Book review: 'Elizabeth the Queen' by Sally Bedell Smith

L A Times ^ | 1/12/12 | Patt Morrison

[BigEdLB]

So what is new to justify Sally Bedell Smith's massive "Elizabeth the Queen"? What is left to uncover, and what should be left uncovered and unknown in the life of this exemplary lady whose predetermined existence of regal obligation is yawningly unenviable, however bejeweled the box it comes in?

(Snip)

... an American acquaintance says the queen collects pepper grinders. And sometimes it's about the queen's own words on her ancient calling in the 21st century. With characteristic briskness, she told her cousin Margaret Rhodes that her sanctified role means no retirement until death, "unless I get Alzheimer's or have a stroke."

[BigEdLB]

i.e. "If I can outlive that rascally Chuck, William will take over after me, and things will be OK."

[KarlInOhio]

With a son and heir apparent like Prince Charles, maybe she should be having some of her Caribbean subjects working on how to reanimate her after death so she can be the first zombie Queen of England.

[dfwgator]

God Save the Queen, we MEAN IT, man!

[Anti-Bubba182]

Amen!

[mewzilla]

Ah, the same author who did that book on the Toons.

Nuff said :-)

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, the OTHER Elizabeth.

Never mind.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Charles will be 64 this year. The oldest Monarch of England/Great Britain/United Kingdom at the time he was coronated was William IV at... 64 years old.

If Elizabeth can hang on until he is 70, it is very likely, in my opinion, that Charles will be passed over for the throne and William will be crowned after her passing.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Charles is mostly nuts.
The Queen must know that by now...

[GreenLanternCorps]

To pass over the Prince of Wales it would take an Act of Parliament, passed in each of the 16 Queen’s realms. In addition, per Canada’s constitution, it would have to be approved by the parliaments of all 10 provinces.

Not going to happen. Charles will be King, unless he dies before his mother,and will probably reign as George VII, and then William and his children will follow.

The throne is a matter of duty, not choice, that is why Edward VIII is disliked so much, because he did not do his duty.

[SunkenCiv]

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Thanks BigEdLB. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.