A few people have asked me why the death of the Queen’s Mother is such a big deal, so here goes:
In 1937, our King was Edward the 8th. He was the eldest son of George the 5th, and, on George’s death, he automatically became King. The problem was that he was an unmarried fellow and he also had the hots for a twice divorced American lady named Wallis Simpson.
As the monarch is, theoretically at least, the head of the Church of England, King Edwards pecadillo’s with his lady love were declared an absolute no-no. We can’t have some twice divorced American lady sat on the throne!
Well, eventually, Edward 8th chooses his girl over the throne and says, stuff this King business, I want out, bye bye Buckingham palace, get yourselves another monarch! With that, he abdicated the throne and married the girlie of his dreams.
Which meant that now England needed a new King. Next in line was the younger brother of Edward 8th, so the job went to him and, he duly became King of England, and was known as George, the sixth. Or, if you like, George 6th.
Now George inherited the job as his birthright, as second eldest son he was next in the line of succession. However, George 6th was already married to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, so she actually became Queen, but only a Queen through marriage, not by birthright. In real terms she was actually a consort, which meant that she was only a Queen as long as her husband was alive, if he died she would have to relinquish her title as Queen.
2 years after George’s succession, WW2 broke out and Queen (consort) Elizabeth proved to be of a stalwart disposition. She supported her husband tirelessly and helped him as he struggled with his stammer. Buckingham palace was bombed 9 times but she still stayed put, she had a ready smile (unlike her daughter Elizabeth 2nd.) and was adored for her common touch with the people. While surveying the damage she famously said: "I'm glad we have been bombed; I feel I can look the East End in the face."
She had resisted calls for herself and her two teen-age daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, to flee London for the safety of North America.
"The children will not leave unless I do," various sources have reported her as saying. "I shall not leave unless their father does, and the king will not leave the country in any circumstances whatever."
The royal standard flew defiantly over the palace throughout the war, and the Queen Mother learned how to shoot a revolver, practising her aim in the palace gardens.
The Queen Mother toured the country regularly, sharing in its woes, visiting badly damaged hospitals and factories, and keeping up the morale of the troops.
After the war, in 1952, her husband died, and as she was only a Queen by marriage, the title went to the next in line to her late husband, the eldest child being being a daughter, also named Elizabeth. She, as a widow then retained her title of queen, but with the rider “Queen Mother”. Her daughter then became Elizabeth the 2nd, note that this was second to the Elizabeth who was around in Tudor times, you don't get a number if you are only a monarch by marriage!
The Queen Mum was dearly loved because she took on the role of a Queen despite never having even remotely being prepared for it. She loved her gin, her music, her country. She had a way with her that made people feel as though she was only interested in them and was also extraordinarily patriotic. Elderly people remember when she was Queen of England – hell, I can remember it! – and somehow managed to rise above the shenannigans that we now see as normal amongst the Royals.
Englishman.
