The Last Queen: Elizabeth II's Seventy Year Battle to Save the House of Windsor Hardcover – January 5, 2021

The author is smart and will have you using your dictionary. He's also knowledgeable and provides backdrops that shine lights on members of the Royal family especially during World War II.

I'm shocked by how much I enjoyed this book. My expectations were pretty low after reading some of the reviews, but I actually learned a lot of things I didn't previously know about the Windsors by reading this book.Prior to buying the book, I read reviews from people who didn't like it. They felt mislead by the title. They assumed the book would give insight into Queen Elizabeth's mindset and thought process when it came to how she handled the various conflicts and issues that have arisen during her reign.The book is actually about Clive Irving (the author) covering the Queen and her family throughout his journalism career. Irving provides details about how he broke certain stories involving politicans and royal family members. He also writes about how the media coverage of the royal family has changed over the years.I was fascinated by Irving's perspective on the royal family and the role the media has historically played in propping up and harming the image created by the royals.If you want to read a book that gives you more insight into who the Queen is as a person or speculation about how the future of the monarchy will pan out, I wouldn't recommend this book.

First: this is a fun read. I've read and followed the Windsors and their adventures, so much of the book's content was familiar to me. What was different and fascinating was this author's unique take on the events, as Irving is a journalist whose career has coincided with Queen Elizabeth II's reign. He tells these stories from the perspective of a Fleet Street reporter on the ground, describing how the the pieces of each event were discovered by the press and put together. And as a journalist rather than a biographer, he delivers some incisive observations and conjectures about the motivating factors and inner workings of the Royal Family.However: what's with the title? I had expected to read an in-depth analysis of QE II's evolving relationship with the press and the public over the course of her 70 year reign: as well as a thoughtful analysis why Irving concludes that Her Majesty is the "Last Queen". In actuality, very little in the book relates directly to Queen Elizabeth. With only one exception, Irving describes her role in the major newsworthy events of her reign as mostly unemotional, distant, and out of synch with the times. And he never addresses the reason behind his calling her "The Last Queen", other than his personal conjecture on the book's second page that QE II could have reviewed her long reign and come to that conclusion, inexplicably, while attending Harry and Meghan's wedding. This conjecture of Irving's came out of nowhere, and he doesn't directly address the issue again (I kept waiting for it).This book is not about the Queen, but about the media, the press, and its author's coverage of the events of her reign. A better title would be something like "The Windsors and The Press: a Fleet Street insider's view of QE II's reign". This is because most of the ink covers the events involving the other major players in the Royal drama: Prince Phillip, Prince Charles, Margaret and Tony, Diana, William and Harry, etc.: while the Queen herself is only briefly depicted through her reactions to all of her family's shenanigans.That being said: "The Last Queen" is compulsively readable, and I do recommend it to any royal family aficionado. Not what I expected from the title, but an enjoyable read nonetheless.

Clive Irving tells "all" thoroughly from reliable sources. Covers with authority the arc of the political and social change the Queen's reign encompassed. Brings the royal into focus and shows the complex relationships and who wins the power struggles.

This book is first and foremost about Clive Irving's career as a journalist. Secondly, the book is populated by a huge cast of characters from the world of journalism and government who at times are tedious, boring and difficult to follow.The third cadre is the members of the royal family with Tony and Margaret taking the lead role along with Edward and Wallis. Perhaps the risk is minimal to write about deceased members.The most interesting part of the book for me was the exploration of the Windsors' ties to Nazi Germany.The Queen finishes in last place thus earning the title The Last Queen. She seems an afterthought.The biggest blast of negativity comes to Charles. Perhaps the author thinks Charles will end the dynasty and make Elizabeth the last queen.Bring a dictionary. Mr. Irving enjoys impressing with words, ie uxorious, jingoistic, impecunious, vituperative, meretricious. A few of the words I had to open a dictionary to identify. Good luck.

This book provides the inside story on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Includes very fresh, current analysis of the past, present and possible future.

The Queen has had a fascinating life as theleader of the UK. Sad to see her aging.

Just started this book but am enjoying it. The writer seems to have the inside scoop on the royals -