QUEEN FOR ALL SEASONS

Sub-titled 'A Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II On Her Platinum Jubilee', 'The Queen's biggest fan' Ab Fab actress Joanna Lumley opens a treasure chest of first-hand writings giving us an unparalleled close-up portraits of Britain's longest reigning monarch. We go behind the scenes at events, inside her homes, at the dinner table, posing for portraits, with her corgis and horses, as well as on public duty, foreign tours, at the biggest ceremonial events from her Coronation onwards. Illuminating and witty insights from voices such as Cecil Beaton, Norman Hartnell, Tony Blair, Dirk Bogarde, Nikita Khrushchev, Carol Ann Duffy, Cliff Richards, Clare Balding and Noel Coward are joined by fascinating accounts from diarists and courtiers, family members and those whose brief encounter has left a lasting memory. This includes our very own Editor Annie who presented the late Her Majesty with the gift of a handmade saddle for her 90th birthday. 309pp, 16 pages of photos both archive and colour including the moment of laughter when Prince Philip dressed up in uniform complete with bearskin hat and made the Queen laugh in 2005.