Royal Audience

70 Years, 13 Presidents--One Queen's Special Relationship with America

By: David Charter

Narrated by: Mark Meadows

70 years on the throne. 13 American presidents. One extraordinary queen.

From the moment she first enchanted the world as a youthful princess, Queen Elizabeth II found a unique place in American hearts—and she also played an unprecedented role in forging transatlantic ties. Over her seventy-year reign, she developed extraordinary and varied personal bonds with thirteen U.S. presidents—Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, both Bush Sr. and Jr., Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Biden—that other diplomats and leaders could only dream of.

A fascinating, in-depth look at international relations and interpersonal intrigue, Royal Audience peels back the curtain on the “special relationship” between the U.S. and the U.K. as embodied by the Queen herself—charting Elizabeth II’s distinctive brand of one-to-one diplomacy through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand. From horse-riding with Ronald Reagan, to sharing her recipe for scones with Dwight D. Eisenhower, to striking up a kinship with the Bushes and the Obamas, the Queen’s interactions with her U.S. counterparts often acted as a restorative tonic for relations between two nations, even when political tensions ran high. Not all royal encounters with U.S. presidents went smoothly, though. Between Jackie Kennedy’s complaints about Elizabeth and the Queen Mother’s shock at being kissed on the lips by Jimmy Carter, there was never a dull moment.

Throughout the years, Queen Elizabeth II’s sense of duty and service remained steadfast, and her iconic legacy is unlikely to be repeated.

One of the many lovely sides of Queen Elizabeth

I love stories about Queen Elizabeth and this book highlights her relationships with 13 American presidents. It’s full of great stories and lots of humor. The narrator was good but I think he should have skipped trying to imitate whatever person he was quoting.

Disappointed

This book reads more like gossip than history and I did not learn much since it was old news covered in books and documentaries I have read and seen before. I also did not like the reader attempting to speak in the voice of the Queen, royal family members and Presidents. It would have been easier to listen to if he used his own voice throughout the text. It is not necessary to do voices in nonfiction, especially when the subjects are so well known.