Queen Elizabeth II's Guide to Life

Princess Margaret was not joking when she claimed, ‘The Queen is the only person who can put on a tiara with one hand while walking downstairs.’

An Array of Royal Duties

Early in her reign, the young Elizabeth confided to the Dean of Windsor, ‘My father told me I must always remember that whatever I said, or did, to anyone, they would remember it.’

The Queen and Prince Philip have introduced a number of green initiatives at their royal residences, including setting up hydropower turbines on the River Thames to generate electricity for Windsor Castle. Ahead of the curve in their care for the environment, Prince Philip especially has spoken openly about his concerns: ‘Modern human civilization needs new resources, but there is one very important proviso – that permanent, irreversible or unacceptable levels of environmental damage must not be allowed.’

Later at Clarence House, her eighty-four-year-old grandmother Queen Mary curtseyed and kissed her hand in a reversal of their usual roles, although the dowager queen couldn’t help adding, ‘Lilibet, your skirts are much too short for mourning.’

country by surprise. Six days earlier he had waved his daughter and her husband off from London Airport (later known as Heathrow); they were taking his place on a long-planned royal tour of East Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The royal party went to Kenya first

visited over 120

When I was twenty-one, I pledged my life to the service of our people and I asked for God’s help to make good that vow. Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was still green in judgement, I do not regret nor retract one word of it.’

‘I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.’

he Queen said, “Oh, that was marvellous. Nothing went wrong!” We were all laughing.’