A G L O R I O U S I L L U S T R AT E D H I S T O R Y

QUEEN
ELIZABETH II
and the
ROYAL FAMILY
 QUEEN
ELIZABETH II
and the
ROYAL FAMILY
 Design assistance
DK UK
Senior Art Editor Senior Editor
Sharon Spencer Rob Houston

Alex Lloyd
Editors
Constance Novis, Helen Fewster
CONTENTS
Jacket Design US Editor
Development Manager Margaret Parrish
Sophia MTT
Managing Editor
Managing Art Editor Angeles Gavira Guerrero
Michael Duffy
Producer, Pre-production
Art Director Francesca Wardell
Karen Self
Producer
Publisher Mary Slater
Liz Wheeler Britain’s Civil Wars
Publishing Director
Jonathan Metcalf
THE BRITISH MONARCHY Wars between royalists and parliamentarians
40

DK DELHI
400–1911 8 lead to the only period of republican rule in
Britain’s history.
Art Editors Senior Editors Introduction and Timeline 10
Shreya Anand, Upasana Sharma Sreshtha Bhattacharya, ■ THE RESTORATION 42
Anita Kakar The First English Kings 12
Jacket Designer ■ WINDSOR CASTLE 44
Suhita Dharamjit Editors From Alfred the Great onward, these early
Vibha Malhotra, monarchs fashion Anglo-Saxon and Norse The Hanoverians 48
DTP Designers
Priyaneet Singh kingdoms into a realm called England. The desire for a Protestant monarch leads
Jaypal Chauhan, Nand Kishore Acharya
the people to invite a royal relation from
Picture Researcher
Managing Jackets Editor ■ THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY 14
Germany to rule Britain.
Saloni Singh
Sakshi Saluja The Normans 16
Production Manager ■ QUEEN VICTORIA 50
Pre-production Manager Thanks to William the Conqueror’s victory at
Pankaj Sharma Victoria becomes Queen 54
Balwant Singh Hastings, England gains a new foreign ruling
Managing Editor class from Normandy. A young Victoria accedes to the throne
Managing Art Editor
Rohan Sinha on the death of her uncle, William IV.
Sudakshina Basu The Plantagenets 20
The longest-ruling royal house, the ■ OSBORNE 56
First American Edition, 2015
Published in the United States by DK Publishing Plantagenets endure everything from the ■ THE GREAT EXHIBITION 58
345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 Black Death to the Hundred Years’ War.
Victoria after Albert 60
Copyright © 2015 Dorling Kindersley Limited ■ THE PEASANTS’ REVOLT 22 Queen Victoria mourns the loss of her
A Penguin Random House Company Lancaster and York 24 beloved husband and trusted adviser,
15 16 17 18 19 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Prince Albert.
Two warring families within the Plantagenets
001–280581–September/2015
embark on a long period of civil strife as they ■ EMPRESS OF INDIA 62
All rights reserved. fight bitterly for the throne of England.
Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part From Empire
■ THE WARS OF THE ROSES 26
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a to Commonwealth 64
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, The Tudors 28 The dominions of Britain’s vast empire
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior The first modern royal dynasty, the Tudors gradually gain some self-determination.
written permission of the copyright owner.
try to assume control of the Church and
Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited. Victoria’s Jubilees 66
send the kingdom hurtling between
The public rediscovers its love of the Queen
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. Protestantism and Catholicism.
as the people help her celebrate first 50,
ISBN 978-1-4654-3800-3
■ ELIZABETH I 32 then 60 years on the throne.
DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for Monarchs of Scotland 34 ■ THE CROWN JEWELS 68
sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. For details, A series of dynamic and ambitious
contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, 345 Hudson Street, New York, monarchs forges Scotland into a nation. ■ END OF AN ERA 70
New York 10014
■ HOLYROODHOUSE 36 ■ EDWARD VII 72
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The Stuarts 38
Printed in China
Under the Stuarts, the role of the sovereign
A WORLD OF IDEAS: changes from that of God-appointed
SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ruler to constitutional monarch.

www.dk.com
THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR The Royal Family ELIZABETH II The Coronation 140
in World War II 102 A global audience tunes in to an event
1911–1947 74 1947–1960 116
Following his father’s example in World that combines tradition, reverent
Introduction and Timeline 76 War I, George VI takes on the task of Introduction and Timeline 118 solemnity, and genuine joy.

■ GEORGE V 78 boosting the nation’s morale. The Wedding of ■ THE CORONATION CEREMONY 142
The Royals in Wartime 80 Elizabeth’s Teenage Years 106 Elizabeth and Philip 120 ■ CORONATION DRESS 144
The Royal Family finds itself the focus for War breaks out when Princess Elizabeth Amid the gray austerity of postwar Britain,
is 13 years old. In a foreshadowing of her the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Philip ■ SANDRINGHAM 146
national unity and patriotism during the
deadliest conflict in the country’s history. future role, she addresses the country’s Mountbatten offers a flash of color. The Queen as
children on the radio. Head of the Church
■ BUCKINGHAM PALACE 84 ■ CLARENCE HOUSE 122 150
■ FAMILY PETS 108
■ THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH 124
The Queen takes on her role as head of the
■ THE FIRST KING’S SPEECH 88 Anglican Church worldwide and commits
■ QUEEN ELIZABETH, THE The Births of Charles and Anne 126 to ensure freedom to worship for all.
■ EDWARD VIII 90
QUEEN MOTHER 110 Within a year of their marriage, Princess
Travel and State Visits 152
Edward VIII’s Abdication 92 ■ THE FIRST TOUR IN AFRICA 112 Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrate the
Elizabeth II embarks on a grueling tour of
The burden of the monarchy sits heavily on arrival of their first son.
Elizabeth and Philip 114 Commonwealth countries within a year of
the shoulders of the new king, and he gives
The young princess meets an exuberant and ■ ELIZABETH II, THE EARLY YEARS 130 her coronation. During her entire reign, she
up the throne to marry the woman he loves.
outspoken exiled Greek prince. The Royal maintains a busy regime of overseas visits.
Elizabeth becomes Queen 132
The Unexpected King 94 Family warms to him and Elizabeth and The unexpected death of her father propels Margaret’s Doomed Romance 154
Although unprepared to be king, George VI Philip are engaged to be married. Elizabeth to the throne at the age of 25. Princess Margaret is forced to choose
discharges his duties unflinchingly at the
between her life in the Royal Family and
most difficult of times, as Britain is again The Queen in
her love for a divorcee, Peter Townsend.
drawn into world war. Parliament and Politics 134
The Queen opens Parliament for the first ■ THE FIRST TELEVISED
■ GEORGE VI 96
time and takes on her role in politics. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 156
Elizabeth and
Margaret’s Childhood 98 ■ CARRIAGES AND COACHES 136
As Princess Elizabeth is born to the Duke
and Duchess of York, she is third in line to
the throne. When her father is crowned
King George VI, she is 11 years old.
 ■ PRINCESS ANNE’S EQUESTRIAN The Queen’s 60th birthday
QUEEN AND MOTHER QUEEN AND 224
Queen Elizabeth II marks another milestone
CAREER
1960–1980 158
186
GRANDMOTHER greeting the crowds and collecting daffodils
■ PRINCESS MARGARET 188 1980–2000 196
Introduction and Timeline 160 on a rainy day at Buckingham Palace.
■ ST. JAMES’S PALACE 190 Introduction and Timeline 198
The Childhood of the Princes ■ DIANA’S DRESSES 228
and Princess 162 The Assassination of Lord The Marriage of Charles Charles and Diana Divorce 230
The education and early years of Queen Mountbatten 192 and Diana 200 A royal soap opera unfolds when the
Elizabeth’s four children, and how their The Irish Republican Army strikes at the The world is invited to the fairy-tale Prince and Princess of Wales become
schooling shaped their personalities. heart of the British establishment with royal wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral in publically estranged.
the murder of the Queen’s cousin. London through the magic of television.
■ THE PRINCE OF WALES 166 The Annus Horribilis 234
The Decolonization of Africa ■ VISITING THE VATICAN 202 A devastating fire at Windsor Castle
■ THE LAUNCH OF THE QE2 168
and the Caribbean 194 caps a turbulent year for the monarchy
■ COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS 204
Charles is Invested as the Dismantling the British Empire creates but ushers in an era of financial change.
Prince of Wales 170 new international bonds when the ■ DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES 206
■ BUCKINGHAM PALACE OPENS
An ancient ceremony is updated for the Commonwealth of Nations is formed. The Caring Princess 208
television age, as Prince Charles pledges
TO THE PUBLIC 236
Diana’s easy nature and empathy wins
his loyalty to the Queen as Prince of Wales. hearts and raises cash for charities, as Wartime Anniversaries 238
the role of Royal Patron evolves. World leaders and royalty gather
■ ROYAL FAMILY 172
to commemorate acts of valor from
■ THE PRINCESS ROYAL 174 ■ KENSINGTON PALACE 212
past conflicts.
■ THE ROYAL TOUR 176 ■ PRINCE ANDREW IN THE
■ DIANA: A STAR IS BORN 240
FALKLANDS 216
The Prince’s Trust 180 The Death of Diana 242
How a radio interview inspired Prince ■ THE DUKE OF YORK 218 Tragedy strikes, and the nation reacts
Charles to found his personal charity, The Marriage of Andrew with an unparalleled outpouring of grief.
and help thousands of young people.
and Sarah 222 ■ FAREWELL TO DIANA 244
The Silver Jubilee 182 The nation celebrates the wedding of
National and international celebrations
■ BALMORAL CASTLE 246
a popular modern couple and relations
mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 25 years on with the media undergo dramatic change. ■ THE EARL OF WESSEX 250
the throne.
TODAY’S ROYAL FAMILY The Diamond Jubilee
Spectacular shows mark the 60th year
282
CONSULTANT
2000–PRESENT 252 Joe Little has been managing editor of Majesty magazine for 16 years. He has
of the Queen’s reign, and the younger
Introduction and Timeline 254 royals take the celebrations overseas. traveled extensively reporting on royal tours since his first overseas assignment
covering Queen Elizabeth II’s historic state visit to Russia in 1994. He was also in
The Duchy of Cornwall 256 ■ OPENING THE OLYMPICS 284
How Prince Charles funds public, private,
Ireland in 2011 to witness the warmth of the welcome for the Queen and Prince
■ PRINCE HARRY 288 Philip. On many of the big royal occasions Joe assists the BBC in an advisory
and charitable activities through successful
management of the Duchy estate. Harry in the Army 290 capacity; among the projects he has been involved with were the wedding of the
Prince Harry’s decade of military service Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, the Queen’s 80th birthday
Two Royal Farewells 258
to Queen and country, placing his life on celebrations in the following year, Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s
The Royal Family mourns the deaths
the frontline in Afghanistan. nuptials and, most recently, Trooping the Color.
of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.
■ THE BIRTH OF GEORGE 292
The Golden Jubilee 260
A national and international party starts
William, Catherine, and AUTHORS
to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 50th year Harry Abroad 294 Susan Kennedy formerly worked in publishing as an editor of encyclopedias and historical
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge atlases. She has contributed to more than 15 books for adults and younger readers, and has a
on the throne.
particular interest in history and modern culture.
become ambassadors for Britain, and
■ BACK TO SCHOOL 262
Prince George captivates the media.
Stewart Ross is a teacher, lecturer, and prize-winning author of historical books for adults and
The Marriage of Charles The Queen’s Grandchildren 296 students. His books on British kings and queens include The British Monarchy From Henry VIII,
and Camilla 264 Monarchs of Scotland, and The Stewart Dynasty.
Queen Elizabeth’s relationship with
A campaign to win over public
her children’s children and her pride R. G. Grant is a history writer who has published more than 30 books, many of them dealing with
support for Camilla comes to
in their achievements. aspects of military conflict. He has written on the American Revolution, World War I, World War II,
fruition with her marriage
and the Vietnam War. He is author of DK’s Battle, Flight, Battle at Sea, and Soldier.
to Charles in 2005. ■ ELIZABETH II, THE LATER YEARS 298

■ THE DIAMOND WEDDING 266 ■ THE INVICTUS GAMES 300 Joel Levy is an author and journalist with a broad experience in writing about the past. Among
his many books on history are the titles History’s Worst Battles, History’s Greatest Discoveries, and
■ THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE 268 The Queen as Patron 302 DK’s History Year by Year.
How the Queen supports more than
■ STATE VISIT TO IRELAND 270
600 charitable causes with high-profile Ros Belford is the author of numerous travel titles for DK, which combine her interest in history,
The Pilot Prince 272 receptions and royal visits. geography, and biography with a love of travel. She is particularly interested in tracing the history
Prince William takes to the skies as of women—from ancient matriarchs to contemporary monarchs.
The Royal Working Life 306
his career takes off, flying military
Queen Elizabeth’s dedication to duty,
and civilian helicopters.
and a typical day at the office.
The Wedding of William
Elizabeth’s Long Reign 310
and Catherine 274 How the world has changed during
Huge celebrations follow the marriage the Queen’s record-breaking reign.
of the new Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge at Westminster Abbey. INDEX 314

■ ROYAL MEMORABILIA 276 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 319

■ THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE 278
THE BRITISH
MONARCHY
400–1911

Gold coin of Elizabeth I picturing

a galleon and a Tudor rose
 400–1911

THE BRITISH MONARCHY

400–1911
400 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400
410 1100 1215 1314 1415
Rome abandons Accession of Henry I, King John puts his seal to the Scotland’s Robert I (the Henry V startles Europe
Britain; Romano- who unites England Magna Carta, placing the Bruce) crushes the English with a remarkable
Britons must now and Normandy. crown beneath the law. army of Edward II at victory over the French
defend themselves Bannockburn. at Agincourt, paving
against Anglo-Saxon the way for his son
invaders as best to be claimed King
they can. of France.

597 1135 1337

St. Augustine arrives in the After crown left Edward III attacks
Kingdom of Kent with to Queen Matilda, France, launching the
a mission to convert daughter of Henry I, series of conflicts
the southern English Cnut the Great Barons revolt in favor known as the
to Christianity. of King Stephen. Hundred Years’ War.

793 1016
Viking assaults on the On death of King
English mainland begin. Ethelred the Unready,
The final version
Cnut becomes first Norse of the Magna Carta,
King of England. issued in 1225

1018 1154 Henry V of England

Malcolm II, King of Accession of Henry II,
Scots, establishes his the first Plantagenet
southern frontier king, whose wife,
on the Tweed River. Eleanor, brings him
vast lands in France.

1042 1265
Anglo-Saxon royal Simon de Montfort invites
line returns with “common” people to meet
accession of Edward at the same time as Lords—
the Confessor. the first Parliament.

1066 1170 1272 1381 1455

After slaying King Harold Discord between the Accession of Edward I, Boy-king Richard II Ineffective and incompetent
at Hastings, William Duke Church and State leads to “Hammer of the Scots,” faces off with rebels government of Henry VI
of Normandy takes the the murder of Archbishop whose son will become in the Peasants’ Revolt leads to outbreak of conflict
English crown. Thomas Becket in first Prince of Wales. that followed labor known as Wars of the Roses
Canterbury Cathedral. shortages caused by between the houses of York
the Black Death. and Lancaster.
1189
1086 Crusading and chivalrous
Results of survey of hero Richard I, Lionheart, 1461
The Alfred the realm are presented takes the crown. Edward of York becomes
jewel, late 9th
century in the Domesday Book. King Edward IV.

871 1290 1399 1485

Accession of Alfred to Death of Margaret “Maid of Position of crown Yorkist King Richard III
throne of Wessex, the Norway” leaves Scottish throne seriously undermined is killed at the Battle of
only English kingdom vacant; Edward I asked to when Richard II is Bosworth, and Henry
not in Viking hands. adjudicate, leading to the deposed and murdered Tudor accedes to the
Scottish Wars of Independence. by his cousin, Henry throne as Henry VII.
Bolingbroke, who
973 becomes Henry IV.
Coronation of Edgar as
King of the English lays
Facsimile copy of
foundations of modern the Domesday Book
coronation ceremony.

10
 THE BRITISH MONARCHY

Britain’s monarchy stretches back further than almost any other of exalted tribal leaders to rulers appointed by God. Their role then
similar institution. Over 1,500 years, between the Early Middle changed slowly, and at times painfully, into that of living symbols,
Ages and the early 20th century, its history was at best checkered. politically neutral personifications of their realm. This long and
The position of British kings and queens of this period—some extraordinarily diverse tale mirrors that of the nation itself. Its
rogues, some average, a few genuinely heroic—rose from that keynote is the triumph of pragmatism—survival through adaptability.

1500 1600 1700 1800

1553 1603 1660 1714 1832
Accession of Henry VIII’s Crowns of England Restoration of Charles II Protestant George I, William IV gives his
daughter Mary I, who and Scotland are united ends 11 years of elector of Hanover assent to the Reform
takes England back to with the accession of republican rule. (Germany), accedes Bill, which expands
Roman Catholicism. Scotland’s James VI of to the British throne. the electorate.
the house of Stuart as
James I of England.

Gold Renaissance Commemorative cup for

medal showing Victoria’s coronation, 1837
Henry VIII, 1545

1558 1628 1685 1745

1509 Start of long reign of Conflict between Accession of Roman Bonnie Prince Charlie
Beginning of Henry Elizabeth I; England Charles I and Catholic James II, who plans leads the last serious
VIII’s reign, one of the returns to Protestantism Parliament leads to make the monarchy a attempt by the exiled
most momentous in and basks in newfound to Parliament drawing Continental-style absolutism. house of Stuart to
British history. national pride. up the Petition of Right. regain British crown.

1513
James IV of Scotland,
married to Henry VIII’s sister
Margaret, is killed in crushing Elizabeth I in her
Scottish defeat at Flodden. coronation robes

1637 1688 1760

Scottish rebellion erupts Mary II and her Dutch George III comes to
when Charles I and husband, William III, the throne determined
Archbishop Laud arrive in England; to play a major role
try to force an James II flees. in politics.
English-style Prayer
Book on Scotland.
1689 1775 1837
Bill of Rights lays American colonies Beginning of long reign
foundations of begin their successful of Queen Victoria,
constitutional rebellion against the during which British
monarchy. British crown. power is at its height.

1642 1694 1793 1861

Outbreak of British Foundation of Bank of Beginning of long Victoria becomes
Civil Wars between King England ties the monied Revolutionary and reclusive after the
and Parliament. classes to the new regime. Napoleonic Wars death of Prince Albert;
with France. rise of republicanism.

1901
Death of Queen
Victoria marks the
end of an era.

1534 1587 1649 1910

Parliament makes Henry VIII Execution of Elizabeth I’s Execution of Charles I: Death of popular
Supreme Head of the Roman Catholic cousin, England becomes Edward VII in the middle
Church of England. Mary Queen of Scots, a republic. of a constitutional crisis
a prisoner in England. over the powers of the
House of Lords.
1547
Beginning of six-year 1588
reign of Edward VI, Spanish invasion
during which the fleet, the Armada, is
Church of England defeated by the Royal Portrait of Charles I and
becomes Protestant. Navy and the weather. Henrietta Maria of England

11
 400–1911

The First English Kings

Between the accession of King Alfred in 871 and the Norman invasion of 1066, Anglo-
Saxon and Norse monarchs forged several small kingdoms into a prosperous, orderly
realm called England. It became one of the most tempting targets in Western Europe.

F
ollowing their invasion of 43 CE Conversion to Christianity after the Kings of England King Alfred’s jewel
(see p.10), the Romans were the arrival of St. Augustine’s mission from Anglo-Saxon kings ruled Inscribed “Alfred had me wrought,”
first to govern a unified England. Rome in 597 helped this unification as well as reigned, and this remarkable treasure is more
Unity collapsed, however, when the process—a united Church welcomed Wessex was fortunate to than 1,100 years old. The enamel
legions departed at the beginning of partnership with broad-based secular be governed by a line of figure on gold plate, covered by rock
the fifth century and southern Britain powers, and enhanced royal authority remarkable warrior-kings. crystal and gold-framed, was probably
was invaded by Germanic tribes of with religious coronations. The monks Alfred’s son Edward the Elder originally used to tip a ceremonial wand.
Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. who wrote the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (reigned 899–924) as well as his
Over the next three centuries, the gave the title of “Bretwalda” to seven grandsons, Athelstan, Edmund, the anti-Danish campaign in the
many small Anglo-Saxon kingdoms early Anglo-Saxon kings, implying that and Eadred, expanded their rule Midlands, Edward the Elder
coalesced into just a handful, the they had some sort of overlordship north and east, thereby creating took East Anglia and drove north
most prominent being Wessex, above their peers. The title was never the Kingdom of England. While to the Humber River. His son,
Mercia, and Northumbria. a formal one, and final unification Edward’s sister Ethelfleda (who Athelstan, who reigned from
had to wait until the 10th century. ruled Mercia from 911–918) led 924–939, then captured the Viking

BE F O RE Alfred the Great

King Alfred of Wessex (849–899),
“ This year, Edgar, ruler
reigned from 871 as the self-styled
Before unification into a single realm
under kings of Wessex, Anglo-Saxon
“King of the Anglo-Saxons” and the
only English king to be given the
of the English, was
England comprised a multiplicity of
small kingdoms.
epithet “Great.” Alfred saved the
Anglo-Saxon monarchy in the face of
consecrated king by
dire adversity. With some justification,
THE HEPTARCHY
By the end of the 7th century ❮❮ 10–11,
he is generally seen as the first king of
England. This role arose more by force
a great assembly.”
the many small tribal units of the Angles, of circumstance than deliberate policy, ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE, 973 CE
Saxons, and Jutes had coalesced into because, by the time of his accession,
seven major kingdoms. These were Wessex, the greater part of England had been kingdom of York. By moving into
Kent, Sussex, Essex, East Anglia, Mercia, overrun by Viking invaders. Northumbria, he grew more powerful
and Northumbria. Kent had been the first Alfred’s landmark achievement was than any ruler since Roman times.
to emerge and, owing partly to its close beating off the Danish Great Army, Edmund “The Magnificent,” who
Continental connections, was for a long time obliging its leader Guthrum to convert reigned from 939–946, and Eadred,
the most sophisticated. By the 8th century, the to Christianity in 879, and dividing who followed Edmund and ruled until
Mercia of King Offa (757–796) was the England between Anglo-Saxon 955, tightened the grip on Northumbria
dominant power. territory and the Scandinavian-held further still. After a brief period of
Danelaw. He strengthened his realm uncertainty, the crown passed in
TODAY A COUNTY, ONCE A KINGDOM with fortified towns, known as burhs, 959 to the sixteen-year-old Edgar the
Some kingdoms, such as Kent, Essex, and enabling him to beat off later Viking Peaceable (c.942–975). His coronation
Surrey, have survived as modern-day counties. attacks. A man of peace as well as war, at Bath years later in 973, where he
Others, such as Hwicce (around Gloucester) England’s first known literate monarch was anointed and received the
and Deira (southeast Yorkshire), have codified the law, encouraged literature, allegiance of Britain’s lesser kings,
disappeared entirely. and even translated announced that the Kingdom of
four Latin works into England was here to stay. Remarkably,
Old English. modern British coronations follow the
form that St. Dunstan devised for
Edgar more than a millennium ago.

Ethelred the Unready

Brother succeeding brother is a
reminder of the uncertain nature of
the Anglo-Saxon royal succession.
Close blood relationship was key, but
nomination by the predecessor and
approval by the nobility were also
needed. Therefore, unsurprisingly, a

Viking vessel
The first English Kings lived when Vikings dominated
many parts of the British Isles and northwest Europe.
These seafarers set out from their homeland of Sweden,
Denmark, and Norway, where this ship was buried.
 THE FIRST ENGLISH KINGS

reissued the laws of King Edgar, and

extended his rule over both Denmark
and Norway—all to no long-term
avail. His strangely named sons, Harold
Harefoot (1015–40), crowned in 1035,
and Harthacnut (c.1018–42), crowned
in 1040, both died young, and the
crown reverted in 1043 to the Wessex
line in the person of Edward the
Confessor, son of Queen Emma
and Ethelred the Unready.
St. Edward (England’s only canonized
monarch), had spent much of his early
life in Normandy, and gained a respect
for its people. He may or may not have
been particularly holy. Whatever the
reason for his sainthood, after a reign
marked by tensions with the Godwin
Earls of Wessex, Edward died childless.
The English crown was up for grabs.

Cnut the Wise

A 14th-century image of King Cnut, England’s first
Danish monarch. The story of the King ordering back
the sea is widely misunderstood: he used the incident
to illustrate the powerlessness of an earthly monarch.

AFTER

The Anglo-Saxons left an enduring

imprint on England’s language, its
culture, and its monarchy.

ENGLAND’S ANGLO-SAXON LEGACY

Most obviously, it is to the Germanic invaders
that England (Angle-land) owes its very name
and, thanks to the ambitions and talents of
its kings, the eventual emergence of a single,
monarchical state. England’s Anglo-Saxon
The death of King Harold counsel” and his soubriquet “Unread” “Danegeld” to encourage them to ancestors also left behind the framework of
The writing above this section of the famous Bayeux (“no counsel“) was a play on words leave. However, he failed to unite the counties and diocese, and the idea of a jury.
Tapestry reads, “King Harold is slain.” The image and later mistranslated as “Unready.” country behind him and, by the time
written sources suggest the last Anglo-Saxon king died Edward was, in fact, prepared to face of his death, much of England was A NEW LANGUAGE IS BORN
when an arrow entered his brain through an eye socket. the renewed Norse attacks that began once more in Danish hands. The core of the modern English language
is made up of words that reach back to
England’s crown up for grabs
king’s death often produced instability,
sometimes marked by violence. Thus
the reign of the ill-named and disliked
39,500 LB (17,900 KG)
The weight of silver
paid by Ethelred to the Danes in 1012
Though he never boasted of being able
to control the tide, as the much-told tale
Anglo-Saxon times. However, the Viking
and Norman conquests 16–17 ❯❯
transformed the grammar within which the
Edward the Martyr (962–978), a son to stop them from raiding England. relates, Cnut the Dane (c.985–1035), words were used. By the 12th century
by Edgar’s first wife, crowned in 962, crowned in 1016, proved to be one of 21 ❯❯, a new Anglo-Saxon-Norse-Norman
ended when he was slain in Corfe in 980, but he did not deal with them England’s more able early kings. He language, referred to as Middle English, had
Castle by the supporters of a son by effectively. He organized a creditable married Ethelred’s widow, Emma of emerged, and is a language that modern
Edgar’s second wife. This son was the military resistance and used the well- Normandy, dispersed rivals to his English speakers can just about understand.
12-year-old Ethelred (c.966–1016). tried tactic (employed by no other than crown, listened to reliable aristocrats,
Ethelred’s name means “noble Alfred the Great) of paying the raiders kept on good terms with the Church,

13
 INSIGHT 11th century

The Bayeux Tapestry

Probably made in Canterbury, England, the Bayeux Tapestry is
both a spectacular work of art and a unique historical source.
In a series of embroidered colored pictures, this 11th-century
equivalent of a video tells the story of William the Conqueror’s
invasion of England and victory over King Harold at Hastings.

The events of 1066 changed forever the history of Britain and

its monarchy. Historians can draw on a number of contemporary
accounts of that momentous year, but no source can match the tapestry
manufactured at the command of William the Conqueror’s half-brother,
Bishop Odo of Bayeux, to adorn his new cathedral at Bayeux, France.
Woven with dyed wool on linen cloth, the Bayeux Tapestry is a
remarkable piece of Romanesque artwork, measuring approximately
230 ft (70 m) long and 20 in (50 cm) tall. Many skilled hands must
have worked for several months to create a tapestry of this size. It
comprises 58 continuous panels, each headed by Latin text explaining
what is depicted. The message is unequivocal: Harold, the last Anglo-
Saxon monarch, was a usurper, and God and right were on the side
of William, Duke of Normandy, in his attempt to win the crown.
In addition to giving the Norman side of the story that culminated
with the death of Harold and the defeat of his army on Senlac Hill
outside Hastings on October 14, 1066, the tapestry is an invaluable
insight into 11th-century life and customs. Its stylized images provide
information on subjects such as weaponry, battle tactics, clothing,
cooking, and boat-building.
The tapestry’s history matches that of its dramatic subject. Having
remained virtually unnoticed in Bayeux Cathedral for more than
500 years, the tapestry survived the 16th-century French Wars of
Religion and began to attract interest in the early 18th century.
French military leader Napoléon Bonaparte displayed it as propaganda
when hoping to invade England, but locked it away again when his
plan was called off. Strangely, Heinrich Himmler of Germany's Nazi
Party coveted the tapestry as a record of "glorious Germanic history,"
and it was almost taken to Berlin in 1944. It was returned to Bayeux
after World War II and is now on display in a special museum.

“ The English were in serious

difficulty after they lost their
king… but they still fought on…
till the day drew to a close.”
MASTER WACE, NORMAN POET, FROM ROMAN DE ROU

Coronation of Harold II
This panel from the Bayeux Tapestry shows Harold II being
offered the sword and scepter after being crowned the King
of England in 1066. The Latin titulus or inscription reads,
"Here sits Harold, King of England. Archbishop Stigand."

14
 400–1911

BE F O RE

Before the Norman Conquest of 1066,

most kings spoke Old English, the
language of their subjects, and shared
The Normans
their customs and traditions. The Normans changed the realm of England forever. William I, William II, and Henry I secured its
frontiers, reorganized its government, modernized its church, restructured its language, and
IMPOSING FOREIGN MONARCHS
Harold I ❮❮ 12–13, the last Anglo-Saxon remolded its architecture, enabling the state to survive the turmoil following Henry I’s death.
monarch, came from a Sussex family and was
“ [The King]… compelled … nobility ...
O
Earl of Wessex before being confirmed as king n the death of Edward the
by the nation’s elders. The Norman Conquest Confessor (see pp.12–13), on
changed all this, imposing a foreign monarchy
and aristocracy on a subservient people.
January 5, 1066, three men
claimed the English crown. Harold
that, if he should die without male issue,
A NORTHERN EMPIRE
Godwinson (1022–66), Earl of Wessex,
had received Edward’s deathbed
they would… accept his daughter.”
Foreign rule was not unknown in England. The nomination, a wish confirmed by the WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY, ON HENRY I, 1127
North Sea Empire of King Cnut ❮❮ 12–13, had Witan, a council of elders. The Duke
included Denmark, Norway, and part of Sweden. of Normandy, William the Bastard and that during a visit to Normandy agreement made almost 30 years
(1028–87), claimed that in 1051 Harold had sworn to uphold this claim. earlier, was King Harold III of Norway
Edward had promised him the crown, The third candidate, citing an (1015–66), known as Harold Hadrada
(which translates as “hard ruler”).
Godwinson was crowned as Harold II
on January 6, but his reign was to last
only until October. On September 25,
he traveled north and smashed
Hadrada’s invasion force at Stamford
Bridge, killing its leader. Three days
later, news came of Duke William’s
landing on the south coast. Covering
240 miles (386 km) in just 13 days,
Harold hurried to face the new danger.
The two armies met on Senlac Hill
outside Hastings. William’s mounted
knights prevailed. Harold was slain;
the crown was now William’s for the
taking. Having burned and ravaged his
way along the coast, he received the
submission of London, and entered the
city for his coronation on Christmas Day.

