In an intimate portrait of England’s longest-reigning royal, Queen Elizabeth II, this commemorative issue is packed with rare and never-before-seen photos, as well as private details about Her Majesty’s life told for the very first time. From her early childhood and family life as a doting matriarch to her Platinum Jubilee and the final days before her Sept. 8 passing at the age of 96, the queen was the epitome of the mantra: ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ This collector’s edition honors a legend — and reveals what’s next for the British royal family.
INTRODUCTION
CHILD’S Play • Born a princess, Elizabeth had no idea that one day she’d be queen
A Royal EDUCATION • Elizabeth didn’t go to school like other kids
The Abdication • Elizabeth’s uncle gave up the throne for love
Lilibet Margo • The royal sisters were best friends — and sometimes rivals
Her Love Story • Elizabeth was smitten the first time she met Philip
ELIZABETH Takes the Crown • Pomp and circumstance surrounded the new queen’s accession
The SILVER JUBILEE 1977 • Traveling throughout the U.K. and beyond, Elizabeth marked her 25th anniversary as queen
The GOLDEN JUBILEE 2002 • After a half-century as queen, Elizabeth pulled out the stops to mark her anniversary
The DIAMOND JUBILEE 2012 • The 60th anniversary of Elizabeth becoming queen was a glittering celebration
The PLATINUM JUBILEE 2022 • Elizabeth solidified her place as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch earlier this year
The Crown FACT VS. FICTION • Royal watchers — and the royal family — have complained about the poetic license taken by The Crown. Here, what the hit Netflix series gets right — and where it goes wrong
Queen for a day • From royal engagements to official duties, her schedule was jam-packed
Home Sweet Home • Take a peek inside the castles, palaces and country estates the queen would hang her hat
Her Majesty’s MONEY • Find out how much the queen had tucked away at the bank
The Queen’s FOOD SECRETS • Psst — she was a chocoholic!
BURGLAR IN THE Bedroom • The morning the queen found a prowler in the palace
THE QUEEN’S WOULD-BE ASSASSIN • In the face of danger, she kept calm and carried on
CLOSE Call • The guard who nearly shot the queen!
A RARE MISSTEP • Usually beloved, the queen faced criticism after the death of her popular former daughter-in-law Diana
family MATTERS • Even the queen had a few favorites among her royal brood
A DOTING matriarch • To her millions of subjects, Elizabeth II was “Her Majesty,” but to the royal babies, she was “Gan-Gan”
A Monarchy Mourns • After 73 years together, Queen Elizabeth said goodbye to her one true love, Prince Philip, in April 2021
SLOWING DOWN • Amid her 2021 health scare, the queen made some changes to her hectic schedule
Operation LONDON BRIDGE • In place for decades, plans for the queen’s funeral ensure an orderly send-off for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch
THE LINE OF Succession • A 2013 change ended male primogeniture, in which a younger son can displace an older daughter, shaking up the path to the throne
CHARLES' LONG WAIT • Elizabeth’s heir apparent has spent his life waiting to take the crown — and alienating the public
WORDS OF Wisdom • A look back at the monarch’s most memorable and moving quotes
HONORING A Legend • World leaders, movie stars and more pay their respects to the late monarch
20 Things • YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE QUEEN