ROYAL AUDIENCE

In her remarkable career, Queen Elizabeth II did more than anyone else to keep the “special relationship” special.

There is only one person who engaged with every U.S. president from Harry Truman to Joe Biden: Elizabeth II (1926-2022), whose reign as monarch of Britain lasted more than seven decades. In this intriguing book for royal watchers, Charter, U.S. editor of the Times of London, examines the relationships she had with each president, with an emphasis on the diplomatic role she played. The author believes that she impressed them with her sharp mind and grasp of global affairs, and he points out that she could be quietly persuasive when the situation demanded. When Eisenhower threatened to end the alliance over the Suez Canal crisis in 1956, Elizabeth was able to smooth things over through a personal visit. This pattern repeated several times, although protocol demanded that the substance of private discussions was never disclosed. Charter also reveals the queen’s impish sense of humor, always game for a droll comment. Four presidents emerged as “particularly special to the British sovereign, spanning the three distinct generations of her reign”—Eisenhower, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Obama. Even as “there was no downside to for US presidents in appealing alongside such a beloved figure as the Queen,” Elizabeth always seemed to enjoy being in the U.S., although she never forgot the role she had to play. “Her longevity contributed to the timeless sense of the Anglo-American relationship,” writes the author. “It endured, just like her.” Most of the political history has been covered in more depth elsewhere, but this book serves as a handy reference to the mechanics behind maintaining the unique relationship between Britain and the U.S.

Charter provides a wealth of stories about Elizabeth II and the 13 presidents she knew—and often charmed.