Queen Of The World

A brilliant portrait of the most famous woman in the world and her place in it, written by the renowned royal biographer and author of Queen of Our Times, Robert Hardman. 'Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world - and won. The Crown is fictional. Here is the real thing.' - Andrew Roberts 'In Queen of the World Robert Hardman anatomizes from almost every conceivable angle the workings of soft power in creating the present Queen's global role ... His book is a veritable reference work and cornucopia, overflowing with significant anecdotes, people, traditions and incidents.' - Times Literary Supplement On recent world history, one leader stands apart. Queen Elizabeth II saw more of the planet and its people than any other head of state, and engaged with them like no other monarch in British history. After her coronation, she visited over 130 countries across the ever-changing globe, acting as diplomat, stateswoman, pioneer and peace-broker, while also managing the responsibilities of a mother and grandmother, and her sixty-four-year marriage to the late Prince Philip. She transformed her father's old empire into the Commonwealth, her 'family of nations', and came to know its leaders better than anyone. In 2018, they would gather in her own home to endorse her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, as her successor. With extensive access to the Queen's family and staff, Hardman tells a true story full of drama, intrigue, exotic and even dangerous situations, heroes, rogues, pomp and glamour - and, at the centre of it all, the woman who genuinely won the hearts of the world for seventy glorious years. 'Superb' - Peter Hennessy 'Hardman's book, filled with new details, will be an essential source for any historian of modern Britain. It's also a glorious read' - William Shawcross, Spectator Review: Hardman's book, filled with new details, will be an essential source for any historian of modern Britain. It's also a glorious read * William Shawcross, The Spectator * A magisterial book... Robert Hardman brings together every intriguing detail he's gleaned about how the Queen reigns. * Daily Mail * This is not only the best biography of the Queen in years, it is also laugh-out-loud entertainment * Daily Express * Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world - and won. The Crown is fictional. This is the real thing. -- Andrew Roberts By far our most authoritative royal specialist, Hardman is a supremely entertaining storyteller and guide as well outstanding political analyst of the Queen's career as international titan of power and tact. Often hilarious, sometimes moving, always as acute as he is fascinating, there's never a dull moment in the untold diplomatic career of the most famous woman in the world, who has known everybody from monsters like Ceaucescu and Amin to heroes like Mandela and JFK. -- Simon Sebag Montefiore Watching The Crown was entertaining but reading Robert Hardman's Queen of the World was riveting - and true. -- Alice Thomson Superb * Peter Hennessy * Rich in anecdotes and insights * Sunday Times * Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world - and won. The Crown is fictional. Here is the real thing. -- Andrew Roberts Vivid and superlatively well-informed, this is a compelling account of a monarch in perpetual motion * The Daily Mail * Author Biography: Robert Hardman is one of the foremost observers of the modern British royal scene, and the bestselling author of Our Queen. He has covered all aspects of the Monarchy for British newspapers, television and radio over more than 25 years and has interviewed many members of the Royal Family for his books and for a series of internationally-acclaimed films. These include Our Queen at Ninety (ITV 2016), Our Queen (ITV 2013), Charles at 60 (BBC One 2008), Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work (BBC One 2007) and The Queen's Castle (BBC One 2005). As a newspaper journalist and columnist, Robert has also covered more than 60 royal tours worldwide. In addition to the British Royal Family, his royal interviewees have included the Emperor and Empress of Japan, the King and Queen of Norway and the Queen of Denmark. He now writes the acclaimed How I See It column for the Daily Mail. Married with three children, he lives in London.