This young woman faced her first test as Queen: winning the confidence of her prime minister Winston Churchill. Elizabeth II: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration, Channel 5 2012
The tour would cover over 40,000 miles and several continents. ibid.
Her youngest sister Margaret had been involved in a relationship for some years with Captain Peter Townsend. ibid.
Less than a year after the [Suez] crisis she visited America. ibid.
She broke with tradition to begin the Walkabout. ibid.
In 1977 it was the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. ibid.
Around the world she remained hugely popular. ibid.
It’s Ma’m as in ham, not Ma’am as in farm. The Queen 2006 starring Helen Mirren & Michael Sheen & James Cromwell & Helen McCrory & Alex Jennings & Roger Allam & Sylvia Syms & Tim McCullan & Douglas Reith & et al, director Stephen Frears, official to Blair
Our constitutional responsibility: to advise, guide and warn the government of the day. ibid. Queen to Blair
I think I’ll write my diary a little longer. ibid. Queen to Philip
This is a family funeral, Mr Blair, not a fairground attraction. ibid. Queen of Diana’s funeral
There is now general agreement, Ma’m, that a public funeral would be more appropriate. ibid. Robin to Queen
Why do they hate us so much? ibid. Charles to Queen
Will someone please save these people from themselves? ibid. Blair
A bunch of freeloading, emotionally retarded nutters. ibid. Cherie to Blair
It’s unimaginable this country being a republic. ibid. Blair to Cherie
I think there’s something ugly about the way everyone’s started to bully her. ibid. Blair to Cherie
Something’s happened. There’s been a change. A shift in values. ibid. Queen to Queen Mum
Heart. What heart? ibid. Cherie to Blair
All Labour prime ministers go ga-ga for the Queen. ibid.
I’ve never been hated like that before. ibid. Queen to Blair
I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great Imperial family to which we all belong. Elizabeth II, speech 21st April 1947
I think everybody really will concede that on this, of all days, I should begin my speech with the words, ‘My husband and I’. Elizabeth II, speech Guildhall on 25th anniversary
It has always been easy to hate and destroy. To build and to cherish is much more difficult. Elizabeth II, 1957 Christmas Broadcast
Today we need a special kind of courage. Not the kind needed in battle, but a kind which makes us stand up for everything that we know is right, everything that is true and honest. We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics, so that we can show the world that we are not afraid of the future. ibid.
1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis. Elizabeth II, speech Guildhall 24th November 1992
I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together. Elizabeth II
Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements. Elizabeth II
I have to be seen to be believed. Elizabeth II
I sometimes sense the world is changing almost too fast for its inhabitants, at least for us older ones. Elizabeth II October 1997
I am nothing but a bloody amoeba. Prince Philip
Do you work in a strip club? Prince Philip to female sea cadet
You can’t have been here long – you haven’t got a pot belly. Prince Philip to tourist, 1993
You managed not to get eaten then? Prince Philip to British trekker in Papua New Guinea, 1998
Bugger the table plan – give me my dinner! Prince Philip at party, 2004
It’s a pleasure to be in a country that isn’t ruled by its people. Prince Philip to Paraguay dictator General Stroessner
How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test? Prince Philip to Scottish driving instructor, 1995
You are a woman, aren’t you? Prince Philip, Kenya 1984
I’d like to go to Russia very much – although the bastards murdered half my family. Prince Philip, 1967
Who’s on drugs here? ... HE looks as if he’s on drugs. Prince Philip at Bangladeshi youth club, 2002
Young people are the same as they always were – just as ignorant. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, 2006
And what exotic part of the world do you come from? Prince Philip to Lord Taylor of Warwick, 1999
If it doesn’t fart or eat hay, she isn’t interested. Prince Philip, re Princess Anne
I don’t think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing. Prince Philip
If you stay here much longer, you’ll go home with slitty eyes. Prince Philip to British student in China, 1986
We may have to move into smaller premises, who knows? ... I shall probably have to give up Polo. Prince Philip, Meet the Press, Nine Network 1971
In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, in order to contribute something to solve overpopulation. Prince Philip, reported by Deutsche Press Agency August, 1988
By 1993, the Duke of Edinburgh, the owner of 56 shooting rifles, had brought down 30,000 birds from the skies, he’d killed 2 crocodiles as well as scores of wild boar, several hundred Scottish stags and an Indian tiger. Royal Babylon *****
They [Royal Family] are never happier than when they’ve got a gun in their hands, their mother [Diana] noted. ibid.
The present heir has famously said he’d wish to be reincarnated as one of his mistress’s sanitary products. ibid.
The Queen has referred to ‘dark forces at work in this country’. ibid.
Paranoid suspicions are a predictable by-product of a plutocratic cult still ringfenced by force of arms. ibid.
‘Women’s rights are a mad wicked folly’. ibid. Queen Victoria
Her [The Queen] governors’ greetings of revenge: Michael [X] was hanged then drawn. ibid.
Harry slaughters thirty-four Afghanis. ibid.
His [Edward VIII’s] successor, George VI, was also keen on appeasement. ibid.
Philip featuring at Nazis’ funerals. ibid.
The embittered Edward was urging the bombing of his own people. ibid.
Thanks to Blunt helpfully concealing evidence of royal treason, Blunt’s own brand of treason was granted immunity. ibid.
Philip: he’s bad tempered, ill-educated and probably won’t be faithful, was reputedly the verdict of George VI on Prince Philip. ibid.
Princess Margaret: she told Chicago’s mayor, ‘the Irish were pigs, all pigs’. And as for India, she hated those ‘little brown people’. ibid.
Harry’s Racist Video Shame. ibid. newspaper headline
They [Royal Family] give their consent to any war going. ibid.
Monarchs give out their honours to unashamed murderers. ibid.
This particular monarch is the beneficiary of dividends produced by an empire’s corpse mountain. ibid.
A further four million died in Bengal’s famine. ibid.
The concentration camp was a British invention under Queen Victoria. ibid.
‘I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes.’ ibid. Churchill