Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait

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This is a well-meaning book about people loved by the author. I enjoyed it for what it is, but as Brandreth himself writes, “sustaining the mystique of the monarchy was essential to its authority – and survival”. He might reflect on that. This is a bit of a painful review for me as I am a huge fan of Brandreth and interested in the Royal Family. I hugely enjoyed Philip, his previously published book about the Royals, and found this to be a rehashed version of Philip with some hastily thrown in trivia tidbits about The Queen.

He kept a record of all those encounters, and his conversations with the Queen over the years, his meetings with her family and friends, and his observations of her at close quarters are what make this very personal account of her extraordinary life uniquely fascinating. Enjoy this s pecial edition now featuring an exclusive postscript about King Charles III's Coronation with photographs. The trouble with writing about the Royal Family is that most of it is already known. Gyles Brandreth’s book about the Queen Elizabeth II is readable, but not all that revelatory. Nobody, other than the Queen’s family, knew her intimately. Therefore, there are bound to be limitations when it comes to any books written about her. What Brandreth does in this book is discuss how other people’s descriptions of the Queen and their experiences spent in her company tally with his own. That is interesting, I only wish there was more of it. But, as I say, she was immensely private - who could blame her - and so there isn’t a whole heap to go on.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish, I enjoyed reading about the Queens life from childhood until her last days, I liked reading about her relationships with her sister, her friends and those close to her. Indeed, Brandreth is as much a character in this book as the Queen herself. There is a lot of “as X put it to me”, and “as X told me”. This is Brandreth’s magical mystery tour, and he is a fine guide if you like your guides fully involved. 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. I have this as both an ebook and an audiobook, but chose to listen to the audiobook exclusively as Giles has such a relaxing voice. She found the Duke of York’s account of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein “intriguing”, worried that the Duke of Sussex might be a little “over in love” with Meghan, and found some solace in the gritty police drama Line of Duty after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

He is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown, with whom he co-curated the exhibition of twentieth century children’s authors at the National Portrait Gallery and founded the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum now based at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. He is a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, and a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association. Andrew told his mother the whole story of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. “The first time he gave her the full account of the whole sorry saga, she listened carefully. Then the Queen, who never said more than was necessary, responded with just one word: ‘Intriguing,’” Brandreth wrote. She retained her “confidence” in Andrew, yet had no hesitation in stripping him of his role after the disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019. She allowed herself to be photographed riding with Andrew in Windsor Great Park the day after she relieved him of his royal duties to show her personal support, and was in favour of his appearance at her side at Philip’s memorial service. Grieving PhilipA 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. Enjoy this special edition now featuring an exclusive postscript about King Charles III's Coronation with photographs. Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain’s busiest after-dinner speakers and award ceremony hosts. He has won awards himself, and been nominated for awards, as a public speaker, novelist, children’s writer, broadcaster (Sony), political diarist (Channel Four), journalist (British Press Awards), theatre producer (Olivier), and businessman (British Tourist Authority Come to Britain Trophy). Told with authority, a refreshing dose of humour and moving honesty from a totally unique viewpoint, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait is the must-have biography of the longest-serving monarch in English history, of a woman who represented not only her people but stood as an emblem of fortitude and resilience worldwide throughout her long life. Elizabeth II - what was she really like? What made her the person she was? This book was written with so much respect and affection for our Queen and told so many stories of her humour, humility and sheer love for her family and country. I thought I knew all there was to know but Gyles had so much more to tell.

Conversely, Sir Alan “Tommy” Lascelles, for reasons unknown, gets almost his whole Who’s Who entry printed, as if the fact that he was a member of the Travellers private gentleman’s club is important to his estimation of the then Lt Philip Mountbatten. 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 Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait" is a biography of the late queen from the perspective of someone who interacted with her and her family frequently.

From her childhood in the 1920s to the era of Harry and Meghan in the 2020s, from her war years at Windsor Castle to her death at Balmoral, this is both a record of a tumultuous century of royal history and a truly intimate portrait of a remarkable woman. So readable and refreshing even after the millions of words that have been written about Prince Philip in the past couple of weeks' THE TIMES

This intimate, personal biography of Queen Elizabeth II tells the story of her remarkable life, reign and times, from a perspective unlike any other. Gyles Brandreth writes the Queen's tale candidly with grace and sensitivity from the view of someone who met her, talked with her and kept a record of those conversations. Brandreth knew the Queen's husband well and knows the new King and Queen Consort. 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. Beautifully written book. I have read many other books about Philip but this is the best' DAILY EXPRESS 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. I listened to the book on Audible as I love to hear Gyles speak and I knew it would enhance the experience and I was not disappointed.Far too much talk of Harry and Megan (who he obviously doesn't like), far too little mention of Prince William and Catherine. Brief moment of illumination that even the Queen / her team played into the competition of who could get what imagery into the media.