The Faith of Queen Elizabeth: The Poise, Grace, and Quiet Strength Behind the Crown

Delffs (The Faith of Dolly Parton) sets out on what he admits is the near-impossible task of making determinations about Queen Elizabeth’s faith in this laudatory religious biography. By looking to the queen’s own works and words, Delffs argues that faith has been a deeply personal, integral part of her life and an important factor for the British people throughout her reign. To back up his points, he provides an overview of key moments and observes how the royal has applied “principles of faith,” such as kindness, courage, duty, and service. For instance, he reads religious undertones in her 2002 Golden Jubilee speech to Parliament, her handling of her uncle’s abdication, her response to her children’s divorces, and her grace and wisdom in the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death. Delffs also compares the queen with other rulers, and includes largely conjectural observations taken from the portraits of Queen Elizabeth in the Netflix series The Crown and the film The Queen to further bolster his claims about her faith. While some readers will be skeptical of the strong religious drive Delffs finds within all of the queen’s public statements, this remains a piquant study of her tightly guarded inner life. (Dec.)