Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II and Her Court

Veteran journalist and royal observer Hardman (Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work) notes that Queen Elizabeth has always been quite visible on the global stage and “one of the most respected figures in the modern world.” Mining the usual sources and interviewing many who know the queen intimately, Hardman gathers fresh material and illuminating anecdotes, such as a little-known “bizarre royal bust-up” during a 1954 Australian tour when the queen “hurl[e]d shoes and threats and sporting equipment” at the duke of Edinburgh. BBC cameras captured the incident, but the film was destroyed on the spot. With wit and panache, Hardman unveils a prismatic portrait of a thoroughly modern monarch. 24 pages of color photos. Agent: Charles Walker, United Agents (U.K.). (Apr. 15)