Queen Elizabeth II For Dummies

Stewart Ross is the author of over 250 published titles, including prize winning books for children, young adults and adults. He has written on history and sport – including titles on monarchs and the Royal Family.

• Introduction 1About This Book 1Foolish Assumptions 3Icons Used in This Book 3Beyond the Book 4Where to Go from Here 4Part 1: the Road to the Throne 5Chapter 1: Queen Elizabeth II: A Global Icon 7Carrying the Weight of History 9Heading up a monarchy 1,500 years in the making 9Ruling the jig-saw kingdom 11Being one of the precious few queens 13Following in the Footsteps of Grandpa and Daddy 16George V 17George VI 17Wearing Many Different Hats 18Ruling in theory 18Running the family firm 19And Being a Mum, Too 20The Secrets of Elizabeth’s Success 21She’s been queen for a long time 21Her style has evolved and adapted 21She uses more carrot than stick 22She’s nothing if not discreet 23Chapter 2: Triumph of Compromise: Constitutional Monarchy 25From Tribal Leader to King of England 27Settling down with the Anglo-Saxons 27Uniting through adversity 29Ruling by Divine Right? 32Losing my religion: Henry VIII’s church reforms 33Entering the first Elizabethan Age 35Finding Mary (Queen of Scots) 35Becoming a republic 36Establishing a Constitutional Monarchy 37Choosing absolutism or republicanism? 38Bringing about revolution 38Appointing a newcomer 40Learning with George: what monarchs shouldn’t do 41American Republic, French Republic – Britain next? 42Chapter 3: Victoria: The Queen Who Defined an Era 43The Monarchs Who Came Before Victoria 44The Young Queen 45Along Comes Albert 46How Albert helped the British monarchy 47The royal network 48From Monarch to Empress 49Victoria Gives Way to Parliament 50Britain’s New Empire 51Death, despair, and republicanism 52Celebrating Victoria’s Jubilees 53Golden Jubilee, 1887 53Diamond Jubilee, 1897 54After Victoria 54Edward VII: A playboy king 55George V: A dull king for a difficult time 55Chapter 4: The Birth of a Princess 57Bertie: The Stammering Second Son 58Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon: A Suitable Match 58Princess Lilibet is Born 60Baby Betty steals the limelight 62Grandma knows best 62A sister is born 63Educating a princess 64Chapter 5: Edward VIII: The King Who Abdicated 65Edward Prince of Wales 66A Populist Prince 67Edward’s other education 67A trial run 68Enter Wallis Simpson 68Accession and Abdication 69Act I: October 1936 71Act II: November 1936 72Act III: December 1936 73Chapter 6: Preparing for the Throne 75Bertie Steps up to the Plate 75Peeking out from behind the glass curtain 77Building up to war 78Choosing a premier 80The Royals at War 82Royalty on rations 83Working towards victory 84Sharing hardship 84The princesses at war 85Countdown to the Crown 87Reaching out to the Commonwealth 88Courting Philip of Greece 89Living the family life 90Part 2: the Young Queen 93Chapter 7: Coronation: ‘I Present Unto You Queen Elizabeth’ 95An Occasion of Pomp and Ceremony 96Glamour in Westminster Abbey 96The glory of the Crown Jewels 99Mixing family and politicians on the guest list 99A Day to Remember 100Chapter 8: The Queen Goes to Work 101Working Daily as a Dutiful and Diligent Monarch 102Dressing the part 103Heading to work 104Ploughing through the paperwork 105Relaxing with some downtime 106Acting as a Political Figure 107Understanding the relationship between the Crown and Parliament 107Meeting with the prime minister 108Hosting heads of state 109Carrying On with a Continuous Round of Visits and Ceremonial Duties 110Touring her realm: visiting, opening, and launching 111Running ‘The Firm’: the Windsor family business 111Chapter 9: Back-up: The Royal Household 113At Home With the Windsors 114Crown properties 114The Duchy of Cornwall 115Private Properties 116Are You Being Served? Meeting the Royal Household 116The five key departments of the household 117The power behind the throne: the Private Secretary’s Office 119Working for the Royal Family 120Chapter 10: The Globe-trotting Monarch 121Taking Those All-important First Steps 122Travelling Around the World 42 Times (Without a Passport) 124Touring the Commonwealth of Nations 125Understanding the Commonwealth’s role 126Drawing the crowds and spreading joy 127Bowling them over: Elizabeth and the Aussies 127The Saviour of the Commonwealth? 