William the Conqueror

The seizure of England made William
the Conqueror one of the most
powerful men in northern Europe.
However, power did not bring peace,
and he spent much of his reign
defending his possessions both in
England and France.
Holding down an English population
of between one and two million with
just 10,000 Frenchmen was no easy
task, and he faced revolts in each of
the first four years of his reign. His
response included the “Harrying of

100,000 The number of

people who died
of starvation during the Harrying of
the North in 1069–70.

the North”—a set of campaigns

in the winter of 1069–70 to subjugate
the northern regions and eliminate the
possibly of revolt in alliance with a

Church and state

This fanciful miniature from the 13th-century Latin
chronicle Flores Historiarum (Flowers of History) depicts
Henry I surrounded by churchmen, highlighting the mutual
benefit of a good relationship between King and Church.

16
 THE NORMANS

Tower of London Curthose objected, of course, and the

This English print shows war between the two lasted until
the Tower from the Thames Henry I’s victory at Tinchebrai (1106)
River, and dates from gave him possession of the Duchy
1700. The Tower, founded of Normandy, and control over his
at the end of the 1070s as brother. Though Henry I continued to
part of the Norman fight off predators in the Duchy, Robert,
Conquest, dominated the at least, was in prison, where he spent
skyline, daily reminding the last 28 years of his unhappy life.
Londoners of the dire risk Possessing more diplomacy than
of defying the monarch. his predecessor, Henry I agreed with
Archbishop Anselm that, while the
of ecclesiastical church could hold the theoretical
chroniclers, for power of investiture, the King would
Rufus quarreled maintain real power. As the church
fiercely with possessed at least one-quarter of all
Archbishop England’s wealth, no king could afford
Anselm of to give it total independence.
Canterbury. Henry I proved an sturdy upholder
Foremost among of law and order. His administrative
the issues that reforms, associated with Bishop Roger
divided them was of Salisbury, produced the first
the question of references to a key financial institution
“lay investiture,” known as the Exchequer.
the ceremony by After the untimely death of Henry I’s
which a new only legitimate son, Prince William, the
Danish army. William paid the Danes kingdom. Possibly realizing the abbot or bishop received their office succession question clouded the closing
to return home, but destroyed the difficulty of ruling both Normandy from the King. Anselm challenged this, years of his reign. Henry I’s anxiety
stock and crops of the northern shires and England, William bequeathed claiming that the church was superior proved fully justified when most of the
to starve the locals into submission. Normandy to Robert and England to to any secular power. However, finding barons refused to honor their oath to
Further, he pursued a strategy of castle his second son, William Rufus. little support among his fellow clergy, accept his daughter Matilda (see box)
building, fierce reprisals, and seizing Anselm went into exile in 1107. as sovereign; the ensuing 19 years were
estates still in Anglo-Saxon hands. By William Rufus scarred by civil war and lawlessness.
appointing Frenchmen to important William II (1056–1100), who ruled
positions in church and state, he slowly England from 1087 until his death, Domesday Book
brought the country under control. was named “Rufus” thanks to his red William the Conqueror commissioned
Uneasy at their neighbor’s new hair or complexion, and was by some a survey in 1085–86 to ascertain
power, the King of France and Count accounts a chivalrous warrior-king. the precise extent of his new realm,
of Anjou sought to discomfort and He presided over a fashionable court including the nature and value
unsettle William in Normandy. The where long hair was in vogue. Such of every piece of land, and the
Conqueror’s ambitious half-brother a circumstance, coupled with the fact livestock on it. The results were
Odo and thin-skinned eldest son, that he never married and produced recorded in the 913-page
Robert Curthose (meaning “Short no illegitimate children, has led some Domesday Book.
Breeches”), also turned against to believe he was gay. It is equally
William, obliging him to spend more likely that any scandal attached to his
time on the continent than in his new name sprang from the imagination When not squabbling with Anselm,
Rufus had to deal with his own elder AFTER
brother, Robert Curthose. Robert felt
EMPRESS 1102–67
he had been short-changed when his
QUEEN MATILDA father gave England to Rufus, and a After the Normans came the far more
long series of conflicts between the numerous Plantagenets, who held the
Not since Queen Boudicca led a two brothers ended only when Robert throne in a long succession of 14 kings.
British revolt against the Romans joined a crusader army in 1096; Rufus
in 61 CE had a woman wielded as lent him 10,000 marks for the venture, ESTABLISHING A NATION
much power as Matilda. She was accepting Normandy as security. In Starting from the northern kingdom that had
wed to the Holy Roman Emperor 1100, the King was killed while hunting been secured by their predecessors, the
(making her “Empress”), and then in the New Forest. An accident, said the Plantagenet kings 20–21 ❯❯ expanded
to Geoffrey, Count of Anjou. But court; divine justice, said the Church. their realm into Ireland, completed the
most importantly, in 1127 Henry I conquest of Wales, came close to adding
made his barons swear to support Henry I and Matilda Scotland to their domains, and challenged
her as his successor. Rufus and Robert’s much younger for supremacy in France.
A medieval monarch was brother, Henry Beauclerc (1068–1135,)
expected to be a warrior, and so was the brightest and best educated AN END TO RULE BY FOREIGNERS
the bold move was not appreciated. of the Norman kings. He also had a By the time of the reign of Richard II 21 ❯❯,
On Henry’s death, Stephen of Blois reputation for ruthless brutality and the monarchy was fully reintegrated, with both
seized his cousin’s crown. The lasciviousness, fathering at least 20 the nation and the court using Middle English.
Empress fought robustly for her illegitimate children. This was the language of the poet Geoffrey
rights, but never acceded to the Upon Rufus’s mysterious death, he Chaucer (1343–1400), known as the Father
throne. In her peaceful later years immediately seized the Treasury at of English Literature.
she exerted considerable influence. Winchester and two days later had
himself crowned Henry I. Robert

17
The Ladies of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine, shown in this 13th-century
fresco with a figure thought to be Isabella of
Angouleme, ruled England and Aquitaine through
her husband , Henry II, and sons, Richard I and John.
 400–1911

The Plantagenets
The Plantagenets occupied the English throne from 1154–1399, longer than any other royal
house. Under monarchs of varying ability, the family clung to power through such crises as
the signing of the Magna Carta, the Black Death, and long wars with Scotland and in France.

T
he Plantagenet monarchy was Empire, which stretched from Hadrian’s
BE F O RE one of extreme contrasts. The Wall to the Pyrenees. The lands had
family gave England some of its been acquired through marriage to
most able kings: Henry II (1133–89); Eleanor of Aquitaine (see pp.18–19)
The Plantagenet line can be traced to Edward I (1239–1307); Edward III in 1152 and succession to the throne
821, to a couple named Tertullus and (1312–77); and the great chivalric of England two years later.
Petronilla, of Rennes, in Brittany. hero, Richard the Lionheart (1157–99), A man of boundless energy, Henry II
but also threw up the infamous ruled from 1154–89, spending 20 years
COUNTS OF ANJOU AND PLANTAGENETS John (1167–1216) and the tragically expanding his empire by occupying
Ingelger (c.850–899), son of Tertullus and dim-witted Edward II (1284–1327). Ireland, driving into Wales, Scotland, Coronation of Richard the Lionheart
Petronilla, became the first Count of Anjou and Brittany, and forcing the Count of This 14th-century illustration depicts the coronation
(where the name “Angevin” stems from). The The Angevin Empire Toulouse into submission. Meanwhile, of Richard the Lionheart on September 3, 1189, in
title passed to Fulk the Red and on to Geoffrey As Count of Anjou, the Plantagenet at home, he regularized England’s Westminster Abbey, London. Richard lived much of his
of Anjou (1113–51). His marriage to Matilda, Henry II, son of Empress Matilda (see Common Law in a network of courts, 10-year reign away from the country, spending only six
daughter of Henry I of England ❮❮ 16–17 pp.16–17), was master of the Angevin and strengthened central government. months in England, according to some sources.
and his wife of Anglo-Saxon descent, produced
a bloodline combining Anjou, Normandy, and But it was all too good to last. The
Wessex. However, the family did not use the The body of Becket Christ welcomes King’s reputation was damaged when
is laid to rest Becket into heaven
Plantagenet surname for another 200 years. a conflict over the entitlements of the
church led to the murder
in 1170 of Thomas Becket,
Archbishop of Canterbury,
in the cathedral itself. The
martyred Becket eventually gained
sainthood while Henry’s reputation
plummeted still further. During his
final years, he raised excessive taxes,
made corrupt appointments, and
faced a series of devastating rebellions
led by his wife and truculent sons.

Lionheart and Lackland

Richard I, the Lionheart, who
reigned from 1189–99, was a legend
in his own lifetime. A generous
yet fearless warrior who led the
successful Third Crusade (1189–92),
he also ensured England was well
governed during his absence, and
managed, more or less, to hang
on to his massive Angevin
inheritance. In the end, his bravery
was his undoing: scorning to wear
his chain mail, he was hit by a
crossbow bolt during the siege
of Châlus; the wound turned
gangrenous and, having forgiven
the lad who fired the bolt, he died
in his mother Eleanor’s arms.
Even before he was crowned in
1199, the standing of King John
(bitingly known as “Lackland”
and “Softsword”), was tarnished

French Reliquary Casket, 1180–90

Fragments of what were believed to be Becket’s
hair, clothing, and bones were contained in this
casket, made in Limoges. The scene depicts the
Murderous Becket is assassinated assassination of Becket, an event that shocked the
knights disturb while facing an altar in Christian world, earned Becket martyrdom, and
Becket at prayer Canterbury Cathedral caused the cathedral to become a pilgrimage site.

20
 T H E P L A N TA G E N E T S

“Uneasy lies the DECISIVE MOMENT

MAGNA CARTA
head that wears
In 1215, there was no adult member of
the crown.” royalty around who could oppose King
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, HENRY IV, PART II, 1597 John. As a result, on June 15 of that
year, the King’s baronial opponents
by opportunistic rebellions against forced him to sign the Magna Carta
his ailing father, Henry II, and absent (Great Charter, below), a document
brother, Richard the Lionheart. As asserting inalienable rights and basic
king, John fell out with the pope and liberties to be enjoyed by “all freemen
with the baronage over his capricious of the realm.” The Magna Carta served
behavior and loss of most of the to inspire others rejecting high-handed
Angevin Empire. As a result, a year royal behavior in the 17th century and,
before his death, John was obliged to a century later, in the United States.
sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter,
see box) that put the monarch
unequivocally under the law.

King and parliament

Ascending the throne in 1216 at the Edward I is primarily remembered as Battle of Crécy from Froissart’s Chronicle
age of nine, the naive, peace-loving a warrior. In addition to going on This illustration from the 15th-century chronicle by
Henry III (1207–72) was out of his crusade, he fought fierce (and costly) Jean Froissart depicts a scene from the Battle of Crécy,
depth throughout his long and troubled campaigns to hold on to Aquitaine. fought during the Hundred Years’ War. Edward III won
reign. Attempts to win back lost French Nearer home, he subdued Wales, giving a crushing victory over the French on August 26, 1346.
lands came to nothing and, in 1258, he its people his eldest son as their prince,
was forced to accept limits on royal and made attempts to bring Scotland and captured the French king at
authority set out in the Provisions of under the English crown. This left his Poitiers (1356). Abandoning attempts
Oxford. During the Barons’ War pitifully inept son, Edward II, crowned to rule Scotland, he ushered in long
(1264–68), Henry III’s own brother- in 1308, with a bitter legacy of debt and years of domestic peace in England.
in-law, Simon de Montfort (see box), an unwinnable war with the Scots. Edward III also made use of Justices of
virtually took control of the throne, A lack of political competence and the Peace—unpaid royal servants, such
and Henry III held on to his position reliance on unsuitable male favorites as knights, who, since 1195, had been
only thanks to the dashing exploits drained any support Edward II might responsible for maintaining law and
of Prince Edward, his son and heir. have had. The invasion in 1326 by his order in their own locality. Edward III‘s
Crowned in 1274, Edward I sought wife and her lover, Roger Mortimer, encouragement of them strengthened
consent from the newly formed found the King virtually friendless. the bond between king and gentry.
parliament to approve his taxation. He He was deposed and imprisoned in Working with parliament, Edward III’s
further enhanced parliament’s standing Berkeley Castle, where he was government had ridden out the pressing
by using it to promote statutes to clean murdered most foully. effects of the arrival in 1348 of a
up local government. All monarchs seaborne bubonic plague pandemic, AFTER
had been expected to govern with War, plague, and revolt
the consent of their peers since the
5th century. However, the emergence
of the Commons meant that this
Edward III, crowned in 1327, restored
Plantagenet prestige through military
victories. In the early years of the
3,500,000 Estimated
number of
English deaths caused by Bubonic
During the troubled 15th century,
when England was beset by troubles
consent might now stretch to all those Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), he Plague (Black Death), 1348–49. abroad and at home, the name
with political and economic influence. vanquished the French at Crécy (1346) “Plantagenet” acquired an almost
known as the Black Death. The disease mythical status.
caused a steep and sudden population
DECISIVE MOMENT
decline, resulting in labor shortages, EMPHASIZING HISTORIC LINKS
FIRST PARLIAMENT price rises, and social unrest. The family name “Plantagenet” was first
Edward III’s son, Edward, the Black adopted by Richard of York 24–25 ❯❯,
First mentioned in the 1230s, parliaments Prince (1330–76), died before his father the great-grandson of Edward III. The father
were large gatherings at court to discuss so Edward III’s grandson, Richard II, of the future Edward IV 24–25 ❯❯ and
affairs of state and show support for (1367–1400) was crowned in 1377. Richard III 24–25 ❯❯, and a key player in
government policy, especially taxation. Unfortunately, Richard’s arrogant the so-called Wars of the Roses 26–27 ❯❯,
In 1264, rebel leader Simon de Montfort behavior sabotaged his grandfather’s he probably called himself Plantagenet to
6th Earl of Leicester (c.1208–65) called a achievements. Having bravely outfaced emphasize his link to Geoffrey of Anjou and
parliament attended by four knights from the rebels in the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt the 12th-century Royal Family. In the next
each shire. The following year, he invited (see pp.22–23), Richard II developed century the name was retrospectively being
two prominent citizens from major towns an overinflated opinion of the status applied to Henry II and all his descendants.
to join the knights of the shire (Commons), of monarchy, sharply at odds with the
alongside barons and senior churchmen views of his people. He lost control of YORK’S POISONED CHALICE
(Lords). The assembly possibly met in the the government around 1387–88. Even though Henry VII 28–29 ❯❯ was
Chapter House of Westminster Abbey Richard II’s cousin, Henry Bolingbroke descended from the Plantagenets, he scorned
(left). Soon, such parliamentary gatherings (1367–1413), crowned Henry IV in to use the name adopted by his rivals in the
became the practice, giving rise to the 1399 (see p.24), finally removed House of York. Instead, he founded a new
claim that de Montfort’s assembly marked Richard II from the throne and had dynasty, the Tudors 28–29 ❯❯.
the birth of modern parliaments. him thrown in prison, where he was
murdered the following year.

21
DECISIVE MOMENT May 30, 1381

The Peasants’ Revolt

Arising out of the labor shortage following the Black Death,
the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 tested the mettle of young
Richard II. His brave but duplicitous behavior in the
face of grave danger led to the suppression of the revolt.

The widespread mortality brought on by the Black Death, or plague,

produced a shortage of labor. Accordingly, the simple law of supply
and demand led to wage increases and calls for an end to the unpaid
feudal labor required of serfs. A Statute of Laborers (1351) had some
success in keeping wages at pre-plague levels, but discontent mounted
as fresh outbreaks of the plague reduced the pool of labor still further.
Meanwhile, England was engaged in the unsuccessful and badly run
Hundred Years’ War with France. In order to fund this prolonged
battle, Richard II introduced several unfair taxes, including the poll
tax of 1380, which was the final straw for the peasants.
Early in the summer of 1381, the people of Kent and Essex, two
of England’s more prosperous counties, rose in revolt. Lawyers and
grasping landlords were slain, and legal documents burned, before the
rebel army advanced to London. There, they joined the mob to open
prisons and destroy the property of John of Gaunt, the King’s uncle,
and other unpopular magnates. The 14-year-old Richard II, stuck in
the Tower of London with his ministers and a small troop of soldiers,
watched in horror.
On June 14, Richard left the Tower with his bodyguard to talk to the
opposition. He heard their demands and issued charters declaring
the abolition of serfdom. On hearing this, many of the revolutionaries
turned for home. Still, when the Tower’s gates were opened to readmit
the King, hundreds of rebels poured in. They dragged out and
beheaded Lord Chancellor Simon Sudbury, Lord High Treasurer Robert
Hales, and a handful of other officials. Richard met the remaining
rebels at Smithfield the following day. After their charismatic leader,
Wat Tyler, was killed in a scuffle, his followers dispersed. In the
aftermath of the revolt, Richard revoked his concessions and
ordered the rebel leaders to be rounded up and hanged.

“ … the time is come… in

which ye may (if ye will) cast
off the yoke of bondage,
and recover liberty.”
JOHN BALL, RADICAL ENGLISH PRIEST, IN A SERMON TO THE REVOLTING
PEASANTS AT BLACKHEATH, JUNE 12, 1381

Pacifying the rebellious

This section from Jean Froissart's Chronicles depicts
Richard II meeting the rebels in June 1381 to discuss
their demands. The King waits in the boat while two
negotiators speak to the crowd. In the background,
rebels can be seen capturing the Tower of London.

23
 400–1911

Lancaster and York

The deposition of Richard II split the Plantagenets into factions, notably the Lancastrians and Yorkists.
While their confrontations devastated much of the old aristocracy, thanks in part to the genius of
William Shakespeare, they also gave us the monarchy’s great hero, Henry V, and its villain, Richard III.

A
s England’s wealth grew and its side, oversee the machinery of central
system of government became government, and lead the country in
more sophisticated, the role of times of war, even riding into battle.
the monarch required an increasingly Men like Henry V (1387–1422),
broad range of skills. He needed to and, to a lesser extent, Edward IV
balance the factions of powerful (1442–83), handled the job well. For
nobles, manage parliament, keep the a man of lesser abilities, like the feeble
gentry and merchant classes on his Henry VI (1421–71), it was all too
much. Without a strong monarch
to restrain them, the ambitious
BE F O RE aristocracy descended into an
orgy of bloodletting.

The division of the houses of York and Lancaster ascendant

Lancaster can be traced back to 1386. Having seized the throne from Richard II
and arranged for his murder, Henry
A KING DEPOSED, AN HEIR CHEATED Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, was
Richard II, son of Edward III’s ❮❮ 20–21 crowned Henry IV in 1399 (see p.21).
firstborn male, had no children. In 1386, he He then spent the rest of his troubled
declared Roger Mortimer, Earl of March and a reign fighting to hold on to his stolen
descendant of Edward III’s second son, his heir. prize. Rebellions came from the Earl of
Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, and Huntingdon, Richard II’s half-brother,
descended from Edward III’s third son, deposed and from the Percy Family of
Richard II and took the throne as Henry IV Northumberland, who had helped
❮❮ 21. At this point, the Mortimer side of the Henry IV to the crown. Scots and
family picked up the Duke of York title. Welsh, eager to take advantage of
England’s troubles, made ready
allies. Further difficulties arose from
money squabbles with parliament,
and from a radical new sect, known
1ST EARL OF WARWICK 1428–71
as Lollards, who wanted to reform
RICHARD NEVILLE western Christianity.
Once an admired crusader knight,
Nicknamed “Kingmaker” a century Henry IV ended his days a sick and
after his death, Neville was an astute, exhausted wreck. When he finally died
wealthy man. In 1455, he sided with in 1413, his son Henry V was crowned
the Yorkists to defeat Henry VI. Six
years later he helped Edward of York to Contemporary portraits of contrasting kings
the throne as Edward IV. In 1469, he These portraits, taken from oil-on-panel paintings,
captured the King, then let him go depict Henry V, on the left, and Richard III. Henry V
again. He rebelled once more in 1470 was a much admired monarch, while Richard III, final
(joining with the Lancastrians), exiling king of the House of York and the last of the
Edward IV and restoring the now Plantagenets, has few defenders.
insane Henry VI.
Neville’s power-
broking finally
ended when
Edward IV came
back to England
and slew him
at the Battle
of Barnet
in 1471.

24
 LANCASTER AND YORK

king, and proved to be arguably In 1414, Henry V dealt swiftly and Battle of Agincourt 1415
England’s most able monarch. A efficiently with a Lollard rising, and a This illustration, taken from the
meticulous nationalist, he insisted that plot to put Edmund Mortimer on the 1484 manuscript “Vigils of King
official documents were written throne in 1415. He then decided to test Charles VII” by Martial
in English, not French or Latin, and he his right to the French throne in battle. d’Auvergne, shows Henry V
encouraged the adoration of English Henry’s success is the stuff of legend. outnumbered by, yet victorious
saints, such as Thomas of Canterbury He trounced a much larger French over, the French forces at
(see p.20) and Henry’s holy predecessor, force at Agincourt, conquered Agincourt during the Hundred
Edward the Confessor (see p.13). Normandy, and, by the Treaty of Years’ War (1337–1453).
Troyes in 1420, was declared heir to
the throne of France. Where this was in chaos. A
would have led, we shall never serious rebellion led
know; dysentery took his life by Sussexman Jack
on August 31, 1422. Cade had been put
down only with great
Lancaster descendant bloodshed, and
Henry’s son by Catherine virtually all England’s
of Valois, daughter of French possessions had been lost. and never seen again. The slaughter of
Charles VI of France, was The King, who had taken a hugely adult nobility was commonplace in the
nine months old when he unpopular French wife, Margaret of later 15th century, but the murder of
ascended the throne as Henry Anjou, failed to control his squabbling children was not, and Gloucester,
VI—the youngest age of lords. To cap it all, at this point Henry VI crowned Richard III in 1483, faced
succession of any English suffered a mental breakdown (possibly rebellions. He survived for only two
monarch. A few weeks later, due to schizophrenia). Civil war flared years, then became the last English
he was declared King of and, in 1461, the 19-year-old Earl of king to die in battle. The victor of the
France, but until Henry March (1442–83), who, technically, Battle of Bosworth, Henry Tudor (see
came of age in 1437, his had a better claim to the throne than pp.28–29), a grandson of Catherine of
uncle, John, Duke of Bedford, Henry VI, was crowned Edward IV, Valois, supposedly found Richard III’s
governed his realm as the while the deposed King was imprisoned crown in a thorn bush and
head of a regency council. in the Tower of London. immediately put it on.
Things went well until

“ What misery… this region

1629, when visionary and
military commander Joan
of Arc (1412–31) instigated
a French fight-back. Matters
at home and abroad slipped hath suffered by the division
from bad to worse when the
pious, peace-loving, and
wholly apolitical Henry VI
of Lancaster and York.”
took the reins of government EDWARD HALL, FROM HIS CHRONICLE, 1548
into his own hands and, by
1453, the kingdom York divided
Edward IV was a tall, pleasure-loving
warrior king who, having won his AFTER
throne on the battlefield, in 1469–71
came close to losing it the same way.
He fell out with the overmighty 1st The death of Richard III opened the
Earl of Warwick (see box), who then way for reconciliation between
dragged Henry VI out of the Tower and the houses of York and Lancaster.
put him on the throne again. But the
mentally deranged King inspired no TUDORS UNITE TWO HOUSES
one. After further conflict, Henry VI Henry Tudor 28–29 ❯❯, Richard III’s
and his only son were murdered in conqueror and a distant relative of the
1471, and Edward IV retook his crown. Lancasters, brought reconciliation. Now
He governed well and has sometimes crowned as Henry VII, he married Richard III’s
niece, Elizabeth of York. Thus were the

4 The number of kings who were

murdered or died a violent
death between 1399–1485.
symbolic white rose of York and the red rose
of Lancaster brought together to form the
red-and-white rose of The Tudors.

been credited with founding a “new THE KING IN THE CAR PARK
monarchy.” But his marriage to a Richard III’s remains were lost for 500 years. In
commoner, Elizabeth Woodville, 2013, however, after a dig in a car park once
stirred baronial resentment, and his the site of Greyfriars Priory Church, it was
early death brought more bloodshed. confirmed with DNA evidence that the King
Edward IV’s son, the 12-year-old had been rediscovered. Despite his reputation
Edward V, reigned for 78 days in 1483 as a child-murderer, in 2015, thousands of
but was never crowned. He and his people watched his body carried in procession
younger brother Richard of York were to Leicester Cathedral to be reburied.
sent to the Tower by their uncle,
Richard of Gloucester (1452–85),

25
DECISIVE PERIOD 1455–1487

The Wars of the Roses

Between 1455 and 1487, England was afflicted with chronic
instability as supporters of two rival branches of the royal
House of Plantagenet fought for power, influence, and the
greatest prize of all—the Crown.

At the heart of the conflict lay competition for the throne between
descendants of Edward III's second and third sons, who belonged to
the house of York (represented by the white rose) and Lancaster
(represented by the red rose) respectively. The year 1455 is generally
seen as the start of the wars, although violence had broken out before
this. The throne was occupied by the Lancastrian, Henry VI, but
due to his mental infirmity, Richard Duke of York acted as Lord
Protector—the de facto ruler.
The term “war,” in fact, inaccurately describes what followed. Over
the next 30 years, there were only 60 weeks of campaigning. Other
than at Towton, the armies were small and loss of life not particularly
heavy. On the other hand, numerous nobles lost their lives, two kings
were murdered, and a third died in battle.
The first phase of fighting (1455–1461) saw Henry VI fall into
Yorkist hands. Margaret, his queen, raised an army and liberated him,
but after the battle at Towton (1461), which was the bloodiest ever on
British soil, Henry and Margaret fled to Scotland, leaving Edward IV
to be crowned king. Henry was recaptured in 1465 and killed
following the Battle of Tewkesbury (1471).
Edward IV’s rule brought 12 years of peace. Fighting was rekindled
after his death in 1483 when his brother Richard imprisoned and
allegedly killed his 12-year-old son and heir, Edward V, and crowned
himself Richard III. The coup was so badly received that when Henry
Tudor (see pp.25, 28) landed with a small force in Wales, he gained
enough support to defeat and kill Richard III in battle. As Henry VII,
he defended his crown at the battle of Stoke (1487), which marked the
end of the Wars of the Roses. Tudor propagandists later exaggerated
the misery of the wars to strengthen loyalty to the new ruling family.

“ …what execrable plagues this

famous region hath suffered by
the division and dissension
of the renowned houses of
Lancaster and York.”
EDWARD HALL, LAWYER AND HISTORIAN, 1548

The Battle of Barnet

This 15th-century painting shows Edward IV (seen
wearing a crown) piercing Richard Neville, leader of the
Lancastrian army, with his lance at the crucial Battle of
Barnet in 1471. This battle, along with the subsequent
Battle of Tewkesbury, secured the throne for Edward IV.

27
 400—1911

The Tudors
The Tudors were the first recognizably modern royal dynasty, helping to explain their enduring
popularity with novelists, playwrights, and filmmakers. Artists and writers have also been drawn to
the immense personalities of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, two giants on the tapestry of English monarchy.

A
rguably the most colorful of all Without a doubt, the England that relatively secure. He bolstered his Handsome, intelligent, well-educated,
the royal dynasties, the Tudors Elizabeth I handed on to her Scottish position by the marriages of his athletic, and musical, he ascended the
steered the country through its successor in 1603 bore little resemblance daughter, Margaret, to James IV of throne as the ideal Renaissance prince.
transformation from a late medieval to the England that her grandfather, Scotland (see p.31) and his son, He left it 38 years later a bloated
state to an early modern one, from Henry Tudor (1457–1509), had seized Arthur, to the Spanish princess, parody of his former self. With papal
1485–1603. Moreover, the Tudors just 114 years earlier (see p.23). Catherine of Aragon. permission, he married Catherine,
were fortunate that their period of Few reigns were as dramatic as that Arthur’s widow, and while the highly
power coincided with an unprecedented Father and son of Henry VII’s second son, Henry VIII skilled Cardinal Wolsey managed the
flowering of arts and culture, especially Crowned Henry VII in 1485, Henry (1491–1547), who became heir to day-to-day business of government,
in literature and the theater, with which Tudor laid the foundations of the the throne on the early the young king enjoyed himself with
they have been associated ever since. renowned regime. It was not an easy death of Arthur a short war in France,
task. The Yorkists (see pp.24–25) still in 1502. tournaments, hunting,
hoped to make a comeback based and music- and
on two pretenders: Lambert Simnel, love-making.
who claimed to be a son of Edward However, when
IV’s brother, and Perkin Warbeck, Catherine bore a
who said he was the younger of daughter, Mary, but
the two princes imprisoned in the not the longed-for son and
Tower (see p.25). Simnel was
eventually pardoned and permitted The epitome of majesty
to work in the royal kitchens, but This portrait of Henry VIII, age 49, was
Warbeck was executed in 1497. painted at the time of his marriage to
By encouraging trade and clamping Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein the Younger.
down on overmighty subjects, by The message behind it is unequivocal:
1500, Henry VII’s reign was cross this man at your peril.

Episcopal flattery
Above the island castle of England, guarded by a
dragon, lion, and greyhound (all Tudor symbols) the
Bishop of Chichester’s couplets praising Henry VIII lie
between the roses of Lancaster, York, and Tudor.

BE F O RE

In the 814 years that elapsed from the

accession of King Alfred in 871 to the
arrival of the first Tudor monarch in
1485, the English throne had only
once been occupied by a woman.

