Stewart Ross - Queen Elizabeth II For Dummies

Queen Elizabeth II For Dummies

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Copyright 2022 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022932770

ISBN: 978-1-119-85034-2 (pbk); ISBN: 978-1-119-85035-9 (ebk); ISBN: 978-1-119-85036-6 (ebk)

1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 3

The subject of this book is one of the most memorable figures in recent world history, one of the very few who have become a legend in their own lifetime. This is all the more remarkable because Queen Elizabeth II did not seek power and influence, nor did she force her way onto the world stage through ambition or vanity. She inherited a job she had not asked for, and because she sees it as her duty she performs it with exemplary diligence, and has done so for over seventy years.

Whether or not you approve of the institution of hereditary monarchy is beside the point. Elizabeth did not have any say in the matter she was dealt a hand and told to get on with it. So she did. It took her close to the very heart of things, meeting Winston Churchill, Jack Kennedy, Nelson Mandela being there when the Berlin Wall went up and when it came down witnessing the tragedies of her sister Margaret and Princess Diana. As you will discover, the story of Elizabeths life is the story of the modern world.

To help you make sense of Elizabeths life, especially if you come from outside the UK, I have included a fair slice of British history and stuff about Britains byzantine unwritten constitution. I have also done my best to be objective in coverage and judgements, though I hope not to the point of blandness. I want you to enjoy using this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Throughout the book, Ive used UK English the Queens English! Among other things, you may spot more uses of the letter u in words than youre used to, and s and z popping up in unusual places (if youre from the US). I feel it is important to write about Elizabeth in her own nations version of our language.

When there are so many books, websites, blogs, podcasts, and so on, dealing with Queen Elizabeth II, what does Queen Elizabeth II For Dummies offer thats unique, making it stand out from the crowd? Heres an insight into my approach:

• A neutral read. Unlike many authors approaching Elizabeth II, I have no axe to grind, no political point to prove. I dont believe shes a saint or a sinner, just an ordinary yet extraordinary human being. I give you the whole picture, warts and all.
• A non-chronological read. What makes this book so useful, like all For Dummies titles, is the way it is organized for reference and for a pleasant read. You can dip in, check out a fact or a topic, and dip out again; or you can relax and read through a whole chapter or two.
• An easy-to-understand read. To help the user, Queen Elizabeth II For Dummies uses handy icons, regular explanations of complex issues (I highlight these explanations with the use of italic text), sidebars about interesting-but-not-essential subjects, and the helpful use of bullet points.
• A humorous read. Life is nothing without a smile wherever possible, Ive tried to handle the subject with wit and precision, pointing out the oddities and quirks that festoon the British monarchy.

Several places in the book have links to web addresses. If youre reading a digital version on a device connected to the internet, you can click the web address to access the site directly, like this: www.dummies.com . Alternatively, you can type the address into your browser.

To make the content of Queen Elizabeth II For Dummies more accessible, I have divided it into six parts:

• : The Road to the Throne places Elizabeths early life in the context of the evolution of Britains constitutional monarchy.