Queen Elizabeth II, who died September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, was the longest-serving monarch in British history. While she was not in direct line for the throne at birth, she became heir apparent at the age of 10 when the abdication of King Edward VIII, her uncle, made her father the monarch. A devotion to service—which began before she ascended the throne—was the hallmark of her reign. As a teenager during WWII, she made radio broadcasts to boost the morale of the British public, and after turning 18, she joined the women’s branch of the British army, where she was trained to become an auto mechanic. In a speech marking her 21st birthday Elizabeth said, “I declare before you that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
When Elizabeth II traveled the globe, although she did not make political pronouncements, her official presence at events had the force of diplomatic statements. She participated in approximately 300 public events each year. She held weekly meetings with prime ministers, fifteen during the course of her reign, beginning with Winston Churchill and ending with Liz Truss just two days before her death.
There were some light-hearted events, too, like the queen’s tea with Paddington Bear. And she opened the 2012 Olympics with an elaborate video showing her being whisked away to a helicopter by Daniel Craig, portraying James Bond, where a stunt double dressed like Elizabeth parachuted into the opening ceremonies.
Queen Elizabeth II did not cut back on her appearances and duties until her final year, and then only on medical advice. For her Silver Jubilee in 1977, she reflected on her early promise of service: “Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgment, I do not regret nor retract one word of it.”
The following is a list of books about Queen Elizabeth II. If you are signed up for BARD and download books, the link at the end of the book annotation will take you to BARD.
Please remember DB are audio books and BR are braille books. To order any of these titles from the library, please call and let us know which ones you would like to receive: 603-271-3429.
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth: A Biography of Britain’s Queen
by Sarah Bradford
An in-depth portrait of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. Offers inside views–including scandals–of her parents and other forebears, sister, husband, and four children. Tells how she copes with the pressures of being head of state, wife, and mother in an era of tumultuous political and social change. 1996.
Download DB51345
Royal Sisters: Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret
by Anne Edwards
This dual biography intertwines the lives of Elizabeth II, who would become queen, and Margaret, who would forever remain in her shadow. Edwards shows how quickly they developed different personalities. Elizabeth became serious and reserved, while Margaret retained her feisty spirit. It also discusses the sisterly loyalty that has sustained them throughout life. 1990.
Download DB33196
Queen of the World
by Robert Hardman
A biography of Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of the United Kingdom, that focuses on her active role in international affairs as a diplomat, stateswoman, pioneer, and peace-broker. 2019.
Download DB104603
Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II
by Robert Lacey
Overview of the monarchy of Great Britain from Queen Victoria in the nineteenth century to Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. Explores the crown’s uneasy relationship with the press and Elizabeth’s endurance of criticism over the misbehavior of members of her family. 2002.
Download DB54923
The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II
by Ben Pimlott
The author describes how Elizabeth II, who was never expected to become queen, was thrust toward the role after her uncle’s abdication as king. Pimlott suggests that through no fault of Elizabeth’s, political and social upheavals and scandals involving her children have come to threaten the existence of the monarchy since she began her reign in 1952. 1997.
Download DB47203
Queen and Country: The Fifty-Year Reign of Elizabeth II
by William Shawcross
British historian recounts the life and times of Great Britain’s queen from her 1952 ascent to the throne to her 2002 Golden Jubilee. Describes how Elizabeth II adjusted to modern times the ancient monarchy she inherited, surviving notable challenges, among them the tabloid reports of her family’s affairs. 2002.
Download BR14333
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch
by Sally Bedell Smith
Biography of Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (born 1926) by the author of Diana in Search of Herself (RC 48833). Covers her childhood, coronation, and work ethic. Includes anecdotes about palace intrigues and her relationships with family, friends, and politicians. Concludes with Queen Elizabeth II’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee. Bestseller. 2012.
Download DB74430
Young Elizabeth
by Kate Williams
An account of Queen Elizabeth II’s life as a young adult, her public life, her work with the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, and her forward-looking thinking upon rising to the crown. Examines how the young queen carved out a role distinct from that of her parents and grandparents. 2012
Download DB84815