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Queen Elizabeth II was known as a pillar of strength, but the monarch struggled privately at times.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman claimed the monarch nearly suffered a “nervous breakdown” during the “extraordinary summer of 1969,” which came to a head when her oldest son, then-Prince Charles, was officially crowned the Prince of Wales.
Hardman was asked about his claims of the queen’s mental exhaustion ahead of the release of his book, Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, on April 9. Charles’ investiture was looming as “the first made-for-TV royal moment” in color television, among several other historic events around the world.
“It was a very fractious, febrile time. People are really nervous about which way the world is going,” Hardman said during the April 7 episode of the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential show, suggesting that the Queen felt overwhelmed by the attention on her and her family.
CAERNARVON;WALES – JULY 01: The Investiture of The Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle on July 1, 1969. Prince Charles kneels before the HRH Queen Elizabeth II as she places the coronet on his head. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
(Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
In addition, the author pointed to the “tense moment” in history marked by the assassinations of Martin Lutheran King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in America, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and several terrorist plots within the U.K.
“People were actually being killed in the run-up to and even on the day of this investiture,” Hardman said, noting Queen Elizabeth was especially nervous something would happen to Charles, who was 20 at the time. “The pressure on her, in the run-up to that investiture, I think she was really worried something was going to happen. She has always taken the view that if something happened to her, she’d live with it, die with it, it comes with the territory … This was the threat of terrorism against her son, against his event, and against the family; there was just so much pressure in the run-up to the event that afterwards, it was really interesting.”
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Charles’ investiture at Caernarfon Castle went off without a hitch on July 1, drawing attention to Charles’ rank and future role in the monarchy as he was presented to the people of Wales as their Prince. He continued to tour around the country after the event. As for the Queen, she “went back to London and retired to her bed, and canceled all engagements for the week.”
UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 01: July 1st 1969. Queen ELIZABETH II and Prince CHARLES during his investiture as the Prince of Wales, at Caernarvon castle in Wales. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
(Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)
The palace said her majesty was suffering from the flu, but Hardman claimed Elizabeth needed a mental reset after the strenuous summer.
“Someone very close to part of her team told me it was nervous exhaustion,” Hardman said. “I don’t know whether we could call it a full nervous breakdown, because she was back on duty just over a week later, but it was the nearest thing to a nervous breakdown.”
Queen Elizabeth is the longest-reigning monarch in British history, ruling for 70 years until her death at age 96 in 2022. She took her role very seriously, even formally dedicating herself to the public on her 21st birthday. She said the simple motto, “I serve,” would help guide her reign.
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“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,” Elizabeth said in a broadcasted speech from Cape Town, South Africa, in 1947. “But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do: I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.”
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.