King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (Queen mother)

[CyrilSebastian]

There was a State Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to France in 1938. This had to be nearly canceled. Elizabeth's mother, Cecilia, Countess of Strathmore died on June 23rd.

[Carreen]

Famously, Norman Hartnell designed wonderful white dresses for the Queen to acknowledge her mourning without making her look drab like black would. White is a traditional mourning colour for royal families. It seems the French really fell for her charm :-)

For quite a lot of British monarchs, it seems there is an iconic visit to France where they win over the French public. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's visit to Napoleon III, Edward VII in Paris, George VI and Elizabeth's visit you mentioned... a very complex relationship between rivalry and entente cordial.

I like the name Cecilia (one of my daughters has a similar name) and I'd love to see it back in use in the BRF.

[CyrilSebastian]

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the damaged streets of Bath, England in 1942.   
http://www.alamy.com/stoc...ts-of-bath-169209931.html

[CyrilSebastian]

During the Second World War, to help counter food shortages, George VI authorized the ploughing of 1,500 acres of Windsor Great Park to plant cereal crops.

[Duchess of Verona]

The royal family was a force that Churchill was grateful to have during the war. George VI  and QEQM were, combined, and separately, national treasures. They would be horrified by recent events in all matters.

[CyrilSebastian]

King George VI (then Duke of York) playing golf at Ton Pentre, Rhondda  Valley, in May 1924     
http://www.alamy.com/stoc...tre-rhondda-83337363.html

[CyrilSebastian]

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore. Would you say that her background of high position and privilege was good training for her role of Queen Consort?

[CyrilSebastian]

King George VI rode in his carriage on Royal Hunt Day at Ascot races on June 15, 1938.     
http://www.gettyimages.com/license/79666137

[kbart]

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore. Would you say that her background of high position and privilege was good training for her role of Queen Consort?

I think she certainly had an idea of service - to the staff and workers on her fathers estates, for example. And during WW1 the family's Glamis Castle was turned into a hospital for wounded soldiers and there are pictures of her with the soldiers. I think she was too young to have trained as a proper nurse but she helped there. And some letters that soldiers wrote to her were published IIRC

[LadyBunion]

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore. Would you say that her background of high position and privilege was good training for her role of Queen Consort?

I think the one thing about  her position and upbringing was her absolute loyalty and duty to the crown

[Duchess of Verona]

To a large degree, this could be said as well about Diana Spencer. Say whatever else you want, those two ladies knew their duty and did what was expected of them.

[CyrilSebastian]

Elizabeth the Duchess of York attended a garden party for the "Lest We Forget" Association in East Molesey in July 1924.

[CyrilSebastian]

In his speech on the End of the War in Europe (May 8, 1945), King George VI remarked, 'In the darkest hours we knew that the enslaved and isolated peoples of Europe looked to us; their hopes were our hopes; their confidence confirmed our faith.'

[CyrilSebastian]

Photo of Elizabeth, Duchess of York by Time Life   
http://www.gettyimages.com/license/50680438

[CyrilSebastian]

King George VI with the Royal Family at the Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle on July 8, 1946   
http://www.gettyimages.com/license/3094375