Overview of the queen's early life, basically through her coronation -- although there is a quick summary of the years since that is covered in the last few pages.

This is a typical "royal biography" in that it is sympathetic to the subject, draws heavily on previously published sources, and caters to the public's interest in behind-the-scenes happenings at the palace. It does provide a view of the queen of which most people who are under 60 are unfamiliar. I found it useful for placing bits and pieces of information I'd picked up within the larger picture of twentieth century and early twenty-first century royal history.