HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900-2002)

[murphy's mom]

Anyone know when the official biography of the Queen Mother by William Shawcross is to be published?

[PssMarie-Elisabeth]

Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother PC of photograph by Dorothy Wilding

http://i41.tinypic.com/241qmih.jpg


Where are all the negatives? * just teasing *

[Duke of Marmalade]

There was an interesting programme the other week on the Queen Mother's closet page, William Tallon, called Backstair's Billy, on channel 4. Those who live in the UK still have the chance to watch a catch up.
Backstairs Billy: The Queen Mum's Butler | Watch Online | Free Catch-Up on Channel 4 Shows

Interesting stuff as the programme gives a unique insight into the private world of Clarence House through the rise and fall of William Tallon, devoted servant, friend and butler to the Queen Mother for over 51 years. After the Queen Mother's death though, the royals quickly cleaned up with her old habits, world & lifestyle, converting Clarence House into a modern household.

Some info on him, a flamboyant personality:
Will Backstairs Billy, the Queen Mother's eccentric retainer, spill his royal secrets from the grave? | Mail Online

[Warren]

The Queen Mother has been described as "the last of the Edwardians" and no doubt Clarence House was run in that grand Edwardian style. Of course, no-one would say no to her and she more or less did (and spent) as she pleased, but I guess that's part of the appeal. In terms of image management she did rather well: warm and fluffy on the outside, while being cold and ruthless as she saw fit. One day this public/private contrast will be examined fully, but probably not for a while yet.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Warren

The Queen Mother has been described as "the last of the Edwardians" and no doubt Clarence House was run in that grand Edwardian style. Of course, no-one would say no to her and she more or less did (and spent) as she pleased, but I guess that's part of the appeal. In terms of image management she did rather well: warm and fluffy on the outside, while being cold and ruthless as she saw fit. One day this public/private contrast will be examined fully, but probably not for a while yet.

The programme did hint at this attitude and both - QM and her page - seem to have suited each other well in that respect. She was untouchable for the Royal Family and he was untouchable for the househould because of her back-off. But how could it be differently after 51 years and the closeness that developed?

Anyway, the fact that QEII removed her ailing mother from Clarence House and took her to Windsor, out of Backstair's Billy's range and asked him to move out of his lodge shortly after her death says it all. Not only because of Billy I guess a lot of people were glad when QM finally passed away and the Edwardian style went down to the grave with her.

As you Warren I am curious when there will be the first biography of QM without any icing.

[Menarue]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

There was an interesting programme the other week on the Queen Mother's closet page, William Tallon, called Backstair's Billy, on channel 4. Those who live in the UK still have the chance to watch a catch up.
Backstairs Billy: The Queen Mum's Butler | Watch Online | Free Catch-Up on Channel 4 Shows

Interesting stuff as the programme gives a unique insight into the private world of Clarence House through the rise and fall of William Tallon, devoted servant, friend and butler to the Queen Mother for over 51 years. After the Queen Mother's death though, the royals quickly cleaned up with her old habits, world & lifestyle, converting Clarence House into a modern household.

Some info on him, a flamboyant personality:
Will Backstairs Billy, the Queen Mother's eccentric retainer, spill his royal secrets from the grave? | Mail Online

Reminds one of the faithful Brown and Queen Victoria. Edward VII couldn´t get rid of him as he had already gone but he got rid of every little whimsical souvenir that existed of him in his mother´s effects.

[lblockton]

I was just reading that President Obama is going to visit the Queen and it stated that the Queen Mother would not appreciate that and would not have him in her home. I was so SHOCKED to read that; We never knew that she was prejudiced. What a disappointment, I have lost all respect for her now as I'm sure other people will as well. How terrible to know that she was that way!!!!!!!!!!

[Skydragon]

I don't think anyone could say with certainty what QEQM would or would not have thought, least of all such a statement that she would not have had him in her home, (which wouldn't have happened anyway).

[Warren]

Originally Posted by lblockton

How terrible to know that she was that way!!!!!!!!!!

But how do you know?

[muriel]

Originally Posted by lblockton

I was just reading that President Obama is going to visit the Queen and it stated that the Queen Mother would not appreciate that and would not have him in her home. I was so SHOCKED to read that; We never knew that she was prejudiced. What a disappointment, I have lost all respect for her now as I'm sure other people will as well. How terrible to know that she was that way!!!!!!!!!!

Apart from the fact that few would actually know how the QM may have felt, was your "respect" for the QM so flimsy that an article, irrespective of who may have written it, enough for you to loose respect?

[Duke of Marmalade]

what's the point in speculating how a person might have felt or reacted who died seven years ago?

