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The Queen

By: Andrew Morton
Narrated by: Andrew Morton, Judy Bennett
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Summary

In this entertaining and insightful biography, award-winning writer Andrew Morton, author of Diana, Her True Story and Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters, takes you behind the scenes to uncover the woman and her world.

For years she prayed for her mother to give birth to a son. She longed to be spared her destiny as Britain's future Queen. Her dream was to live in the country surrounded by children, dogs and horses.

But Elizabeth did her duty, the young princess pledging before her people that she would dedicate her whole life to the service of Britain and the Commonwealth. She hoped that that day would be a long way off. It was not to be. Only 25 when she became Queen after the premature death of her father, King George Vl, Elizabeth has become the stuff of superlatives: the longest reigning, most travelled and, for a shy woman, the Queen who has shaken more hands and made more small talk than any other monarch in history. She has been seen and believed by millions, either in person, on television or film.

Elizabeth was set firmly on the road to becoming sovereign because of the D word—divorce. In 1936, her uncle David, King Edward VIII, wanted to marry a twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. When he couldn't he abdicated. Since that national trauma, divorce and the fall-out from divorce has shaped her reign. She has witnessed her sister Margaret, three of her children and several grandchildren divorce. And she has lived long enough to see the wheel turn full circle, watching as another American divorcee, Meghan Markle, walked down the aisle with her grandson Prince Harry.

While her reign has been defined by divorce, her private life has been moulded by an irascible husband, an extravagant mother and a querulous eldest son. In the winter of her reign she refereed a war between two of her grandsons, brothers William and Harry who were once inseparable friends. As she celebrates her platinum anniversary, the first monarch to reign for 70 years, she has, during a once in a lifetime pandemic, become the reassuring face of hope and optimism, the grandmother to the nation.

©2022 Andrew Morton (P)2022 Audible, Ltd

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Interesting, but……

I enjoyed this book, but I wish Mr. Morton had remembered that she is not only ‘ queen of England’.

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Masterfully written and beautifully narrated.

I loved the detail, chronology and honesty with which Her Majesty's reign is portrayed.
The narrator's wonderful diction made the book very engaging. Thank ýou .

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Brilliant

Absolutely brilliant book, really well written and beautifully read. So interesting, I would highly recommend.

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A fresh perspective…

on many familiar stories. So interesting to learn more about the stories which are so familiar but just flat commentary.
I listened to this in one go. Very well read by Judy Bennett.
I now have a lineup of planet characters complete with halos or horns revolving around the HMQ sun.
I would love to know what AM thinks about Harry and Meghan. One of the best biographies I’ve read/ heard.

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Excellent

I wasn’t too sure if I would like this book..I didn’t..I loved it! It was very well written and researched and the narration was superb. I so disappointed to have finished it that I will purchase it in the future to listen to again. I would highly recommend this audio book.

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Nothing new

Interesting book, I do remember buying Diana when it was first released and I was quite surprised by her story and felt a lot of sympathy-I listened to this around the time of the jubilee and it was uplifting but nothing I don’t know. I wish it had all been read by Andrew Morton.

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Engaging

A very informative book kept me engaged throughout Made even better by the excellent narration of Judy Bennett.

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A great insight into the life of the queen

I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, but once I started, I couldn’t stop listening. I found it interesting, funny and it has left me feeling more sympathetic towards the monarch. I hope King Charles can carry on Queen Elizabeth’s unwavering dedication to our Country.

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Our beautiful special very missed queen.

Gives a great insight into the queens life and monarchy. She will be greatly missed. Hayley 🇬🇧

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RIP Your Majesty

It is 8 September 2022 and the mother of our great nation, Queen Elizabeth II, has died! The reviews for this book are, for the most part, very good, so I have downloaded the book in the hope it fulfils it's promise. If it does, then I will leave this review as a thank you to both Andrew Morton and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. If it doesn't, then I will edit it!

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2 people found this helpful