In “The Monarchy: An Oral Biography of Elizabeth II” (Broadway Books, 592 pages, $32.50), Deborah and Gerald Strobers, who previously have written about Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, effectively use interviews with dozens of political leaders, British nobility, friends and family to create a reasonably candid portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
The book’s anecdotes are presented in six chronological sections, beginning with Elizabeth’s accession to the throne 50 years ago. There is a nice balance between gossipy stories and drier insights about details in the queen’s daily life.
Although the book slows during a section concerning the queen’s relationships with sectors of her Commonwealth, even here some of the issues that are raised prove interesting, particularly the queen’s interaction with Britain’s prime ministers and her dealings with Northern Ireland.
“For her part, the Queen revered my grandfather as her first-ever prime minister. And I have no doubt whatever in my mind that he was also her favorite prime minister,” notes Winston Spencer Churchill, the prime minister’s grandson.
“The Monarchy” is filled with wonderful tidbits like this, allowing readers to feel they are eavesdropping on conversations between the queen’s closest friends and advisers over afternoon tea.
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Perhaps Her Majesty would not be amused, but the rest of us certainly will be.