Terms of Endearment

[Duchess Ravenna]

If, say, one happens to be really close and long-standing friends with QEII, for instance, does one get to call her "Lilibet" in private moments? Or is that out of line even for close personal friends and family who've known her for ages?

I seem to recall Marina Ogilvy addressing her as Cousin Lilibet in a letter when there was all that kerfuffle some years back, but I could be mistaken...

How do other monarchs and up-there royals feel about first-name basis?

[Odette]

Originally Posted by Duchess Ravenna

If, say, one happens to be really close and long-standing friends with QEII, for instance, does one get to call her "Lilibet" in private moments? Or is that out of line even for close personal friends and family who've known her for ages?

I seem to recall Marina Ogilvy addressing her as Cousin Lilibet in a letter when there was all that kerfuffle some years back, but I could be mistaken...

How do other monarchs and up-there royals feel about first-name basis?

I have read numerous times that the only one who can now call her Lillibet is Princess Alexandra. (Perhaps besides Prince Philip) I doubt Marina would ever address her as cousin Lillibet.

[Duchess Ravenna]

It was a letter that Marina Ogilvy sent her in response to a big uproar over Marina's wedding, IIRC. HM had granted the customary formal permission to marry, but pointedly did not call Marina "my trusty and well-beloved cousin", which prompted the letter in which Marina apologized and addressed HM as Cousin Lilibet. I think the blowup was over Marina marrying an "unsuitable" person and putting private pictures and family business in the paper, or selling photo rights? Maybe someone else will remember better than I do.

Aren't there any other close friends privileged to call her that? Or members of, say, the Mountbatten family? Just curious...

[Odette]

Oh I remember the scandal Marina caused with the Mowatt guy and all the brouhaha that swirled around her. I do not recall reading about any letters she may have exchanged with the Queen and how they addressed each other.

[Winnie]

Wasn't there something in the Diary/journal of Queen Victoria which, on the death of her dear Albert, wrote "Now no one is alive who will ever be able to call me by my name"? Or was that quote "made-up" by some news media person as a human interest story?

[Duchess Ravenna]

Oh, that's really sad, if true. Heck, even if made up. Poor dear Queen V...I never really thought of it, but yeah, I guess that would have been the case.

But Marina's letter was indeed published. Perhaps in one of the royal fan mags, like Majesty or Royalty? I absolutely did read it. But that was some scolding, not to be called "trusty and well-beloved".

What has Marina been up to in the years since?

[Odette]

Originally Posted by Duchess Ravenna

Oh, that's really sad, if true. Heck, even if made up. Poor dear Queen V...I never really thought of it, but yeah, I guess that would have been the case.

But Marina's letter was indeed published. Perhaps in one of the royal fan mags, like Majesty or Royalty? I absolutely did read it. But that was some scolding, not to be called "trusty and well-beloved".

What has Marina been up to in the years since?

I bumped on a thread in these forums that relates to her doings.
If you come across that letter it would be lovely to read it. She caused quite a scandal in her youth.

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by Winnie

Wasn't there something in the Diary/journal of Queen Victoria which, on the death of her dear Albert, wrote "Now no one is alive who will ever be able to call me by my name"? Or was that quote "made-up" by some news media person as a human interest story?

If so, it should be said that the "name" queen Victoria referred to was probably her first name Alexandrina. IIRC prince Albert called her "Drina" but when she became queen all others switched over to "Victoria"except her mother, her uncle Leopold and maybe Baroness Lehzen, her former governess. All those died before Albert, so the sentence would make sense.