DISPUTED ACCESSION
Stephen of Blois ❮❮ 17 disputed the right
of his cousin, Matilda ❮❮ 17, to accede to
the throne. Though she fought back, Stephen
seized the crown. Under the Tudors, the
resistance to a female monarch receded
when, for almost half the period of Tudor rule,
a woman wore the English crown (Mary I and
then Elizabeth I), setting a strong precedent.

28
 THE TUDORS

AFTER
Ruins of Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
Ostensibly disillusioned with monastic behavior,
Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell dissolved the Following the successes of the long
monasteries for fiscal gain. Fountains Abbey was the reign of Elizabeth I, which glowed all
hub of a thriving Cistercian business enterprise. the brighter in light of the ensuing
turmoil, reservations about having
in every church in the land. How could a woman on the throne evaporated.
she ever be replaced? An explicit reply
never issued from Elizabeth I, but she LONG LIVE THE QUEENS
shrewdly used her unmarried status In the 412 years between Elizabeth I’s death and
and her nickname, the “Virgin Queen.” 2015, four women have worn the crown
Elizabeth I’s persecution of dissenters (Mary II, Anne, Victoria, and Elizabeth II) for a
was moderate, too, and she executed total of 144 years. The decision—enshrined in
Roman Catholics for the crime of the Succession to the Crown Act—to
heir, Henry revealed the ruthlessness fatally ill, Northumberland married his treason, not for professing their faith. give males and females equal right of
that would besmirch his reign. The son to Lady Jane Grey, a great-niece of Ably assisted by councillors, such as succession from March 26, 2015 means that
Pope refused to grant him a divorce, Henry VIII, and had her proclaimed Sir William Cecil, Sir Nicholas Bacon, this statistic is likely to rise.
so he employed a lawyer, Thomas queen. The coup was foiled by popular and Sir Francis Walsingham, when
Cromwell, to use Parliament to break opinion—Northumberland was executed possible, she also avoided confrontation
with Rome and establish the Church in 1553, as was Jane in 1554. with her parliaments and in foreign
of England, headed by the King. affairs. An exception to this was when
As England began its participation “Calais” engraved on her heart parliament threatened to withhold
in the Protestant Reformation, all Crowned Mary I in 1553, the Queen funds until her marriage was settled
opposition was crushed, monasteries alienated many of her subjects with a (see p.33). She let loose on them her
were dissolved, and their wealth campaign to restore Roman Catholicism formidable powers of rhetoric and
diverted to the royal coffers. that involved burning 300 Protestants. made it clear that the well-being of her
Anne Boleyn, Henry’s next wife, gave Her deeply unpopular marriage to a realm was her priority, and to marry or
birth to another daughter, Elizabeth. foreign king, Philip II of Spain, was not was her private affair.
Four more wives gave Henry just one childless. And finally, under her reign In the end, though, years of tension
son between them when, finally, in England’s last possession on continental with the Roman Catholic powers of
1537, Jane Seymour produced Prince soil, Calais, was lost in an unnecessary Spain and France spilled over into war.

“ [King Henry VIII] is much handsomer than any

sovereign in Christendom … very fair and his 1554 portrait of Queen Mary I
History is rarely kind to losers, and so it was with Mary

whole frame admirably proportioned.” Tudor, also known as Bloody Mary. Bigoted and devoid
of charisma, she lacked the sensibility to realize how
bitterly her people hated her austere Catholicism, her
A VENETIAN VISITOR TO LONDON,1519 Spanish marriage, and—eventually—herself.

Edward. However, Jane died days later. war with France in support of Spain. The spark was ignited in 1587 when
DECISIVE MOMENT
Further expensive wars with France As Mary I lay dying of stomach cancer, Elizabeth I executed her Roman
and Scotland left the realm despoiled, she declared that the word “Calais” Catholic cousin, Mary Queen of Scots THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
exploited, and, by the time Henry VIII would be found engraved on her heart. (1542–87), for continually plotting to
died, riven by religious strife. Edward VI overthrow her. In 1521, Pope Leo X gave Henry VIII the
(1537–53) was just 10 years old when The shift from Catholicism The highlight of the Queen’s reign title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the
his father passed away. Henry VIII had If sterility was the keynote of the came in 1588, when her navy, aided by Faith), the initial letters of which can still
left government in the hands of his reign of Mary I, the reign of her sister, stormy weather, prevented invasion be seen on British coins. The accolade
Elizabeth I (see pp.32–33), who ruled by the supposedly invincible Spanish was in recognition of a book the King

12,000 The number of

monks, canons,
friars, and nuns thrown out of their
from 1558–1603, was caution. Raised in
the Protestant faith, Elizabeth
steered the Church of
Armada. Thereafter, however, victories
were difficult to come by. The
Treasury was drained by
had written defending the position of
the Roman Catholic Church. In the light
of this, Henry’s subsequent break with
dwellings when Henry VIII dissolved England away from costly campaigns at sea, in Rome and the establishment of the
the monasteries. Catholicism toward a Ireland, and in support Church of England with himself as its
moderate Protestantism of European Supreme Head, was all the more startling.
son’s maternal uncle, the Duke of that blended the new Protestantism. An Indeed, the break with Rome was
Somerset, and a 16-man council. The faith with Roman economic downturn one of the few truly revolutionary events
Duke and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer Catholic hallmarks, accompanied by in English history. Henry VIII’s move
sought to make the Church of England such as ecclesiastical meager harvests paved the way for English Protestantism
wholly Protestant, encouraging vestments and bishops. brought about and added considerably to his prestige.
iconoclasm and sanctioning an English England’s relatively widespread poverty. As Supreme Head of the Church of
Prayer Book, causing much discontent. swift shift from Roman Together, these factors England, a title conferred by the 1535
In 1549, Somerset was removed from Catholic to Protestant conspired to bring the Act of Supremacy, Henry VIII acquired
office by John Dudley. Now Duke of had left many of her Queen of the seas reign of “Gloriana,” vast wealth and a quasi-spiritual
Northumberland, Dudley stabilized subjects mourning This rare English gold coin dating to also fondly known as authority. It was no coincidence that
government finances and, encouraged familiar practices and 1558–1603 bears an image of Elizabeth I “Good Queen Bess,” around the same time he was being
by the young king, pressed ahead beliefs, above all, the and a warship. It was during the reign of to an end with a addressed as “Your Majesty”—the first
with the conversion of the country to cult of the Virgin Mary, the last Tudor monarch that England began whimper rather than British monarch to be given this style.
Protestantism. When Edward VI became whose statue had stood to consider itself a major naval power. a blaze of glory.

29
Persecutor persecuted
Antoine Caron’s painting records the arrest and
execution for treason (1535) of Lord Chancellor Sir
Thomas More. A highly respected scholar, More
had also been a tireless pursuer of Protestants.
 400–1911

Born 1533 Died 1603

Elizabeth I
“ I have the body but of a weak
and feeble woman, but...
the heart... of a king.”
ELIZABETH I AT TILBURY, 1588

Q
ueen Elizabeth I was born into the streets to Westminster Abbey in
a world of danger and intrigue. January 1559? Contemporaries’
The birth of a daughter was a overriding impression was one of
disappointment to her father, Henry VIII majesty. Elizabeth, a born actor, carried
(see pp.28–29), and, by the time herself like a queen. Stately and regal
Elizabeth was two and a half years on all occasions, she could be capricious,
old, her mother, Anne Boleyn, was waspish even. When annoyed, her
executed for adultery. Officially comments were made all the sharper
bastardized, Elizabeth learned not to when delivered in her high,
draw attention to herself until her shrill voice. As she aged,
legitimacy was restored in 1543. she disguised the
The next trauma occurred in
1547–49, when Thomas Seymour,
three times her age, attempted to
seduce her with the connivance of her
stepmother, Catherine Parr. If this had
any effect on Elizabeth’s decision to
shun marriage, we shall never know.

Journey from captivity to throne

Elizabeth’s position was precarious
during the reign of her Roman
Catholic half-sister, Mary I (1516–58),
and Elizabeth was imprisoned in the
Tower of London on suspicion of
complicity in plots to overthrow
Mary. Nothing was proved, and
so she was moved to less harsh
custody in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
Happily for Elizabeth, the dying
Mary recognized her as heir to
the throne and she acceded
peacefully in November 1558.
So who was this 25-year-old
woman whom the people of
London welcomed with
unstinting joy as her
coronation procession
wound its way through

Armada Portrait, 1588

This arresting portrayal,
attributed to George
Gower (1540–96),
depicts Elizabeth I after
her rout of the Spanish
Armada. Surrounded
by symbols of imperial
majesty, she exudes
power and magnificence.

32
 ELIZABETH I

English warships confront 1563—“beggar-woman and single, far

TIMELINE
the Spanish Armada rather than queen and married”—she
The sea was described as turned them all down. After all, she
■ September 7, 1533 Anne Boleyn gives birth
“groaning under the weight” of quipped, she was already married: to
to the future Elizabeth I in Greenwich Palace;
the Spanish fleet, which had been the people of England. she is recognized as heir to the throne.
sent to convey troops to attack Her image as “Gloriana” was tied in
■ May 19, 1536 Anne Boleyn is executed;
and invade England in 1588. The with what is now seen as a Golden
Elizabeth is declared illegitimate and loses
Armada’s decisive defeat was Age. Elizabeth I was at the heart of this
her right of succession to the throne.
Elizabeth I’s finest hour. national awakening, taking pride in
the achievements of men like the ■ June 1543 An act of parliament restores
naval commander Sir Francis Drake Elizabeth to the line of succession, after her
the age of 11, was fluent
brother Edward VI and sister Mary.
in French, Welsh, and (c.1540–96), who circumnavigated
Spanish, as well as the globe in a single expedition. She ■ January 28, 1547 Henry VIII dies; Elizabeth
Classical Latin and Greek. served as patron as well as inspiration becomes a ward of his widow, Catherine
in the literary arts, too. The English Parr. He is succeeded by his son, Edward VI.
ravages of time and smallpox under “Beggar-woman and single” language had never before been as
a thick layer of ceruse (a poisonous After the 29-year-old Elizabeth had richly used as it was in the works of
makeup blend of white lead and survived an attack of smallpox, many William Shakespeare (1564–1616),
vinegar), yet the queen was no painted were certain that she would marry in Christopher Marlowe (1654–93), and
doll. She rode fearlessly and with skill, order to secure the succession. Her poet Edmund Spenser (1552/53–99),
frightening many with her daring. On reasons for never doing so remain to name a few, who were working at
the dance floor she was as nimble as she something of a mystery. She observed the height of their creative powers.
was tireless. Inside her active body from her sister’s reign how marriage to Though her splendor was fading fast ELIZABETH'S SIGNATURE
lurked an equally active brain. Elizabeth a foreigner could alienate her subjects; toward the end, she could still stir the
■ March 20, 1549 Catherine Parr’s fourth
received lessons from expert tutors in she also knew that marriage to an hearts of her people. “Though God
husband, Thomas Seymour, with whom
grammar, the various branches of Englishman would arouse jealousy and hath raised me high,” she flattered in
Elizabeth has been closely associated, is
mathematics, music, theology, disputes. Thus, likely for a number of her final speech to Parliament, “yet executed for treason.
history, philosophy, and reasons, she chose to remain single, this I count the glory of my crown,
■ July 19, 1553 Elizabeth’s Catholic sister
literature. She was by all but this was risky. Had she died before that I have reigned with your loves.”
Mary accedes to the throne.
accounts an extremely 50, instability would have ensued Elizabeth I died a much-loved queen.
quick learner and, by while a successor was searched for, The high level of public lamentation ■ March 18, 1554 Elizabeth is imprisoned in
throwing the realm into turmoil. on her death was unprecedented. the Tower of London for alleged complicity
in a rebellion against Mary led by Sir Thomas
In 1559, the queen came closest to
Wyatt; she is released on May 19.
marrying when she fell in love with
Robert Dudley. When his wife, Amy, ■ July 25, 1554 Mary marries Philip II of Spain
died after falling down stairs, however, in Winchester Cathedral; Roman Catholicism
tongues wagged that she been murdered is restored as the primary religion in England.
to free her husband for Elizabeth. It ■ November 17, 1558 Elizabeth accedes to the
was clearly impossible, under such throne on the death of Mary; she is crowned
circumstances, for a marriage to go in Westminster Abbey on January 15, 1559.
ahead, but she remained close friends ■ May 8, 1559 The Act of Supremacy asserts
with Dudley for another 10 years. the Queen as head of the Church of England,
Other candidates for Elizabeth’s hand restoring the Anglican Church.
were very much political. Among those ■ 1564 Elizabeth gives the title of East of
she considered, or pretended to Leicester to her favorite Robert Dudley.
consider, included Philip II of Spain November 9, 1569 The Catholic Earls of
(her sister’s widower), King Eric XIV of Elizabeth I arrives at Nonsuch Palace, Surrey Northumberland and Westmoreland lead
Sweden, Archduke Charles of Austria, Built by Henry VIII, sold by Mary I to the Earl of Arundel, the Northern Rebellion against Elizabeth.
Duke Henry of Anjou, and Francis, his and returned to Elizabeth I in 1590, Nonsuch Palace ■ February 20, 1570 The Northern Rebellion
brother. But true to her words of marks the peak of all Tudor building projects. is defeated.
■ April 4, 1581 Elizabeth knights Francis Drake
WRITER AND POET (1564–1616) after he completes a voyage around the world.
■ 1585 Anglo–Spanish War begins: Elizabeth
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE supports the Netherlands, in revolt against
Spanish rule.
Son of a Roman Catholic Stratford-upon-
Avon businessman, William Shakespeare ■ July 1588 The Spanish Armada, an attempt
was a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s by Philip II of Spain to invade England, fails.
Men, Elizabeth I’s favorite theater company. ■ 1590–96 Edmund Spenser’s epic poem
English theater flourished under Elizabeth I's The Faerie Queene, in praise of Elizabeth
patronage, and Shakespeare, considered (or Gloriana in the poem), is published.
the greatest writer in the English language, ■ August 4, 1598 William Cecil (later known as
is known to have written at least 38 plays, Baron Burghley), Elizabeth’s chief advisor since
and 154 sonnets and longer poems. His the start of her reign, dies.
brilliant comedies, tragedies, and histories ■ November 30, 1601 Elizabeth makes her last
explore the universal human experience. His address to Parliament.
play, Twelfth Night, or What You Will, was ■ March 24, 1603 Elizabeth dies in Richmond
written specifically to be performed at Palace, Surrey.
Elizabeth I’s court for the close of the
Christmas season, possibly in 1601.

33
 400–1911

Monarchs of Scotland
That the land between the Shetland Isles and the Tees River became a single state owes
less to geography or anthropology than to the dynamism of some ambitious monarchs.
Over centuries, a succession of heroes and rogues forged the Scottish nation.

K
ing Kenneth mac Alpin, the next king, moved Great Seal of Alexander II
BE F O RE (c.841–859), and his successors Scotland closer to Rejecting monarchical solidarity,
gradually extended the realm mainstream Europe Alexander II sided with the
of the Scots of Dàl Riata until it through contact with barons who had rebelled
Though invaded by the Romans on covered most of present-day eastern England’s Norman against England’s King John
several occasions and subjected to Scotland from the Tweed River to conquerors and (see pp. 20–21) and, in 1216,
legion garrisons in the south and the Central Highlands. through his marriage drove his forces as far south as
east, Scotland never became part to Margaret, an Anglo- Dover on the Channel coast.
of the Roman Empire. The making of a kingdom Saxon princess who was
The Alpin dynasty ended with later made a saint. Four of future Royal Families, the Bruces
MERGING PEOPLES Malcolm II (1005–34), who, in 1019, St. Margaret’s sons wore the Scottish and the Stewarts) to build up a
For much of the early medieval period, it was consolidated his southern frontier by crown in succession, but it was her feudal-style regime. William I (1143–
a land of tribal regions and small realms, so defeating Uhtred, Earl of Northumbria. youngest child, David I, born in 1083, 1214), “the Lion,” crowned in 1165,
Scotland’s emergence as a single kingdom was The new ruling house, Dunkeld, began and who ruled from 1124–53, who continued this process and extended
slow. Among these small realms, it was the in 1034 with Duncan I (1001–40) and was arguably the most capable of all royal authority into Galloway and the
Kingdom of the Dál Riata (“land of the continued in 1040 with Macbeth Scotland’s monarchs. David I used far north. Alexander II (1198–1249),
Scots”) that absorbed all the others, including the (c.1005–57). Malcolm III (1034–93), Anglo-Norman barons (including two who was crowned in 1214, defeated
native Picts. A people shrouded in mystery,
the Picts slowly merged with the Scots of the
Dál Riata, and disappeared from history.

ENIGMATIC ORIGINS
The origin of the Scots (or Scotii) of Dál Riata
is unknown. They spoke the same Irish Gaelic
as the Scotii of Ireland, and shared a
cultural heritage. If they moved from Ireland to
the Western Isles of Scotland or not is unclear.

Castle of history now a medieval ruin

The “Honors of Scotland,” the oldest crown jewels
in the British Isles, were smuggled out of Dunnottar
Castle to keep them from the hands of Oliver
Cromwell’s New Model Army (see pp.40–41).

34
 MONARCHS OF SCOTLAND

of Norway at Largs (1263) and three heir, his granddaughter, Margaret Hollow spheres
years later received the Western Isles (1283–90), died en route to Scotland, made of gold
into his kingdom. Thus, on the death the disputed succession was referred to
of his son, Alexander III (1241–86), Edward I of England (see p.21). Edward
who had been crowned king at age 7, I chose John Balliol (c.1248–1314), who
Scotland was a relatively unified and reigned as King of Scots from 1292–96.
competently governed medieval state. However, Edward I treated Balliol like a
Sadly, Alexander III’s death ushered feudal subordinate. The Scots rebelled,
in a crisis that nearly undid all the but were soon crushed, and John was
nation-building. When Alexander III’s deposed and taken south.
During the ensuing 10-year
interregnum (period between
monarchs), Scottish resistance to
Edward I’s wish to take over Scotland
focussed first on William Wallace
(whose ancestors had come to Scotland
with the Stewarts), and then on Robert
the Bruce (1274–1329).

21 The number of Scotland’s

43 monarchs who died
violent deaths between 841–1603.
Trappings of martyrdom
This is the prayer book and rosary
used by the Roman Catholic Mary,
Though he had previously sided with Queen of Scots during the night Hand-illuminated
Crucifix
the English, in 1306, Bruce declared with pearl before her execution in 1587 for Book of Hours
himself Robert I of Scotland. What pendants plotting against her Protestant
happened next is as much legend as cousin, Elizabeth I.
history. Edward I died on the way
north to teach Bruce a lesson. The 54,was marked by rising lawlessness. government.His Catholic daughter,
incompetent Edward II (see p.21) Under Robert III (1337–1406), Mary, Queen of Scots, lacked his skills
dithered and his army was soundly crowned in 1390, this escalated. His and eventually lost her crown and her
defeated by the Scots in 1314 at son, James I (1394–1437), was head (see p.29). Mary’s son, James VI,
Bannockburn. Though England captured at age 12, shortly (see pp.38–39) ruled Scotland
recognized Bruce’s kingship in 1328, before Robert III’s death and with skill until 1603, when
The roots of the Stewart dynasty fighting again flared under Scotland’s was held in prison for he inherited the English
Robert the Bruce, later Robert I, is shown with his first David II (1324–71), who was crowned 18 years in England. crown and moved to
wife, Isabella of Mar. The dynasty was descended from in 1331, until Edward III (see p.21) was The paternalistic London as James I.
the marriage of their daughter Marjorie to Walter distracted by the Hundred Years’ War. James I, crowned in
Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland. 1424, angered many James of the Fiery Face
The Stewarts with his high taxes James II’s nickname came from
David II was succeeded by Robert II and amassing of royal a large red birthmark on his
(1316–90), the son of Bruce’s daughter, estates, and an angry face. Though it was said to
Marjorie, and Robert, 7th High knight killed him. indicate a fiery personality, the
Steward of Scotland. (The Royal In 1437, age six, James genial king was one of the most
Family still holds this title: II (1430–60) was crowned. popular of the Stewart monarchs.
Prince Charles is the 29th He survived a turbulent
High Steward.) The minority, but came of age only to
reign of Robert II, be blown to pieces when one of his AFTER
crowned at age own cannon exploded during the siege
of Roxburgh Castle.
James III (1451–88), son of James II, After the union of the Scottish and
was defeated and killed in Sauchieburn, English crowns under James VI and I,
outside Stirling, during a rebellion Scotland’s monarch was based in a
headed by his own son. foreign land. Scottish independence
In James IV (1473–1513), crowned came under increasing threat.
in 1488, Scotland finally found a king
of international stature. A builder and UNION WITH ENGLAND
a naval man, James IV’s rich court By the later 17th century, Scottish business was
thronged with artists. Sadly, he unable to compete with England’s commercial
could not resist the traditional Scottish might. Eventually, in 1707, the Scottish
pastime of raiding England. In 1513, parliament accepted the Act of Union 39 ❯❯,
at Flodden, James IV was slain and uniting the administrations of the two nations.
his army was annihilated. Noble
factions, both Catholic and DEVOLVING POWER TO SCOTLAND
Protestant—and mutually hostile— In the 20th century, a resurgence of Scottish
competed for control of the monarchy nationalism led to a 1988 Scotland Act.
and the administration during the Accepted by a referendum in Scotland, it
reigns of the next three Stewarts: devolved major powers to a new Scottish
James V (1513–42); Mary (1542–67); parliament and central administration.
and James VI (1567–1625). When
adult, James V restored firm

35
Mary, Queen of Scots’ bed chamber
Holyrood was the setting for one of history’s most
famous murders. From the 18th century, fascinated
tourists began visiting the crime scene—the oak-
paneled rooms occupied by Mary, Queen of Scots.
 H O LY R O O D H O U S E

ROYAL RESIDENCE

Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh was an important residence even before the union
of the crowns in 1603. With previous inhabitants including Mary, Queen of Scots, it has been the
scene of many turbulent events in the complex relationship between England and Scotland.

H
olyrood was founded as an murder of David Rizzio, her Italian worship to the abbey—which then
Augustinian abbey in 1128 by secretary and rumored lover. Rizzio became a target for the mob in the
David I, son of St. Margaret of was stabbed 56 times by a group led by Glorious Revolution of 1688. In 1745,
Scotland, an Anglo-Saxon princess Mary’s husband Lord Darnley, and it is Holyroodhouse was again linked to the
who fled to Scotland after the Norman claimed that his bloodstains can still be Jacobite cause (see p.40), when James’s
conquest. According to legend, it was seen in the Northwest Tower today. grandson, Bonnie Prince Charlie, held
built on the site where the King had a After her enforced abdication and court there after seizing Edinburgh in
vision of the Cross—the “Holy Rood”— flight to England in 1567, the palace an attempt to restore the Catholic line
glowing between the antlers of a stag became home to Mary’s son, James VI, to the British throne.
while out hunting on Holy Cross Day. Scotland’s first Protestant king. By the
time he acceded to the English throne Modern traditions
Towers and turmoil in 1603, the household had swollen to Despite its long association with
When Edinburgh became the capital of around 600. However, with the court’s the Royal Family, it was only in the
Scotland in 1437, successive monarchs move to London, Holyrood faded in 1920s that Holyroodhouse formally
found the royal chambers at the abbey importance: Charles I was crowned became its official residence in
far more comfortable than Edinburgh King of Scotland there in 1633, but Scotland. The tradition of Holyrood
Castle. Eager to impress his new queen, from 1646 the palace was entrusted Week—a summer celebration of
Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII, to the care of the Duke of Hamilton Scottish history and culture—is a
James IV (1473–1513) had the abbey (his descendents still hold the post of highlight of the royal year. With
guesthouse converted into a palace. Keeper). Occupied by Cromwell during the Royal Company of Archers in
James also decided to develop the the Civil War, the building went up in attendance, the Queen entertains
grounds: in 1507 a loch was drained flames again in 1650; what remained thousands of guests from all walks
to make space for gardens and sports of the palace was used as a barracks. of Scottish life at garden parties and
such as tennis, hawking, and archery. Holyrood’s fortunes revived after the an investiture ceremony. The palace
James V (1512–42) made further restoration of the monarchy in 1660. is open to visitors all year, unless the
improvements, building new lodgings Rebuilt in 1679 as an elegant, family is in residence.
in a huge tower protected by a moat symmetrical Renaissance palace
and drawbridge. His fortifications designed by the architect Sir William
proved a shrewd investment: Holyrood Bruce, its tumultuous history continued
was attacked and burned more than unabated. Charles II never stayed in the Ceremonial displays
once during conflict with England building he commissioned, but his The baroque stairs, decorated with tapestries, frescoes,
throughout the 1540s, but the tower brother, James VII and II, had strong and plasterwork, lead to the State Apartments, where
survived. It was there that in 1566 connections. In 1686–87 James an investiture ceremony is held during Holyrood Week.
James V’s daughter—Mary, Queen of controversially set up a Jesuit College in Each year the week begins with the Lord Provost
Scots (1542–87)—witnessed the brutal the grounds and reintroduced Catholic handing the key to the city of Edinburgh to the Queen.

THE 16TH-CENTURY NORTHWEST TOWER

THE GREAT STAIR CEREMONY OF THE KEYS, 2014

37
 400–1911

BE F O RE

Before accession to the throne of

England, the Stewarts had ruled a
relatively small kingdom on the
The Stuarts
fringes of Europe. Having ruled Scotland for 230 years, the Stewarts survived as monarchs of a joint kingdom
for another 111 years. By the end of that time, their status had changed from a divinely
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED DEATH
Violence was never far beneath the surface appointed “loving father” of the people to a constitutional monarch with limited powers.
in Scotland, and numerous of James VI’s
predecessors ❮❮ 34–35 came to

N
untimely ends. ot since the Normans
(see pp.16–17) had a ruling
PINCHED BY PRIEST AND PURSE dynasty made such a dramatic
A source of vexation for James VI had been his impact. It began when the first Stuart
kingdom’s austere Presbyterian Church, (or Stewart as the Scots prefer; the “u”
popularly known as the Kirk. Established in spelling is a Frenchism) united the
1560, it was run by a General Assembly and crown of Scotland with that of England:
had its own courts. James, who thought James VI became James I (1566–1625)
Presbyterianism incompatible with monarchy, of England because of his descent from
won the right to appoint two bishops, but only Henry VIII’s sister, Margaret (see p.28).
with the Kirk’s approval. Equally humiliating, Forty years later, the two nations
Scottish kings were embarrassingly poor. were torn by civil wars (see pp.40–41)
Small wonder, then, that James could not that led to the trial and execution of
believe his luck when, upon the death of Charles I (see box). An experiment
Elizabeth I ❮❮ 28–29, 32–33 into his lap with republicanism collapsed, as did
dropped the crown of England. an attempt by Charles II (1630–85) and
the Roman Catholic James II (1633–88)
to set up a European-style absolute
monarchy. The outcome was a “Glorious
Revolution,” and the constitutional
“ The monarchy of the later Stuarts—Mary II
(1662–94) and William III (1650–
1702), and Anne (1665–1714).
authority The road to republicanism
of a king is James VI and I was an unusual figure,
and a fascinating, if unattractive,

the keystone tangle of contradictions. For a long

time, partly thanks to character
assassination by aggrieved courtiers,
which closeth he was thought the “wisest fool in
Christendom.” Modern historians take

up the arch a more kindly view. It is true that he

argued with parliament, made a fool of
himself over male favorites, and was
and order of useless with money. At the same time,
he avoided war and gave the world the

government.” incomparable Authorized Version of

the Bible. He also prevented an orgy of
bloodshed between Roman Catholics
THOMAS WENTWORTH, ENGLISH STATESMAN, 1628

160,000 Estimated number

of Civil War
casualties in England and Scotland.

and Protestants in 1605 after a group

of English Catholics was caught plotting
to kill him by blowing up the House of
Lords in the so-called Gunpowder Plot.
Charles I (1600–49), James VI and I’s
James I son, was crowned in 1626. In modern
James VI of Scotland and I of England was arguably parlance he was a conviction politician.
the most academic of all Britain’s monarchs. His Sadly, he was not a great politician,
rigorous, brutal, but intellectually stimulating and his convictions were those of a
education inspired him to write a number of works, continental monarch, not a British one.
ranging from Basilikon Doron (1599) on kingship, Two issues divided him from his
to a treatise on witchcraft (entitled Daemonologie, people: his belief that he had been
1597), and his celebrated anti-smoking propaganda, appointed King by God through the
A Counterblaste to Tobacco (1604). “Divine Right of Kings,” and his lack
of money and aversion to raising it by

38
 THE STUARTS

funding from France. However, a bigger

DECISIVE MOMENT
problem for Charles II was his brother
THE EXECUTION OF KING CHARLES I and heir, James, Duke of York (1633–
1701), a man in his father’s mold.
On January 30, 1649, the course of British The King rejected the authority of the court, James horrified the political nation
history—and the history of the monarchy but he was found guilty and executed, by converting to Roman Catholicism, a
itself—changed forever with the execution ushering in 11 years of republican rule. faith linked in the 17th-century mind
in London of Charles I. After attempting to Although the monarchy was restored in with tyranny, gunpowder plots, arbitrary
reach a negotiated settlement with a king 1660, the shadow of the execution could taxation, and every other conceivable
described as “that man of blood,” Oliver not be wiped away. In the final instance, wickedness. Crowned James II in
Cromwell and other Parliamentary leaders the monarch was subject to the will of the 1685, his pursuit of pro-Catholic
put Charles I on trial for High Treason. people, not a divinely appointed superhero. policies was the stuff of his subjects’
worst nightmares. When his second
wife, an Italian Catholic, gave birth
to a son in 1688, raising the prospect
of a line of Roman Catholic monarchs,
religious leaders and members of
parliament decided to oppose the King.

