Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait

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As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Brilliant, totally inspiring . . . It's a joy to read a book that comes from a perspective of fondness' KIRSTIE ALLSOPP, THE TIMES Brief moment of illumination that even the Queen / her team played into the competition of who could get what imagery into the media. Over the next fifty years he met her many times, both at public and private events. Through his friendship with the Duke of Edinburgh, he was given privileged access to Elizabeth II.

Gyles Brandreth has written the Queen's tale candidly with grace and sensitivity from the view of someone who knew her, her late husband Philip and the wider Royal family. It is a book he has been working on for many years. Brilliant . . . There is so much in this book you won't find anywhere else' LORRAINE Read more Look Inside Details A personal account of the life and character of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, from the writer who knew her family best. It seems to me that this book was a bit rushed. Phrases are repeated so often throughout it that I would audibly sigh when encountering them again — “she was a woman of her class and generation, intelligent but not intellectual, not politically correct…” etc. Over and over. And yes, that might be an astute observation of her majesty but to read it as many times as I did made me feel weary.

A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, his best-selling diary, Breaking the Code, was described as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s’ ( The Times) and ‘Searingly honest, wildly indiscreet, and incredibly funny’ ( Daily Mail). He is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, John Murray in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US began publishing The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective. A personal account of the life and character of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, from the writer who knew her family best This personal yet comprehensive and detailed biography tells the story of her late Majesty’s remarkable life, reign and times, from a perspective unlike any other.

Brandreth knew her well and admired her. Old school himself, his book is peppered with quotations from people who knew her as well as occasionally her own words. It’s very dense and detailed so I would only recommend it—for those who like to read a book cover to cover—to dedicated Royalists like myself. To Gyles’ merit, the comparisons of former members of the Royal family (David and Wallis, Meghan and Harry) provided new and interesting food for thought. I particularly enjoyed reading about HM’s interest in the Commonwealth. Enjoy this s pecial edition now featuring an exclusive postscript about King Charles III's Coronation with photographs.Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait" is a biography of the late queen from the perspective of someone who interacted with her and her family frequently.