When the 25-year-old Elizabeth Windsor acceded to the throne in 1952, former prime minister Clement Attlee declared, “Let us hope we are witnessing the beginning of a new Elizabethan Age no less renowned than the first.” Over her reign the Queen has become a symbol of stability in a rapidly shifting world. She has had 13 prime ministers, watched the dismantling of the British Empire, and seen sweeping political, technological, and social change. Her life has also borne witness to the fluctuating fortunes of the Windsors, from the dramatic abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII, to the tumultuous relationship between Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Rod Green explores the personal and political intrigues that have beset the House of Windsor, including the Queen’s relationships with prime ministers from Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden to Margaret Thatcher. Set against the colorful backdrop of key events – such as the “Great Smog” that brought London to a halt in 1952; the IRA murder of Lord Mountbatten; the crisis triggered by the death of Princess Diana; and the wedding of Prince William and “commoner” Catherine Middleton – and the changing face of world politics, this is the story not only of a family, but also a history of our times.
