WINSTON CHURCHILL’S SECRET ROLE: How He Guided Queen Elizabeth Through the Early Struggles of Her Reign — Exclusive Insight.HL

Queen Elizabeth II’s early years as monarch were filled with challenges, from adjusting to her new role as head of state at the young age of 25 to navigating the complexities of family dynamics and public life. However, according to author Andrew Morton, the Queen’s ability to rise above these trials was due in no small part to the steady guidance and support of her favorite prime minister, Winston Churchill. Morton’s new book, Winston and the Windsors (released October 21), explores Churchill’s crucial role in shaping both the Queen’s reign and the modern royal family.

Princess Elizabeth greeting Winston Churchill at a reception at the Guildhall in London in March 1950.

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Elizabeth inherited the throne unexpectedly following the sudden death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. She and her husband, Prince Philip, were in Kenya at the time, leaving the young Queen to return immediately to England to assume the mantle of leadership. For Prince Philip, this sudden shift was a personal blow, as he had hoped for a much longer time in the navy. Morton highlights how Philip’s disappointment in having to give up his naval career, coupled with the loss of his father-in-law, left him disillusioned and difficult to manage.

At the same time, the newly crowned Queen was thrust into the demanding role of monarch with little preparation. She found herself facing pressures not only from the public but also from within her own family. It was at this pivotal moment that Churchill, the staunch and experienced leader, entered her life. He became her most trusted adviser, offering wisdom, stability, and a steady hand to guide her through turbulent times.

Churchill and the Queen’s relationship was built on mutual respect, with shared interests in horses and horse breeding serving as an additional bond. Morton explains that Churchill admired the Queen for her solid character, noting that she was “very much her father’s daughter.” Churchill, who had served as prime minister for much of Elizabeth’s early life, was particularly fond of her steadfastness, recognizing that she was far more than just a young, beautiful monarch—she was a woman of great strength and resolve. According to Morton, Churchill was undoubtedly Elizabeth’s favorite prime minister of the 15 she would go on to serve with.

Queen Elizabeth with Sir Winston Churchill in 1953.

The early years of Elizabeth’s reign were not without their family struggles, with personal and public challenges weighing heavily on the young monarch. After her father’s death, Elizabeth’s mother, the Queen Mother, was reluctant to resume royal duties and withdrew from public life in mourning. Morton recounts how Churchill stepped in during this crucial period, visiting the Queen Mother at Birkhall in Scotland to convince her to return to the royal fold. This intervention proved to be one of Churchill’s most significant successes, as the Queen Mother went on to be a beloved and invaluable asset to the monarchy, further solidifying Churchill’s place as a trusted figure in the royal household.

Simultaneously, Elizabeth had to contend with the emotional turmoil of her younger sister, Princess Margaret, whose illicit relationship with the divorced Group Captain Peter Townsend caused a rift within the royal family. Morton explains how this affair placed the Queen in a difficult position, torn between her desire to support her sister’s happiness and the reality of the Church of England’s teachings, which prohibited divorced people from remarrying within the Church. Churchill, who had a deep respect for Margaret, was one of the few who publicly supported the relationship, but he was also fully aware of the constitutional limitations at play.

Author Andrew Morton and the jacket of his new book.

Throughout these personal and political challenges, Churchill remained a steadfast confidant for the Queen. Morton writes that Churchill often acted as a de facto “godfather” to the royal family, a trusted adviser with unparalleled influence. When Margaret’s relationship with Townsend became a public matter, the Queen turned to Churchill for guidance, requesting that he keep the matter “in the family” and out of the public eye. While Churchill initially supported the marriage, he later recognized that legal and religious barriers would prevent it from coming to fruition without royal approval.

The relationship between the Queen and Churchill flourished through these years of shared history. Churchill admired Elizabeth’s temperament, describing her as having the “glamour of a queen” but the “temperament of a bureaucrat.” In this partnership, Elizabeth proved herself to be a monarch who would not bend easily to pressure, and Churchill, who saw his role as that of an adviser rather than a commander, respected her steadfastness. Their shared respect for one another allowed them to work through even the most challenging issues with grace and wisdom.

Such was the depth of their bond that when Churchill passed away in 1965, the Queen, recognizing his profound impact on her early reign and on Britain’s post-war recovery, granted him a state funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Queen’s admiration for Churchill was evident not only in her personal tribute but also in her enduring legacy of leadership. As the longest-reigning British monarch, Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne were shaped by the lessons she learned from her first prime minister, whose steady hand guided her through the trials of her early reign.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (center) on the Buckingham Palace at VE Day which marked the end of the Second World War.

Reg Speller/Getty

In the end, Elizabeth’s partnership with Churchill serves as a testament to the power of mentorship, loyalty, and shared vision. Churchill’s influence on the Queen and the monarchy was immeasurable, helping to shape the modern royal family and ensuring that the monarchy remained a source of strength and stability for generations to come. As Morton’s book Winston and the Windsors reveals, Churchill’s role in the Queen’s life was not just that of a politician, but of a trusted friend and mentor, one who helped her navigate the tumultuous early years of her reign and emerge as the figurehead of a new era in British history.