Elizabeth II – Portrait of a Queen.

Elizabeth II’s long reign is the enigmatic story of a shy and unapproachable woman whose acceptance of her destiny and passionate defence of the crown became her greatest reason for living as well as an impenetrable shield.
Sensible young girl, budding heir to the throne, Queen in every ounce of her being, distant mother, unpopular and later beloved sovereign, the utmost expression of a duty and composure in moments of discord and disorder: these are the elements that make a legend. But Calvetti also sketches an intimate profile of Elizabeth: her love for Philip, and the true or presumed “special friends” they have both had; her deep bonds with her father and uncontrollable sister Margaret; her complicated relationships with her own numerous family, too often the source of gossip and scandalous revelations as well as her iconic fashion style, especially her hats.

The one steady and revealing element in her life is photography, which has accompanied her on her long journey as a sovereign and through the iconography of the century. It is the only stage on which the Queen has truly revealed herself to us, acquiescing to the universal laws of light and the practical needs of portrait artists, not only to tell the story of the magnificent Windsors but also to bear witness to the monarchy’s role in a constant evolving society.

A compelling, rigorously researched portrait of the real woman behind the lens, based on diaries, international articles, diaries and accounts, which paint the portrait of the elements that make this 92 year old woman, an icon of the century.