Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage

This was bought for someone else and really excellent value for money. The item arrived on the date specified and condition was as described by the seller.

A superbly researched and written account of the Royal Marriage. Highly recommended.

Well written by an intelligent, thoughtful and funny author

Great item

ExaCTLY WHAT WAS WANTED.

Bought for a friend. Very nice book. Good transaction.

Great

This book (as the title suggests!) is about Queen Elizabeth and her husband Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. It starts with describing their early lives, how they grew up, and then how they met and married, and then goes on to describe them as a family and as the Queen being the Queen. It was very clearly laid out and described, and provides a good background for if you know nothing, or not much, about the couple and want to know more. Theres a good bit of British Royal history in there as well, which is good.I really liked this book. Although he did name drop quite often (and did admit it!) you really got the sense that Gyles Brandreth did know them, especially Prince Phillip, and had talked to people who really knew them, not just people wanting to create a sensation or sell their stories to the newspapers. It didnt really offer much critisism of them, but I think sometimes you don't need that in a book. Both the Queen and Prince Phillip were portrayed in a positive light, which I think was good, even though it did go over their percieved negative points - Prince Phillips numerous "jokes" for example. I am biased because I am a big fan of the Royal Family, but I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone who wants to know about the Queen and her husband in a well researched and non sensationalist way

Belle enquête qui a son intérêt car ce couple a construit une histoire d'amour et une monarchie anglaise très populaire malgré tout. Intéressant.

I'll admit ... I'm an Anglophile. I adore the Royal Family. I respect them for their adherence to tradition. It is a hard thing to continue to be so "old fashioned'. When I think of what the young Elizabeth must have suffered, watching her father try to lead Britain through WWII, my heart goes out to her. She lives the life she was brought up to live ... as does Philip. What I loved about this book was the glimpses it gave us into the two of them when they broke free, however briefly (especially in HER case) of these traditions. There is a lot to learn in this book about tradition, respect, and honoring the past. I know those aren't popular sentiments these days, but ... when one reflects ... there is some thing to be said about such reflections. Do we need to be in such a hurry? Is there no need to honor the past? Of course, we need to move forward ... but do we need to trample on everything that was once sacred? Can't we ease into these changes? Personally, I think Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have behaved remarkably in adapting to the changes that have occurred during their lifetimes. I can only regret that some of their relatives have behaved less admirably. How many other of us have "quit" our vows? How many of us have taken the easy way out? Edward, "I can't function without the woman I love". Thus leaving his totally untrained and unprepared brother to pick up the slack and carry on. Really nice. "I loathe horses and classical music"; (Diana); I loathe modern composers and fast dancing" (Charles); "I want what I want" (Charles and Diana; Edward and Margaret). "Let's call it QUITS" - the four of them. Philip and Elizabeth may have had their differences, but, as adults, they NEVER let them show .... and they serve as an example to us all as to how to keep our vows and "carry on". Of course, they had differences. Probably, a LOT of them ... but, as adults and as committed partners, they resolved them privately and moved forward (as have done a LOT of US). I truly believe they are an excellent example of Christian marriage and how WE should carry on. I am happy that Charles and Camilla have found happiness ... but I would have been much happier had he done what he must have known what was correct at the time, regardless of the "provocation". I had always thought better of him.While I usually push books to my regular Kindle, you will want to consider pushing this one to your Fire. There are photos and they are terrific on the Fire!A really fascinating and informative book. I highly recommend it.

This is a supurb book about an major historic couple as human beings. Too often people dismiss them with comments like; what waste of money, or what a great life wirh the castles, servants, etc. These two have lived under.the glare of scorching lens of publicity their entire marriage. The Queen had no say in becoming Queen. If you read anything about her that's decent, it's very clear this role would not have been her choice at all. Yet it would be hard to find anyone more professional and dedicated. She was blessed with a happy family life and devoted parents - who didn't ask for their crowns either. Prince Phillip has handled the.strain of living in the public bubble admirably. Has he said the wrong thing from time to time...of course...he was not.born to it. Can't imagine any normal person not cracking under the strain occasionally. They were the best parents they could be given their roles & in keeping with.upper class practices of the time. Downton Abbey illustrated that life perfectly, it didn't make them bad parents as so often said, when viewed through the lens of today. Diana was not suited for the job of Queen, as lovely as she was in many ways. She lacked the self dicipline,focus and dedication necessary. Same must be said of Sarah Dutchess of York, or Margaret, the Queens sister. Today, marriage is disposable, the need to share every problem you have on Oprah or writing a tell all book is pathetically acceptable. There is great dignity in silence & just doing the job the best you.can no matter how painful. We have lost much of that attitude, saddly. They may not be perfect but there is much to be said for their dedication to one another, to family and to Great Britain. One hopes by the time William and Catherine are called.to serve they will be as strong for their family and.country as Queen Elizabeth & Prince Phillip have been.

In the Jubilee year, it is unfortunate that this book is out of print and hard to find in bookstores, for it is, without a doubt, the finest Royal biography that I have read.Most books about the Royal family tend to be either negative gossip-filled trivia, or fawning peons of praise. This book is neither. It is a straightforward historical account of the childhood of first, Phiiip, and then Elizabeth, and then goes on to describe their life together.Biographer Gyles Brandreth weaves the life of this Royal couple into the fabric of our nation's history, from the Abdication crisis, through World War Two to the changes facing the country at the start of a new Millennium.As an author, broadcaster and former Member of Parliament, Gyles Brandreth knows his subjects well, having worked with them on Parliamentary matters and on various committees. More importantly, he is friends with their friends, and without ever stepping over the bounds of propriety is able to share real life experiences with a veracity other books cannot match.The result is an absolutely fascinating book, that I found hard to put down. It reveals, perhaps for the first time, the true character of Prince Philip and how he views his role, and the Queen's keen sense of humour. Here is a woman who personifies grace and dignity, yet revelled in putting on pantomimes in her youth, and still enjoys family party games at Christmas. I am grateful to Amazon for finding this book for me. It is high time a new updated edition was published.

This is not just a book about the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip-it is a story of their lives both before and after their marriage in-in sections.First Section: details about their early lives and details surrounding their parents and grandparents.First was Elizabeth growining up in England-with her parents the Duke and Duchess of York and then after Edward VIII abdicated King George VI and Queen ElizabethSecond was Philip born a Greek and Danish Prince but shortly after his birth his family was forced to move to France to live near his uncle George and Aunt Marie.Second Section: Details their lives as teenagers around the time of WWIIElizabeth was forced to live apart from her parents and was sent to live with her sister outside of London. After the war the family was reunited and at 13 Elizabeth met Philip for the first timePhilip lived in France for several years before his mother was institutionalized and his father ran off with his mistress. His sisters help raise him and then sent him to schools in Germany, and England. During the War he was a Navey Man where at 18 he met 13 year old Elizabeth.The Next several Sections detail their courtship, marriage, becomeing first time parents to Charles and Anne, becoming Queen and Consort and then having Andrew and Edward afterward.An interesting book with interviews from Prince Philip, Elizabeth's cousin and others that give a detailed account of two interesting people.