Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II

Karen Dolby is a freelance editor and writer. Among her books are Auld Lang Syne, The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II and The Wicked Wit of Princess Margaret, all published by Michael O'Mara Books. She lives and writes in Suffolk.

A beautiful collection celebrating the Queen's humour, with amusing quotations and stories about royal life.

When thinking of the Queen, our first image is one of dignity and authority. She is the very definition of majesty: the British monarch, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the head of the Commonwealth. But as anyone who knows her will tell you, in person she has a wicked sense of humour:

* Occasionally unintentional (when meeting guitar legend Eric Clapton she enquired 'Have you been playing a long time?')

* Sometimes cannily astute ('I have to be seen to be believed')

* At times downright silly (nicely demonstrated when staff at Balmoral discovered the Queen jumping up and down with glee exclaiming 'I've won, I've won!' after hearing that England had beaten Australia in the cricket)

. the Queen's sense of humour is like no other.

Revealing a side of the Queen's personality that the public rarely see, this joyous book is a timely celebration of royal humour as Elizabeth II succeeds Victoria as Britain's longest-serving monarch.

Revealing a side of the Queen's personality that the public rarely see, this joyous book is a timely celebration of royal humour as Elizabeth II succeeds Victoria as Britain's longest-serving monarch.

The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II is a celebration of the Queen's reign through some of her wittiest, most sarcastic and humorous observations, revealing a fascinating side of her personality that often remains hidden from the public.