Queen Elizabeth II was a rock of stability in a turbulent changing world.

Revered for her calm dignity and sense of duty, the queen has rarely put a foot wrong in her 70 years - and counting - on the British throne. Her extraordinary reign saw sweeping changes: in 1953, the year of her Coronation, Winston Churchill was prime minister, Harry Truman President of the United States, and Joseph Stalin leader of the Soviet Union.

The queen rarely allowed her guard to slip, but beneath her calm and dignified manner lay a biting wit. Spanning eight decades, these wise, revealing and occasionally amusing reflections from Her Majesty make for an inspiring tribute to a remarkable woman. It's the perfect gift for any royal fan.

''Grief is the price we pay for love.''
Message from the Queen at a memorial service for the victims of 9/11

''That mischievous, equiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.''
Recalling the late Prince Philip, Christmas broadcast 2021

''I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.''
Broadcast on her 21st birthday, 1947