Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait

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Paints a unique picture of the remarkable woman who reigned for seven decades. Fascinating insights' HELLO! 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. A 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.

This book does exactly what it says on the cover it truly is an intimate portrait of Queen Elizabeth. I liked it better than the Katie Nicholl book I read last year; it’s more gentle, less tabloid-y. Brandreth makes little mention of the modern Meghan & Harry controversy; he’s actually quite kind about them because he says that’s what the Queen was, kind. She found the whole tabloid culture wearisome, as did Prince Philip.

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. This book was a fantastic insight into our late Queen. I listened to this on Audible and I think because it was narrated by Gyles himself, it added that extra "specialness" to the book. It's simply a wonderful portrait into the extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth! Brilliant . . . There is so much in this book you won't find anywhere else' LORRAINE Read more Look Inside Details 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. 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.

Enjoy this s pecial edition now featuring an exclusive postscript about King Charles III's Coronation with photographs. A personal account of the life and character of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, from the writer who knew her family best. 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. Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait" is a biography of the late queen from the perspective of someone who interacted with her and her family frequently.Over the next fifty years he met her many times, both at public and private events. Through his friendship with the Duke of Edinburgh, he was given privileged access to Elizabeth II. Enjoy this special edition now featuring an exclusive postscript about King Charles III's Coronation with photographs. As Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait is due to be published imminently, here are five key points from published extracts from the book. On the Sussexes

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. 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. Over the next fifty years he met her many times, both at public and at private events. Through his friendship with the Duke of Edinburgh, he was given privileged access to Elizabeth II. 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). 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 Philip

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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. 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. A personal account of the life and character of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, from the writer who knew her family best Far too much talk of Harry and Megan (who he obviously doesn't like), far too little mention of Prince William and Catherine.

This being an “intimate portrait”, most readers will enjoy that the author has impeccable access, as he recounts (mostly trivial) conversations he had with the Queen. He is admiring of his subject, even when remembering a discussion with the monarch at a drinks party in 1990, in which his small talk led her to comment that being a vegetarian, like his wife, “must be very dull”. Brandreth knew her well and admired her. Old school himself, his book is peppered with quotations from people who knew her as well as occasionally her own words. It’s very dense and detailed so I would only recommend it—for those who like to read a book cover to cover—to dedicated Royalists like myself.Brief moment of illumination that even the Queen / her team played into the competition of who could get what imagery into the media.