Trang chủ

AUTHOR’S FOREWORD

           I AM a journalist, not, unfortunately, a historian. This book came to be written because, about nine years ago, the Editor of the Scottish Field, of which I am London Correspondent, asked me for an article about Buckingham Palace. A Member of the Household kindly lent me Mr. Clifford Smith’s fine book on the Palace, and I gradually became enthralled by the long history, the devoted service and unique position to-day of the British Royal Family. As time went on, I missed increasingly one book in which would be gathered an account of all sides of the Sovereign’s work. As this changes with the individuality of each Sovereign, it would require also some form of profile or character study of Her Majesty. (Mr. Dermot Morrah’s scholarly study The Work of the Queen had not then been begun.) Eventually I had the temerity to think of writing it.

         Throughout the period of almost three years involved in the writing I have received constant and quite invaluable help from many Members of Her Majesty’s Household. It would be pleasant to record my gratitude to each by name, but they prefer to be thanked collectively. Similarly, I am deeply indebted to members of Government Departments, who must remain anonymous.

          Throughout, I have had time, trouble and kindness from a very large number of people, many of them distinguished, many the highest expert in his or her particular field, all of them extremely busy. They have patiently answered obvious, or diffi­cult, or sometimes silly questions. They have directed me to the best books on their particular subject and to other experts. They have carefully read and corrected—and sometimes re-corrected— my efforts to understand and put upon paper the involved matters which were crystal clear to them. Others have had nothing to do with my assessment of their subject, but have been good enough to read, correct and comment upon the draft afterwards. Others again have contributed an anecdote or fact. Still others have given time and trouble to no effect, because I have not been able to make use here of their information.

CONTENTS

1. The Task………………………………………………… 17
2. The Woman who is Queen………………………… 33
3. The Queen’s Back-room…………………………… 63
4. The Queen and Parliament………………………… 93
5. The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty In Council……….123
6. The Queen and the Church………………………… 147
7. The Fount of Honour……………………………….. 174
8. The Queen has Approved…………………………. 202
9. The Queen’s Public Duties in Britain………….. 226
10. The Queen, Our Hostess…………………………. 258
11. The Queen and the Commonwealth………….. 281
12. The Queen AND Foreign Powers……………… 314
13. The Cost—AND THE Gain…………………….. 332

Appendix…………………………………………………… 353