The Queen Mother was a figure that can be described as a sweet, but strong Edwardian lady living in an increasingly modern world. She was everything sweet and magical but had a backbone of steel, she was a great influencer, who never actually shared her opinion, she was a never ending smile on the cloudiest of days, and she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders but was always ready for a party and a few stiff drinks. What fascinates me the most about this woman is that she lived through the entire 20th century and really, did not change all that much. She remained strong from childhood through old age, she lived by rituals and customs that were from a bygone era, and studying her life has not just taught me about a particular culture, but brought an entire class of people to life that we often imagine as purely fictional characters. As I have studied her life, a few facts about her have always jumped out at me, so let’s dive in to the life of The Queen Mother!
I love how you paint a portrait of her as a ‘real person’, rather than just a historical icon. As someone also rather partial to a gin and tonic, there was a lot in her life that resonated with me!
A smile for other people always lifts others up from the doubt and worry cast upon their lives. Society needs more listening and less criticizing these days...
A key figure in the establishment of her relationship with the Duke of York was his equerry, Captain James Stuart (who had himself been a suitor of hers). He was a younger son of the Earl of Moray and therefore a descendant of James V of Scotland, and was Conservative chief whip 1941-48 then Secretary of State for Scotland 1951-57. (The first Earl of Moray was the first head of government to be assassinated with a firearm, shot in Linlithgow in 1570.)
Rituals and customs are going away big time in today's age. I always admired the discipline of much older generations, but maybe that says a lot about the culture I grew up in. Nonetheless, we must always strive to better ourselves, for if we don't, learning has diminished in our lives...
Thank you! I always marvel at how much she saw in her life.
I love how you paint a portrait of her as a ‘real person’, rather than just a historical icon. As someone also rather partial to a gin and tonic, there was a lot in her life that resonated with me!
A smile for other people always lifts others up from the doubt and worry cast upon their lives. Society needs more listening and less criticizing these days...
My favorite one so far!
I'm glad you liked it!
It was great to be sure...
A key figure in the establishment of her relationship with the Duke of York was his equerry, Captain James Stuart (who had himself been a suitor of hers). He was a younger son of the Earl of Moray and therefore a descendant of James V of Scotland, and was Conservative chief whip 1941-48 then Secretary of State for Scotland 1951-57. (The first Earl of Moray was the first head of government to be assassinated with a firearm, shot in Linlithgow in 1570.)
Rituals and customs are going away big time in today's age. I always admired the discipline of much older generations, but maybe that says a lot about the culture I grew up in. Nonetheless, we must always strive to better ourselves, for if we don't, learning has diminished in our lives...
I could not agree more. And I believe that when we forget these things, it leads society down a dark path that can be avoided.