Constitutional monarchy
James II’s two daughters by his first
wife, Anne Hyde, were Protestant.
It was Mary, the elder sister, to whom The last Stuart sovereign
the opposition turned. In 1688, they Through her close personal friendship with Sarah
invited her and her Dutch husband, Churchill, wife of John Churchill, 1st Duke of
William, back from the Netherlands Marlborough, Queen Anne inadvertently helped launch
where they lived, requesting also that one of Britain’s most celebrated political dynasties.
they bring invasion forces to depose
the King. William and Mary duly Great Britain, based in London. The Act
arrived and James fled to France. united England, Scotland, and Wales
In 1689 his replacements were crowned into Great Britain for the first time.
Mary II and William III in what is War with France resumed under
known as the “Glorious Revolution.” Mary II’s sister Anne, crowned in
Their reign lasted until 1702. 1702. She was fortunate to find, in
The pragmatism of that bloodless John Churchill, a military commander
revolution was enshrined in 1689 in of exceptional ability whose victories
a Bill of Rights establishing Britain’s on the continent were unmatched
constitutional monarchy. The Crown since Agincourt (see p.25). After nearly
was certainly not powerless, but royal a century of turbulence, the surprising
and governmental expenditure were Stuart legacy turned out to be one of
now separate, and the monarch was unprecedented stability and prosperity.
compelled to appoint ministers who
conventional means. He made things to step into Cromwell’s giant shoes, had the backing of Parliament. This
worse when he tried to impose a and in 1660 Charles I’s son, Charles II meant that England’s commercial AFTER
prayer book on the Scots that was (1630–85) was invited to take up interests were now more in tune
almost exactly the same as the English his late father’s crown. with those of the government and,
prayer book. The Scots rebelled and Charles II had hankerings for a as a result, the economy boomed. Little more than a century after
Charles I launched a military campaign Roman Catholic, absolutist monarchy Scotland, unable to compete with Scotland’s James VI had united the
against them that not only failed, but is but he kept them quiet. Like his father, England’s mercantile power, accepted Scottish and English crowns, James II’s
thought to have led to a wider Civil he was irked by the need to rely on the Act of Union (1707) joining the Catholic faith lost the Stuarts almost
War (see pp.40–41). The defeated king Parliament for money and got around English and Scottish parliaments everything they had gained.
was put on trial and executed. the difficulty by negotiating secret together to form one Parliament of
ROVING COURT
The specter of Catholic absolutism Louis XIV allowed the exiled James II to
Britain became a republic for 11 years set up court in a royal château near Paris.
(1649–60), most of them dominated by The French government found the Stuarts
the towering figure of Oliver Cromwell politically awkward and, on Louis XIV’s
(see pp.40–41). Though rejecting the death, Pope Clement XI rescued them and set
crown, as Lord Protector, he was king up James II‘s son as “James III” in Rome.
in all but name. A successful one, too,
who united the British Isles under a FOCUS OF DISCONTENT
single government, earned it respect Though no longer resident in Great Britain,
abroad, governed well, if sternly, and the Stuarts still had a number of supporters
supported “liberty of conscience.” On in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Known as
his death, however, there was no one Jacobites 48 ❯❯, from Jacobus (Latin for
James), they included those opposing the
Gunpowder Plot conspirators government, fervent Roman Catholics, and
The infamous conspirators who planned to blow up sentimental conservatives given to drinking
James I are depicted here. The discovery of the plot on toasts to the “kings over the water.”
November 5, 1605, is still celebrated annually in the
United Kingdom with fireworks and bonfires.

39
 400–1911

BE F O RE

After the end of the Wars of the Roses

in 1487, England stayed clear of civil
war for the next century and a half.
Britain’s Civil Wars
Between 1639–51, the British Isles were rocked by civil wars. Whether seen as a Great Rebellion,
QUEEN'S CAUTION MAINTAINS PEACE the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, or the first modern revolution, the conflicts altered the course
The Tudors ❮❮ 28–29 experienced serious
rebellions, notably the Pilgrimage of Grace of British history for ever and led to Britain’s first and only experience of republican rule.
(1536–37), Kett’s Rebellion (1549), Wyatt’s

T
Rebellion (1554), and the Rising of the North o understand the causes of the L O R D P R O T E C T O R , M I L I TA R Y A N D P O L I T I C A L L E A D E R ( 1 5 9 9 – 1 6 5 8 )
(1569–70), but nothing on the scale of the 17th-century civil wars, we need
French Wars of Religion (1562–98) or Europe’s to remember that Charles I (see OLIVER CROMWELL
Thirty Years’ War (1618–48). This contrast was pp.38–39) was king of three realms:
largely thanks to effective local government England, Scotland, and Ireland. We Born into a family of minor gentry in
and the cautious religious policy pursued by must also grasp how deeply people of Huntingdon, Cromwell converted to
Queen Elizabeth I ❮❮ 29 and ❮❮ 32–33. the time felt about religion, especially Puritanism in the 1630s. Elected to
about the Catholic–Protestant divide. Parliament, during the Civil War he rose
11 YEARS’ TYRANNY? Very generally, Catholics considered to prominence as an efficient military
Between 1629–40 Charles I ❮❮ 38–39 Protestantism, especially Puritanism, commander. He was the driving force
ruled without Parliament. This was perfectly dangerously anarchic as it put ultimate behind the move to have Charles I
legal, so many accepted it. But using the royal authority in the hands of each man executed. His swift conquests of Ireland
prerogative to raise funds (thereby bypassing and his Bible; Protestants, on the other and Scotland made him by far the most
the need for Parliament), made it tyrannous hand, regarded Catholicism (“Popery”) powerful man in the British Isles and, in
in the eyes of his enemies. Demanding Ship as the faith of tyrants who mistrusted 1653, he accepted the position of Lord
Money from inland counties, for example, the people and valued subservience Protector. However, the republican regime
when normally only coastal counties had paid, above truth. England’s Protestant collapsed shortly after Cromwell’s death.
smacked of continental Catholic absolutism. Church was a compromise, making it a
target for both Catholics and Puritans.
Scotland was mostly Presbyterian (a Scotland’s Prayer Book Rebellion looked like Catholicism by the back
type of Protestantism), while Ireland was Charles I and Archbishop William Laud door; after all, Charles I had a Catholic
Battle of Marston Moor, 1644 mostly Catholic. This powder keg of of Canterbury favored reforming the wife. His high-handed behavior,
The Civil War’s biggest battle featured both Prince Rupert faiths required delicate handling to stop Church of England to place greater attempting to rule without Parliament
of the Rhine, the leading Royalist commander, and the it from exploding. Sadly, for himself and emphasis on ceremony, sanctity, and after 1629, and raising money by
“Ironsides” commander, Oliver Cromwell. Caused partly his kingdoms, Charles I seemed art. This alienated many English somewhat questionable means, only
by the Prince’s hot-headedness, victory fell to the latter. incapable of understanding this. subjects, to whom the new policy increased his opponents’ worries.

40
 B R I TA I N ' S C I V I L W A R S

AFTER
New Model Army triumph
Parliament’s reorganized New Model Army,
commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax, put the defeat of Though there were no more civil wars
the Royalists beyond question when it annihilated after those of the middle of the 17th
Charles’ army at the Battle of Naseby, June 1645. century, there were more major
battles fought on British soil.
surrender his prerogative power of
commander-in-chief. When Charles I’s WARS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND
attempted military coup failed, he left In 1685, a Protestant invasion by the Duke of
London to prepare for war. Monmouth (1649–85), an illegitimate son of
The two sides were well matched, Charles II 42 ❯❯, was crushed at Sedgemoor.
though Parliament controlled London After his flight from England, James II
and the navy. After 1643, Parliament ❮❮ 38–39 was overcome in Ireland at the
also had the support of a Scottish Battle of the Boyne in 1690. In 1715 and 1745,
Presbyterian army and, from 1644, its supporters of the exiled Stuarts were
forces were reorganized into the best quelled only after bloody battles and, in 1746,
fighting force of its day: the New Model the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie (1720–88)
Army. The King had the backing of a was famously destroyed at Culloden 48 ❯❯.
number of wealthy aristocrats but, More recently, Ireland was torn by fighting
interestingly, several counties refused to between the Irish and the British (1919–21), and
take sides, and raised their own soldiers then experienced a full-scale civil war, 1922–23.
to keep out both King and Parliament.
In 1637, when the King and Laud tried (1641), which listed all the opposition’s
to impose an Anglican-style Prayer grievances. At this point came news of Parliamentary victory
Book on Scotland, the Scots rejected it the slaughter of thousands of Irish Charles’ best hope was to strike first. New Model Army. The former wanted
with violence and drew up a National Protestants, victims of an uprising After an indecisive battle at Edgehill, a national church along the lines of
Covenant to defend Presbyterianism. against the strict rule of Charles I’s he tried to enter London but was the Scottish Kirk; the latter believed
They obliged Charles I to find £850 a minister, Thomas Wentworth. An turned back. The King’s nephew, Prince each congregation should remain
day to keep the Scottish army from army had to be sent to Ireland, but Rupert, an experienced commander, independent of any national church.
descending into England. Raising a who would command it? The Charles ineptly tried
sum of that size, as the Scots knew, Parliamentarians dared to play off one side
meant summoning Parliament. not give the King an against the other,
army lest he use it Cheap and lethal but his slipperiness alienated both.
Breakdown leads to impasse against them; the Lightweight and
Parliament passed a number of King refused to easy to construct, The bloody end
measures to curb royal power. These falconets were the After the New Model Army crushed a
Cartwheels
culminated in a Grand Remonstrance for ease of Civil Wars’ most royalist uprising of English and Scots,
maneuverability popular cannon. known as the Second Civil War (1648),
They fired a Cromwell and other army leaders lost
1lb (0.45kg) shot patience. A specially convened court
approximately the same found Charles I guilty of treason. On
size and weight as a falcon, January 30, 1649, he was beheaded
hence their name. on a platform erected outside his
father’s Banqueting House in Whitehall.
The execution of the King did not
achieved a number of successes in bring the Civil War to an instant end.
1643. However, in 1644, he suffered a First, there was the question of Ireland.
serious defeat at Marston Moor, in Crossing there in 1649, Cromwell
Yorkshire, where Oliver Cromwell’s slaughtered the people of Drogheda
East Anglian “Ironsides” made a and Wexford to warn others against
significant contribution to the resistance. After this, the country was
Parliamentary victory. systematically brought back under
In 1645, the New Model Army English rule. Charles I’s son, now
swamped the royalist forces at Naseby, Charles II (see pp.42–43), landed in
and the royalists in Scotland were also Scotland. The Scots were irked at not
defeated. Charles surrendered to the having been consulted over the fate
Scots, who handed him over to of Charles I, but their anger counted
Parliament. As peace talks dragged on, for nothing when their forces were
the Parliamentarians divided between destroyed by Cromwell at Dunbar
Presbyterians, allied to the Scots, and (1650) and Worcester (1651), finally
the more radical Independents of the bringing the Civil Wars to a close.

“ … the smallest He that is

in this kingdom hath a right
as the greatest He.”
THOMAS RAINBOROUGH, IN DEBATES HELD BY THE PARLIAMENTARY ARMY, 1647

41
 DECISIVE MOMENT May 8, 1660

The Restoration
The restoration of Charles II in 1660 marked the return
of a crowned head of state. Parliament was now a fixture,
and the settlement was an important step toward
constitutional monarchy.

When Oliver Cromwell’s son Richard was unwilling to continue his

father’s Protectorship (see pp.40–41), General George Monck arranged
for the Long Parliament (elected in 1640) to dissolve itself and opened
negotiations with Charles II, then in the Netherlands. Guided by Edward
Hyde, the future Earl of Clarendon, Charles issued the Declaration of
Breda offering a general pardon, a free parliament, and "liberty to
tender consciences." On these terms, the v was welcomed home.
The Act of Indemnity and Oblivion forgave the past behavior of all
except those who had signed Charles I’s death warrant and a handful
of others. The Restoration Parliament voted Charles II £1.2 million
per year with which to run his court—an amount that would prove
inadequate. All laws issued after 1641 were scrapped and confiscated
land returned. However, land sales made during the interregnum
(period between monarchs) to help the king remained valid.
While the Parliament had been in power, Puritanism had dominated—
the excesses of the royals had been condemned and an austere lifestyle
encouraged. However, the majority of the society was Anglican and held
different views. The restoration of an Anglican monarch brought with it
new laws that limited the rights of non-Anglicans. Puritans were labeled
"Dissenters" and anti-Puritan sentiment spread throughout society.
Theaters were reopened after an 18-year hiatus tforced by the former
government, and women appeared on stage for the first time. To the
delight of the rakish king, the new wave of Restoration comedies
reached levels of bawdiness previously not allowed.
Restoration euphoria was too good to last. The settlement had left
many former Royalists and Parliamentarians feeling aggrieved, and
Charles was soon squabbling with his parliaments over money, his
secret dealings with France, and the probable succession of his
Catholic brother, James, Duke of York.

“ The joy was… so universal

that His Majesty said… he
doubted it had been his own
fault he had been absent…”
EDWARD HYDE, EARL OF CLARENDON, IN HIS HISTORY OF THE REBELLION AND
CIVIL WARS IN ENGLAND

Charles II in royal regalia

This portrait was painted in a formal style to emphasize
the continuity of the royal line. It depicts Charles II
wearing the St. Edward’s Crown and carrying the new
orb and scepter commissioned after the earlier regalia
was destroyed during the interregnum.

42
 400–1911

ROYAL RESIDENCE

Windsor Castle
The oldest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor has been the British monarchy’s family home
for just under 1,000 years. Some of the most resonant rituals and myths of royalty were created
here. It is reputedly the Queen’s favorite residence, and the symbolic heart of the monarchy.

A
ccording to legend Windsor These new fortifications were soon put Many enduring royal rituals were also
Castle was built on the site to the test in 1214 during the established at this time. Edward III
of an old Celtic camp where insurrection of barons protesting revived the cult of King Arthur, and in
King Arthur once lived. History tells at the ruthless taxation and limitless 1344 created his own Round Table at
a different, though scarcely less powers of the King. The following year Windsor. Traces of the structure—the
incredible story. The castle dates back a conference was held at Windsor, which centerpiece of a festival where 300
to the first precarious years of the culminated in King John (1167–1216). knights gathered to joust, feast, dance,
Norman monarchy, a time when the The following year a conference was and watch the reenactment of scenes
King was in a constant power struggle held at Windsor, which culminated in from the stories of King Arthur—were
with the barons, his command only the King being forced to agree to the discovered by archeologists in 2006.
as secure as his last victory. restricted powers set out in the Magna Inspired by Arthur, Edward created his
Carta (see p.21).The document was own inner circle of knights, the Order
Medieval fortress sealed at Runnymede meadow, 3 miles of the Garter, and was instrumental in
Windsor was founded by William the (5km) along the Thames from Windsor. establishing St. George, who was in
Conqueror in 1070, four years after fact a Greek Christian from Palestine,
the Battle of Hastings, and was one of Romantic traditions as the patron saint of England.
a ring of nine fortresses built to protect It was in the next century, during the Windsor’s chapel is dedicated to St.
London from local Saxons. The site reign of Edward III (1312–77), that George, and images of the knightly
selected for the castle, above a bend in Windsor Castle began to emerge as the saint destroying the dragon abound.
the Thames river near the village of evocative symbol of ancient tradition, Lavish hospitality remained a feature
Windlesora, was on the edge of Saxon monarchy, and chivalry that it is today. of life at Windsor in the 15th century,
territory. William appropriated the Between 1350 and 1377 Edward spent despite the castle’s relatively small size.
forest around it as a royal reserve and £50,000 renovating the castle—the In 1416 Henry V instructed the Dean
hunting ground to supply the castle largest amount spent by any English and Chapter of Windsor to prepare their
with wood, deer, boar, and river fish. medieval monarch on a single building, “logyns and mansions” to receive the
The first fortress was a wooden motte which may make Windsor England’s multitude accompanying the Holy
and bailey, with three wards arranged most expensive secular building project Roman Emperor Sigismund, who hoped
around a central mound. In the 12th of the Middle Ages. Partly financed by to broker a peace between England and
century, William’s grandson, Henry II ransoms paid on prisoners taken at France by moderating the King’s
(1133–89), replaced the wooden Edward’s victories in France at the ambitions. Liberally entertained by
palisade surrounding the fortress with battles of Crécy, Calais, and Poitiers, Henry in London and in Windsor,
a stone wall interspersed with square Windsor Castle was transformed from a Sigismund ended up installed as a knight
towers. He also built a stone keep on medieval fortress into a lavish Gothic in the Order of the Garter, and signed
the irregular mound at the core of the palace, with a (literal) king’s ransom the Treaty of Canterbury, which
castle—the now famous Round Tower. spent on extravagant furnishings. supported English claims to France. ❯❯

THE LONG WALK WINDSOR GREAT PARK

44
 Windsor Castle from the air
Aerial view shows the Round Tower on the original
motte and the bailey below it, with neo-Gothic
towers and battlements added by George IV to
create a more imposing edifice.

Impressive surroundings
The castle is surrounded by Windsor Great Park—
5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of park land, including a
deer park and some ancient oaks as old as the castle
itself. Lined with London plane trees and horse
chestnuts, the Long Walk cuts straight through the
landscape for over 21⁄2 miles (4km), and provides a
magnificent and unforgettable approach to the castle.
It was originally laid out by Charles II and planted with
1,652 elm trees; the carriage way was added by Queen
Anne. Inside the castle walls, the red and gold uniforms
of the Yeomen of the Guard, the oldest British military
corps still in existence (here on the steps of St.
George’s Chapel), are a familiar sight—as is the
recurring motif of St. George slaying the Dragon.

ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL THE DEAN’S CLOISTER FOUNTAIN

45
 400–1911

❯❯ The Tudors made only minor execution his body was returned there increased the height of the Round Interior features
additions and modifications to the by night, and buried without ceremony Tower and had medieval-looking towers Two of George IV’s drawing rooms were painstakingly
castle, choosing instead to limit the in a vault beneath St. George’s Chapel. and battlements built. Inside, he created restored after the 1992 fire. St. George’s Chapel
size of their retinues at ever more a 551ft (168m) gallery—the Grand (below)—one of England’s finest Gothic churches,
extravagant Garter feasts. However, Restoration Corridor—and changed the interior with magnificent fan vaults and heraldic standards
pressure on space increased under Determined to make Windsor a symbol décor to French Empire. By the time the belonging to the Queen, Prince of Wales, and the 24
Elizabeth I, who used the castle to of the restored monarchy, in 1668 King took up residence at the end of Knights of the Garter—was untouched by the blaze.
entertain diplomats, and became a Charles II appointed the architect Hugh 1828, his improvements to the Castle
source of friction in the early 17th May to supervise modernization. The had cost nearly £300,000 ($1,440,000).
century—when James I came to hunt Royal Apartments were the last word in Fortunately his successors felt there
at Windsor, his English and Scottish Baroque extravagance: the opulent was little left to do, although Queen
attendants would squabble over rooms. tapestries and textiles were so costly Victoria added a new private chapel,
designed by Edward Blore, at the

“ It is the most romantique

eastern end of St. George’s Hall. It was
here, on November 20, 1992, that fire
broke out, and damaged or destroyed
castle that is in the world.” almost 20 percent of the castle area.
The long process of repair and
SAMUEL PEPYS, DIARIST, FEBRUARY 26, 1666 restoration began immediately, with GREEN DRAWING ROOM
a Restoration Committee chaired by
Charles I commissioned Inigo Jones they were only exposed when the King The Duke of Edinburgh. The areas
to make improvements to the 14th- and Queen were in residence to prevent that had been worst hit, such as
century apartments, but his plans the colors from fading. They remained St. George’s Hall, were redesigned
were interrupted by the outbreak virtually unchanged until George III in a contemporary Gothic style, while
of Civil War. Instead the castle was decided it was time to give them a others, such as the Grand Reception
commandeered by Oliver Cromwell for fashionable neoclassical restyle. Room and State Dining Room, were
use as his headquarters and as a prison George IV, on the other hand, was restored to the condition in which
for captured royalist officers. Charles aware of the symbolic power of the George IV had left them. Within five
himself was held at Windsor for the castle, and focused on enhancing the years the restoration was complete,
last three weeks of his reign; after his Gothic character of the exterior. He and the castle open to the public. CRIMSON DRAWING ROOM

FAN-VAULTED CEILING IN ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL

46
St. George’s Hall
Badly damaged in the 1992 fire, the castle’s main
reception room was rebuilt in a contemporary
Gothic style. State banquets are held here with
room to seat up to 160 guests.
 400–1911

The Hanoverians
In 1714, determined never again to have a Catholic monarch, the British offered the crown
to a German prince from Hanover who was distantly related to James VI and I. Though power
ultimately rested in Parliament, the Hanoverians still wielded significant political influence.

W
illiam III and Mary II Kings and electors
BE F O RE (see pp.38–39) were childless. The negatives of George I (1660–1727)
Mary’s sister, Queen Anne are easy to list. He spoke little English,
(crowned in 1702) had 16, all of whom was more attached to his native
At the beginning of the 11th century, predeceased her. To bypass the exiled Hanover than to Britain, publicly fell
in the time of Edward the Confessor, Catholic Stuarts (see p.39), Parliament out with his son, and kept his wife
a belief grew up that a touch from passed an Act of Settlement in 1701 under house arrest back in Germany
royalty could cure scrofula, an stipulating that the sovereign must be on charges of adultery. He took his job
unsightly skin disease, popularly Anglican; parliamentary consent was of King seriously, however, attending
known as the King’s Evil. required for wars in defense of non- cabinet meetings, refusing to be rattled
British territories; only British natives by anti-Hanoverian xenophobia, and
THE KING’S EVIL might hold office or receive grants of welcoming religious toleration. Above
Such was the demand for the healing powers crown lands. Thus on Anne’s death all, he did not try to push his authority
of the anointed sovereign that ceremonies in 1714, the crown passed to George, too far, thereby establishing his family’s
were held where a monarch laid a healing Elector of Hanover, great-grandson of status as acceptable heads of state.
finger on hundreds of afflicted subjects. Gold James VI and I (see pp.38–39). As Anne’s More opinionated than his father,
coins, known as touchpieces, were handed out closest living Protestant relative, his George II (1683–1760), reigned from
to those who received the royal remedy. In German birth was weighed up and 1727 and kept up the Hanoverian
time, just touching a coin that had itself been deliberately overlooked. tradition of falling out with his son The German King
in contact with a monarch was thought to be With Parliament choosing the and heir, Frederick, Prince of Wales Crowned King in 1714 at the age of 54, George I
curative. By the 18th century, the belief was sovereign, belief in the Divine Right (d.1751). He also followed his father’s was always more interested in the affairs of his
dying out, and Queen Anne ❮❮ 38–39 was of Kings ended. The Hanoverians had example of relying on an oligarchy of native Hanover than those of his adopted country.
the last monarch to touch for the King’s Evil. been enthroned for purely pragmatic

“ It is the pride of kings

reasons and were expected not to
thwart Parliament. However, their
theoretical powers were considerable,
The Battle of Culloden
In 1745, Charles Edward Stuart (or, Bonnie Prince
and they influenced events through
their right to choose the first minister. which throws mankind
Charlie) led the last Jacobite attempt to regain More significantly, in an age when
the throne. Landing in Scotland, he reached
Derby before retreating to Scotland where,
many parliamentary seats were in the
pockets of wealthy landlords, their
into confusion.”
in 1746, his army was destroyed at Culloden. political patronage could be crucial. TOM PAINE, COMMON SENSE, 1776

48
 THE HANOVERIANS

government ministers. Most prominent Prince Regent in retrospect

of these was Robert Walpole, generally Sir Thomas Lawrence’s portrait of George IV as Prince
recognized as Britain’s first Prime Regent was painted two years after he ascended the
Minister (in office 1721–42). George II throne. His regency (the time in 1811–20 when he
took a close personal interest in two acted as sovereign) resulted from his father’s incapacity.
major European conflicts: the War of
Austrian Succession (1740–48) and Hanoverian swansong
the Seven Years’ War (1756–63). He George IV, better known as the Prince
was the last British king to lead men Regent, a role he had enjoyed since
into battle (Dettingen, 1742), though 1811, reigned as King from 1820–30.
he was criticized for doing so under Crowned at the age of 57, he was obese
the colors of Hanover, not Britain. (nicknamed the “Prince of Whales”),
sick, vain, extravagant, and lazy. He
Family man and invalid brought the monarchy to a new low.
It is important to distinguish between Those seeking to defend him point
George III (1738–1820) the family to his patronage of the arts (a quality
man and invalid, and the king who rarely seen in the modern British
reigned from 1760. In the former role monarchy) and hold up London’s
he attracts much sympathy; in the
($1,100,000)
latter he was painfully out of his depth
and lacked the wit to realize it, often
with disastrous consequences.
£240,000 The total
cost in pounds of the coronation
George III treated his 15 children of George IV in 1821.
by his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg,
much as he did his ministers: he Regent Street and the Royal Pavilion,
sought goodness and obedience, Brighton, as examples of his precious
and tried to direct them in the paths architectural legacy. More valuable
of virtue. This led to frequent was his visit to Scotland in 1822, the
confrontations with his dissolute eldest first by a reigning British sovereign
son, George (1762–1830), whom the since Charles II (see pp.42–43), in
King did not understand. Nor did he 1650. George IV’s visit played an
really understand much else that was important part in strengthening the
going on around him—calls for reform bond between Scotland and England.
of parliament and greater religious On George IV’s death in 1830, the
toleration, for instance, and the crown passed to his brother, William IV
grievances of the American colonists (1765–1837), who was age 64. Bluff
who broke away from Britain in their and eccentric, he was known as “Sailor
War of Independence (1775–83). Bill” because he had served in the
The King suffered from porphyria, Royal Navy. In 1832, he reluctantly
a kidney disorder with distressing submitted to the will of the people
symptoms that appeared as madness. and supported the passing of a bill to
He suffered breakdowns in 1765 and reform the electoral system, yet two
1788 and, from 1811 onward, he was years later he became the last monarch
permanently incapacitated. Ironically, to appoint a Prime Minister (Lord
at a time when he was playing no part Melbourne, in office 1834 and 1835–41)
in affairs of state, he was at his most without Parliament’s full support.
popular, thanks to Britain’s successful Like his brother George IV, William IV
wars against Napoleon (1803–14). lived as husband and wife with a
woman to whom he was not married
and with whom he had many children.
Pavilion of controversy But the two legitimate daughters born
The merits of Brighton’s flamboyant Royal Pavilion, to his wife, Queen Adelaide, both died
designed in the Indo-Islamic style and started in 1787 young. As a result, William IV’s crown
as a seaside bolthole for the Prince of Wales, have passed to his 18-year-old niece, AFTER
always divided opinion. Victoria (see pp.50–61 and 66–67).

By the end of the Hanoverian era STEP BY STEP

in 1901, any remaining mystique in Though the monarchy was in urgent need
the public’s eye surrounding the of a make-over by the time of Victoria’s
monarchy had evaporated. accession 54–55 ❯❯, the path to popularity
was not straightforward. For the first 20 years
BAD EXAMPLE OF ROYALTY of her reign, Victoria, and to a greater extent her
Generations of family friction, eccentricity, and husband, Prince Albert , set new standards
vulgar irresponsibility had left the Royal Family of sobriety and duty, and the monarchy’s
resembling other aristocratic dynasties whose reputation rose. It then nosedived when the
fortunes had come through accident of birth Queen withdrew from public life in 1861 after
rather than effort or talent. Many would have the sudden death of Albert 60–61 ❯❯. It
believed the touch of the drug-addicted Prince had recovered by the end of her reign, and has
Regent more likely to spread disease than cure it. largely retained public approval ever since.

49
 400–1911

Born 1819 Died 1901

Queen Victoria
“ I am very young… but I am sure…
few have more… real desire to do
what is fit and right than I have…”
QUEEN VICTORIA, IN HER DIARY, JUNE 20, 1837

B
y the end of her long life, Victoria chloroform in childbirth but rejected electric
had become Britain’s longest- light. She used the railroad extensively, but was
reigning monarch. She was the terrified of high speeds and would never travel
only child of the Duke of Kent, the at more than 65 kph (50 mph). On other
fourth son of George III, and his occasions, for instance, during the
German wife, Princess Victoria of Saxe- numerous attempts to assassinate her,
Coburg-Saalfeld. Thanks to Victoria’s she showed remarkable bravery.
longevity and Britain’s industrial, In her personal life (see p.54)
naval, and financial predominance Victoria could be either warm and
globally throughout the 19th century, sympathetic or cold and distant.
her name came to be applied to an She took a close interest in all
entire era. Today, the adjective appointments to her several
“Victorian” has contradictory
implications. Positively, it is associated
with diligence, self-reliance, thrift, and Royal photo portrait, 1897
honesty: in a 1982 television interview, Victoria, Queen of the United
British Prime Minister Margaret Kingdom of Great Britain and
Thatcher said, “Victorian values were Ireland from 1837, Empress of
the values when our country became India from1876, seen in the
great.” Negatively, the term is equated year of her Diamond
with prudishness, narrow-mindedness, Jubilee, marking
hypocrisy, and rigid inflexibility. 60 years on
the throne.
The Victorian paradox
Victoria was a fascinating bundle of
contradictions, as was the age in which
she lived. She welcomed the use of

Young Victoria
German court painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter
(1805–73) first visited England in 1842 and painted
the young Victoria’s portrait. She had been queen for
five years at this point, and married for two.

