Elizabeth: The Queen Mother

A Twentieth Century Life

'Elizabeth: The Queen Mother' is a celebration of the life of the nation's most treasured Royal, providing a fascinating look at the events of the twentieth century, as well as an endearing portrait of the Queen Mother herself. Grania Forbes (with unprecedented access to the archives of Glamis Castle where Elizabeth was brought up) begins with the Queen Mother's childhood, describing family life, her education and upbringing. We see her as a fashionable young woman, making an impact on London society in the roaring twenties. We learn how she met the Duke of York and of the courtship that led to the first marriage between a commoner and a member of the Royal Family. Subsequent chapters following a thematic format take us through the major events of her life. We learn how the abdication crisis affected her and how she had a key role to play in restoring the prestige of the monarchy.

During the Second World War, the Queen Mother had an important part to play as figurehead and morale booster, making visits to the East End and was the first Royal to mingle with the crowds, a tactic later developed so successfully by her grand daughter-in-law Diana in an effort to relate the monarchy to the people. We also learn about the loves of the Queen Mother's life, her relationships with her family, her friends, her passion for racing and her immense sense of mischief as well as her love affair with the public. With snippets of inside information and quotes from other members of the Royal Family, Grania Forbes' pacy text takes one right into the heart of the home life of the monarchy.

Lavishly illustrated and written by an author close to the family for more than twenty years, 'Elizabeth: The Queen Mother' is an enduring celebration of a wonderful life, as well as a chronicle of the twentieth century to cherish.