It may have been one year since the passing of the longest-serving female monarch in the history of the world, but Queen Elizabeth’s memories are here to stay. For more than 70 years, she ruled the United Kingdom and influenced most of the Commonwealth countries, which is why DK Life Stories paid her a tribute in her lifetime by coming up with this fascinating biography for kids.

Discover the inspiring story of the young Lillibet who went on to become Queen Elizabeth II, in this book by Brenda and Brian Williams, and find out how a young girl who had little chance to become a Queen managed to make a place in British history as the longest-serving monarch, ever. Divided into 12 chapters and aided with lots of never-seen-before photographs, this book takes you from Elizabeth II’s birth till her final days and the 90-odd years between them, which isn’t an easy task.

What this book does is explain in simple words the events that saw Elizabeth’s uncle King Edward VIII abdicate the throne in favour of King George VI, her father, and how that changed Elizabeth’s life, which was going well until then. Even after her father became the king, Elizabeth stayed on the sidelines and continued to help her countrymen, be it by making her first speech or serving in the women’s branch of the British Army, according to this book.

The authors describe that it was after her marriage and her father’s death that she came into the limelight, and carried forward her father’s legacy with the help of dedicated folks like Sir Winston Churchill and others. What were the initial issues faced by the 25-year-old Elizabeth after she succeeded her father and how did she manage to make a place for herself in her people’s hearts, is also something this book details brilliantly.

It also traces Queen Elizabeth’s journey as a queen and celebrates key moments in her life as both a public and private figure. Be it appearing in a TV documentary or hosting world leaders at home, Elizabeth lived a full life, which was very different from her predecessors. The authors explain she was the first queen to visit troubled parts of the United Kingdom, and her coronation was the first one to be televised live.

Incidents like the entry of an intruder into her room as well as the fire accident that destroyed parts of Windsor Castle, also make their presence in these pages. How she got to meet her future husband Prince Philip to whom she remained married for more than 70 years also makes an interesting read, as does her relationship with her kids and their children which includes the current king, formerly known as Prince Charles.

The best thing about this book is that it just doesn’t give the readers an insight into the life of Queen Elizabeth II, but also makes them realise that she had a great working ethic, which is why she managed to have a healthy relationship with more than a dozen British prime ministers. Add to that a timeline of the Queen’s career, a who’s who of famous people mentioned in these pages alongside a glossary at the very end, and you and your friends will have a book that will keep you entertained for many days.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 16th, 2023