50
 QUEEN VICTORIA

TIMELINE
■ May 24, 1819 Alexandrina Victoria is born at
Kensington Palace, London.
■ June 26, 1830 William IV assumes the throne.
With no legitimate children to succeed him, his
niece Victoria becomes heiress presumptive.
slowly toward democracy, Victoria’s ■ 1830 The Regency Act says that Victoria may
Gold bracelet Windsor, she hankered after the peace political influence waned. This was not become queen until she is 18.
Presented to Victoria by Marie-Amélie, Queen of the of Balmoral, the castle in the Scottish clearly illustrated in her relations with
■ May 24, 1837 Victoria turns 18 and becomes
French, in May 1852, the portraits depict Prince Albert Highlands she and Albert had built William Gladstone (1809–98), a British
eligible to assume the throne should her
and the four eldest of Queen Victoria’s children. The together; once there, she missed life liberal politician who was the greatest uncle die.
sixth frame holds braided hair. down south. political figure of his generation. She
■ June 20, 1837 Victoria becomes Queen of the
By today’s standards, Victoria’s did not favor him, yet she reluctantly
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
households yet, when her librarian interference in politics would have been appointed him prime minister on four
when William IV dies of heart failure.
tried to introduce his daughter to her wholly unacceptable. However, in her separate occasions. Nevertheless, she
on a royal visit to the library, she day, such interventions fell just within never once allowed the aged Gladstone ■ June 28, 1838 Coronation ceremony at
snubbed him with a curt, “I came to the bounds of what was permissable. to take a seat in her presence, and Westminster Abbey, London.
see the library.” She liked The “three rights of the ■ February 10, 1840 Victoria marries her cousin
children but hated being
pregnant, disliked
crown”—“to be consulted,
to encourage, and to 40 The number of living
grandchildren Victoria
had at the time of her death
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in the
Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace, London.
breastfeeding, and had warn”—as espoused by ■ May 6, 1840 Britain issues the world’s first
The number of living
little time for babies. To
her older sons and daughters
she was often an infuriating
English journalist and
essayist Walter Bagehot
(1826–77) were only just
37 great-grandchildren Victoria
had at the time of her death
postage stamp, costing one penny, which
bears the image of Queen Victoria.
■ June 10, 1840 Edward Oxford fires two bullets
mother who rarely practiced emerging at that time. into the coach carrying the pregnant Victoria. It
what she preached. While believing she was complained, “He speaks to me as if is the first of seven attempts on her life.
Victoria referred to Albert, above politics, Victoria I were a public meeting.” What she ■ November 21, 1840 Victoria’s first child, Princess
Prince Consort and her key fought to separate personal seems to have resented most about Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa, is born. Victoria
advisor, as her “angel.” But even feelings from her official role. the Liberal leader was his ability to and Albert will have a further eight children.
Albert dared not approach her when Being closely related to carry the masses with him. As the
■ May 1, 1851 Victoria opens the Great
she was in one of her several European royal “People’s William,” he posed a threat Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, which
notoriously furious Ear trumpet families put her in an to the “People’s Victoria.” showcases international culture and industry.
tempers, and was on Victoria suffered some hearing uncomfortable position Over time, the Queen’s popularity
■ April 7, 1853 Chloroform is administered to
occasion reduced to impairment in later life and was because, while the British grew, and the celebrations for her
Victoria in childbirth, lending credibility to its
passing her notes under given this silver-engraved ear government wanted to Jubilees of 1887 and 1897 were
use as an anesthetic during labor.
her door. Albert, in ill trumpet in 1880. pursue foreign policies that genuinely enthusiastic. When Victoria
health, traveled to visit increased Britain’s power died in January 1901, she was the ■ November 17, 1855 Explorer David
Livingstone names
his son who was in the grip of a scandal abroad, Victoria feared that such policies respected figurehead of a massive empire
the Victoria Falls on
concerning an actress. Anxious and would undermine and humiliate the that was home to one person in four of
Africa’s Zambezi River
exhausted, Albert died of typhoid fever royal families elsewhere, leaving them the world’s population. With Albert’s
after the Queen.
in 1861. Victoria blamed her eldest son, vulnerable to being overthrown. help, she had restored the prestige of the
for her husband’s early death, writing British crown, set standards of behavior ■ 1856 Balmoral Castle is
completed.
that thereafter, “I never can or shall Public affection finally restored that would serve as a template for her
look at him without a shudder.” Toward the end of her reign, when the successors, and (as much by luck and ■ June 26, 1857 Victoria
Sometimes Victoria could be brusque greatly expanded franchise (the right judgment) found a role for constitutional Cross awarded for the
and energetic, and at other times to vote) was drawing the country monarchy in an age of democracy. first time; 62 soldiers
sentimental. After Albert’s demise, and sailors receive it. VICTORIA CROSS
Victoria had her husband’s rooms ■ December 14, 1861
in all of the royal palaces and castles Devastated by the death of Albert, Victoria
maintained as they always had been, sinks into depression and withdraws from
with towels and linen changed daily, public life.
and hot water for washing and shaving ■ 1870 The republican movement has strong
brought in each morning. support on account of the unsociable
behavior of the “Widow of Windsor.”
Personal politics ■ May 1, 1876 Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli
As in her personal life, it is hard to proclaims Victoria “Empress of India.”
find consistency in Victoria’s political ■ 1887 Golden Jubilee marks 50th year of
life. She respected hard work and was Victoria’s reign. The celebrations help draw
herself diligent. Then, after Albert’s her back into public life.
death, she shut herself away from
■ September 23, 1896 Victoria’s reign surpasses
public life, and on numerous occasions
that of George III’s as the longest in British history.
threatened to abdicate or take herself
■ 1897 Diamond Jubilee is marked by six days of
off to Australia. When in London or
celebrations in London and elsewhere, ending
with a Review of the Fleet at Spithead.
Matriarch of Europe
Victoria surrounded by family. Her grandson, Kaiser ■ January 22, 1901 Victoria dies of a cerebral
Wilhelm II, sits at the bottom left while Czar Nicholas II hemorrhage at Osborne House, Isle of Wight,
of Russia and his wife Alexandra (Victoria’s grand- bringing to an end a reign of nearly 64 years.
daughter) stand behind the Kaiser. Albert, Prince of
Wales, Victoria’s eldest son, stands behind the Czar.

51
The archetypal Victorian family
Victoria and Albert pose for a photograph with
their nine children in the 1861. The stiff poses are
partly explained by the need to remain motionless
while a photograph was being taken.
 400–1911

BE F O RE

From 1714, the kings of Great Britain

were also Electors of Hanover, which
gave them the right, with eight others,
Victoria
to elect the Holy Roman Emperor.

CLOSE TIES WITH EUROPE

Elector of Hanover ❮❮ 48–49, is a largely
honorary title but, as long as the British king
becomes Queen
held this title, it tied Britain closely to A botched coronation and a disagreement over her ladies in waiting did not augur well for the
European, especially German, politics. This tie reign of the strong-willed young Queen Victoria. But marriage to her handsome, earnest-minded
also drew Britain into a continental land war
during Napoleonic times (1799–1815). At the first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, gave her longed-for stability and domestic joy.
end of the conflict, Hanover became a

V
kingdom, a development that gave three ictoria’s father died when she death of George IV Coronation cup, 1838
British monarchs, George III, George IV, was eight months old, and the (see p.49) in 1830, This fine silver goblet was
and William IV ❮❮ 48–49, a double crown. fair-haired, blue-eyed princess Victoria became heiress commissioned as a souvenir to
spent most of her childhood in the presumptive, prompting mark the coronation of Queen
LONG LIVE THE KING! seclusion of London’s Kensington her renowned remark, “I Victoria. It has two applied plaques.
The monarchy, in the period before Victoria Palace. Her overprotective, ambitious will be good.” Seven years One (left) shows the portrait bust of
ascended the throne, had been largely secure mother, aided by Sir John Conroy, later she acceded to the the Queen and the other a scene
due, in part, to the steadiness of the prevailing Victoria’s mother’s (possible) lover and throne when her uncle from the Coronation.
political system, and the longevity of the personal adviser, brought up Victoria William IV (see p.49) died
kings. From 1714–1837, there were only five according to a meticulous, complex set without legitimate Coronation
monarchs, one of whom, George III, reigned of rules, which they named the offspring. Until then, The public immediately
for nearly 60 years. “Kensington System“ after the palace. Victoria was made to sleep took to the 18-year-old
The system was designed to make the in her mother’s room. Victoria. Her youth, purity,
princess an easily manipulated cypher. However, on moving into and piety were a refreshing
Under the system, her every action Buckingham Palace—the contrast to the unseemly
Queen Victoria’s coronation service was observed and recorded, and the first sovereign to take up antics of her Hanoverian
This painting by Charles Robert Leslie (1794–1859) young Victoria was even kept away residence there—she demanded a predecessors (see pp.48–49).
shows the Queen toward the end of the service, from other children. Supported by her bedroom of her own. She also used Nevertheless, she soon discovered the
kneeling to receive the Sacrament. She wears no jewels devoted governess Louise Lehzen, her newfound authority to banish the tribulations a sovereign must contend
and the Crown has not yet been placed on her head. Victoria resisted strongly and, on the hated Conroy from the royal household. with, as her Uncle Leopold (1790–
 VICTORIA BECOMES QUEEN

AFTER
gushed Victoria later), the youthful
Queen rode in the ornate Gold State
Coach to Westminster Abbey. Under ancient German law codes,
At this point things began to go as Queen Victoria acceded to the
wrong. There had been no rehearsal, throne, Britain’s 123-year connection
and no one was quite sure where to with Hanover ended. In the future,
go or when. The music of a massive wars loomed.
orchestra and choir was out of time
because the choirmaster was forced LINKS WITH GERMANY LOOSEN
to conduct from his seat at the organ. The Germanic kingdom’s Semi-Salic law,
The entire chaotic ceremony, which dating back to the 6th century, forbade
involved the Queen in two changes of female accession to the throne as long as
formal attire, lasted a sleep-inducing a male alternative existed. Accordingly, in
five hours. The tedium was relieved 1837, Victoria’s uncle, Ernest Augustus,
Victoria’s First Meeting with the Privy Council ($385,000) for the coronation, twice only when an 82-year-old peer, the eldest surviving son of George III, took the
Just hours after learning of William IV’s death, Victoria that of William IV’s in 1831 (see appropriately named Lord Rolle, crown of Hanover and left Britain to his niece.
held her first meeting with her councillors in the Red pp.49), was wasteful and Britain tripped and rolled down the chancel
Saloon, Kensington Palace, at 11 A.M. on June 20, 1837. would be better as a republic. steps. When he had recovered, Victoria FIRST STEP TOWARD WORLD WAR I
Age 18, she wrote that she was “not at all nervous.” Complaints or no complaints, on won the hearts of those present by With the British monarch no longer ruler of
June 28, 1838, the ceremony went getting up and coming down the steps Hanover, a close link with Germany was
1865) and later first king of the ahead. It began with the longest to meet him so he didn’t have to gone. This may be seen as the first step in
Belgians, warned her. Difficulties arose procession the streets of London had attempt the ascent again. a chain of events that led to Britain and
over her coronation. In the House of seen since the return of Charles II in Germany going to war. In 1914, German
Commons, the traditionalist Tory party 1660 (see pp.41–43). Cheered by a Early Difficulties troops advanced through Belgium.
was accused of using the ceremony as crowd estimated to number around Victoria ultimately found happiness Britainheld that this infringed Belgium’s
propaganda to promote the monarchy, 400,000 (“millions of my loyal in her marriage. She first met her neutrality, and declared war on
while Radicals said the £79,000 bill subjects... assembled in every spot,” future husband, her cousin Prince Germany 79–81 ❯❯.
Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1819–
“His … excessive love and affection 61), in 1836. She was powerfully
struck by his looks and serious yet
gave me feelings of heavenly love sympathetic personality. They met
again in 1839, and five days later, on
deepened and Albert was soon his
wife’s wise adviser as well as her lover.
and happiness. ” October 15, Victoria proposed to him,
and he accepted. It was a love match
When Victoria’s pregnancies grew
visible and prevented her from
QUEEN VICTORIA, IN HER DIARY, FEBRUARY 10, 1840 bonded by a strong physical attraction appearing in public ceremonies, it was
that enabled the couple to weather Albert who assumed her duties. As their
even the roughest emotional storms. family expanded, the monarchy became
The wedding took place in the Chapel more of a shared partnership between
Royal at St. James’s Palace, London, on them. A part of Victoria always resented
February 10, 1840. As they had done this sharing of power, but she usually
for the coronation, excited crowds lined welcomed it and even permitted Albert
the streets to see the Queen travel from to dictate her political letters.

The weight in pounds

300 (or, 136 kg) of the cake
baked for the wedding of Victoria
and Albert. More than 1,000
guests each tasted a morsel.

Buckingham Palace to the chapel. Also,

as at the coronation, the music was
poor. But no one seemed to mind and,
after an enormous wedding banquet in
Buckingham Palace, the couple left for
a honeymoon in Windsor Castle.
Victoria was soon pregnant. A
daughter, Victoria (1840–1901), was
born the same year on November 21. A
further eight children followed: Albert
Edward, Prince of Wales (1841–1910);
Alice (1843–78); Alfred (1844–1900);
Helena (1846–1923); Louise (1848–
1939); Arthur (1850–1942), Leopold
(1853–84); and Beatrice (1857–1944).
Victoria’s old governess and confidante
Louise Lehzen ran the busy household
until, after a heated quarrel in 1842 Queen Victoria in the crown jewels
between Victoria and Albert, who After her coronation, Victoria is depicted in the regalia
detested Lehzen, she was given and vestments of a British monarch. The imperial state
retirement. Despite such squalls, the crown she wears is set with such gems as St. Edward’s
relationship between the royal couple sapphire (front), which dates back to 1042.

55
Palazzo style
The gardens were also designed by Prince Albert
and provide the perfect the setting for his Italian
Renaissance villa with wide terraces that open out
to glorious views of the sea.
 OSBORNE

ROYAL RESIDENCE

Osborne
Designed by Prince Albert in the style of an Italian Renaissance villa, the house at Osborne on
the Isle of Wight, with its splendid views over the Solent, was intended to provide the Royal
Family with a luxurious seaside retreat, well away from the pressures of court life.

Q
ueen Victoria and Prince Albert dominated by two Belvedere towers, Benjamin Disraeli, and William
bought the Osborne estate on with huge plate glass windows looking Gladstone; inventor Alexander
the Isle of Wight in 1845. over the grounds to the sea. Graham Bell, who demonstrated the
Owned by Lady Isabella Blachford, Victoria and Albert gradually created telephone at Osborne; and members of
the estate was recommended to them their ideal world, building a model European royalty, including Emperor
by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel. farm, estate cottages, lodges and Napoleon III and Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Victoria, who had fond memories of dormitories, and a sea wall along the After Albert’s death, Victoria took
childhood holidays on an adjoining coast. The estate had terraced Italian refuge at Osborne, and eventually it
estate, declared “it is impossible to gardens, and a private beach, where became her preferred residence. In
imagine a prettier spot.” Albert was the children and their mother all 1885 she agreed to the marriage of
equally charmed by the site: it learned to swim. her youngest child, Beatrice, on
reminded him of the Bay of Naples Hidden in the woods is a wooden condition she continued to live at
which he had visited in 1838. The chalet, the Swiss Cottage, where the Osborne. A new wing was built, with
existing house, however, was too small royal children were taught household apartments for the Princess and her
for the royal couple, their growing skills. The Princesses learned to bake family, and an opulent reception room
family, and entourage, so work began and would occasionally serve tea to was added, encrusted with Mughal-
immediately on a new building. their parents and guests. They kept inspired stucco-work, known as the
household accounts, which Albert Durbar Room.
Ideal home inspected. The older boys, Bertie and Queen Victoria died in her bedroom
Inspired by his memories of Italy, Alfred, helped to lay the foundations. at Osborne on January 22, 1901. Her
Prince Albert worked closely with An entry in Queen Victoria’s journal children did not share her love for the
the property developer Thomas Cubitt describes how Prince Alfred “worked house, and Edward VII presented it
to create an informal family home. as hard and steadily as a regular to the nation. After stints as a Naval
The first part, the three-story Pavilion laborer”—and was paid by Albert at College and convalescent home, the
accommodating the private rooms of the same rate. Each child had their house is now run by English Heritage
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and own garden plot where they cultivated and is open throughout the year.
the royal nurseries for their children, fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Despite
was completed in 1846. The Household the miniature tools and monogrammed
Wing, providing rooms for members wheelbarrows, this was no mere game.
of the royal household, was finished The under-gardener assessed all the Informal seaside retreat
in 1848. At this point the original produce, and Albert paid the market Private rooms like the nursery were all furnished with
house was demolished and replaced price to the child who had grown it. comfort in mind, but the Durbar Wing had a more
with the Main Wing, linked to the In the main house, the Queen impressive space for formal entertaining. Despite the
Household Wing by the Grand received a panoply of distinguished privacy of the estate, Victoria was wheeled to the sea
Corridor. The finished building was guests: prime ministers Robert Peel, in her bathing machine when she wanted a swim.

QUEEN VICTORIA’S BATHING MACHINE

NURSERY BEDROOM PEACOCK OVERMANTLE IN THE DURBAR ROOM

57
 DECISIVE MOMENT May 1, 1851

The Great Exhibition

Organized by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts
and strongly backed by Prince Albert, the Great Exhibition of
the Works of Industry of all Nations, in Hyde Park, London,
attracted 6.2 million visitors. It successfully promoted Britain’s
position as the world’s leading industrial nation.

The proposal to hold an international exhibition in London to show

off British ingenuity and promote harmony between nations came
from Henry Cole, a civil servant and member of the Society of Arts,
and was backed by Victoria’s far-sighted husband, Prince Albert. The
idea was not a new one. France had held an Industrial Exposition in
Paris in 1844, and the concept had been copied in Madrid (1845),
Brussels (1847), and Lisbon (1849). This put pressure on Britain, the
undisputed leader of global finance and manufacturing, to organize
something bigger and better than anything attempted before.
A royal commission looked into the matter and Lord Russell’s
Liberal government gave the project its backing. The committee
charged with bringing the project to fruition by May 1, 1851, was
chaired by the civil engineer William Cubitt. Alongside him sat Prince
Albert, the celebrated civil engineers Isambard Kingdom Brunel and
Robert Stephenson, and the architect Charles Barry. They struggled to
find a suitable building plan until the well-known gardener Joseph
Paxton came up with a design for an enormous greenhouse using
cast plate glass, cast iron, and laminated wood. In just nine months
the Crystal Palace, the world’s largest glass structure, was built in
Hyde Park, London, on time and on budget.
The 100,000 exhibits packed into the 25 acres (10 hectares) of floor
space included the Koh-i-noor—then the world’s largest diamond—a
voting machine, a Colt revolver, and the first public conveniences. The
Great Exhibition was an outstanding success, attracting an average daily
attendance of 42,000 visitors and making a profit of £186,000
($912,000)—money used to set up the Museum of Manufacturing
(later known as the Victoria and Albert Museum) in Kensington. The
Queen visited several times during its construction and almost daily
once the Great Exhibition was open.

“ Its grandeur does not consist

in one thing, but in the unique
assemblage of all things.”
CHARLOTTE BRONTË, WRITER, IN A LETTER TO A FRIEND

The Crystal Palace

The Great Exhibition—housed in the spectacular Crystal
Palace—showcased Britain as the “workshop of the
world.” It displayed an extraordinary array of innovative
goods and machinery from Britain and its empire,
as well as from other nations.

58
 400–1911

Victoria after Albert

The sudden death of Albert in 1861 left the 42-year-old Queen totally devastated. The years
of semi-seclusion that followed undid much of the good work she and her husband had
accomplished to raise the prestige of the monarchy, and fed a surge of angry republicanism.

M
arriage to Victoria was never exploded into revolution in 1848, he
easy, and there was always reassured her. He soothed her when
something of a power struggle she was dubbed the “Famine Queen”
between her and Albert. She bowed to when the Irish were starving in the
the inevitable, nevertheless, especially Great Famine of 1845–52. Her gift of
during her pregnancies, and allowed £2,000 ($10,000) toward famine relief,
him, as her Private Secretary, to deal though just 0.5% of her £385,000
with official business. annual income, was still the largest
Albert was better educated than single donation.
Victoria, his mind clearer and sharper, In the 1840s, Albert supported his
so his contributions were much wife’s wish for closer relations with
appreciated. In addition to handling France. Their efforts led to a meeting
correspondence, he met with ministers with King Louis Philippe in 1843,
and urged “sympathy and interest for the first such encounter since the
that class of our community who have time of Henry VIII (see pp.28–29).
most of the toil and fewest of the In the next decade, as well as
enjoyments of this world”. working on the 1851 Great Exhibition
in London and the reform of Cambridge
A royal partnership University, of which he was Chancellor,
With Albert to lean on, Victoria rode Albert assisted with the Crimean War
out the dangers of pregnancy and against Russia. He also arranged for
childbirth. She also survived several
assassination attempts. When Europe
£600,000 THE AMOUNT
left to Queen
Victoria in Albert’s will ($2,750,000).
BE F O RE
their eldest daughter, Victoria (Vicky),
to marry Prince Frederick William
Because Victoria was raised fatherless, (Fritz) of Prussia in 1858, when Vicky
it has been suggested that she could was 17. The next year she gave birth to
only function effectively when there a son: the future Kaiser Wilhelm II.
was a certain type of man in her life.
A dreadful year
CRAVING FOR A FATHER FIGURE 1861 was the unhappiest year of
Before her marriage, Lord Melbourne Victoria’s life. The year started badly
(1779–1848), who was Prime Minister when with Albert not keeping well. When
Victoria ascended the throne, fulfilled the the Queen’s mother died in March and Wales (see pp.72–73), had been having Queen with her husband, Albert, 1851
fatherly mentor role. Between 1840–61, Victoria reacted with hysterical grief, an affair with an Irish actress. Despite The pose, though extremely formal, manages to
Prince Albert was the only male company she rumors spreadwidely that she had gone his strict schooling (or perhaps because suggest the couple’s complex relationship: Victoria,
needed, combining the roles of lover, father, mad, like her grandfather George III of it), Bertie was developing into a admiration tinged with a hint of irritation, looks up at
and companion. The loss of this complex, (see pp.48–49). Hanoverian-style playboy. Victoria was her tall, upright, and slightly preoccupied husband.
multilayered relationship was, arguably, a Worse was to come as Albert’s health mortified; Albert became sicker, and
blow from which she never fully recovered. deteriorated. Then, on November 12, by December was clearly dying. He wore black henceforward and, though
news arrived that shocked them to passed away, surrounded by his wife she did smile on occasion, she was
the core: Albert Edward, the Prince of and five of their children, on Saturday continually reminding others of her
December 14, 1861. The contemporary loss. She avoided appearing in public,
diagnosis was typhoid fever; a more preferring self-imposed seclusion at
likely diagnosis is cancer, Crohn’s Windsor, Osborne House, or Balmoral.
disease, or kidney failure. Before long the public was declaring
that the “Widow of Windsor” was
Mourning neglecting the duties for which she
Victoria reacted to Albert’s death with was paid from the public purse.
fits of frenzied weeping and going At Balmoral, Victoria met John
around as if in a dream. She always Brown, a handsome estate worker
some seven years her junior. The
couple developed a close friendship
Royal target and understanding: she was buried
The first attempt on Victoria’s life was made by with a lock of his hair, and wrote when
Edward Oxford on June 10, 1840. The would-be he died, “Perhaps never… was there…
assassin fired two pistols at close range before so warm and loving a friendship
being apprehended. He was later declared insane. between the sovereign and servant”.
 VICTORIA AFTER ALBERT

A gold cross
tops a 176ft

“ God’s will be done! A heavenly

DECISIVE MOMENT (54m) tall
memorial
MONARCHY RECOVERS
Though Victoria’s recovery from illness peace has descended… it cannot
produced a wave of affection toward
her in the fall of 1871, it was the
Prince of Wales’s brush with death later
be possible… Oh! God! Oh! God!”
in the year that decidedly swung public QUEEN VICTORIA, ON THE LOSS OF ALBERT, DECEMBER 16, 1861
opinion back in the Royal Family’s favor.
Victoria’s abject misery over her son had
been picked up and telegraphed around send her full and intimate reports of
the Empire, provoking widespread her daughter-in-law’s condition. Vicky
sympathy; joy at his recovery was she labeled a “cow” for breastfeeding,
similarly wide-ranging. The episode contrary to her mother’s wishes.
carried the tide of popular feeling back Exterior Victoria hoped her youngest daughter,
mosaics
toward the monarchy, and dealt a major
manufactured
Beatrice (nicknamed “Baby”) would
blow to British republicanism. in Murano, remain single. When Beatrice became
Venice engaged to Prince Henry of Battenberg,
however, Victoria refused to speak to
Some say the couple were lovers— her for seven months.
Victoria’s daughters certainly joked
that they were, and their mother was Bertie’s brush with death
mocked in print as “Mrs. Brown.” Had the hostile mood of 1870
We will probably never know the truth persisted, Victoria’s reign might well
about the relationship, but rumor and have ended in ignominy. But, just as
innuendo dragged the Queen’s illness had started her decline, so The Queen and her gillie, c.1863
reputation still lower. By 1870, a it played an important part in For 150 years, the precise nature of the relationship
significant wave of republicanism turning things round. between Victoria and John Brown, her gillie
was sweeping the country. The Toward the end of 1871, (a hunting and fishing guide) at Balmoral,
National Reformer, a popular Radical she became seriously ill with has been the subject of speculation.
newspaper, proudly declared itself a badly infected abscess in her
“Atheist, Republican, Malthusian,” armpit. When she recovered, next February. In May 1872,
and its editor, Charles Bradlaugh, with the help of a new antiseptic Bertie’s brother organized a special
drew large crowds to his speeches spray invented by British surgeon Thanksgiving Day concert in the
criticizing the monarchy. In 1870, Joseph Lister, the public Crystal Palace, and commissioned the
a popular rally in Trafalgar Square responded with warmth. A month renowned composer Arthur Sullivan
called for Victoria’s removal. later, in October, Bertie caught to write a “Festival Te Deum” for it. The
typhoid fever while staying with work gained a triumphant reception,
Micromanaging matriarch Lady Londesborough, near especially as it was dedicated to the
Stubbornly refusing to bow to Scarborough. The outbreak, Queen herself, and confirmed that
public opinion, the Queen probably emanating from the the monarchy’s crisis had passed.
instead channeled her energies poor state of the Lady’s drains,
into controlling her family. Her means had killed the Conservative
were duplicitous, picking up stories politician Lord Chesterfield, and AFTER
from informers and playing off one the Prince himself was now in
child against another. Her favorite, mortal danger. Victoria was
possibly because he resembled in despair: her son was at his From 1861 onward, Victoria found
Albert and did what he was told, lowest on the exact anniversary male companionship in a number of
was her third son, Prince Arthur. of Albert’s death 10 years earlier. very different types of men.
His elder brother, Bertie, carried on The press published detailed reports
where he had begun in the year of on Bertie’s progress and, in Britain POLITICAL ADVISER
his father’s death, chasing women and overseas, public rejoicing at the Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81)
and enjoying himself. Victoria kept Prince’s recovery was widespread was a flattering companion: “Everyone likes
him at arm’s length, never trusting and genuine. It carried over into flattery,” he confessed, “and when you come
him with government papers. the enthusiastic reception afforded to royalty you should lay it on with a trowel.”
Her daughters, including royal Bertie and his mother when
wives, she tried to keep on an even they attended a Thanksgiving EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS
tighter rein. She insisted that the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral the John Brown was Victoria’s emotional stay,
doctor who attended Alexandra, and perhaps even her lover. After his death
the Danish princess whom Statue of Albert, seated in 1883, another male friend came to court.
ceremonially, wearing the
Bertie married in 1863, robes of the Garter Hafiz Mohammed Abdul Karim (affectionately
referred to as “the Munshi,” meaning clerk
Albert Memorial, London or teacher) was the son of a Muslim hospital
Funded by public donations, Allegorical sculptures assistant in India. Having crossed to Britain
this neo-Gothic monument representing the Industrial to work in Buckingham Palace during the
Arts at four corners
was opened in 1872. 1887 Golden Jubilee year 66–67 ❯❯,
The golden statue of he remained a close companion to Victoria
the robed Albert was for the remaining 15 years of her life.
placed within it three
years later.

61
 DECISIVE MOMENT May 1, 1876

Empress of India
Victoria was delighted when the Royal Titles Act of 1876
gave official recognition to her status as an empress: she
was now on a par with the German and Russian royal families.
Nevertheless, in some circles the new nomenclature was seen
as a somewhat vulgar European import.

Though India was regarded as the “jewel in the British Crown,” until
1857 London governed it only indirectly. Day to day administration
was shared between the East India Company and Indian princes. The
arrangement fell apart during the extremely violent rebellion of 1857,
also known as the Indian Mutiny, India's First War of Independence,
and the Great Rebellion. The following year, the Government of India
Act placed administration in the hands of the British government—the
British monarch became India’s Head of State.
By the time the Prince of Wales (later to become Edward VII)
made his eight-month tour of India, beginning in October 1875, the
subcontinent had settled down and the royal visit was a great success.
This was in no small part due to his open-minded nature and refusal
to accept the racism that many members of the Raj – the British
government in India – practiced. Back home, the Conservative Prime
Minister Benjamin Disraeli, the Queen’s favorite, took advantage of
the visit to introduce a Royal Titles Bill in 1876. He even persuaded
Victoria to open Parliament in person for the first time since Prince
Albert’s death. The new law gave official sanction to her use of the
title Empress of India, a move that would, Disraeli hoped, strengthen
the bond between Britain and India. On January 1, 1877, Lord
Lytton, Viceroy of India, marked the occasion with the Delhi Durbar,
a spectacular celebration in the Indian capital.
Victoria had long been annoyed that the heads of the Russian and
German royal families had sported a title she did not possess, and she
warmly welcomed the elevation. She took to signing herself “V.R. & I.,”
Victoria Regina et Imperatrix (Victoria Queen and Empress).

“I am an empress and
in common conversation
am sometimes called
Empress of India.”
QUEEN VICTORIA TO SIR HENRY PONSONBY

Victoria Terminus
Now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, this
massive railroad station in Mumbai (formerly Bombay),
India, was completed just in time to commemorate
Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. A monument to
colonial rule, the edifice was built using locally
procured materials, but fashioned in European style.

62
 400–1911

BE F O RE

The attitude of George III toward

his American colonies, and their
From Empire
successful rebellion (1775–83) against
him, taught Britain a valuable lesson.

AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

to Commonwealth
British North America had been subject to Victoria was figurehead of the largest, most diverse empire the world had ever seen. Efforts
English law until the 18th century, but laws to bring its component nations closer together led to the creation of the Imperial Federation
passed after 1763 to raise revenue for Britain
united the American colonies in acts of League and Colonial Conferences, from which today’s Commonwealth of Nations emerged.
rebellion. In reprisal, Britain passed yet

T
more laws. The colonists rejected their legality, he huge British Empire headed Safeguarding the empire
and political leaders wrote a Declaration of by Queen Victoria (see pp.50–51) One way Britain protected its far-flung Empire was to
Independence in 1776. In the ensuing war, was an unusual entity—if it was increase the size of its Royal Navy. HMS Dreadnought,
which ended in 1783, Britain lost its colony an entity at all. Britain’s global lands commissioned in 1906, became a tangible symbol of
and the United States of America was born. had been accumulated over a long time Britain’s invincibility on the open seas.
in a wide variety of ways. Some had
ASSET FOR THE MOTHER COUNTRY been conquered, some purchased, subcontinent. During his visit, he
From this time onward the men and women some simply occupied, and others showed Indians of every degree that
living in the colonies, especially those of gained through negotiation (not always they were the equals of his subjects
European descent, were treated with greater scrupulous) with previous owners. as Trinidad and Jamaica, were different at home. The tour also laid the ground
respect than before. Even so, the colonies Broadly speaking, the colonies were again. Here the indigenous peoples had for his mother to assume the title
were still regarded as primarily existing for the of two types. There were those like been all but replaced by immigrants Empress of India in 1876 (see pp.62–63).
benefit of the mother country, as India and Kenya where the indigenous from Europe, West Africa (as slaves),
providers of food and raw materials, as captive people made up the bulk of the and, latterly, Asia. Empire under threat
markets for British goods, and places where population, and those like Australia During the 19th century, the monarchy There had always been many who felt
surplus population could go, and to and Canada where European settlers became the focal point for the swelling uneasy about Britain’s acquisition of an
which undesirables might be sent. had swiftly overwhelmed the small empire. In 1875–76, Queen Victoria’s overseas empire. The rebellion of the
indigenous populations. British son, the Prince of Wales (see pp.72–73), American colonists in 1775–83 (see p.49),
territories in the Caribbean, such made a highly successful tour of the for instance, had attracted a number of

Indian princes at Edward VII’s coronation

Few images reflect the monarch’s role in old-style
imperialism more than Albert Harris’s painting of
Edward VII receiving the Maharajas and other rulers
of India’s Princely States before his coronation.

