Queen Elizabeth II Gave 'Glacial Stare' to Offend Staff and Leaders, Book Claims

Queen Elizabeth II projected a flawless image as a devoted grandmother during her record-setting reign, but she proved formidable behind palace doors, according to royal author Robert Hardman.

Hardman details this side of England's longest-reigning monarch in his new book, "Elizabeth II: In Private, In Public: Her Story." The volume examines the late queen's lesser-known traits. She would have turned 100 on April 21.

Buckingham Palace offered no comment on the book. A palace spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital, "We don't comment on such books."

"In many ways, she was more terrifying in private than in public," Hardman told Fox News Digital. He described two sides to her character. The public queen appeared serious and dutiful, rarely smiling and focused on her responsibilities. By contrast, her private demeanor sparkled. She could be direct, defying stereotypes of the elderly.

"The older she got, the greater her authority," Hardman added.

The queen employed "the look," a silent signal of displeasure for those who crossed an invisible line through overfamiliarity, incompetence or rudeness. She delivered a steely, ice-cold gaze that conveyed disapproval without words.

"Everyone was very scared of getting ‘the look,’" Hardman explained. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair mentioned his fear of it in his memoirs. The queen responded to disagreeable matters with a direct, glacial stare rather than snapping, shouting or lecturing. It signaled she was highly unamused.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark encountered the look during the queen's Golden Jubilee tour of the Pacific in 2002. At a black-tie banquet hosted by Parliament, the queen arrived in full evening gown, pearls, jewels, diamonds and tiara. Clark wore trousers.

"The queen, having made all this effort, [gave] a very strong look," Hardman said.

Biographer Kenneth Rose told Hardman that the queen stared at the person with open eyes and no expression.

Former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd recalled a diplomatic reception with representatives from more than 150 embassies and high commissions lined up. One ambassador arrived late, shoved into position out of line and received the stare. Courtiers escorted him to the right spot. Nothing was said.

Sir Robert Woodard, former captain of Britannia, told Hardman, "When I went over the top, her eyebrows would go up, and I’d apologize." She hoped people would gauge the proper distance.

Hardman recounted a Buckingham Palace garden party where the queen met a Royal Canadian Air Force officer and his Polish girlfriend. Her phone rang mid-conversation. To avoid the look, the woman tossed it into the crowd without breaking eye contact and carried on. The queen did not blink.

The queen also spoke her mind at times. "She was very direct," Hardman said. "She was authentic."

She edited speeches from advisors. One draft said, "I am very glad to be back in Birmingham." She crossed out "very," deeming it insincere despite no disrespect to the city.

Biographer Charles Moore, seated next to her at dinner, began explaining his next book. "Oh, don’t worry," she told him. "I shan’t read it."

A senior clergyman received her verdict on his sermon: "So many long words, bishop!"

During a tour of Scotland, her Lord Lieutenant's sword stuck in the car, preventing him from exiting to make introductions. People lined up to meet her.

"The queen just thought, ‘Oh, this is ridiculous,’" Hardman said. She exited the car, approached the line and announced, "I’m afraid my Lord Lieutenant seems to be having some trouble getting out of the car, so I’d better introduce myself. I’m the queen."

A cabinet minister mentioned years in Slough. She replied, "Oh, you poor thing." When a guest said she must look forward to a Commonwealth summit in Uganda, she responded, "No one looks forward to going to Uganda."

The queen took some incidents in stride. At a Balmoral shooting weekend, an heir to a nearby estate focused on his venison stew and failed to notice her sitting down. "How are you getting on?" she asked. His shocked reply sent a piece of meat onto her face.

"She didn’t flinch," a source present said.

During a 1976 state visit, President Ford invited her to dance at a White House ball. "The Lady Is a Tramp" played. Ford grew furious, but the queen found it hilarious. "This was a favorite story [of hers] for years," Hardman said.

The queen died in 2022 at age 96.

"She was in charge until her dying day," Hardman said. "And no one questioned her authority."