The Queen

One Hundred Years, One Hundred Stories

Michelle Morgan

Crown jewels, coronations, and corgis: this is a heartwarming portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, as told through one hundred personal stories about the monarch, to celebrate the centenary of her birth.

The Queen is a warm and inviting biography of powerhouse monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, written by talented biographer Michelle Morgan. Structured around one hundred vignettes, the reader will be invited into an intimate telling of key moments of her long life.

Many of the stories relate to milestones, such as her wedding to Prince Philip, the coronation, the birth of her children along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her various jubilees. Interspersed with these, are fascinating stories that have been lost or forgotten over the past century. From immersive accounts of her working life, such as trips around the country and abroad to the people she met (including her neighbour for a time, Marilyn Monroe!), and the anecdotes they shared.

The book includes striking photographs of Elizabeth at different stages of life. From shy princess and World War II mechanic to Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith, Queen Elizabeth II was a stoic stalwart to the end. Told with insight and affection, this is the perfect tribute to Britain's longest-reigning monarch.

Michelle Morgan is the author or co-author of nine books about Marilyn Monroe, including Marilyn Monroe: Private and Confidential and The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist. Michelle lives in England.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Praise for When Marilyn Met the Queen:

"The real strength of Morgan’s book is her ability to place four months in a famous woman’s life under a microscope: who she met, what she wore, how she felt. Monroe’s genuine excitement about meeting the Queen and her endless friendliness to the fans who loved her are endearing. What emerges is not only a close-up of Marilyn but also a picture of someone who, like many of us, romanticizes people and places only to find disappointment." The Toronto Star

"What is new here is not only the subtlety of this account, exploring the nuances of American and English culture, but also the comprehensive readings of how people—on set, in the streets, in chance encounters—responded to Monroe, including those who thought she was no big deal. This deft addition to the story of events that occurred over only four months elevates When Marilyn Met the Queen into a narrative of much greater significance than many biographies that deal with a whole life." The New York Sun

"Fans of Marilyn Monroe and the Golden Age of Hollywood will enjoy this slice of the actress’s life that she spent in England in 1956. Chock full of history, personal anecdotes, and beautiful details. This book is an effortless read that will take readers back in time and make them want to watch their favorite Marilyn Monroe film. An enjoyable peek into the past that provides insight into Monroe’s life and the zeitgeist of 1950s England. Film buffs and fans of the era will enjoy Morgan’s biography, as will any reader interested in Monroe and her enduring legacy." Library Journal

Praise for Michelle Morgan:

“Ghoulishly entertaining.” The Times Literary Supplement

"This compelling portrait of Marilyn Monroe reveals the layers of her private self. Michelle Morgan proves that the star was much more than a decorative blonde.” Lyndsy Spence, author of Where Madness Lies

"This was a good read, especially for anyone interested in the heyday of Hollywood with all it's dirty little secrets.” The New York Journal of Books

"Morgan brings this to life very well on the page, making the book one to be devoured in just a couple of sittings." - The Motion Pictures

“Well worth your time. It's a very enjoyable and informative read that I found hard to put down." The Hollywood Review

"A gorgeous collection offering a fascinating insight into Monroe's personal life.” - Woman & Home

"This candid and often surprising study of the screen legend provides another view of her." Red Magazine

"A touching portrayal of Monroe in her more private moments.” - Empire Magazine

"This is a great book for dipping into. The cases themselves are written engagingly and with appealing dramatization of key events.” Crime Review