I had to come off a break from this board for one day at least. The birthday of my favorite modern royal lady.
August 4, 1900- birth of Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, future Queen Mum.
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the 9th child of 10 children of Claude Bowes-Lyon who at the time of her birth was Lord Glamis. Her mother was Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck. As she was born during the life time of her grandfather, also Claude Bowes-Lyon, she was born The Honorable Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. After her grandfather died when she was four, and her father succeeded as the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, she held the courtesy title lady.
Her location of birth is questionable. She may have been born at her parents home in Westminster or on the way to the hospital. Her birth though was in the 1901 census listed as being at her family's English country home St Paul's Walden Bury. She was baptized at the local parish with her paternal aunt Lady Maude Bowes-Lyon and her maternal cousin Venetia James among her godparents.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul's_Walden_Bury
She had six brothers and three sisters. Her only younger sibling was her brother David who died while visiting her, at Birkhall in 1961. Margaret was seven months pregnant when he died, and named her son David after him.
She spent her childhood between St Paul's and Glammis castle.
She was 14 when Britain entered WWI. Four of her brothers served in the army. Her brother Fergus died and her brother Michael who was MIA turned out to be a POW. Glammis was used as a field hospital during the war and while she was too young to be a nurse, she helped in running it. She helped save many items in the castle during a fire. She was remembered kindly by the soldiers she helped take care of during the war.
Albert, at the time the Duke of York and second son of George V first sought her hand in 1921. Elizabeth though was opposed to marrying a royal worried about losing her voice and freedom. When Albert refused to marry anyone but her, his mother Mary headed for Scotland to speak to her. Mary came back, quite convinced Elizabeth was the perfect wife for her son, but not willing to interfere for Albert.
His second attempt came in 1922 when his sister Princess Mary got married. Elizabeth had served as a bridesmaid in the wedding. She once again turned him down but Bertie was not to be discouraged. Third time was the charm for when he proposed in 1923 in January she finally agreed to wed him. His marriage to a daughter of a peer and not a royal was seen a sign of modernity.
They married April 26, 1923 at Westminster. She started the tradition of laying the bouquet on the tomb of the unknown warrior as she laid her bouquet in honor of Fergus. They honeymooned at the home of Margaret Greville (the woman who bequeathed the Greville jewels to her on her death) and then headed to Scotland where unfortunately they got whooping cough.
Their first child, the current Elizabeth II, was born in 1926 in London. Their daughter Margaret was born at her family home Glamis in 1930.
Her father in law died in 1936 and Edward became Edward VIII. Edward VIII in his wish to marry his American mistress Wallis, abdicated the throne and Elizabeth's husband found himself king December 11, 1936. The couple were crowned May 12, 1937 at Westminster Abbey.
Elizabeth was queen consort from 1936-1952. During WWII she refused to leave London and go to Canada with her daughter as cabinet wanted. She refused to leave her husband or send the girls away. Her and Bertie were symbols of the fight against fascism for their people. She toured hospitals and other spots. They remained at Windsor palace at night for safety, using Buckingham palace only for work during those years.
Sadly her husband died from cancer in 1952 when their daughter Elizabeth and Philip were on tour in Kenya. She retired for a short time following her husband's death to Scotland but she returned to London and was as busy as dowager queen as she had been as queen consort. She became known as the Queen Mum to distinguish her from her daughter.
She restored the Castle of Mey in Scotland which became her private retreat in the summer for a few weeks. And renewed an interest in horse racing.
Elizabeth's final engagements were in November 2001. Her daughter Margaret died 3 days after the anniversary of Bertie's death in 2002. She flew by helicopter so that she would not be photographed in her wheel chair, insisting on attending her daughter's funeral.
On March 30 she died at Royal Lodge. At the time of her death she was the longest living member of the royal family dying at 101 and 238 days. Her sister in law Alice would surpass her, dying at 102 in 2004.
Her funeral was held April 9 at Westminster Abbey with a million people lining the streets to see it. She was buried with her husband and daughter. Her funeral wreath was laid on the tomb of the unknown soldier, as a nod to her wedding almost 79 years earlier.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen...don_England_Victor_Grigas_2011-31_cropped.jpg
She was out lived by one daughter, 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She now has 12 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren. Unfortunately her grandson David's daughter Margarita was born in May 2002, her mother pregnant with her during both the funerals of the Queen Mum and Princess Margaret.
