Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952, during the difficult post-war period, as a very young woman who had recently found happiness with her Prince Charming. Since then, the world has changed beyond recognition, and the queen needed truly extraordinary qualities in order to, while remaining a keeper of traditions, a guarantor of stability for her country and all countries of the Commonwealth, keep up with the times. What character traits, personality, what components of upbringing helped the queen fulfill her unique role? What is she like, how does she spend her time? How did you learn during your work to communicate with politicians and heads of state, with miners and professors? Does the invisible cocoon prevent her from interacting with the outside world? What approach does it take in leadership, has it changed over time and if so, how? How do you feel about your own mistakes and miscalculations? To your family? How does she manage to maintain peace of mind and not change her principles? How, being constantly in sight, does she protect her privacy? Is he ever considering abdicating the throne in favor of his eldest son, Prince Charles, or grandson, Prince William? How, already at an advanced age, was she able to ensure stability and vitality for the monarchy? Historian and journalist Sally Bedell Smith, author of best-selling biographies of Diana, Princess of Wales, John and Jacqueline Kennedy, and Bill and Hillary Clinton, has written an unusually lively and fascinating history of the most famous of modern monarchs . Translation: Maria Desyatova