UK – In a significant development for British history, the private papers of the late Queen Elizabeth II have been made accessible to an authorised historian for the first time. The Royal Household has appointed Anna Keay, a distinguished historian and chief executive of the Landmark Trust, to produce the first official biography of the former monarch. This project grants the author unique access to personal letters, diaries, and records held within the Royal Archives, many of which have remained strictly confidential until now. The biography is intended to provide a comprehensive and intimate portrait of the Queen, moving beyond her well-documented public duties to explore her personal thoughts and decision-making during her seventy-year reign.

The decision to release these sensitive materials represents a rare moment of openness within the Royal Family, as private correspondence is traditionally kept sealed for many decades. The archive material spans the Queen’s entire life, from her accession in 1952 through to the modern era, covering major national and international events. Historians expect that the work will shed new light on how the Queen navigated social and political changes while maintaining her constitutional role. The project is expected to be a major undertaking, likely requiring several years of research to complete. The final work aims to offer a balanced and authoritative account of a monarch who shaped the identity of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.