Queen Elizabeth II

'I am a great admirer of Her Majesty. This gem of a book beautifully encapsulates the life of one of history's most iconic royals.' - Barbara Bush

At age 25, Elizabeth II became Britain's fortieth monarch and vowed to dedicate her life to service and duty on behalf of her country. Upon her death, aged 96, she certainly had achieved that. She was the constitutional monarch of fifteen sovereign states, head of the fifty-six member Commonwealth of Nations, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and Head of the Armed Forces. Most notably, however, on 9 September 2015, she became the longest reigning monarch in British history and for a time was the oldest serving sovereign in the world. She consistently adapted in order to remain relevant, while devotedly upholding the age-old traditions of the monarchy.

Although there have only been six British female monarchs, it cannot be denied that some of the most enlightened times in history have occurred during periods of queenship. Elizabeth I led the country through the Golden Age and Victoria ushered in the Industrial Revolution, but it is Elizabeth II who has left the most illustrious and progressive legacy of all: a true icon of modern monarchy.