64
 AFTER

The Colonial and Imperial Conferences

were early indications of a change in
attitude toward the colonies.

EMPIRE TO COMMONWEALTH
The word “commonwealth,”widely used in the
16th century, had been revived in the
19th century as an alternative to “empire.”
By 1917, the South African leader Jan Smuts
was talking of the “British Commonwealth of
Nations.” In 1949 the word “British” was axed
and the modern Commonwealth of Nations, a
voluntary association of 53 states, was born.
King George VI 94–95 ❯❯ gladly acted as
its figurehead, a role granted to his daughter,
Elizabeth II 134–135 ❯❯ on her accession.

“ Africa is still lying ready for Meeting of equals

From the 1887 Colonial Conference onward, British
or, Imperial Conferences, were held at
irregular intervals. By 1936, this type of
meeting was called a “Commonwealth
us. It is our duty to take it.” ministers learned to negotiate and not simply to issue
orders when meeting with the elected leaders of the
dominions: all were subjects under the same monarch.
of Nations,”giving the dominions equal
status to Britain within it.
CECIL JOHN RHODES, BRITISH IMPERIALIST, IN HIS The Colonial and Imperial Conferences
CONFESSION OF FAITH, JUNE 2, 1877 However, the proposal ignored the were early indications of a British change
vast cultural differences between in attitude toward the colonies. But
British supporters. Moreover, as the joined. Its ultimate goal was to unite all the peoples of the empire, the colonies’ while areas largely peopled by those
mother country edged toward a more Britain’s colonies into a type of super- burgeoning nationalism, and Britain’s of European descent had been granted
representative form of government, state under an imperial parliament. The unwillingness to be influenced, self-government, other areas did not
rights were extended to the colonies plan was to start with Britain and the let alone dictated to, by colonials. enjoy such new rights, and remained
of settlement. New Zealand became a colonies of settlement, then expand Nevertheless, the proposal planted subjects of the Empire just as before.
self-governing member of the British into a kind of Anglo United Nations as a seed that, as a very different type In all cases, Britain had retained
Empire in 1852. Three years later, New other colonies joined. New technology, of plant, grew into one of the most control over defense and foreign
South Wales established parliamentary it was hoped, would overcome issues of inspiring institutions of the modern affairs, though its dealings with
rule over domestic matters, followed by geographical separation. IFL supporters world: the Commonwealth of Nations, Australia and New Zealand in
Victoria, Tasmania and in 1856, South argued that the alternative was headed by Queen Elizabeth II. 1887 indicated that even in this field
Australia. Queensland joined them in imperial disintegration and decline. Britain’s dominant position was open
1859, and Western Australia in 1890. First Colonial Conference
Canada became the self-governing
Dominion of Canada in 1867, and
South Africa’s Cape Colony started
Called by the IFL and chaired by
Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, the
first Colonial Conference met in 1887
£126,000 ($617,000)
The amount
of money Australia offered to pay
electing its own government in 1872. when representatives from all parts toward its own defense at the
of the Empire were gathered in 1887 Colonial Conference.
“Scramble” for colonies London for Victoria’s Golden Jubilee
The mood of imperialism that swept (see pp.66–67). Over 100 delegates,
through Europe in the 1880s led to a including several prime ministers, to negotiation—another small but
“scramble“ for colonies in Africa, and attended, although India was not crucial step nearer a new relationship.
heightened tension between the major represented. The agenda mainly Over the next 75 years, the concept of
powers. Britain’s scattered empire was concerned defense. In return for an interdependent partnership between
increasingly vulnerable. One response a British pledge not to withdraw free and independent peoples developed
to the threat was to build up the Royal its naval presence unilaterally from into the Commonwealth of Nations.
Navy. In 1889, Britain planned for the Pacific, Australia offered to pay
10 new battleships, 38 cruisers, and £126,000 ($617,000) annually toward
numerous smaller vessels in order the maintenance of the Royal Navy’s
that its navy would be larger than fleet in their part of the world.
the fleets of any two other powers A trans-Pacific telegraph cable was
combined. A second response was proposed, and it was agreed that
to unite the peoples of the empire in the Queen’s official title should
an Imperial Federation League, or IFL. now read, “Queen of the United
This was launched in 1884, and drew Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland,
inspiration from the federal structure and the Colonies, and all Dependencies
of the US and the way in which thereof, and Empress of India.”
the Dominion of Canada had been The living symbol Australia’s coat of arms
organized. Supporters of the move This Empire Day postcard of 1907, designed for Emergence of the Commonwealth Though granted by George V in 1912, the design
were mainly Conservatives, although sending from the “mother country“ to some corner of Further Colonial Conferences were held symbolizes the independent Commonwealth of
well-known Liberals such as the the empire, illustrates the monarch’s key role in binding in 1894, 1897, and 1902. Between then Australia rather than the country’s monarchy. Of
education reformer EM Forster also together Britain’s far-flung colonies and dominions. and World War II, seven more meetings the six state badges, only two feature a crown.

65
 400–1911

Victoria’s Golden Jubilee memorabilia

This impressive array of tickets, invitations, and souvenir
programs illustrates how the celebrations captured
the public imagination, sweeping away any republican
sentiment lingering from the previous decade.

66
 V I C T O R I A’ S J U B I L E E S

Victoria’s Jubilees
Though never fond of pomp, Victoria went along with the jubilee festivities of 1887 and 1897,
and was a gracious host to the European royalty who came to honor her. Both occasions were
hugely popular triumphs of careful organization, setting a precedent for future events.

Q
ueen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee before, the monarchy—and Victoria by 1897, she had reigned the longest
was as much a national event in particular—had been deeply of any monarch in British history. But Ticket to view the Royal Procession, June 1897
as a monarchical one. Great unpopular; even in 1887, crowds the mood in the country had changed. Reserved seats were sold from which to watch the
Britain was a wealthy and powerful booed her when she visited London’s By now, the Queen herself was old royal procession pass by. Victoria herself accepted only
nation, with the largest empire ever East End. Eventually, she came to see and frail, tension with Germany and reluctantly the need for such “continental” fanfare.
seen. When Queen Victoria reached that a jubilee might not be such a bad serious difficulties in Ireland and South
the 50th year of her reign, the country idea, and so the party was launched. Africa darkened the international The days that followed were filled
reveled in its successes. Invitations went out to Queen situation, and doubts were growing with more parades, inspections,
At first, the Queen was irritated by Victoria’s extended family and to heads about the morality of maintaining a unveilings, addresses, and receptions.
the thought of all the “hustle and of state in every continent. Jubilee subservient empire. To combat this, Victoria soldiered on through them,
bustle” involved in a jubilee. She was souvenirs were manufactured by Colonial Secretary Joseph, with the not always in the best of humor, but
also aware that not that many years the thousand. Worldwide, museums, Queen’s approval, gave the 1897 aware that it was her duty to attend.
bridges, streets, and even burial jubilee a distinctly imperial twist. In response to countless expressions of
grounds were named or renamed in Celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee affection and gratitude, including
BEF O RE honor of the Queen and Empress. took place on June 22. London was 1,310 congratulatory telegrams from
The two days of official jubilee festooned with Union Jacks and the all around the world, Victoria wrote a
pageantry began on June 20. The first flags of other nations, and hawkers thank you letter to the people of Great
Celebrations marking the fiftieth day saw a massive state luncheon. The plied their souvenirs as hundreds of Britain and sent a telegram to the
anniversary of previous monarchs next day, Victoria was driven in an thousands took advantage of the Empire. “From my heart,” it read, “I
had been decidedly low-key. open landau carriage to Westminster national holiday to throng the streets thank my beloved people. May God
Abbeyfor a service of thanksgiving. She along which the 17-carriage royal bless them.”
GOLDEN JUBILEE PRECEDENTS returned to Buckingham Palace for procession passed. Dressed in her Her old foe William Gladstone
The 50th anniversaries of both Henry III another luncheon, after which she customary black, the Queen was (see p.51) had hoped she would use
❮❮ 21 and Edward III ❮❮ 21 had passed waved to the cheering crowds from the deeply moved as the crowds cheered her Diamond Jubilee to announce
quietly. There was more enthusiasm in 1809, palace balcony. A dinner took place and broke into spontaneous outbursts her abdication. Evidently, he had
however, when a nation at war marked the that evening with representatives of of “God Save the Queen.” underestimated his adversary.
Golden Jubilee of George III ❮❮ 48–49 with every crowned head in Europe.
country-wide festivities. Because of the King’s
illness, the Royal Family took part only by
Fireworks followed as bonfires
flickered from hilltops across the land. “ No one ever… has met with such
accompanying him to a private church service Given the success of the Golden
in Windsor, followed by a fireworks display. Jubilee, there could be no doubt but
that the 60th year of Victoria’s reign
an ovation as was given to me.”
would be celebrated similarly. After all, QUEEN VICTORIA, IN HER DIARY, JUNE 20, 1897

Victoria at St. Paul’s Cathedral, June 22, 1897

Frailty left the Queen unable to climb the steps into the
cathedral, so a short service of thanksgiving was held
outside, which she watched from her open coach. The
crowds’ cheers in support of the Queen were deafening.

AFTER

More than a century would elapse

before Britain would again enjoy the
jubilee experience. The occasions,
celebrated in 2002 and 2012, were
run with superb efficiency and met
with widespread enthusiasm.

LEARNING FROM THE PAST

Britain’s unparalleled experience in organizing
displays of monarchical grandeur ensured that
Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee
260–61 ❯❯ and Diamond Jubilee 282–
83 ❯❯ celebrations were better arranged and
choreographed, and probably even more
popular, than those of her illustrious forebears.

67
 400–1911

The Crown Jewels Jeweled

cross-patté
(footed cross)
The symbolic regalia worn by the monarch for the coronation and other state
ceremonies, these have been kept in the Tower of London since the early 14th
century, after a series of thefts from their first home in Westminster Abbey.
1 The Armills of Queen Elizabeth II Created for the 1953 in 1911 it was permanently set with semiprecious stones,
Coronation, these 22-carat gold bracelets were the gift of and now weighs 5lb (2.23kg). 4 Queen Victoria’s small
several Commonwealth nations. 2 Coronation spoon diamond crown This 4in- (10cm-) diameter diamond-
and Ampulla Holy oil is poured through the beak of the encrusted crown was created at the Queen’s own expense Spherical gold
gold, eagle-shaped ampulla into the silver-gilt spoon to after the death of her husband, Prince Albert, and was Monde
anoint the new monarch. The spoon was probably first designed to sit on top of the mourning veil she wore for
used in 1199 at the Coronation service of King John. the rest of her life. It was designed to be lightweight and
3 St. Edward’s Crown Created for the coronation of comfortable. 5 The Scepter with the Cross This was 3 ST. EDWARD’S CROWN
Charles II in 1661 (along with the Scepter with the Cross redesigned in 1910 to house the Cullinan I Diamond.
and the Sovereign’s Orb , right), this replaced the medieval 6 The Sovereign’s Orb Representing Christ’s dominion
crown the Parliamentarians had melted down in 1649, and over the world, the orb is placed in the monarch’s right
is used at the moment of coronation. Traditionally, the hand during the coronation service to symbolize
jewels adorning the crown were hired and returned but his or her role as Defender of the Faith.
Red velvet lining Tudor rose operates invisible
hinge and spring

1 THE ARMILLS OF Arch encrusted

QUEEN ELIZABETH II with jewels

Head unscrews so 2 CORONATION

oil can be poured SPOON AND AMPULLA
into body

Crown is set with

440 gemstones

Solid gold
frame

Base (and wings)

added in 1661 for the Freshwater
coronation of Charles II pearl

Ermine cap
border

68
 THE CROWN JEWELS

4 QUEEN VICTORIA’S 5 THE SCEPTER

SMALL DIAMOND CROWN WITH THE CROSS

Step-cut
emerald
Removable openwork
silver-frame arches make
crown more versatile

Faceted
amethyst
Monde

Crown is set with

1,187 brilliant- and
rose-cut diamonds in
open-backed mounts
Velvet cap

Sturdy enameled structure

Emerald sits at center of holds 530-carat
cross encrusted with (3.74oz/106g) diamond
rose-cut diamonds and
decorated with pearls

Octagonal step-cut
amethyst Monde

6 THE SOVEREIGN’S ORB Drop-shaped

Cullinan I diamond

Enameled
collar covers a
joint between
sections of rod

Hollow gold sphere

mounted with emeralds,
rubies, sapphires, and
diamonds set between
single rows of pearls

69
 DECISIVE MOMENT January 22, 1901 6:30 p.m.

End of an Era
By the time Victoria’s 64-year reign came to an end, the
majority of her millions of subjects worldwide had known
no other monarch. Her passing was not just an important
moment for the British crown; it marked the end of an era.

Contemporaries were convinced that the coincidence in 1901 of

Victoria’s death and the close of a century was deeply significant.
For the journalist R. D. Blumenfeld, “perhaps the most glorious era
in English history” had ended. Writing a short time afterward,
H. G. Wells preferred to look forward: “the supreme dramatic phase
in the story of England is about to come." Both men agreed on one
thing, however: life would never be the same again.
The Diamond Jubilee was followed by three hard years. Victoria,
painfully lame, was plagued by cataracts, and subject to memory
lapses. Her affection for the Munshi (see p.61) unsettled palace life,
and the death of her son-in-law, Emperor Friedrich II of Germany,
troubled her. Nevertheless, she kept in touch with public affairs,
inspecting troops from a wheelchair, and celebrating the victory at
Omdurman in the Sudan. Accounts of this battle, however, suggested
it was a one-sided massacre and nothing to celebrate. When a war
against the Boers of South Africa was going badly, she remained
obstinately optimistic and sent the soldiers chocolate. She kept her
diary until her last days, and still bombarded politicians, soldiers,
and naval officers with streams of letters.
The end finally came at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. The
family, including Kaiser Wilhelm, had gathered beforehand, and her
son, the future Edward VII, was at her bedside. She had made the
arrangements for her own funeral. Wrapped in her wedding veil, her
body was taken to Windsor Castle. Here it was laid inside a half-ton
coffin (actually there were three, one inside the other like Russian
dolls) and carried on a gun carriage through the streets of the town for
a service in St. George’s Chapel on February 2. After lying in state
for two days, the coffin was taken to Frogmore Mausoleum in Windsor
Great Park, where Victoria was laid to rest beside her dear Albert.
For several days, the nation was gripped by a sense of profound
shock as the reality of Victoria’s passing sank in. In the words of
Elizabeth Longford, “One phrase was on many lips—God help us."

“Today seems very curious—pubs

shut… Streets seem deserted.”
LONDONER J. C. DIX, WRITING IN A LETTER TO HIS BROTHER, FEBRUARY 2, 1901

History in the making

Silent crowds line the streets of Windsor as Queen
Victoria’s funeral cortège passes by on February 2, 1901.
Because of a last-minute technical hitch, the gun-
carriage bearing the coffin was hauled by a team
of sailors rather than horses of the Royal Artillery.

70
400–1911

Born 1841 Died 1910

Edward VII
“ King Edward is the first… to
be attended in his coronation
by… statesmen from our
self-governing colonies.”
THE TIMES, 1902

A
His Imperial Majesty King Edward VII lbert Edward was the second
Though Edward VII’s parents had forbidden child and first son of Queen
him from joining the army, English painter Victoria and Prince Albert (see
and illustrator, Sir Luke Fildes, considered pp.60–61). As a boy, he was subjected
a military pose and uniform to a rigorous education designed by his
appropriate for the coronation father to make him the ideal modern
portrait of the head of the constitutional monarch. It was not a
world’s most powerful empire. success. Bertie was no scholar, and his
failings in the classroom added to a
sense of inadequacy engendered by
his mother’s dislike of small children.
After fruitless months at the
universities of Edinburgh and Oxford,
and excluded from a career in the
army by his parents, the heir apparent
developed a new style of royal visit.
In his role as Prince of Wales, he
toured overseas and attended
important opening ceremonies at
home. Three royal tours stand out.

Prince Albert Edward,

Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, and Princess Alexandra
(1844–1925) are seen here with their first child, Prince
Albert Victor (1864–92). The boy led a troubled life and
died before both his parents.
 EDWARD VII

The coronation that never was

TIMELINE
These tickets were issued for the coronation in
Westminster Abbey of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, ■ November 9, 1841 Queen Victoria gives
first planned for June 26, 1902, and for the procession birth to her first son, the Prince of Wales,
two days later. Both were canceled due to the King’s in Buckingham Palace, London.
illness, and the coronation rearranged for August 9. ■ January 25, 1842 Given his father’s name,
the boy is christened as Albert Edward at
disadvantaged, but disliked radicalism. St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
For example, he disapproved of giving ■ 1860 Albert Edward becomes the first heir to
women the vote in parliamentary the British throne ever to visit North America.
elections, and was opposed to Irish
■ 1861 The Prince of Wales’s affair with
Home Rule. His most active political actress Nellie Clifden brings Prince Albert
participation was to promote the to Cambridge to remonstrate with his son;
modernization of the armed forces. Victoria later blames the Prince’s behavior
At the very end of his life he was for bringing on her husband’s fatal illness.
forced into the center of the political
■ 1862 The Prince of Wales undertakes a popular
arena. In 1909, to pay for old age
tour of the Middle East.
pensions and further battleship
■ 1863 Marries Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
building, the Liberal firebrand
chancellor Lloyd George proposed ■ 1870 The Prince of Wales is called as a witness
a 2 percent tax on those earning in a high-profile divorce case.
more than £5,000 ($24,500) a year. ■ 1871 National rejoicing at the recovery of the
Defying parliamentary convention, Prince of Wales from typhoid helps the Royal
The first, a four-month trip round the Delayed coronation the Conservative-dominated House of Family regain some lost popularity.
United States and Canada, persuaded Albert Edward was 59 when he Lords rejected the proposal. This was a
New Yorkers to say prayers for the acceded to the throne as Edward VII. constitutional matter, so Edward had
British Royal Family for the first time He was a highly popular figurehead to be involved. He urged moderation,
since 1774. The 1875–76 visit to India and, to ensure every detail of his advising the Lords to accept a bill from
prepared the ground for his mother’s coronation was in place, the ceremony the popularly elected House of
acceptance of the title Empress of was postponed until June 26, 1902, Commons. The Conservatives refused
India. His 1903 trip to Paris, made as more than a year after his accession. and forced a general election. The new
King, helped promote good relations On June 24, however, the King House of Commons then planned a law
between Britain and its oldest enemy. underwent emergency surgery for curbing the Lords’ power of veto. Since
acute appendicitis, and the coronation the peers would never accept such a
Playboy Prince was delayed until August 9. Alexandra move, to get it through the House of
The Prince’s easy, nonjudgmental was crowned Queen immediately after Lords the King had to be prepared to
manner won him many friends, the King. Despite the fact that some appoint enough Liberal peers to
though not all of them had gained his foreign delegations had returned outvote the Conservatives.
parents’ approval. In 1863, at the age home, it was a great success and set Throughout the whole CORONATION STATIONERY, 1902
of 21, he married Princess Alexandra the tone for future coronations. process, Edward VII
of Denmark. The relationship sought compromise. ■ 1883 Demonstrating an interest in the arts, the
remained amicable and, even when Uncle of Europe In the end, he did Prince of Wales opens the Royal College of Music.
Edward was involved with someone Edward had never shown much not have to make the
■ January 14, 1892 Death from influenza
else, Alexandra chose not to protest. interest in politics and Victoria had fed “disgusting” decision
of the Prince of Wales’ elder son, the
Queen Victoria, however, was less this apathy by denying him access to to create new peers.
controversial Prince Albert Victor, who some
understanding. Where her husband state papers until the 1890s. As King, On May 6, 1910, have claimed was Jack the Ripper. At the
Albert’s life had been all science, Edward VII continued much he suffered a age of almost 50, the Prince of Wales is finally
politics, welfare, and earnest causes, as before. His most number of heart permitted to see Cabinet Papers.
her son’s was all cigars, wine, shooting, valuable role was attacks and died.
■ January 22, 1901 Death of Queen Victoria and
People mourned
accession of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales,

“ I thought everyone must

the first sovereign
who chooses the title Edward VII.
for centuries to
■ August 9, 1902 After the King is successfully
have truly won
know that a short jacket is… their hearts. It is
fitting testament
operated on for appendicitis, his coronation
finally takes place in Westminster Abbey;
Queen Alexandra is crowned alongside him.
to this affection
worn with a silk hat at a that the years
between Victoria’s
■ 1903 Edward VII makes a formal visit to Paris,
where he is warmly welcomed.

private view in the morning.” death and World

War One are
■ 1908 Controversially, the King summons the
new Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, all the way
EDWARD VII TO HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY commonly referred to Biarritz to have his post officially sanctioned.
to as “Edwardian." Edward VII undertakes an impressive state visit
horse-racing, and feasting; he was as an unofficial ambassador for peace to Russia on behalf of Britain, helping ease
tension between the two imperial powers.
even named in court cases involving abroad. Related to the Royal Families of Royal hunter
divorce and betting. Style mattered Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain King Edward VII, here ■ 1909–10 Edward VII urges compromise on the
to him, too. It was Edward VII who Germany, Greece, Portugal, Norway, posing with a shotgun, House of Commons, which is divided over
started the fashion of leaving the Romania, Russia, and Sweden, he used was a devotee of the hunt. the House of Lords’ powers of legislative veto.
bottom button of a vest undone. his position as “Uncle of Europe” to Like many of his royal ■ May 6, 1910 Edward VII dies of heart failure.
His less frivolous side led him to foster good relations. At home, the predecessors, his quarry
patronize the arts, including founding generous-hearted King favored included women as well
the Royal College of Music. alleviating the lot of the poor and as wild animals.

73
 THE HOUSE
OF WINDSOR
1911–1947

Sweet tin commemorating the

coronation of King George V
and Queen Mary, 1911
 1911–1947

THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR

1911–1947
1911 1918 1923
JUNE 24, 1911 FEBRUARY 1918 JUNE 1921 APRIL 26, 1923 MAY 13, 1927
George V is crowned. The King gives Royal Assent Unemployment reaches Albert, Duke of York, marries George V changes his
to the Representation of the 2.2 million. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon at title to King of the United
AUGUST 4, 1914 People Act giving women Westminster Abbey. Kingdom of Great Britain
Britain declares war of property over 30 the vote. and Northern Ireland,
on Germany. acknowledging that the
Irish Free State is no longer
part of the kingdom.

George V Marriage of The Duke

Coronation cup and Duchess of York

DECEMBER 1914 JULY 17, 1918

Queen’s Work for Czar Nicholas II and his
Women Fund created family murdered by Bolshevik
by Queen Mary to supply revolutionaries, sending
clothing for the army. shock waves through the
George V visits British Field Royal Families of Europe.
HQ on Western Front for
the first time. German navy
raids Scarborough, Hartlepool,
and Whitby, killing 137 and
injuring 592.

MAY 7, 1915 MAY 1916 NOVEMBER 11, 1918

Sinking of the Lusitania kills Britain’s wheat supply is Germany signs Armistice
1,198 civilians. depleted. The King entreats agreement with Britain.
families to reduce bread A letter from George V is
consumption. The Women’s reproduced and distributed
Land Army is established to to all returning prisoners of
increase agricultural war—the first ever mass
productivity. communication from a
Graves of soldiers, reigning monarch.
many of whom died in JULY 1–NOVEMBER 18, 1916
the Battle of the Somme, in
Ovillers Military Cemetery
Battle of the Somme. More
in Picardie, northern France than one million soldiers die.

NOVEMBER 11, 1920 NOVEMBER 11, 1921 APRIL 23, 1924 1929
King George V unveils First Poppy Day—memorial George V makes first ever The BBC makes the
the Cenotaph—a war day for soldiers who died royal radio broadcast, first experimental
memorial in Whitehall, in World War I—held. opening the British Empire TV transmission.
London. The body Exhibition in a specially
of the Unknown built stadium at Wembley.
Warrior—an
unidentified JANUARY 16, 1926
British soldier BBC radio play about
who died in World a workers’ uprising in
War I—is buried at Poppy London causes panic.
commemorating
Westminster Abbey. World War 1

MAY 31, 1915 MARCH 2, 1917 NOVEMBER 21, 1920 1922 APRIL 21, 1926 DECEMBER 1930
German Zeppelins George V’s cousin, Czar The Irish Republican Army Following World War I, British Birth of future Queen Unemployment rises to
bomb London. Nicholas II, abdicates. (IRA) kills 14 British undercover Empire is at its greatest ever Elizabeth II. 2.5 million.
agents in Dublin. In retaliation extent, ruling over one-quarter
JANUARY 9, 1916 the Auxiliary Division of the of the world’s population. MAY 3, 1926
Last British troops evacuated JULY 17, 1917 Royal Irish Constabulary open General strike sweeps the
from Gallipoli, Turkey, as the George V issues proclamation fire on a crowd at a Gaelic DECEMBER 1922 nation, provoking fears
Ottoman Empire triumphs. changing name of British Athletic Association Football Irish Free State is formed of revolution.
royal house from German- match in Croke Park, killing with George V as its
sounding Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 13 spectators and 1 player monarch. Northern Ireland
to Windsor. and wounding 60. parliament votes to remain
part of United Kingdom.

76
 THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR

The ancient certainties of Victorian and Edwardian life, when Britain European monarchies, the rise of fascism and communism in Europe,
was the center of a vast empire, and the divisions of class went largely and at home, the growth of Socialism and the women’s movement.
unquestioned, were crumbling. The beginning of the modern era, If the British monarchy was to survive, it was essential to adapt to
these crucial decades were years of world war and revolution. They the new realities and to mold a constitutional monarchy fit for a
witnessed the collapse of the British Empire, the fall of many more egalitarian nation.

1931 1938 1943

1931 DECEMBER 10, 1935 JULY 9, 1938 JANUARY 1940 MARCH–APRIL 1945
Edward, the eldest son English physicist James Gas masks issued to Britain calls up Last enemy action on British
of George V, organizes Chadwick wins Nobel Prize all British civilians. two million 19- soil as a V-1 flying bomb
the National Relief Fund for for discovery of the neutron. to 27-year-olds for strikes Datchworth,
Britain’s many unemployed. SEPTEMBER 29, 1938 military service. Food Hertfordshire. On April 15
JANUARY 20, 1936 Prime Minister Neville rationing introduced. British troops liberate
AUGUST 24, 1931 King George V dies. Edward, Chamberlain and Hitler the Bergen-Belsen
The Great Depression brings Prince of Wales, succeeds sign the Munich Agreement, concentration camp.
about a national crisis. On as King Edward VIII. allowing Germany to annex
advice of George V, an all- parts of Czechoslovakia,
party government is formed. which it calls the Sudetenland. Ration pack supplied
to British soldiers on
Portrait of Edward VIII active service

DECEMBER 11, 1931 APRIL 27, 1939 JUNE 4, 1940 MAY 8, 1945
Statute of Westminster National Conscription Dunkirk evacuation Churchill makes a victory
is the first step in the introduced—all men aged 21 ends. Churchill makes speech and appears on the
transformation of the Empire and over have to undergo six his “We shall fight on balcony of Buckingham
into the Commonwealth. months’ military training. the beaches” speech. Palace with the Royal Family.
Street parties are held
OCTOBER 1932 JULY-–OCTOBER 1940 MAY–SEPTEMBER 1943 throughout the country to
Oswald Mosley founds The Battle of Britain, a German Dambuster raids and Allied celebrate what was being
British Fascist Party. Hunger air campaign against Britain, invasions of Sicily and referred to as Victory in
March arrives in London begins. Germany launches the mainland Italy boost morale. Europe (VE) Day.
from Scotland. Several London Blitz—57 consecutive
violent clashes with police. nights of bomb raids.

DECEMBER 25, 1932 JUNE 1939 NOVEMBER–DECEMBER

George V delivers the George VI and Queen 1940
first Royal Christmas Day Elizabeth visit the US and Blitz continues in industrial
message on BBC radio. Canada—whose support cities including Coventry,
will be vital if there is war. Birmingham. Manchester,
FEBRUARY 9, 1933 and Liverpool, with hundreds
Oxford Union debating of casualties.
society passes a motion
stating “This house will in 1941
no circumstances fight for As the war spreads into
its king and country.” the Middle East and Asia, the
National Service Act is passed.

AUGUST 12, 1933 MARCH 7, 1936 LATE AUGUST/EARLY JANUARY 26, 1942
Churchill makes first public Germany re-occupies SEPTEMBER 1939 First US troops destined to
speech on dangers of Rhineland, a demilitarized Children are evacuated from fight in Europe arrive in Belfast.
German re-armament. zone as per the treaty cities throughout Britain;
of Versailles. army and navy are mobilized; FEBRUARY 25, 1942
JANUARY 21, 1934 blackout is imposed across the 15-year-old Princess Elizabeth
Around 10,000 attend OCTOBER 1936 country. Britain declares war registers for war service.
Mosley’s British Union of Battle of Cable Street between on Germany on September 3.
Fascists rally in Birmingham. British Union of Fascists and NOVEMBER 1942
anti-fascist demonstrators. Major Allied victory at 2nd
207 unemployed miners Battle of Alamein, followed
march from Jarrow to London. King George VI and US by Allied victory at Tobruk.
President Franklin Roosevelt

JULY 11, 1934 DECEMBER 10, 1936 Elizabeth II aiding MAY 29, 1946
the war effort
A total of 41 squadrons added Edward VIII abdicates. Princess Elizabeth and
to RAF as part of new air Prince Albert becomes NOVEMBER Philip Mountbatten are
defense program. King George VI. Salisbury Plain and South photographed together
Hams of Devon evacuated for the first time.
MAY 6, 1935 MAY 12, 1937 as preparations are made for
An ailing King George V George VI crowned. the Normandy Landings.
celebrates his Silver Jubilee.
JUNE 6
On D-Day, 155,000 Allied
troops land on the beaches
of Normandy.

