The best books about Queen Elizabeth II’s life: From a young princess to her Diamond Jubilee

Penned by The Queen’s dresser and confidante, The Other Side of the Coin is a must-read to find out about the Queen from someone who knew her in a distinctly intimate way. While there is a large biographical element to the book, detailing Angela Kelly’s journey from Liverpool to the palace and her 25-year royal career, she shares her insights into how the royal wardrobe works and offers us a real look at the off-duty Queen: a funny, caring and simple woman.

Dubbed “the Queen’s Gatekeeper” thanks to her forthright manner and protective nature of the monarch, Kelly shares not only personal photos, but anecdotes that touch at the heart of the Queen’s personality. Such was their bond, the Queen not only authorised a three-book deal for her dresser, she ensured Kelly would retain her grace-and-favour apartment in Windsor, following Charles’ accession, which is a noticeable departure from convention.

This account is well-researched by veteran royal writer Robert Hardman, who focuses on the quiet diplomatic career of the Queen and her international influence. What makes this so compelling is that we don’t often see or understand the sway the Queen had – a passing comment here, a well-timed invite there, and the impact such seemingly innocent actions could have.

But Hardman shows us the successes Elizabeth II achieved, in particular with the Commonwealth, which he suggests has only endured due to the Queen’s popularity. This book is a real eye-opener to the influence the soft power of the monarchy can wield and how Elizabeth II was accomplished in knowing how and when to dispense it. You’re left with a feeling that King Charles III really does have big shoes to fill.

Dennison’s biography is worth the effort of the sometimes-stilted language to get closer to the real Elizabeth. He deftly weaves together a wealth of sources, painting the late monarch as a dedicated and humble public servant, with a pragmatic approach to her work. She used the soft power she had skilfully, and never assumed the people’s affection or loyalty.

The author is willing to probe into family issues – such as the failure of three out of four children’s marriages – and, with this being a newer work, is able to hint at the connection between the decline in influence the Queen had over her family since 2017, following the retirement of Prince Philip and the departure of her private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt, with the likes of the Duke of York’s car-crash interview, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s abrupt departure.

Published in 1950, Marion Crawford, also known as Crawfie, was governess to Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. This sympathetic, and almost sycophantic, assessment of their childhoods, through the eyes of someone who helped shape them, offers insightful tales of Elizabeth’s personality – generally an obedient, tidy, and well-behaved child, traits that have served her well.

Crawford saw Lilibet grow into a teenager who took on the royal duties given to her with “immense seriousness and zeal”, but Crawford was ostracised for putting pen to paper, and later attempted suicide. A must for those with an interest in the Queen and how she came to be the person she was.

Ben Pimlott’s book is a hefty but absorbing one, covering the decades of the Queen’s reign until 2002, with a sharp focus on the political side of royal life.

Updated for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Pimlott assesses how the Queen was the link in the Commonwealth, arguably her greatest legacy, and highlights parts of the role we sometimes forget, such as the weight that comes with such responsibility and the sheer boredom that must accompany handshakes and small talk week in, week out. For those more interested in the official side of royal life, rather than the gossip and family drama, this should be on your bookshelf.

Little has changed in the royal world since Brian Hoey unpicked the intricacies of royal life and workings of the palace in the early millennium. Though not specifically about the Queen herself, gaining knowledge of the world she operated in helps to better understand the person she was.

We learn titbits such as the Queen had longer bedsheets than Prince Philip, as she preferred a “deeper turnback” to her bed (they had separate rooms to ease the burden of busy diaries), and that she looked forward to hearing the piper who woke her up each morning. The book enables us to see the quirks of royal personalities – the Queen’s devotion to her corgis, and Princess Anne’s forthright nature – as well as how the household functions with hundreds of members of staff and numerous departments, so alien to many of us.