Queen Elizabeth II's 'greatest challenge' revealed by royal biographer

Ben McCaffrey
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:53:43 +0000

The late Queen's "greatest challenge" has been revealed by a royal biographer.

Robert Hardman, author of "Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story," spoke to GB News on Thursday morning and detailed which issues the late monarch found "very tricky" to resolve when taking the throne.

Ellie Costello asked Mr Hardman to outline the "biggest challenges" of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.

"She was the first monarch ever who had to, as it were, manage decline," Mr Hardman told the People's Channel. "When her father [King George VI] became King, and all before him, it was all about Britain being great and holding onto lots of territory.

"It was an empire when George VI came to the throne, and for her, it was about shrinking everything, but with a smile, with a handshake."

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According to Mr Hardman, the Queen considered the transformation of the empire into the Commonwealth of Nations to be one of "her greatest achievements".

The process was complex, particularly because many territories had strong grudges and resentments against British rule.

Turning those former colonies into a voluntary association of independent nations, he said, was "a very tricky act."

Yet many countries ultimately chose to remain part of the Commonwealth largely, because of the respect and affection they had for the Queen herself.

"Everyone wanted to join," he said. "And they wanted to join it because of her. She was liked until the end."

Elizabeth inherited the role of Head of the Commonwealth from her father when she became Queen in 1952. At the time, the organisation had just eight members.

But the longest-reigning monarch transformed the association; the Commonwealth now comprises 56 independent countries and around 2.7 billion people.

Commonwealth Day 2026 was celebrated on March 9, marking its 77th anniversary.

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At this year's event, Catherine, Princess of Wales, sported Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings from Queen Elizabeth II’s collection, a notion described as "a lovely touch" to the late Queen by Susie Nelson.

Plans for a new memorial to the Queen in St James's Park will also highlight her connection to the Commonwealth.

Artist Yinka Shonibare has designed a Commonwealth Wind Sculpture as part of the project, describing the Queen as a "champion of the Commonwealth."

The memorial proposal also includes an equestrian statue, a bridge, and a tribute to her husband, Prince Philip.

Speaking to GB News on Thursday, Mr Hardman added how the Queen's authority and support had been unwavering until the very end of her reign.

"What I find so striking," he explained. "Was that in the early part of her reign, she was being pushed around a bit by the politicians.

"She was very young, and you had these grand old men, led by Winston Churchill, who treated her almost like a precious child.

"At one point, Churchill did refer to her as a child, but she was, right from the start, determined to do her duty properly.

"And you see, as the reign continues, how you can't push her around - she's absolutely in charge, right to the end.

"What's so interesting is that, in her late 90s, when she clearly had what were known at the time as mobility issues, there was no talk of her stepping aside.

"She was the queen, as I say, and her authority was undimmed."