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George VI and Elizabeth

George VI and Elizabeth

The Marriage That Shaped the Monarchy

Summary

A revelatory account of how King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's loving marriage saved the monarchy during World War II, and how they raised their daughter to become Queen Elizabeth II, based on exclusive access to the Royal Archives

From the bestselling author of Elizabeth the Queen and Prince Charles
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Granted special access by Queen Elizabeth II to her parents' letters and diaries and to the papers of their close friends and family, Sally Bedell Smith brings the love story of this iconic royal couple to vibrant life.

This deeply researched and revealing book shows how a loving and devoted marriage helped the King and Queen meet the challenges of World War II, lead a nation, solidify the public's faith in the monarchy, and raise their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

From the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, to King George VI's fierce leadership as we navigated World War II, this is the definitive account of not only the man behind the throne, but the woman - and the marriage - that made his reign so successful.

Forming relationships with Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, and inspiring the British people with their courage and compassion during the blitz, George VI and Elizabeth also raised their daughter Princess Elizabeth. It was from her parents' leadership that she spent her childhood learning, watching, and preparing to become the future queen.

In this deeply personal account, Sally Bedell Smith gives us an inside view of the lives, struggles, hopes, and triumphs of King George VI and Elizabeth during a dramatic time in history.

Reviews

  • An excellent account
    Spectator

About the author

Sally Bedell Smith

Sally Bedell Smith is the author of the bestselling biographies of Diana, Princess of Wales, John and Jacqueline Kennedy, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Pamela Churchill Harriman and Bill Paley. A contributing editor at Vanity Fairsince 1996, she previously worked at Time and The New York Times, where she was a cultural news reporter. Sally is the mother of three children and lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Stephen.
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