made me a little more of a Monarchist than I have ever been。 You can't really sum up the reign of the Queen in a single volume; some subjects alone deserve a book of there own。 I'd say this book goes a long way to condense her long reign into a single volume but it strays quite a few times away from the main focus。 This isn't always a negative but during the last one hundred pages it does seem filler rather than meaningful。So I'd definitely recommend it， especially as it covers a lot of history that is very interesting。 Even if you aren't very fond of royalty， I think this shows a lot of the things the Royals do that may not be known to you; I certainly found out a lot more than I knew before。 Not a perfect book and it could have been trimmed for certain but definitely a decent book。 。。。more
Lynn
，
Large book but very readable and goes by quick。 This is an extremely sympathetic book released during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee。 That’s not a problem but understand that not much information is released that hasn’t been previously known。 It’s very palpable to a general audience。
Joseph J。
，
This volume will be the definitive biography of Elizabeth II of our times。" Well researched by a royal insider， and written without an agenda or a bias， here is an all inclusive and amazingly up to date record of The Queen's long life。 We are taken from the royal nursery and her embrace by even the distant George V （Grandfather England she may have called him） through decades of service， politics and the inevitable scandal。 Remarkably recent in detail， the death of her beloved Prince Phillip， th This volume will be the definitive biography of Elizabeth II of our times。" Well researched by a royal insider， and written without an agenda or a bias， here is an all inclusive and amazingly up to date record of The Queen's long life。 We are taken from the royal nursery and her embrace by even the distant George V （Grandfather England she may have called him） through decades of service， politics and the inevitable scandal。 Remarkably recent in detail， the death of her beloved Prince Phillip， the renunciation of royalty by Harry and Meghan， and the scandals of Andrew。 Relationships with the many Prime Ministers who have served her are noted: from an aged Churchill through Labor's Harold Wilson， the dull Edward Heath and the complications with Margaret Thatcher， and beyond。 For those in "the states" her involvement with our leaders and politics is interesting and amusing; she has met every President in office except for LBJ， and even met former President Hoover。 The books opening with the state visit by the Obama's is human and humorous: There is an intruder。 The boots wearing George W。 Bush is a gem of an interviewee， having met the Queen first and memorably as Presidential son and later， as Presidential host。 I was in D。C。 for that first 1992 visit， and stood one day across form Blair House to cheer Elizabeth， and was on Capitol Hill early the next morning outside the Folger Library。 There， I'm a fan， and I loved this all encompassing work。 。。。more
Sue
，
A really， really long book。。 but then again the Queen has been on the throne for 70 years。 She is remarkable in her dedication to what she calls “service”。 The family drama that they took on is documented factually and is very interesting。 The politics not so much for me and I may have skimmed over some of it。
Jessica
，
There is no better year to read a biography of Queen Elizabeth II than in her Platinum Jubilee year， and there is no better biographer to read than Robert Hardman。 In terms of QEII biographies， his are some of the strongest。 It is very apparent that he has decades of experience reporting on the Royal Family， and lends a weight that we don’t often get in royal biographies。 While I was slightly concerned that it would feel repetitive after having read （and loved） his earlier QEII biography， Queen There is no better year to read a biography of Queen Elizabeth II than in her Platinum Jubilee year， and there is no better biographer to read than Robert Hardman。 In terms of QEII biographies， his are some of the strongest。 It is very apparent that he has decades of experience reporting on the Royal Family， and lends a weight that we don’t often get in royal biographies。 While I was slightly concerned that it would feel repetitive after having read （and loved） his earlier QEII biography， Queen of the World， I can firmly say that this is its own book。 Hardman balances her personal life， politics and global events of the day， and the royal households。 It is as complete a picture as we have， and it offers real insight into her reign and her life。 And because this is the only biography to cover the pandemic， it doesn’t feel out of date like so many pre-pandemic things do。 （He handles the Sussexes exit from royal life with a strong neutrality。） I will say that this was probably edited just before publication， as it includes references to The Queen’s statement on Camilla becoming Queen in the future。 I chose to do the audiobook with this one。 Hardman reads it himself and does a fantastic job of it; however， be forewarned that at 25 hours you have a literal day of listening ahead of you！ This is a strong biography and is a must-read for any royal watcher。 。。。more
Connie
，
I need to start this review by saying that I have read numerous books about Queen Elizabeth， as well as about many other members of the English royal family。 As an American， I have always enjoyed reading about Great Britain， its people and customs。 This includes lots of books that take place there。Many of the biographies of Queen Elizabeth and other royals have been written in a way that makes the author appear to have an axe to grind。 In other words， they can be catty and written in manner that I need to start this review by saying that I have read numerous books about Queen Elizabeth， as well as about many other members of the English royal family。 As an American， I have always enjoyed reading about Great Britain， its people and customs。 This includes lots of books that take place there。Many of the biographies of Queen Elizabeth and other royals have been written in a way that makes the author appear to have an axe to grind。 In other words， they can be catty and written in manner that makes the royal look bad。 However， this book is so refreshing in that I didn’t find that to be the case here。 This book was written in a positive manner and included so many things that I have never learned before。 Yes， there are some difficult times and some good times too。Queen Elizabeth has had numerous Prime Ministers during her reign。 Some， such as Winston Churchill and Martin Charteris are two men whom she worked with quite well。 However， Edward Heath gave her a lot of problems and embarrassment。 He invited some very questionable people to visit Buckingham Palace， such as Idi Amin and Nicolas Ceausescu。 These men caused the Queen to be uneasy when they were in the Palace。There have always been people for and against the monarchy。 Here is a quote from the book that I found put the situation quite well: “Left Wing radicals couldn’t understand why ordinary workers view the monarchy as a source of patriotic pride rather than as a class thing。"The problems that have occurred with Queen Elizabeth’s children are discussed here， but not in a negative way。 Everyone has problems with their children and even though the family is royal， we see how even they have to find a way to work through problems。 Queen Elizabeth has been a strong woman all of her life and I admire her immensely。 It has been said that she “looks forward， not backward。"This is a delightful book that follows Queen Elizabeth from her birth to today。 We see so much about the family here than in other books I have read。 While the book is rather long， it is also filled with so many events I’ve not read about before so I enjoyed every bit of it。Copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review。 。。。more
Trian
，
This was a remarkably concise book about one of the best known people in the world。 How is it possible to stay so mysterious even nowadays？ Obviously the book was monarchy- and Queen-positive， so you have to take a lot with a grain of salt， but still。 Wow。
Toria
，