Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, was a tower of strength to her husband before and during his reign. Her support meant that a man who never expected to be King, became one of the most loved British monarchs.
Elizabeth was born on 4 August 1900 in London. Her father, the Scottish Aristocrat, Lord Glamis and his wife Cecilia had ten children. Elizabeth was the second youngest. She spent her young life between the family's country estate at St Paul's Waldenbury in Hertfordshire, and Glamis Castle in Scotland. When she was four, her grandfather died and her parents became the Earl and Countess of Strathmore.
Most of her schooling until the age of eight was by Governesses, then she went to a private academy in Sloane Street. Her mother removed her and then employed Kathie Kuebler as her tutor. Unfortunately, at the start of the First World War, Miss Kuebler left the family's employment.
Turning fourteen at the beginning of the First World War, Elizabeth helped recouperate wounded soldiers at the family home at Glamis. This meant that the young Elizabeth had to learn to talk to people from all walks of life. She lost her brother Fergus in the war, and another brother Michael was captured and sent to a prisoner of war camp.
At the end of the war, Elizabeth returned to the aristocratic life of a young debutante. Life was a whirl of society balls and events such as Ascot. At these events she came across a young man who was to change her life, Prince Albert (later George VI).
Prince Albert and his new wife with their parents.
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon leaves her house for her wedding.
Bertie, as he was known, became entranced by the young Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth came from an aristocratic background, technically she was a 'commoner'. This was a marriage of love rather than a marriage of alliance between two nations. It was said that he had proposed to her three times when she had accepted on i8 January 1923. This was probably because of advice she had been given to avoid entanglements with royalty at all costs. However, the engagement did go ahead and Bertie gave Elizabeth a sapphire engagement ring. This was not a long engagement and the wedding date was set for April 1923.
Prince Albert, known as Bertie, was the second son of Prince George, Duke of York. As he was the second son, he had no aspirations of taking over the throne and, being a shy man, did not court publicity. He left that to his older brother Prince Edward.
Bertie was born at York Cottage, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. His father was the great-grandson of Queen Victoria, and his mother was the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Teck. He was named Albert as he was born on the anniversary of the death of Queen Victoria's husband, Albert.
In childhood, Bertie was often ill, suffering from stomach and knee problems. He was brought up by nannies and governesses, as was the norm in this time for royalty. His stammer started in childhood, and it was thought that he was naturally left-handed, even though he wrote with his right. At the time, it was thought to be sinister if a child wrote with their left hand and it was often physically discouraged.
Elizabeth and Bertie with their bridesmaids.
Even after his grandfather's succession to the throne in 1901, Bertie was still only third in line to the throne. While still being close to the throne, he was far enough removed that he could embark on other things rather than concentrating on being king. Therefore, it was thought that a career in the armed services would be a good move. Unfortunately it wasn't. At the Royal Naval College, Osborne, in his final exam, Bertie came bottom of the class. However, he did go on to the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. He saw service in the First World War in the Battle of Jutland, but was taken out of action because of a duodenal ulcer. Then he went to the Royal Naval Air Service at Cranwell, but then transferred to the Royal Air Force training centre there.
Bertie did go to Trinity College, Cambridge for a year in 1919, where he read history, economics and civics. After becoming Duke of York, he started to take on royal duties for his father. He became interested in industry and working conditions, and became President of the Industrial Society. This society provided advice, consultancy and research on the future of work, and improving working life.
It was around this time - 1920 - that he met Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, and, after rejecting two marriage proposals, she finally accepted.
The wedding took place on 26 April 1923 at Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth's dress was designed by Madame Handley Seymour, a former Court dressmaker to Queen Mary. It was a 'flapper style' dropped-waist, full-length dress with a train. Her headdress was worn in a very modern way for the time - low over the brow, like a cloche hat. Her bouquet was of white
The McVitie & Price Wedding Cake, weighing 800 pounds!
Lilies. Prince Albert wore his RAF Group Captain's uniform. There were eight bridesmaids, including cousins of the groom and nieces of the bride.
The BBC wished to record the wedding, but this was not allowed by the Church as it could not be guaranteed that it would be heard only in respectful places. However, it was the first royal wedding to be filmed.
Back at Buckingham Palace, the wedding breakfast consisted of Consomme a la Windsor, Supremes de Saumon Reine Mary, Coteletters d'Agneau Prince Albert, Chapons a la Strathmore and Fraises Duchesse Elizabeth. Many wedding cakes were decorated, including one by McVitie & Price, which weighed 800 pounds!
The honeymoon consisted of time spent at Polesden Lacey, Surrey, and at Glamis Castle, where Elizabeth contracted whooping cough. Not a good start to a honeymoon.
King George V and Queen Mary.
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