When Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awakes on September 9, her 23,226th day on the throne, she will be the longest reigning monarch in British history, edging out her great-great-grandmother Victoria, who was sovereign for 63 years, 216 days. (She still has a way to go to beat the world record of Sobhuza II, who was king of Swaziland for more than 82 years.)
As arguably the most famous woman in the world, her long life has been the object of endless fascination and inspired many words and images, and if all you know about her comes from Helen Mirren (in her Academy Award-winning role in The Queen), you may just be amazed by Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor.
Sally Bedell Smith peels back the heavy curtains of Buckingham Palace to see what the public and private lives of Elizabeth the Queen are really like.
Elizabeth the Queen is available in multiple formats.
Featuring archival footage from The Majestic Life of Queen Elizabeth, this downloadable video shares many sights and sounds of the sovereign.
This look at A Year With the Queen includes a photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz and dinner at the White House.
Explore the similarities and differences in the life and times of Elizabeth and her long-lived predecessor Victoria.
Victoria is also available as an eBook.
The Prince of Wales was Born to Be King. What will the world be like when it's his turn?
God Save the Queen!
Add a comment to: Congratulations, Ma’am!