[Jeniann]

Originally Posted by lblockton

I was just reading that President Obama is going to visit the Queen and it stated that the Queen Mother would not appreciate that and would not have him in her home. I was so SHOCKED to read that; We never knew that she was prejudiced. What a disappointment, I have lost all respect for her now as I'm sure other people will as well. How terrible to know that she was that way!!!!!!!!!!

I think she would've let him in her home at least in her later years. I've always thought she was probably less racist than Prince Philip, or at least better at concealing it.

Even if she was prejudiced I think she was a smart enough lady to realize the President of the United States is the President of the United States and you need to show him the respect that comes with his station.

[Mermaid1962]

Yes, that's what I think, also. She certainly knew how to do her duty.

Originally Posted by Jeniann

Even if she was prejudiced I think she was a smart enough lady to realize the President of the United States is the President of the United States and you need to show him the respect that comes with his station.

[Kotroman]

I know I'm going to raise a lot of eyebrows (it seems I do that quite often ), but you can't know that she wasn't a racist just like you can't know she was a racist. I think it's naive to believe that every lovely-looking queen or princess is sweet and "such a good person". We cannot say that Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was a good (or bad) person just because she looks so on the photographs. It takes much more to know someone's soul. We all have flaws; crowns may hide them, but they can't erase them.

Facts: The Queen Mother was born in 1900. That's 54 years before segregation was de jure stopped in the USA and more than 80 years before African Americans actually started enjoying similar rights as Americans of European descent. She was raised as an aristocrat and an average aristocrat of her era (remember, she was born 110 years ago!) did not have high opinion of poor white people, let alone about people who were slaves de jure until the second half of the 19th century and de facto until who knows when. I don't claim she had prejudice, but if she did (as Kitty Kelley claims), I can't blame her no matter how wrong it is.

Anyway, shouldn't this thread belong to British Royal History section?

[Mermaid1962]

I think that I understand what you're saying. It's all too easy to judge people of years ago by today's standards.

I find that often people see celebrities as simply good or evil and not as human beings who usually have a mixture of both. Therefore, if Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was prejudiced toward other races, that makes her automatically a bad person and not worthy of respect for the good that she did do.

Originally Posted by Kotroman

Facts: The Queen Mother was born in 1900. That's 54 years before segregation was de jure stopped in the USA and more than 80 years before African Americans actually started enjoying similar rights as Americans of European descent. She was raised as an aristocrat and an average aristocrat of her era (remember, she was born 110 years ago!) did not have high opinion of poor white people, let alone about people who were slaves de jure until the second half of the 19th century and de facto until who knows when. I don't claim she had prejudice, but if she did (as Kitty Kelley claims), I can't blame her no matter how wrong it is.

Anyway, shouldn't this thread belong to British Royal History section?

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Kotroman

Anyway, shouldn't this thread belong to British Royal History section?

The Introduction post in the Royal History subforum explains why threads are where they are.

[lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by lblockton

I was just reading that President Obama is going to visit the Queen and it stated that the Queen Mother would not appreciate that and would not have him in her home. I was so SHOCKED to read that; We never knew that she was prejudiced. What a disappointment, I have lost all respect for her now as I'm sure other people will as well. How terrible to know that she was that way!!!!!!!!!!

Where did you read this article from?
I'm sure she wasn't like that.
x

[wedmonds]

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was in serious debt with Coutts Bank at her death in 2002. With a seven million pounds sterling overdraft left for her daughter, 'The Queen' to repay at her bank. She still left well over seventy million pounds in assets. The Queen inherited most of it. Some royals have been known to go into debt and not be as financially secure as one may think. Sarah, Duchess of York as also in serious debt at the bank and had to repay a lot of money. The Queen Mum, like Sarah loved to shop and buy expensive things. The Queen Mum actually got over a million USD dollars a year from the civil list and still had to be given money from the Queen and Prince Charles to help fund her extravagance.

[Skydragon]

Could I ask where you get your figures regarding the overdraft, as I don't recall any facts/details ever being published.

QEQM received approx £643,000 from HM (via the civil list).

AS can be seen from this article from The Daily Mail -

The Queen Mother's financial secrets, which caused concern to so many during her long life, seem to have died with her.

The Empress of Extravagance: How the Queen Mother left behind more than £7m in debts | Mail Online

Therefore it would seem that all anyone can do is guess.

[wedmonds]

I got my figures from that same article by the Daily Mail. £643,000 is almost equal to about $1 M. USD a year that she got from the Queen. And in the article it says she had around £4-7 M. in debt. I got the same figures that you got. If you go to Wikipedia and read the Queen Mother's article you can read more about it. In her Legacy. She liked to spend. I guess she was not the sweet inocent granny people want her to be. Huh? LOL