128Acting As a Royal Ambassador 128Forging special relationships: Elizabeth and America’s presidents 130Boosting trade 131Passing the baton to other royals 132Using Planes, Trains and Automobiles 132Royal coaches 132Royal cars 133The royal train 134The royal yacht 134Royal flight 135Chapter 11: The Queen Mother 137Creating a New Role for the Former Empress 137Sharing the Queen’s Duties 139Flying the royal flag 139Remaining the Queen’s mother (not just the Queen Mother) 140Flipping the Coin: The Other Side of the Queen Mother 141Sharing Royal Duties Around the Family 142Out and about with Charles and Anne 142Remaining a working family 143Part 3: the Need to Adapt 145Chapter 12: Times They Are a-Changing 147Witnessing Britain’s Waning Influence in the World 147No longer ruling an empire 148No longer ruling the waves 149No longer ruling the Middle East 149No longer ruling Africa 150Joining the European Economic Community 151Surviving Gossip, Constitutional Complications, and Political Scandal 153Philip’s solo world tour 153The princess and the politician 155Political shenanigans 156Saying farewell to Winston 158Ruling Through the Swinging Sixties 159Satire and the establishment 159Elvis and four boys from Liverpool 160Changing social attitudes 162Being Stuck in a Time Warp? 162Malcolm Muggeridge 162John Grigg 163John Osbourne 163Reactions from the monarchists 163Chapter 13: Margaret: Elizabeth’s Troubled Sister 165Looking at the Early Life of the Lively One 166Becoming the All-singing, All-dancing Playgirl 166Falling in Love 168Introducing Group Captain Peter Townsend 168Calling it off 170And (Eventually) Getting Married 171Being the odd one out 172Finally a marriage 173Heading Downhill: Sex, Drink, and Cigarettes 174Divorce and depression 174(Just about) Remaining a dutiful royal 175Margaret’s final years 176Chapter 14: The Royal Response to Criticism 177The Raising of Charles and Anne 178Prince Charles at school and beyond 178Princess Anne grabs the headlines 179Heading Towards the 1960s 181Welcoming Two New Boys to the Family 182Prince Andrew 182Prince Edward 183Living With Unsavory Rumours 184Living with the Labour Party 185Opening Up to the World (A Little) 186The Royal Family documentary 187The Investiture of Charles 187The continued need for a little mystery 188Chapter 15: Celebrating 25 Years: The Silver Jubilee 189Britain’s Difficult Decade: The 1970s 189Dealing with trouble and strife 192Finding reasons to be cheerful 193Keeping Calm and Carrying On 194Planning Elizabeth’s Jubilee 196Entering Jubilee Year 197Celebrating in June 1977 199Part 4: Stormy Waters 201Chapter 16: The Tragedy of Charles and Diana 203Stepping Out With Charles 204Charles’s first girlfriends 204Charles’s number one: Camilla Shand 206Introducing Lady Diana 207The early life of Lady Diana 207Charles and Diana get engaged 209The Marriage of Charles and Diana 210Building up to the big day 210Worrying moments of the wedding 211Going Steady: The First Few Years of Marriage 212Heading off on honeymoon 212Protecting Diana from the press 213The birth of Prince William 213The Birth of Prince Harry 214Fulfilling Royal Duties Together 215Troubling times beneath the surface 215Diana’s affairs 217The whispers get louder 218Heading Towards the End of The Marriage 218Remembering Diana’s Final Year 220Chapter 17: The Queen’s Wealth and the Cost of the Monarchy 221Understanding Royal Finances Over the Centuries 222Introducing the Civil List 222Mixing family and state funding 224Reforming the System 225Introducing the Sovereign Grant 226The growing grant 227Giving the family some extras 227Totalling Up the Windsors’ Wealth 228Paying tax (on a voluntary basis) 228Bowing to pressure 229Estimating Royal Value For Money 230Chapter 18: One Country, Two Women: The Age of Margaret Thatcher 233Comparing Elizabeth and Margaret 234The pragmatic Queen and her principled prime minister 234The mother and the schoolmarm working together for a while 235Navigating Difficulties and Dangers 236The assassination of Louis Mountbatten 237Rhodesia becomes Zimbabwe 238South African apartheid 240The invasion of Grenada 241Prince Andrew goes to war: The Falklands 242Coalminers divide the nation and its rulers 243More Bombings, a Wedding and a 60th Birthday 244Chapter 19: Defender of the Faith 247Understanding the Long Relationship Between Crown and Church 248Stirring things up: The radical Tudors 248Calming things down: The Anglican compromise 249Figuring out Elizabeth’s Faith 251Delivering the Christmas message 252Talking religion 253Checking out Royal Chapels and Churches 253Balmoral 254Buckingham Palace 254Sandringham 254Windsor Castle 255Chapter 20: Annus Horribilis 257Staying Married is Hard to Do 258What is a royal marriage? 