Doc Kinne reviewed Elizabeth the Queen by Sally Bedell Smith
Review of 'Elizabeth the Queen' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
The book was bang on! Nicely done, nicely illustrated, frank without being too hard. It was wonderfully readable, with allusions, commentary, and references to things right up to the beginning of this year, including the marriage of Prince William to Catherine (who, Smith correctly points out, is not a Princess. Neither was Diana).
Smith also definitively takes down the utter fantasy that Her Majesty will abdicate, correctly concluding that those who think this both do not understand how the Monarchy functions, and do not understand Her Majesty, nor her history, at its most basic level. It is simply not possible, in any way, shape, or form, for Her Majesty to abdicate. Won't happen.
The most surprising aspect of the book to me was the unmistakable conclusion that the author, the people around the Royal Family, or perhaps both, thought that Diana, Princess of Wales, was a complete and total bitch. …
The book was bang on! Nicely done, nicely illustrated, frank without being too hard. It was wonderfully readable, with allusions, commentary, and references to things right up to the beginning of this year, including the marriage of Prince William to Catherine (who, Smith correctly points out, is not a Princess. Neither was Diana).
Smith also definitively takes down the utter fantasy that Her Majesty will abdicate, correctly concluding that those who think this both do not understand how the Monarchy functions, and do not understand Her Majesty, nor her history, at its most basic level. It is simply not possible, in any way, shape, or form, for Her Majesty to abdicate. Won't happen.
The most surprising aspect of the book to me was the unmistakable conclusion that the author, the people around the Royal Family, or perhaps both, thought that Diana, Princess of Wales, was a complete and total bitch. Save that the marriage, in hindsight, produced Prince William, widely regarded as the savior of the Monarchy (but not the next King), the marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, was the worst mistake of Prince Charles's life. His savior turned out to be Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. This match seems to be far better, and I for one hope that in time the Duchess will be able to use the title to which she will unshakably entitled to one day - Queen. After what we saw at the Diamond Jubilee, I think that hope is well founded.