Life with the Queen

Brian Hoey's book, timed to coincide with the celebration of the Queen's 80th birthday, looks at the life of the Queen from the point of view of those who live and work with her. From her role as the nation's hostess - offering hospitality to over 40,000 people every year - to her interest in breeding race horses and pedigree gundogs, it reveals different aspects of her life and personality and is richly illustrated with colour photographs by royal photographers.

This is a portrait of a woman whose husband adores her, whose children admire and respect her and whose friends, such as Lady Mountbatten, say they would lay down their lives for her. She is the world's most experienced stateswoman - Henry Kissinger claimed she knows more about world affairs than anyone else alive today; she finds the present Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, a little too 'happy-clappy' for her tastes; and her hobbies including catching bats in the roof at Balmoral and then releasing them to be caught again the next day.

In this fascinating book the Queen's family life, official duties, wardrobe and daily routine are all explored, bringing us closer to the reality of life as she lives it.