Even as a girl, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon didn’t dream of being queen or part of the royal family. A smart, educated and resourceful young lady, she realizes that this fate is not as wonderful as it seems.
After passing her exams at Oxford with honors, she graduated from the University of Glasgow, but she is too free-spirited and does not like to hide her thoughts and emotions.
Elizabeth is aware that the royal crown is too heavy, so she twice refuses Prince Albert to marry him. But he is in love and knows for sure that he only wants her. In February 1923, the prince finally received the long-awaited yes.
Elizabeth becomes the Duchess of York and proves to be an ideal wife. She helps her husband get rid of stuttering, supports him during treatment and accompanies him to all events.
The Smiling Duchess
They call Elizabeth “the smiling duchess”. Wherever she appears, she always smiles, which gives her authority.
The other nickname given to it by the people during the Second World War was the “rainbow of hope”. By then the problems of succession to the throne in Britain had already been resolved, Elizabeth’s husband ascended to the head of the empire as King George VI.
During the war years, the Queen visited hospitals, factories and factories to interact with ordinary citizens and always dressed in cheerful colors.
But the British did not appreciate her outfits, believing that it was unacceptable for her to come to the poor in beautiful and expensive clothes, to which Elizabeth replied: “When people come to visit me, they wear their best, showing respect for me. I do the same!”
In the 1990s, the Queen Mother was accused of living too luxuriously and spending too much. That it was she who forced Charles to marry the “pure-blooded” Diana and then gave her grandson her estate in Scotland so he could meet Camilla in secret from his wife.
False image
For many years the English press maintained the image of the Queen Mother as a zealous housewife and an undisputed moral authority. This opinion was created, among other things, by the planned leaks of information by confidants and her minions. For example, the groom Wyndham “confidently” claimed that during her entire life the Queen Mother owned only 6 coats and did not change the trampled carpets and faded curtains in the residences for years.
After the death of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, however, it turns out that she owes the banks millions, writes “Trud”.
Indeed, born in 1900 and witnessing the last flush of British imperial grandeur before the First World War, the Queen Mother retained her passion for high society luxury throughout her life. Even after the death of her husband George VI and the accession of her daughter Elizabeth II to the throne, she did not think (which would be logical given her status as a widow) to give up her extravagant habits.
What does Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon spend her money on?
The Queen Mother of England maintains five personal residences, which are constantly served by about 100 people (footmen, housekeepers, cooks, maids, gardeners, etc.). In addition, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon is known for her passion for fine clothes. Her wardrobes are filled with hundreds of matching outfits for every occasion.
Another huge expense of the Queen Mother is her love of entertaining and throwing parties for friends. Each guest at such an event is served by a separate footman in red livery, and the hostess’s favorite dishes are served on the table in silver dishes: lobster, lamb, and desserts made from cherries soaked in liqueur.
For alcoholic drinks, she prefers Krug vintage rosé champagne and Dubonnet aperitif with gin.
In parallel, the Queen Mother is literally obsessed with horse racing. At various times in her life, she bred up to 12 horses, costing the British exchequer one and a half million pounds sterling a year. It is known that already at an advanced age, Elizabeth even flies in some helicopter competitions.
A step away from scandal
At the same time, the annual allowance of the grandmother of the nation during the last period of her life was 643,000 pounds sterling, a considerable sum in itself, but, considering her enormous expenses, manifestly insufficient. The Queen of England is aware of this situation and periodically tries to influence her mother. But basically, it’s business as usual.
In 1999, Elizabeth II checked the bank accounts and discovered that her mother owed the banks £7 million. To avoid scandal, these debts were repaid through various tricks on the part of the queen. After Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon’s death, however, it emerged that she had another debt of £4 million to Coutts Bank.
With the efforts of paid journalists, the Queen Mother was considered a “woman of principles” all her life, a worthy “grandmother of the nation”, etc. But among other things, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon also turns out to be a big spendthrift who can’t control her huge passion for a luxurious lifestyle.
However, the British sincerely love her. Before Diana appeared in the family, she was a universal favorite. The 101st anniversary of the “grandmother of the nation” is celebrated as a national holiday. The Queen Mother died in 2002, aged 102.
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