The Reign Part I The Way It Was, 1952-79She came to the throne in 1952 when Britain had a far flung empire, sweets were rationed, mums stayed home and kids played on bombsites. 70 years on, everything has changed utterly except the Queen herself, aging far more gracefully than the fractious nation over which she so lightly presides. How did we get from there to here in a single reign? To cancel culture, anti vaxxers and Twitter feeds? Matthew Engel tells the story starting with the years

rascals and fools

So take some time for yourself

half-listening as their mother tells the same tale they have heard so many times before

terrariums and hanging plant features

English tears apart the lies propagated by politicians and think tanks

original and utterly unforgettable

is seven when Father Tollinaire teaches her to read - though only the books that he allows

animals have been out there saving lives

'The most important book of the year' Daily Mail

When her marriage falls apart and her career stalls

Published 22 Nov 2022

Cooked food meant our heads shrunk