As Queen, Elizabeth II has been the cornerstone of both Britain and the Commonwealth for half a century her enduring and stately presence a source of comfort to many through changing times. But few of us understand or know the woman behind the public image.

Foreword to Revised Edition

Family Trees

List of Illustrations

1 Destiny

2 Princess in an Ivory Tower

3 Heiress

4 Windsor War

5 A Princely Marriage

6 The Edinburghs

7 Sovereign Lady

8 Dark Princess

9 'The World's Sweetheart'

10 Tweed and Diamonds

11 Mountbatten-Windsor

12 Advise, Consult and Warn

13 Head of the Family

14 Daylight upon Magic

15 Extended Family

16 Grim Fairy-Tales

17 Family at War

18 Elizabeth R

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Sources

Select Bibliography

Index