77
1911–1947

Born 1865 Died 1936

George V
“You can’t shake
hands with a
clenched fist.”
GEORGE V, ON PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS DURING WORLD WAR I

I
nheriting the throne from his
flamboyant, crowd-pleasing father
Edward VII in 1910, King George V
inevitably appeared uncharismatic
by comparison. He was a dutiful
character of simple tastes,
behaving and dressing like an
average English landowner. His
favorite pursuits were hunting,
sailing, and stamp-collecting. The
responsibilities of his public
role weighed upon him, and
he far preferred a quiet private
life. Yet this seemingly dull
king proved the ideal monarch
to lead his country through
troubled times.

Career in the navy

As the second son of the Prince
of Wales, George was not born
to rule. He was trained for Strong ties
a career as a naval officer, The young prince George is photographed with his
while his elder brother mother Queen Alexandra. Edward VII and Alexandra
Albert Victor was groomed were warm, loving parents, and George formed an
as the future king. Prince especially close bond with his mother.
George performed his naval
functions competently, rising to their union, a solid love and respect
in rank on merit, and enjoyed developed between the couple after
the life at sea. This tranquil, the wedding, if not before it. George
relatively normal existence was to be a faithful and devoted
ended abruptly at his husband who depended heavily
brother’s untimely on his wife’s support.
death in 1892.
Family life
Future king It was typical of George’s modest
At 26, George inherited his tastes that he chose York Cottage in the
brother’s role as the future grounds of the Sandringham estate as a
king and also his brother’s family home. The royal couple had six
betrothed, Mary of children—David (born 1894), Albert
Teck, known as (1895), Mary (1897), Henry (1900),
“May.” Despite George (1902), and John (1905), who
the unfortunate was an epileptic and kept separate
circumstances leading from the rest of the family, dying at
age 13. As a father George was a strict
King George V disciplinarian and emotionally reserved.
The King poses for an official portrait in his coronation It has often been said that his sons were
robes. At heart, a man of simple tastes, George V damaged by the fear he inspired. It is
submitted dutifully to the “fancy dress” required more likely, however, that they were
for royal ceremonial occasions. hurt by their parents’ frequent
 GEORGE V

absences because, after the accession

TIMELINE
of Edward VII in 1901, the royal
couple were required to leave their ■ June 3, 1865 Born at Marlborough House,
children for six months at a time London, second son of Edward, the Prince
to make official visits to distant parts of Wales, and Alexandra.
of the empire, including Australia ■ January 1892 Becomes his father’s heir after his
and India. The children were raised elder brother dies; is made the Duke of York.
by hired hands. ■ July 6, 1893 Marries Mary of Teck at St.
James’s Palace, London.
Accession to the throne
■ November 1901 Becomes the Prince of Wales
The death of Edward VII in May
when his father accedes to the throne.
1910 was a personal blow to George.
■ May 6, 1910 Accedes to the throne on his
“I have lost,” he wrote in his diary,
father’s death.
“the best of friends and the best of
fathers.” He took the throne in a ■ 1911 Crowned in Westminster Abbey, London
period of acute political crisis, with (June 22); formally presented as the Emperor
a Liberal government in conflict with of India at a Durbar in Delhi (December 12).
the Conservative-dominated House ■ July 1914 Hosts an all-party conference in an
of Lords, suffragettes campaigning attempt to resolve deadlock over Ireland’s future.
for votes for women, Irish nationalists ■ August 4, 1914 Britain enters World War I.
pressing for Home Rule, and trade ■ October 1915 Injured by a fall from his horse
unionists threatening mass strikes. while visiting British troops in France.
Fortunately Edward had taken care
■ March 1917 Rejects asylum to Czar Nicholas II
to educate his son in the business of
after the Czar abdicates the Russian throne.
monarchy and provide him with
sensible advisors. George V performed ■ July 17, 1917 Changes the name of the royal
house from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor.
his functions as a constitutional monarch
with serious dedication. Although a ■ November 11, 1918 Armistice ends the
conservative in politics as well as on fighting in World War I.
moral issues, he scrupulously avoided ■ November 11, 1920 Unveils the Cenotaph in
partisan involvement in political issues, Whitehall as a remembrance of the war dead.
while attempting to exercise influence reminder of the potential for popular Family portrait ■ June 22, 1921 Opens the first parliament of
in favor of compromise and the disaffection. The monarchy would have Photographed at Balmoral in 1906, George stands next Northern Ireland at Stormont, Belfast.
peaceful resolution of disputes. to work to maintain its position as a to Mary, with baby John in her arms. The other children
■ April 23, 1924 At the opening of the British
focus for loyalty in the United Kingdom are, left to right, Princess Mary and the princes Harry,
Empire Exhibition at Wembley, becomes the
“Try living on their and the empire. Although much of the
effort to popularize royalty devolved
George, David (later Edward VIII), and Albert (George VI). first monarch to speak on radio.
■ May 1926 During Britain’s General Strike, urges
wages before upon his eldest son, the charismatic
Prince of Wales (see Edward VIII,
they are all socialists,” he told his
mother, “but they ought to be given a
the government to adopt a conciliatory
approach to strikers.
you judge them.” pp.90–91), George V accepted the
need to make contact with his people,
chance and ought to be treated fairly.”
■ 1928 Becomes seriously ill because of lung
disease, convalescent through to 1930.
GEORGE V, 1926 most strikingly in the use of the new Illness and death
medium of radio (see pp.88–89). In From the mid-1920s the King’s health
World War I 1924 he had the formal task of inviting went into serious decline. Suffering
George V’s role in World War I and newly elected Ramsay Macdonald to from lung disease, he almost died in
its aftermath (see pp.80–81) won form Britain’s first Labour government, the fall of 1928 and the following year
him widespread respect and affection an event regarded by many people underwent two major operations. His
among the British people, but the at the time as heralding a social grandchildren, including the future
fall from power of his relatives revolution. The King took a more Elizabeth II, were a great comfort to
Czar Nicholas II in Russia and Kaiser relaxed view of Labour’s rise to power. him in his declining years. He showed
Wilhelm II in Germany were a sharp “They have different ideas to ours as them greater warmth than he had his
own children. He disapproved of his
eldest son, the Prince of Wales, much
preferring his more dutiful second son.
There is no doubt George V was out of
step with his times. He was a narrow-
minded conservative, disapproving of
most innovative social customs, from
divorce and cocktails to women
smoking. But it was his respectability THE CONVALESCENT KING WITH THE QUEEN
and simple decency that made him
so well liked by his people. After his ■ December 25, 1932 Makes the first royal
death in January 1936, more than Christmas radio broadcast to the nation.
800,000 people filed past his body ■ 1935 After 25 years on the throne, his Silver
lying in state at Westminster Hall. Jubilee is celebrated with widespread festivities.
■ January 20, 1936 Dies at Sandringham;
Imperial monarch interred at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor
A souvenir postcard celebrating George V’s coronation Castle (January 28).
emphasizes the King’s role as a focus for the loyalty of
the far-flung British Empire and the different nations
of the United Kingdom.

79
 1911–1947

BE F O RE

W
hen Britain declared war resources of society. The role of a
on Germany, entering constitutional monarch in this “total
With so many of Queen Victoria’s World War I on August 4, war” had to be invented, as there was
descendants on European thrones, 1914, King George V and other no precedent to follow. George V
great power relationships were a members of the Royal Family had to played no part in determining war
family affair for the British monarchy. appear on the balcony of Buckingham strategy and had only a limited
Palace to acknowledge cheering influence on senior appointments—
EUROPE DIVIDED crowds. Like the majority of his in 1915 he supported moves to replace
By 1907, Europe was divided between subjects, however, King George General Sir John French by General
the alliances of France, Russia, and Britain was more horrified than enthused at Douglas Haig as commander of
on one side, and Germany and Austria on the the onset of war. His most immediate British armies in France, but this was
other. The British royals had cousins on both concern, expressed that evening in exceptional. Instead, the Royal Family
sides. Kaiser Wilhelm II was Victoria’s grandson his diary, was for the safety of Prince focused on its ability to affect morale
and Tzar Nicholas II was married to Victoria’s Albert (the future George VI), who was and inspire social solidarity.
granddaughter. The Royal Family disliked its serving as an officer in the Royal Navy. George V was tireless in his duties.
German cousin, but maintained relations. He made official visits to the Western
Role of the Royals Front in France, talking with generals,
Over the following four years the inspecting troops, awarding medals— Viewing the battlefield
war expanded into a conflict of he conferred 50,000 decorations with George V surveys the devastation wreaked by the
awesome dimensions, costing a million his own hands—and witnessing some British victory at Messines in 1917. The Royal Family
British and Commonwealth lives and of the devastation of trench warfare. was fully aware of the harsh realities of the warfare
requiring the mobilization of the entire Meeting the gravely wounded was the in the trenches.

The Royals in Wartime

In 1914, four years after George V’s accession, Britain was plunged into the most deadly
conflict in its history. Throughout World War I, the Royal Family fulfilled its role as a focus
KING GEORGE V WITH KAISER WILHELM II
for national unity and patriotism. Other European monarchies collapsed under the strain
of war, but George V emerged more secure than ever in his people’s affections.

Inspecting the troops

King George V meets British troops on a visit
to the Western Front in France during World
War I. The king traveled to the front five times
in the course of the conflict.
 T H E R O YA L S I N W A R T I M E

“ It is a terrible catastrophe, Royal nurse

The young Princess Mary
served as a part-time nurse
but it is not our fault.” in a London hospital in 1918.
Gift boxes paid for by a fund
GEORGE V, ON DECLARATION OF WAR, AUGUST 4, 1914 bearing her name were
distributed to all British
most painful royal duty—the king limits on alcohol consumption, soldiers and sailors at
visited more than 300 hospitals in the intended to increase the efficiency of Christmas 1914.
course of the war. On one of his trips industrial workers, George V himself
to the Western Front, in October 1915, “took the pledge,” renouncing alcohol
he was injured by a fall from his horse, for the duration of the war. Few
fracturing his pelvis, becoming himself British workers followed his
a minor war casualty. He never fully example, but it undoubtedly
recovered—the injury pained him lessened the resentment
for the rest of his life. When German brought about by blue laws.
Zeppelin airships and Gotha airplanes Three of the royal children were
bombed London, King George and old enough to participate in the
Queen Mary toured bomb-damaged war effort. The Prince of Wales
areas. Recognizing the democratic (the future Edward VIII) served
nature of a conflict that involved the in the British Army as a staff
nation, they were careful to include officer, although he was barred
factory districts and the working-class from entering combat. Prince
East End of London in their excursions. Albert did see action, taking part
The Royal Family could not, of in the battle of Jutland in 1916 as
course, in any real sense share a sub-lieutenant on board HMS
the sufferings and deprivations of the Collingwood. Princess Mary, only
British people at war, but symbolic 17 years old when the war
gestures had impressive impact. In began, promoted women’s
April 1915, when the government involvement in war work such
was pressing for potentially as nursing in military hospitals
highly unpopular and the “Land Girls“ farm
labor. She herself trained to cheering crowds, as he had been at the
become a nurse in the last outbreak of war. His straightforward
year of the war. PRINCESS MARY sense of duty and dogged courage had
GIFT BOX
earned him widespread respect and
Family ties admiration. Britain’s wartime prime
The Royal Family participated fully and his family being minister, David Lloyd George, later
in the rabid anti-German sentiment complicit with Kaiser wrote: “One outstanding reason for
generated by the war. The king wrote Wilhelm. In spring 1917, however, the high level of loyalty and patriotic
in his diary: “I shall never submit to George’s kinship with Tzar Nicholas II effort which the people of this country
those brutal Germans and I am sure presented a more pressing problem. maintained was the attitude and
the British nation is of the same Forced to abdicate by a popular conduct of King George.”
opinion.” Still, at a time when dogs uprising at the start of the Russian
known as German shepherds were Revolution, the Tzar sought to take his
being hastily renamed Alsatians and family into exile in Britain. The British AFTER
owners walking dachshunds were government saw no objection, but
stoned in the street, the Royal Family George V and his advisors did. Knowing
was saddled with the that a section of the British people World War I cast a long shadow over
embarrassingly Germanic viewed the Tzar as a Britain in the 1920s and 1930s. The
name Saxe-Coburg- tyrant and had welcomed Royal Family stood out as guarantors
Gotha. Voices were his overthrow, they did of continuity in an uncertain, rapidly
occasionally heard not want the monarchy changing world.
insinuating that to risk unpopularity by
the royals were not being associated with REMEMBRANCE CEREMONIES
truly British. Such him. The Tzar was thus After the war there was a strongly felt need
comments incensed the denied refuge in Britain. for regular remembrance of those who had
King, who remarked: When, the following year, sacrificed their lives. George V played a
“I may be uninspiring, he and his family were prominent role in the early remembrance
but I’ll be damned if murdered by Bolshevik ceremonies, laying the first wreath at the
I’m alien.” In July revolutionaries, George V Cenotaph in November 1920.
1917, to settle the felt both grief and guilt.
issue, he proclaimed Yet the judgment was MONARCHY AND NATIONHOOD
a new dynastic surely correct that the Participation in the war gave Commonwealth
name, adopting association of the Royal countries an increased sense of identity
the unimpeachably Call to arms Family with the Tzar might and nationhood. The monarchy became
English “Windsor.” A poster calls for volunteers to join have alienated a part of the vital as a symbolic link between Britain
In truth, only the the British army. Every one of the British working class. and effectively independent Canada,
most aggressive 8 million British and imperial troops At the Armistice in Australia, and New Zealand.
anti-royalists could who fought in the war served officially November 1918, the King
imagine George V in the name of the king. found himself hailed by

81
Parliamentary procession
King George V and Queen Mary, seated in the
Gold State Coach, are at the heart of this solemn,
courtly procession on its way to the State Opening
of Parliament in 1924.
 1911–1947

ROYAL RESIDENCE

Buckingham Palace
The official London residence of the British monarch since 1837, Buckingham Palace is also a
working palace, where Queen Elizabeth carries out her ceremonial and official duties. It is the
principal venue for state occasions and forms the backdrop to many national celebrations.

B
uckingham Palace evolved out Edward Blore was appointed as staff, taking advantage of the teenage
of the much smaller Buckingham Nash’s replacement. There was a Queen, were lazy, and that the palace
House, built by the Duke of lot of unfinished work for him to was filthy and neglected.
Buckingham in the early 18th century. do, including outfitting the state In February 1845, Blore was
A grand townhouse, which George III apartments to Nash’s designs. The instructed to prepare plans for a new
later bought for his wife, Queen new King, William IV, showed no wing, in part to provide space for
Charlotte, it became known as the interest in moving into the palace. Victoria’s growing family. This wing
Queen’s House, and 14 of George III’s In 1837 his successor, Queen Victoria, meant that the triumphal arch had
15 children were born there. became the first monarch to use to be moved to its present site near
Architect John Nash was responsible Buckingham Palace as her official Speaker’s Corner, where it became
for modernizing and enlarging residence in 1837. known as Marble Arch. But the most
Buckingham House into a palace in the The palace was certainly a theatrical significant element of Blore’s design
1820s for George IV. The King wished setting for royal receptions, but was the central balcony on the new
to remodel London as a neoclassical the reality of living there turned out main façade, incorporated at Prince
city and he needed a palace that to be less luxurious. There were no Albert’s suggestion, and used for the
would reflect Britain’s standing in the bathrooms, so the Queen had to first time in 1851 for the inauguration
world. With Greek revival colonnades bathe in a portable bathtub, and the of the Great Exhibition. ❯❯
and pedimented porticoes enclosing chimneys smoked so much that
a grand forecourt, and a magnificent, lighting fires was discouraged
Roman-style triumphal arch for and the palace was freezing cold. Marking the Queen’s birthday
processions, his design was regarded The insufficient ventilation caused Trooping the Colour takes place on Horse Guards
as an architectural masterpiece. But unpleasant odors, and when gas lamps Parade, where the Queen inspects her troops. The
Nash had vastly exceeded his budget were installed, there was serious procession begins and ends at Buckingham Palace.
and, after the King’s death in 1830, concern about possible explosions. The ceremony also marks the sovereign’s official
he was dismissed for overspending. There were reports as well that the birthday, a tradition that goes back to 1748.

CONCLUSION OF TROOPING THE COLOR AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

84
Theatrical entrance
The state apartments are reached via the Grand
Staircase—a theatrical design by Nash, with its
gilded-bronze balustrade, illuminated by natural
light through an engraved and etched glass dome.
 1911–1947

❯❯ In Victoria’s time the palace was a After Victoria’s death, Buckingham Despite all these improvement works, Open to the public
place of great entertainment. Famous Palace became a hub for the glamorous this was no fairy-tale palace, and in Some tours of the palace include the White Drawing
contemporary musicians performed set that circled around Edward VII and 1936, when George VI and Queen Room, the royal art collection, and the ballroom, with
there, including Felix Mendelssohn Queen Alexandra. Debutante balls Elizabeth took up residence, they the table laid as if for a state banquet.
and Johann Strauss II. There were and lavish parties were held in opulent discovered a gloomy, dilapidated place
extravagant costume balls, as well as rooms redecorated in fashionable belle with awkwardly placed electrical
more formal receptions and banquets. époque cream and gold. Under George fixtures, endless corridors, and chilly
When Queen Victoria was widowed V, the emphasis returned to official rooms infested with mice.
in 1861 and withdrew from public life, entertaining, though he did arrange Under the present Queen, the palace
she left Buckingham Palace, preferring a series of command performances has been restored and the emphasis is
firmly on its role as official residence

Of the 775 rooms, 19 are state rooms, and reception venue. Around 50,000
people visit the palace each year as

52 royal/guest bedrooms, 188 staff guests at banquets, lunches, dinners,

receptions, and garden parties. WHITE DRAWING ROOM

bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. Following the crisis provoked by the

annus horribilis of 1992, Buckingham
Palace has been at the forefront of
the relative intimacy of her other of jazz musicians, including Louis initiatives to make the royal family
residences. The palace was seldom Armstrong in 1932, while Queen Mary seem more approachable. In 1993 the
used, and, in response to the lack oversaw the restoration and extension state rooms were opened to the public
of royal interest, a note was found of the royal collection of art. for the first time (initially to finance
pinned to the railings in 1864, saying: Pollution, meanwhile, had decayed the restoration of Windsor Castle)
“These commanding premises to be the original soft French stone of the and the palace has continued to open
let or sold, in consequence of the late façade, and, in 1913, it was replaced every summer. To date, more than
occupant’s declining business.” with white Portland stone. six million people have visited. PICTURE GALLERY

THE BALLROOM

86
Pomp and ceremony
Designed by Nash, the Throne Room is perhaps the
most majestic and dramatic of all the state rooms
in Buckingham Palace. It is used for coronation and
wedding photos, and to receive formal addresses.
DECISIVE MOMENT December 25, 1932 3:05 p.m.

The First King's Speech

George V became the first British monarch to make a studio
broadcast when he addressed the people of his empire live on
radio on Christmas Day 1932. The speech was heard by 20 million
listeners in countries as distant as Canada, India, and Australia.
Originally planned as a one-time event, the royal Christmas
message became a tradition that is maintained today.

The British people first heard their King’s voice on radio on

April 23, 1924, when the fledgling British Broadcasting Company—
then a private concern—transmitted the speech made by George V
at the opening of the Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium. Since
few people had wireless radios, the speeches were broadcast through
loudspeakers in public places such as parks and department stores.
In general though, George V was suspicious of radio, as of all other
innovations, and was disinclined to involve himself in the new medium.
In 1932, the director-general of the now state-owned British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), John Reith, needed a gimmick to
launch the company's ambitious new Empire Service. He approached
George V with a proposal for a Christmas broadcast and overcame the
King's reluctance by giving him a guided tour of the BBC studios in
London. The King was to speak from his home at Sandringham, an
arrangement that required only the smallest possible disturbance of his
routine. The text for the broadcast was written by aging novelist and
poet Rudyard Kipling, the "bard of empire."
On Christmas Day, people across the world heard a firm, gentle
voice begin: “I speak now from my home and from my heart to you
all; to men and women so cut off by the snows, the desert, or the sea,
that only voices out of the air can reach them." People did indeed
find it magical that the King’s voice could be heard in their living
room. Focusing largely on the technological achievement of radio,
the brief speech was judged an impressive success. Such was the
popular enthusiasm that George V agreed to broadcast every year,
with his last Christmas message transmitted in 1935, less than
a month before his death.

“ To all—to each—I wish

a Happy Christmas.
God Bless You!”
GEORGE V, ROYAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE, 1932

George V on air
King George V gave his first radio message from an
office at Sandringham that had been transformed for
the occasion into a temporary studio. In this photograph,
George V delivers his 1933 Christmas Day message
from the same makeshift studio.

89
 1911–1947

Born 1894 Died 1972

Edward VIII
“ I... do hereby declare my
Young Edward

irrevocable determination As a young man, the future

Edward VIII was a stylish
figure who charmed the

to renounce the throne...” people of Britain and

the empire. However, his
personality was not well
EDWARD VIII, IN HIS INSTRUMENT OF ABDICATION, DECEMBER 10, 1936
suited to the formal
responsibilities of
kingship.

F
irst son of the Duke of York, in 1911. As a gesture designed
the future George V, Edward to encourage Welsh loyalty to the
was christened Edward Albert crown, it was decided that Edward
Christian George Andrew Patrick be formally invested as Prince of
David—Edward after his deceased Wales at Caernarvon Castle. Since
uncle; Albert after Queen Victoria’s no such investiture had occurred
long-mourned spouse; and George, for 600 years, a ceremony was
Andrew, David, and Patrick after invented with copious fanciful
the four patron saints of England, historical detail. The teenage
Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, Prince was required to wear
respectively. Within the family, a costume so ridiculous that,
he was always known as David. on the eve of the event, he
Edward had a strict upbringing; declared he would refuse
he commented on it later: “The to take part. After a fierce
laws of behavior as revealed to argument with his father,
a small boy tended to be ruled by a the Prince relented and
vast preponderance of ‘don’ts.’” the ceremony went
His relationship with his father ahead without a hitch.
was neither close nor comfortable. However, the fuss
Following the family tradition, Edward was indicative of the
entered naval college, but George V’s Prince’s potential
accession to the throne in 1910 discomfort with the
truncated his eldest son’s naval kind of royal duties
career, since it was considered that George V
unsuitable for the Prince of Wales. unquestioningly
Edward showed early signs of accepted.
rebellion against his assigned role in Edward served as
life shortly after his father’s coronation an army officer in
World War I. He was
denied an active role by order of
Lord Kitchener, the secretary of state
for war, who held that although the
Prince’s death would be an acceptable
loss, his capture by the enemy might
prove a severe embarrassment. Despite
reduction to a passive role, however,
Edward’s service as an aide-de-camp
on the staff of the commander in chief
in France and later as a staff officer in
the Mediterranean zone was sufficient
to support a claim to have “done his
bit” for the war effort.

Popular prince
After the shock of the war, with its
Prince of Wales heavy death toll, there was an urgent
Edward was 17 years old at the time of his investiture need to promote the Royal Family as
as Prince of Wales in 1911. The Prince was forced to a focus for loyalty. Young, suave, and
wear a fanciful pseudo-historical costume, which charming, Edward was put to work
caused him great embarrassment. touring the empire. He was received

90
 EDWARD VIII

with particular warmth in Britain’s Nazi visit

TIMELINE
dominions, where he was seen The Duke of Windsor inspects soldiers during his visit to Nazi Germany
as a refreshing change from the in 1937. The former king’s close relations with the Nazi regime ■ June 23, 1894 Born at the White Lodge,
old-fashioned George V. At the British were a source of considerable disquiet for the Richmond, Surrey.
Empire Exhibition, held at Wembley in British government. ■ 1907–09 Attends Osborne Naval College and
1924, the Canadian pavilion exhibited the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth.
a life-sized statue of Edward made of ■ May 6, 1910 Edward’s father accedes to the
refrigerated butter. The prince was throne as George V.
equally well-received by the British
■ July 13, 1911 Invested as Prince of Wales at
working class. He made well-publicized
Caernarvon Castle.
visits to industrial areas and promoted
clubs for the unemployed, showing a ■ 1912–14 Attends Magdalene College,
Oxford, where he excels at sports but
comfortable and relaxed manner in the
does not earn a degree.
company of ordinary working men.
■ 1914–18 Joins the Grenadier Guards and
Unsuitable king serves as a staff officer with the British army
While Edward brought a welcome in France during World War I.
change to the image of British royalty ■ 1916 Awarded the Military Cross for his role
in public, in private he behaved in a in World War I.
manner that appalled his father and ■ 1919 Makes official visit to Canada and the US.
worried the political elite. He mixed ■ 1920–21 Visits Australia, New Zealand,
with the raffish, fashionable society and India.
of the 1920s and adopted its customs –
■ 1924 Presides over the British Empire Exhibition.
drinking cocktails, dancing to jazz,
and engaging in casual adultery. His ■ 1928–30 Performs many of the functions of a
affairs with married women, notably social issues. He was critical of the abdication was in part a coup by king during his father’s illness and convalescence.
Freda Dudley Ward, Lady Furness, and government’s complacent acceptance the political establishment to remove ■ January 1931 Meets Wallis Simpson for the
finally, Wallis Simpson, were considered of high levels of unemployment in a ruler they distrusted, but also an first time.
incompatible with the Royal Family’s the 1930s, although his sympathies escape route for a king who had ■ 1934 Becomes involved with Wallis Simpson.
role as exemplars of the traditional lay not with the socialists but with no enthusiasm for the rituals and ■ January 20, 1936 Accedes to the throne on
moral order. A servile press kept the politician Oswald Mosley’s Fascist responsibilities of his role. The the death of George V.
politicians of the “king’s party” who

“ After I am dead, the boy will

■ August–September 1936 Vacations with
tried to keep Edward on the throne
Wallis Simpson in the Mediterranean.
found that the monarch himself was
a lukewarm supporter of their cause. ■ October 27, 1936 Simpson begins divorce

ruin himself in 12 months.” Finally, on December 10, 1936, Edward

signed an instrument of abdication,
proceedings against her second husband,
Ernest Simpson.

GEORGE V, SPEAKING OF HIS SON EDWARD TO PRIME MINISTER STANLEY BALDWIN becoming the only British king ever ■ November 16,
to renounce the throne voluntarily. 1936 The King
British people in ignorance of these movement. Conservative politicians informs Stanley
Baldwin that
liaisons, but in private, George V feared that, once on the throne, he Life in exile
he intends to
disapproved of his eldest son’s manners might breach the rules of constitutional Created Duke of Windsor, Edward
marry Simpson,
and morals, openly preferring his monarchy and intervene in politics to married Simpson and settled in France.
precipitating the
second son, Albert. their detriment. Although he received a title and
abdication crisis.
The Prince of Wales must have None of these issues were known financial support, the Duke was
already harbored doubts about the to the British people, who embraced effectively cut off from his family, who ■ December 10,
1936
desirability of becoming king. When his their new monarch with enthusiasm took a dim view of his behavior. The
Abdicates,
father’s illness obliged him to take over at his accession in January 1936. itch to intervene in public affairs led
renouncing
many of the King’s functions in the late The abdication crisis (see pp.92–93), to an ill-judged visit by the Windsors
the throne for
1920s, he found the tasks tedious and precipitated by Edward’s strong to Nazi Germany in 1937, including a KING EDWARD VIII POSTAGE
himself and his
performed them unreliably. He chafed determination to marry Wallis meeting with Hitler. After Britain and STAMP FROM 1936
descendants, and
at the restrictions placed upon his Simpson, brought about a sudden Germany went to war in 1939 the moves to France.
expression of views on political and and sharp disillusionment. The Duke was given employment with
■ June 3, 1937 Marries Wallis Simpson at the
the British army in France, but rumors
DUCHESS OF WINDSOR (1896–1986) Chateau de Condé, near Tours, France.
spread that the Windsors were engaged
in traitorous contacts with the enemy. ■ October 1937 The Windsors make
WALLIS SIMPSON After the fall of France, Prime a visit to Nazi Germany, meeting Adolf Hitler.
Minister Winston Churchill, once ■ September 1939 Outbreak of World War II;
Born Bessie Wallis Warfield, Wallis Simpson one of Edward’s strongest supporters, Edward is made a general and attached to
grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. In the dispatched the Duke to the Bahamas— the British military command in France.
course of her first two marriages, to US an exile lightly disguised by ■ June 1940 Flees France as it is overrun by
Navy pilot Earl Spencer and American appointment to governorship of the German troops, and ends up in Portugal.
shipping executive Ernest Simpson, she islands. After the war, the Windsors ■ August 1940–March 1945 Sent by Winston
became a socialite mixing in a decadent returned to France, settling into the Churchill to the Bahamas, where he serves
international set. After her marriage to lifestyle of celebrity socialites. Over as Governor.
Edward, she became Duchess of Windsor but time, there was some defrosting of ■ 1945 Returns to live in France, where he stays
was not allowed to be known as “Her Royal relations with the Royal Family and, for the rest of his life.
Highness.” When she died in 1986 at her home at his death, Edward’s body was
■ May 28, 1972 Dies at his home in Paris.
in France, she was buried alongside Edward at brought back to England for interment
the Royal Burial Ground. in the Royal Burial Ground,
Frogmore, at Windsor.

91
 1911–1947

Edward VIII’s Abdication

The abdication crisis of 1936 is often seen as the romantic tragedy of a king who renounced
the throne for love. But it was also a political plot in which a troublesome monarch was
overthrown because he was considered unsuitable to reign.

