On 6 February 2002, the Queen celebrates the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Yet despite acres of newsprint about her and her family, still surprisingly little is known about the real character and motivation of this most private of public figures.

This major biography, tying in to a four-part primetime TV series examines Elizabeth's life in the context of her role as head of a nation which - like the monarchy itself - has undergone a period of extraordinary change during the last 50 years. A vast sweep of friends and family, politicians and retired palace staff close to the Queen have been interviewed exclusively for the book, including Nelson Mandela, Lady Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Sir Edward Heath, Lord Healey, Sir Trevor Macdonald and Lord Carnarvon.