QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Voices from the queen’s circle.

Updating their previous oral history of Elizabeth II, The Monarchy, the Strobers reinterviewed some individuals and talked on Zoom and by phone with a few more to round out an admiring portrait of the British queen. Some topics newly addressed include the withdrawal of Harry and Meghan from royal obligations, accusations of racism in the royal household, the succession, and the death of Prince Philip. Respondents share fond memories of Philip while noting his penchant for making brusque retorts that could be found offensive. Lady Featherstone observed that people of Philip’s generation sometimes make “difficult or racist remarks.” Still, she noted, it was hard “for a man of his era to take second place to a clever woman all the time. He was quite a character and he and the Queen were a great team.” Interviewees minimize the effect of Harry and Meghan’s televised interview with Oprah Winfrey, though many agreed that it was in poor taste. “We are not the Kardashians,” Lady Greenfield remarked. “While it is a real event,” Lord Heseltine told the authors, “those anticipating long-term damage to Her Majesty and the monarchy do not really understand the strength surrounding the Queen and the institution, that it is something that one witnesses and feels.” His faith in the longevity of the monarchy is echoed by others, who see a smooth succession from Elizabeth to Charles and then to William and Kate. Fans of British royalty will find much to affirm their affection for the queen. “She is the most constitutionally perfect person you could imagine,” gushed Canon Paul Oesthreicher. “She is just absolutely made for the office: she doesn’t try to interfere; she is a symbolic figure; she obviously enjoys being Queen—she was brought up to it; she’s deeply in the tradition; everybody respects her.” The book is generously illustrated with photographs of Elizabeth from 1935 to 2021.

A highly detailed royal portrait for devotees of The Crown.