258The Windsor’s complicated history of marriage 259Following the Family’s Progress 261Charles: The tortured one 262Anne: The gamechanger 262Andrew: ‘Randy Andy’ 263Edward: The lost boy 265Watching a Royal Game Show 265Smouldering Tension: Fire in Windsor Castle 267Part 5: Steadying the Ship. 269Chapter 21: ‘Long to Reign Over Us’: No Sign of Flagging 271Negotiating the 1990s 272Dwindling public deference 273Surviving the songs and satire 274The Death of Diana 275Sunday, 31 August 275Monday 1 September 276Tuesday 2 September 276Wednesday 3 September 276Thursday 4 September 277Friday 5 September 277Saturday 6 September 278The aftermath of Diana’s death 279Ancient Monarchy meets New Labour 279Celebrations and Bereavements 281Elizabeth and Philip’s Golden Wedding 281The death and funeral of Princess Margaret 282The passing of the Queen Mother 282A Queen’s Work is Never Done 283Reacting to 9/11 283Heading over to Eire 284Going online 285Chapter 22: The Queen’s Animal Friends 287Horsing Around: The Princess and Her Ponies 288Following royal equine tradition 288Learning to ride 289Being in the saddle 289Breeding Equine Success 290Backing the winners 292Attending Royal Ascot 292Her Majesty’s notable racehorse winners 294Keeping Pets and Receiving Presents 294The corgis 294The dorgis 295Exotic animals as gifts 295Supporting Bloodsports 296Chapter 23: The Golden and Diamond Jubilees 297Celebrating 50 Years on the Throne: The Golden Jubilee 297Making careful preparations 298Dining with five prime ministers 299Proving popular at party time 299Lighting up the Empire State Building 300Jaunting 40,000-miles around the world 300Following In the Footsteps of Victoria: The Diamond Jubilee 300Becoming re-dedicated to a life of service 301Falling (a little) flat 301Planning for the Platinum Jubilee 302Holding unprecedented popularity 303Unique celebrations for a unique queen 303Chapter 24: Succession Secured 305Entering a Brave New World 305Becoming a Happier Family 307Charles 307Anne 308Edward 308Opening the London Olympics 309Making Ripples on the Royal Pond 309Andrew’s murky goings-on 310Weathering recession and austerity 311Going Green: Environmental Efforts 312Exploring the Difficult Lives of William and Harry 313The princes at their mother’s funeral 314The steady one: William’s education and service 315The wild one: Harry, soldier and playboy 316Introducing Catherine Middleton 316A new marriage for a new age 317Catherine’s non-royal upbringing 318Changing the Rules of Succession 319Updating the Monarchy In The New Century 319Relaxing into the role 320Welcoming George, Charlotte, and Louis to the family 320Chapter 25: Home Alone 321Living Without Philip 322The Land Rover funeral 322Tributes and complaints 323And Elizabeth? 323Facing Britain’s Current Big Issues 324Austerity 325Scottish independence 325Brexit 326BLM and culture wars 328Covid-19 329Going It Alone: Harry and Meghan 330Marrying a TV star 330Heading into American exile 332Preparing For The Crown: King Charles III 332What Will History Make of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II? 334Her reign was not without difficulties 334She did her duty 335Part 6: the Part of Tens 337Chapter 26: Ten Prime Ministers Elizabeth has Worked With 339Winston Churchill (1952–1955) 340Harold Macmillan (1957–1963) 340Harold Wilson (1964–1970, 1974–1976) 341James Callaghan (1976–1979) 342Margaret Thatcher (1979–1990) 342John Major (1990–1997) 343Tony Blair (1997–2007) 344Gordon Brown (2007–2010) 345David Cameron (2010–2016) 345Boris Johnson (2019 to the time of writing) 345Chapter 27: Ten Tricky Moments for Elizabeth 347Rumours of Prince Philip’s Infidelity (1948 onwards) 347The Affair Between Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend (1952–1955) 348Lord Altrincham Criticizes the ‘Priggish School Girl’ (1957) 350The Unwise Appointment of Lord Home as Prime Minister (1963) 351Dismissal Crisis: The Governor-General Sacks Australia’s Prime Minister (1975) 352Michael Fagan Sneaks Into the Queen’s Bedroom (1982) 353A New Biography Reveals Criticism of Prince Charles’s Upbringing (1994) 353The Palace is Slow to Capture the Public Mood on Princess Diana’s death (1997) 354Prince Charles Says he is ‘Impatient’ to Succeed to the Throne (2012) 355President Trump Pats the Queen on the Back (2019) 355Chapter 28: Ten Royal Portrayals 357Jeanette Charles in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) 357Helen Mirren in The Queen (2006) 358Barbara Flynn in The Queen docu-drama (2009) 359Freya Wilson in The King’s Speech (2010) 360Emma Thompson in Walking the Dogs (2012) 360Sarah Gadon in A Royal Night Out (2015) 361Penelope Wilton in The BFG (2016) 361Claire Foy in The Crown (2016–2017) 362Olivia Coleman in The Crown (2019–2020) 363Imelda Staunton in The Crown (2022) 364Chapter 29: Ten Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren 365Prince William, Duke of Cambridge 366Prince George of Cambridge 367Princess Charlotte 368Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex 368Princess Beatrice 370Princess Eugenie of York 370James Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn 371Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor 371Peter Phillips 372Zara Tindall 372Index 373