U
ntil December 1936, most of the Baldwin had, from the outset, serious the King commented Official menu
British public had no idea that doubts about the new king. Edward’s in the presence of This is the menu for
their monarchy was in crisis. father George V had ruled as an journalists that the official dinner at
Reports of Edward VIII’s liaison with impeccable constitutional monarch, “something must be Buckingham Palace after the
twice-divorced American socialite avoiding any public expression of done” to find these State Opening of Parliament
Wallis Simpson had appeared in foreign opinion on political matters. He had people work. Widely in November 1936. A week
newspapers and magazines but were also established the moral rectitude of reported in the press, before this function took
kept out of the British press. Instead, the Royal Family as an example to the this remark drew a place, Wallis Simpson had
news focused on preparations for nation. Baldwin correctly surmised favorable response as filed for divorce, precipitating
Edward’s coronation, due to take that Edward was unlikely either to an expression of the the abdication crisis.
place the following year. Britain’s keep out of politics—he was known King’s concern for his
Conservative Prime Minister Stanley to sympathize with politician Oswald people. Baldwin and against the
Moseley’s British Union of Fascists—or his colleagues, government’s stand.
set a suitable moral example. Baldwin’s however, interpreted The King himself was
BE F O RE concern for Edward’s liaison with it as a criticism of the stubborn in his
Simpson was shared by other figures of government’s commitment to
the establishment, including the head economic policy and Simpson and showed
When Edward VIII became king at of the Church of England, Cosmo Lang. thus a wholly no desire to retain the
age 41 on January 20, 1936, he seemed inappropriate intervention for a throne. If anything, his brother, the
destined for a lengthy reign. Breaking point constitutional monarch. Duke of York was more distressed at
In October, Baldwin confronted the As far as the British people were the prospect of gaining the crown than
A PROMISING FUTURE King with clippings from the foreign concerned, the abdication crisis Edward was at losing it. Placed under
Edward was already well-known to the British press reporting his summer vacation began on December 3. The decision intolerable pressure, Simpson offered
people and the empire through his prominent with Simpson in the Mediterranean. to go public was triggered by an to withdraw from her relationship
role as Prince of Wales ❮❮ 90–91. A more It was made clear to the King that the outspoken attack on the King’s with the King, but it made no
charismatic figure than his father, he had been matter could not be kept under wraps morals by Alfred Blunt, the Bishop difference. On December 10, Edward
sent on tours of the Commonwealth in indefinitely. Meanwhile, Simpson won of Bradford. Suddenly the situation signed his abdication.
the 1920s to encourage loyalty to the crown. was blazoned in newspaper headlines The following evening Edward, now
He had also made well-publicized visits to
Depression-hit industrial areas of
Britain to show royal concern for the
325 DAYS The duration of
Edward VIII’s reign.
and on billboards across the country.
By the time this occurred, the issue
had narrowed to a simple choice.
the Duke of Windsor, made a moving,
dignified radio broadcast from Windsor
Castle, beginning: “At long last I am
hardships of the working class. Since 1934, a divorce ruling against her husband in Edward would not withdraw from his able to say a few words of my own.”
however, Edward had been involved with a a court in Ipswich, Suffolk, opening the plan to marry, while Baldwin and the He declared his allegiance to his
married American woman, Wallis Simpson— way for a possible marriage to Edward. British establishment were determined successor George VI and explained
a relationship that would cost him the crown. The drama came to a critical point there should never be a Queen Wallis. his inability to carry a king’s “burden
at a meeting between the King and Still, it was suggested that the idea of responsibility.” That night, Edward
the Prime Minister on November 16. might be acceptable if the marriage boarded a Royal Navy warship at
Edward informed Baldwin was morganatic, that is, Simpson Portsmouth and sailed for France
that he intended to marry would not enjoy the title and and Wallis Simpson.
Simpson. Baldwin replied privileges of a queen. However,
that having an American this proposal gained little
divorcée as queen would support in Parliament and was
be unacceptable to opposed by Commonwealth
the British people, the leaders in Canada and Australia.
Commonwealth, and Baldwin therefore felt justified
the Church of England. in rejecting the idea.
Edward said that, if this
were the case, he would Stepping down
abdicate rather than A diverse collection of
renounce the marriage. politicians attempted to
Two days later, visiting organize a last-ditch defense of
the Welsh valleys, an area the King. Edward’s backers
of high unemployment, included Moseley’s Fascists,
press baron Max Aitken, and a
Performing a king’s duties small group of Conservative
Surrounded by heralds, Edward Members of Parliament led by
prepares for the State Opening of future prime minister Winston Edward’s first radio broadcast
Parliament at the House of Lords Churchill. Although there was Edward VIII makes his first radio broadcast as king
on November 3, 1936. This would be widespread sympathy for the King, in March 1936. The next time he would address the
the first and last time that he would Edward’s supporters were unable to nation and empire on radio would be in December to
perform this ceremony. find adequate backing for a revolt announce his abdication.

92
 E D W A R D V I I I ’ S A B D I C AT I O N

“ I have found it
impossible to…
discharge my
duties as
king… without
the help and
support of
the woman
I love.”
EDWARD VIII, FROM HIS ABDICATION SPEECH,
DECEMBER 1936

AFTER

George VI was crowned king on

May 12, 1937, at the coronation that
had been intended for Edward VIII.
Meanwhile, Edward became a
politically unsettling exile.

ROYAL EMBARRASSMENT
On June 3, 1937, Edward married
Simpson in France and the couple settled
there. The following October, they visited
Nazi Germany, meeting Adolf Hitler. This
became a serious embarrassment once Britain
went to war with Germany in 1939.

THE WINDSORS VISIT BRITAIN IN 1967

RENEWING TIES
Edward returned to France after a five-year
stint as Governor the Bahamas,
and the couple settled into the lives of
minor international celebrities. Their contacts
with the Royal Family were distant—the
Duke attended George VI’s funeral
in 1952, but not Elizabeth II’s coronation
the following year. From around 1965, the
Windsors began to visit Britain at will and
Wedding day attended a number of royal occasions,
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor pose for including the centenary of Queen Mary’s
photographs on their wedding day in June 1937 birth in 1967. The Queen visited the couple
outside the Chateau de Condé in France. The for the first time in France in 1972, shortly
Duke’s family was not present at the ceremony. before the Duke’s death.

93
 1911–1947

Crown stickers
These windshield stickers were used
on royal cars during the 1930s.
The black and white stickers were
used for ordinary cars from
the Royal Mews.

Coronation invite After the coronation ceremony

Invitations to George VI’s coronation were issued On May 12, 1937, after his coronation ceremony
by the Earl Marshal—the 16th Duke of Norfolk at Westminster Abbey, King George VI and his
Bernard Fitzalan-Howard. As chair of the family appeared on the balcony of Buckingham
coronations Executive Committee, he extended Palace to greet the crowd below. From left to
invitations to everyone from members of the right are: Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth,
Royal Family to trade union representatives. Queen Mary, Princess Margaret, and George VI.

The Unexpected King

The abdication had dealt a huge blow to the credibility of the monarchy. Throughout Europe,
royal families had recently been toppled from their thrones, and at home, the familiar
established order was questioned by many.

G
eorge V had long harbored British Empire. In India and Ireland, In this context, Edward—a playboy
BE F O RE grave reservations about his there were cries for home rule and King who admired Hitler and cared
first son Edward’s ability to be republicanism. Meanwhile, dictators more for his private life than his
king. The King had more faith in his were taking over Europe—Joseph country—seemed not only to threaten
Edward VIII’s abdication brought second son, Prince Albert, and his Stalin was in power in the Soviet the existence of the monarchy, but the
into question the relevance of the granddaughter, Elizabeth’s, abilities as Union; Adolf Hitler had marched into very survival of democratic Europe.
monarchy as the embodiment of potential monarchs. Despite this, the the Rhineland; Francisco Franco had
responsibility and virtue. King had done nothing to prepare staged an uprising leading to civil war An unlikely candidate
Albert for any kingly duties. Albert, in Spain, and fascist Italy and Germany George VI, a shy and serious man with
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE who had always been overshadowed had forged an alliance. At home, little self-confidence and a crippling
Edward VIII’s abdication ❮❮ 92–93 by his extrovert older brother Edward, unemployment was high, and rising speech impediment, seemed an unlikely
divided the nation, with traditionalists was forced to step into his shoes after tensions between the left and right candidate to reverse the fortunes of the
shocked at the dereliction of duty, and radicals the abdication crisis (see pp.92–93). His wings had already led to civil unrest. monarchy and country. However, his
declaring that the King should do whatever coronation as George VI was held on

“ Dickie, this is absolutely terrible.

he wanted—largely because he was irrelevant. the same day that had earlier been set
Consequently, when George VI inherited the aside to crown Edward. The Illustrated
throne, its future seemed uncertain. London News had already commissioned

RELUCTANT RULER
paintings of the event, and had to ask
the artist to substitute Edward’s face I never wanted this to
While Prince Albert and his family duly with George’s.
fulfilled their royal duties, they lived out
of the spotlight. Hampered by crushing Troubled times
happen; I’m quite unprepared
shyness and a debilitating stammer,
Albert found public speaking a torment. After a
This was an inauspicious time to
be appointed king. Not only had for it… I’ve never even seen
particularly harrowing performance at Wembley the abdication dealt a huge blow to the
in 1925, he began speech therapy. credibility of the monarchy in England,
but the familiar, established order was
a State Paper.”
in question throughout Europe and the GEORGE VI, TO LORD MOUNTBATTEN UPON HEARING OF HIS ACCESSION

94
 THE UNEXPECTED KING

AFTER
modesty, determination, unshakable
diligence, combined with an iron
sense of duty enabled him to become George VI went on to essay France and Britain. He then passed Chamberlain 102–103 ❯❯,
a respected figurehead, who saved his kingly responsibilities with the Lend Lease Act permitting and his successor, Winston
the reputation of the monarchy and considerable success, on the personal lending, leasing, selling, or Churchill, throughout the war.
earned the respect of both politicians front, his relationship with his elder bartering of arms, ammunition,
and people. brother was strained. and food to “any country whose FALLING OUT
Before the abdication, Prince Albert defense the President deems vital Continued acrimony between
and his family lived a relatively quiet BENEFICIAL ALLIANCE to the defense of the US.” America George VI and his elder brother
life, in between attending to various George VI’s successful diplomacy in the US formally joined the conflict in fueled the latter’s fascination with
royal duties. Hampered by his had significant returns. After Britain declared December 1941. Hitler, whom he met in 1937.
stammer, Albert rarely spoke in public. war on Germany, US President Roosevelt Back home, George VI stayed
According to royal biographer, Dermot extended support by repealing the arms in constant consultation with GEORGE VI WITH BRITISH PRIME
Morrah, there were even moves among embargo so that arms could be sold to British Prime Minister Neville MINISTER NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN
“some men of authority” to settle the
crown instead on Albert’s younger
brother, the more charismatic Prince
George, who had the added advantage
of having already produced a male heir.
Albert and Elizabeth were deeply
opposed to the abdication. They were
furious with Edward and suspicious
of Wallis Simpson. Both were reluctant
to accede to the throne, but their sense
of duty won over. George VI applied
himself to his new role with tenacity,
reading official papers, educating
himself in constitutional matters,
and working closely with his prime
ministers. Inevitably, his inexperience
and naivety showed at times, especially
under the pressures leading up to
World War II. Desperate to avoid
another war, he backed Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain’s policy of
appeasing Hitler so fervently that
many members of Parliament felt he
was compromising his constitutional
role of political impartiality.

Significant visit
Perhaps the most significant action
of George VI, as Europe prepared for
war, was the visit he made to the US
in June 1939. Both President Franklin
D. Roosevelt and the King were very
aware of the importance of the visit.
Roosevelt believed that war was
imminent, and that “Great Britain
would be our first line of defense.”
He stated that he would convince
his country to drop its policy of
isolationism. George knew that
American help would be essential
if the Allies were to win the war.
After an informal picnic, the King
and Roosevelt talked late into the
night, with George taking meticulous
notes, which he sent back to the
British government. Among these
notes he wrote: “If London was
bombed, US would come in.” By the
following September, Britain was at
war with Germany.

With the US president

George VI and US President Franklin Roosevelt
travel from Union Station to the White House. This
was one of the many meetings that helped foster
the diplomatic relations necessary for the Allied
Powers to weather and win World War II.
 1911–1947

Born 1895 Died 1952

George VI
“ I pray to God… that Full dress uniform
George VI is pictured here
in full dress coat in the rank

nothing will come of Admiral of the Fleet. He also

wears a collar and badges of
the order of the Thistle, and

between Bertie and stars of the orders of the

Garter and the Thistle.

Lilibet and the throne.”

GEORGE V, ON HIS DEATHBED, 1936

P
rince Albert, or Bertie—the for all that is great and good…”
second son of the Duke and appeared to have offered her
Duchess of York—later crowned some solace.
King George V and Queen Mary—was The Duke of York and his family lived
a shy, unassuming boy. He grew up in York Cottage, a glum mock-Tudor
in the shadow of his glamorous villa on the Sandringham Estate.
elder brother Edward. Albert was The future king, George V, was a
born in 1895 on the inauspicious day severe father—a typical Victorian
of the anniversary of the death of patriarch—and while his first son,
Queen Victoria’s beloved husband Edward, thrived on rebellion against
Prince Albert—December 14 (see authority, Albert’s self-confidence
pp.60–61). This reportedly caused shriveled in the face of the constant
the Queen some distress. The news, cycle of reprimand and disapproval
two days later, that her new great- considered normal by parents of the
grandson was to be called Albert era. As in most aristocratic—and many
“that dear name which is a byword middle class—families of the time, the
York children had very little contact
Time with the Queen with their parents. They lived in a
Albert (seated on a cushion) is pictured here with separate part of the house with
his siblings—Mary (on the chair), Edward (standing), a battalion of nannies, nursemaids,
and Henry, as a baby—all gathered around their and tutors, and were expected to
great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. stay there, except, according to the

96
 GEORGE VI

Engagement she agreed to marry him. When she

TIMELINE
The future King George VI loved Elizabeth finally gave her consent, Albert sent
Bowes-Lyon deeply and became engaged to her in his parents a telegram. The wording ■ December 14, 1895 Born in York House on
London on January 18, 1923. They married later had been prearranged, and simply the Sandringham Estate, second son of Prince
in April in Westminster Abbey. read, “All right. Bertie.” George, Duke of York, and Mary of Teck.
■ January 22, 1901 Death of Queen Victoria, who
beyond the sheltered life at home Marriage is succeeded by her son, King Edward VII. Prince
at Sandringham. At first he was The wedding was held on April 26, Albert becomes third-in-line to the throne.
taunted and bullied: “It never did me 1923, in Westminster Abbey. The newly ■ 1909 Attends Royal Naval College at Osborne
any good to be a prince, I can tell you, formed British Broadcasting Company House (see pp.56–57) on the Isle of Wight.
and many was the time I wished I (BBC) requested permission to record
■ June 22, 1911 Albert’s parents, George and
hadn’t been. It was a pretty tough and broadcast the event on radio, but Mary of Teck, are crowned King and Queen.
place.” However, he soon began to the Abbey Chapter vetoed the idea.
■ 1913–1916 Joins the Royal Navy and serves
make friends, winning people over After the wedding—and a long trip to
in World War I. Ill health forces him to retire
with his lack of pretension and his Africa—the couple settled down into
from active service after the battle.
sense of humor. He also showed a house on Piccadilly, where their two
a physical grit and determination daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret ■ 1918 Transfers to the recently established Royal
that made him excel at sports. Rose, were born. They lived the kind Air Force and becomes the first member of the
Royal Family to have a pilot’s license.
Academically, Albert struggled, of life typical of the aristocracy of the
coming 68th in a class of 68 at his time—comfortable and privileged, ■ 1920 Leaves Cambridge University and begins
end-of-term exams. At his next school, sheltered and old-fashioned, but by to take on more royal duties. Visits to coal
the Naval College at Dartmouth, he no means extravagant. mines, factories, and railyards earn him the
was immediately assigned a young The abdication of Edward VIII was nickname “Industrial Prince.” He meets
Countess of Airlie, when invited lieutenant as tutor and finally began to the end of life as the Yorks had known Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon for the first time.
to their mother’s boudoir after tea, or apply himself. At the end of the term his it. They left their family home on ■ April 26, 1923 Marries Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
for “a less pleasurable interview with hard work was rewarded with a special Piccadilly for Buckingham Palace, ■ April 21, 1926 Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the
their father in his sitting room.” The gift from the lieutenant—a set of fake and the comfort of minor renown and future Queen Elizabeth II, is born.
Countess, a close confidante of Albert’s silver spoons, made of an amalgam routine royal duties for the pressures ■ December 11, 1936 Abdication of Edward
mother, the Duchess of York, was a that melted in a cup of tea. Bertie of office and worldwide fame. On May VIII; Albert becomes King. The Irish Free State
frequent visitor to the house, “I never tried the trick at Sandringham, and it 12, 1937, the date initially intended removes all mention of the monarch from
saw the children run along the worked perfectly—although apparently for Edward VIII’s coronation, Albert the Irish Constitution.
corridors,” she wrote, “they always his father George V was not amused. was crowned as King George VI. ■ May 12, 1937 Coronation of George VI
walked sedately, generally shepherded

“I’m only a naval officer, it’s

on the day
by nurses or tutors.” By contrast, their previously intended
grandparents, Edward VII and Queen for Edward VIII’s
Alexandra, were effusive, fun, and
relaxed—although considered far too
indulgent by George and Mary—and
the only thing I know.” coronation.
■ June 1939
Visits the US with
they provided the children with some PRINCE ALBERT, SOON TO BECOME GEORGE VI, TO LORD MOUNTBATTEN, 1936 Queen Elizabeth.
respite from the harsh regime of home.
■ September 3, 1939
The determination Albert had People’s king
George VI announces
Unpleasant childhood eventually demonstrated at school was At first glance, a man less suited to
over the radio that
Sandwiched between his charismatic soon to pay off in other ways. He fell in be king would be hard to imagine. Britain is at war
golden-haired elder brother Edward, love with the young Elizabeth Bowes- He was sensible and agreeable but not with Germany.
and his father’s favorite (and only Lyon, but felt completely out of his quite the stuff of great monarchs. But STAMP PRINTED,
■ September 13, 1940 BUT NOT ISSUED,
daughter) Mary, Albert seems at times league. At ease socially, and with an George VI reigned at an extraordinary TO COMMEMORATE
Buckingham Palace
to have been neglected—emotionally by engaging enthusiasm for life, she was time, and it may have been his EDWARD VIII’S
is bombed when the CORONATION
his parents and physically by a nanny, one of the most popular girls of her day. essential modesty and diffidence—
King and Queen
who gave him so little to eat that he “He’s always talking combined with his grit are in residence.
developed an intestinal condition that about her,” his mother and determination—that
■ 1940–44 The King has weekly meetings
remained with him for the rest of remarked to Lady Airlie, made him a monarch
with Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He
his life. There are also reports of “She seems a charming capable of guiding Britain
visits troops overseas and gives support
uncontrollable fits of rage at his older girl, but I don’t know her through a period of war.
to those suffering at home.
brother, most probably provoked by very well.” Having been He knew how to listen,
merciless teasing and taunting. assured by Lady Airlie, and understood that he ■ May 8, 1945 Victory in Europe Day is celebrated.
The Royal Family cheers the crowd standing
Sensitive, self-effacing, and insecure, Mary of Teck (now had a lot to learn. The
outside Buckingham Palace from the balcony.
Albert was forced to wear an iron leg Queen Mary) too became people warmed to their
brace to correct knock-knees, and it convinced that Elizabeth unassuming king, moved ■ 1947 Partition of India and creation of
was made very clear to him that his was the only woman by his speech difficulties Pakistan. George is no longer Emperor of India,
natural left-handedness was a defect. who could make Albert and appreciating his but becomes King of India and Pakistan.
The message to the child was clear: happy. Elizabeth was cautious, evident humanity and dedication ■ 1950 India becomes a republic within the
he was not good enough. Around the however, and in the end, Albert to duty. When it came to the day Commonwealth. George is no longer King
age of 7 or 8—the same time that he had to ask her three times before he had to inform the nation that of India, but Head of the Commonwealth.
was being forced to write with his it was at war via live ■ September 1951 George VI has his left
right hand—he developed a George Cross radio broadcast (see lung removed after the discovery of a
debilitating stammer. King George VI created the pp.102–03), his words malignant tumor.
British civilian and military carried a human touch, ■ February 6, 1952 Dies in bed of a coronary
Beating the hardships medal, the George Cross, in uncommon in royal thrombosis at the age of 56.
Sent away to Naval College at the 1940 for “acts of the greatest speeches of the time. He
age of 14, Albert was small, timid, heroism or of the most conspicuous courage gave the impression there was no
and had no experience of the world in circumstances of extreme danger.” them and us, but simply “we.”

97
 1911–1947

AFTER

Elizabeth and After the abdication of Edward VIII,

Elizabeth’s father became king and
she became next in line to the throne.

Margaret’s Childhood Three years later, as Hitler threatened

to conquer Europe, Britain declared
war on Germany.

QUEEN IN THE MAKING

In April 1926, Britain was in crisis as a bitter miners’ dispute threatened to erupt into a George VI had been completely unprepared
nationwide strike. Against this tumultuous backdrop, the news of the birth of Elizabeth— for the duties of monarchy when he
came to the throne, and was determined that
then, third in line to the throne—provided a welcome distraction. Elizabeth be better equipped. He guided her
through the complexities of royal duties and

O
n April 21, 1926, after a long an excited crowd Wooden doll’s house procedure as best he could, enlisting the help
and difficult labor, Elizabeth gathered outside This Tudor style doll’s of experts, where necessary 106–107 ❯❯.
Bowes-Lyon—wife of Prince the house to watch the house was created in Monarchies were toppling across Europe, and
Albert—was about to be given a arrival of telegrams, 1932 by Florence Palmer the abdication had left the British public with
Caesarean section at the London house gifts, and visitors. of Etchinghill for an little faith in the Royal Family. George VI
of her parents, the Earl and Countess of Four days later, exhibition. Elizabeth believed that it was essential for Elizabeth
Strathmore. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary the miners’ dispute Bowes-Lyon acquired it for to have an unshakable sense of duty
was born at 2:20 a.m. Shortly after the culminated in a state of her daughters to play with. if the British monarchy were to survive. During
announcement of the birth was made, emergency being declared World War II Elizabeth followed the example
in the country. On May 3, pretending to be a horse, of her parents, and took her first steps toward
a general strike was “shuffling on hands and becoming a figurehead for
called. Industries and key knees along the floor the nation 106–107 ❯❯.
services were frozen, and while the little Princess
workers took to the led him by the beard.”
streets. The strike lasted
six days, yet public interest in the new Model siblings
baby persisted as crowds would gather
outside Strathmores’ house for a
In 1930, with the birth of Princess
Margaret, the close-knit York family
“ [Princess Elizabeth]
glimpse of the royal infant. On
May 29, Elizabeth was christened
was complete. Elizabeth and her sister
Margaret led a sheltered childhood.
is a character.
at Buckingham Palace. Occasional public appearances were
much photographed and filmed by the
She has an air of
Popular baby
In January 1927, Elizabeth’s father and
press, with the princesses presented as
role models for the nation’s children.
authority and
mother left for a six-month-long royal
visit to Australia. The baby was left in
Mothers would attempt to copy for
their daughters whatever the princesses
reflectiveness
London in the care of nurses, nannies,
and grandparents—normal practice
were wearing.
astonishing in
Princess’s pets
among the upper classes of the time.
But in the Australian press, fascination
Queen in waiting
The only true glimpse of young
an infant.”
Elizabeth poses with two corgis—her favorite breed of with the new baby was considerable, Elizabeth that has been made public WINSTON CHURCHILL, DESCRIBING
dog—at her home in Piccadilly, London, in July 1936. and “Betty,” as she was dubbed, is an essay she wrote on May 12, 2-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH II, 1929
Elizabeth’s first corgi, Dookie, was a gift from George became the most famous baby in the 1937, the day after her father’s
VI in 1933 (see pp.108–109). world. Chocolates, china sets, hospital coronation. It reads: “At the end
ward, and even an area in Antarctica the service got rather boring Coronation day
were named after Elizabeth. She also as it was all prayers. Grannie Princess Elizabeth stands with her mother
BEF O RE appeared on a stamp in Newfoundland. [Queen Mary] and I were on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on
Once her love of horses became known, looking to see how many the day her parents were crowned King and
Madame Tussaud’s wax museum more pages to the end, and Queen. The Princess wore a long dress,
World War I plunged Britain into created a model of her on a pony. we turned one more and train, and coronet for the ceremony.
an economic crisis, with crippling Women’s magazines speculated at then I pointed to the
national debt and high unemployment. length on Elizabeth’s character. They word at the bottom of
reported that, at 21 months, she had the page and it said
GOOD NEWS AT A DARK TIME stood on a table at a party at ‘Finis.’ We both smiled
What began as a miners’ dispute on the Sandringham, hurling crackers at the at each other and turned
issue of poor wages and working hours was guests. Other reports stated that visitors back to the service.”
threatening to snowball into a general strike. to the family house at Piccadilly were Elizabeth was already
Fearing social anarchy and revolution, likely to be bombarded with teddy bears 11 when she wrote
the government mobilized soldiers and civilians flung down the stairwell. But as per this. For the past five
to maintain order. Despite the crisis, public popular press, the little scamp was also months, she had
interest in the birth of a royal baby—the a golden-curled angel whose smile known that unless
third in line to the throne—was huge. This was had greater power over her grandfather, her parents had
perhaps because it symbolized tradition and King George V (see pp.78–79), more a son, she too
continuity at a time of great instability. than anyone else in the kingdom. The would be
Archbishop of Canterbury reported monarch
arriving at the palace to find the King one day.

98
Rocking Horse
Elizabeth and Margaret pose on a rocking horse in
the nursery at the country home of the Bowes-Lyon
family in Hertfordshire, England. Their mother had
played with the same horse as a child.
The Princesses at home
Princess Elizabeth (right) spends some quiet family
time with her pet dog, sister Princess Margaret,
and mother Queen Elizabeth in the grounds of
Windsor Castle in the summer of 1941.
 1911–1947

The Royal Family

in World War II
When Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, George VI was still
establishing his role as king. Following the example set by his father in World War I, he focused
on the role of Royal Family to boost morale and inspire social cohesion and national spirit.

I
n many ways the epitome of school education made compulsory up that had been bombed, especially in King’s speech
the reserved, dutiful family man, to the age of 14. Newspaper circulation the East End. The Palace also was hit In the official photograph of the event, King George
King George VI became an unlikely was on the increase, and—even more many times by German bombs. On looks calm and regal in his naval uniform, sitting at
symbol of national resistance. For significant—almost every home in the September 13, 1940, it suffered a direct his desk in front of a microphone. Actually, he delivered
ordinary working- and middle-class country had a radio, and every town a hit when the King and Queen were in the speech standing in shirt sleeves at a lectern
British people, this serious, modest movie theater. World War II was the the Palace. Few workers were injured in a small room with the window open.
man who was happiest when at first war in which politicians and the
home with his wife and children, King could communicate directly with
came to represent the values that the populations, not only of Britain,
Britain was fighting for. While a more but of the Commonwealth and even
glamorous, dashing king may have with what remained of the Empire.
served only to emphasize the gulf On the day war was declared—
between rich and poor, this hesitant September 3, 1939—George VI not
man, ill at ease in the spotlight, was only had to deliver the most important
widely seen to have inspired a sense speech of his life, but had to do so
of common humanity. live on radio. Anticipation was high,

“ I’m glad we’ve been

bombed. It makes me feel
I can look the East End
in the face.”
QUEEN ELIZABETH, AFTER THE BOMBING OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Society had changed since World and throughout the country, streets
War I. Britain had had its first Labour emptied as the nation gathered around
government, Ireland had declared itself their radio sets. The stakes could not
an independent republic, women had have been higher, and the King knew
won the vote and were increasingly it. He delivered the speech, and the
going out to work, and society was only person present in the room was
more educated than ever before with his speech therapist Lionel Logue (see
p.97). Lionel advised the King to forget
about the audience and simply speak
BE F O RE to him. The technique worked. For all
his sobriety, George was the first
people’s king.
George VI was still finding his
feet as king after unexpectedly Bombing of Buckingham Palace
inheriting the throne following Throughout the war, King George and
the abdication of his brother, Queen Elizabeth ignored advice to
Edward VIII. move out of London to the safety of
Windsor Castle. They mostly remained
CHANGING ORDER at Buckingham Palace, making regular
World and social order was in a state of visits to give support to communities,
transition and crisis with the collapse
of many monarchies and fascist Resilient in wartime
experiments in Europe. The British Queen Elizabeth and King George VI inspect the
Empire was in decline, while the US destruction at Buckingham Palace, following the
was on the rise. German air raid during the Blitz, on September 10,
1940. They were not present in the Palace when it
was bombed that day.
and the chapel was destroyed. On the among the footage of war devastation. Wartime campaign
same day, the King and Queen visited This footage was designed to raise British women who wanted to work for the army
West Ham in the East End. She later people’s morale. There were films, during World War II joined the Auxiliary Territorial
said, “I felt as if I was walking in a too, of George VI‘s several visits to Service (ATS). It had 200,000 members by the end
dead city... all the houses evacuated, troops on active service in France at of 1943. Princess Elizabeth served as a driver and
and yet through the broken windows the beginning of the war in 1939, a mechanic in the ATS.
one saw all the poor little possessions... and in North Africa in 1943, following
just as they were left.” the victory of El Alamein—a city in
The fact that the Royal Family had Egypt where Britain fought the Axis AFTER
suffered too only endeared them more forces twice in World War II. In June
to the population. Like most people 1944, 10 days after D-Day, he visited his
in Britain, George and Elizabeth lost army on the Normandy beaches, and George VI became a highly respected
relatives in the war. In 1942 the King’s later that year visited the troops in Italy monarch, but the stress of office
younger brother, Prince George, Duke and the Low Countries. Although not had grave consequences for
of Kent, was killed. involved in strategy, he met Prime his health.
Minister Winston Churchill in private
Support to the war-torn nation every Tuesday throughout the war, NEW WORLD ORGANIZATIONS
Weekly newsreels regularly included building up a relationship of mutual The beginnings of a new postwar world
footage of the Royal Family—visiting trust and respect—one of the closest All members of the Royal order with the formation of the United
bomb sites, munitions factories, relationships ever to exist between a Family—including the children— Nations (UN) in 1945 and the North
hospitals, soup kitchens, troops— prime minister and monarch. were expected to set an example to Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
the nation by contributing to the war in 1949. At home, legislation, including various
effort. Princess Elizabeth not only acts setting up the welfare state, came into
made her first radio broadcast to the force, aiming at a healthier, better educated,
country’s children at the age of 14 and more socially equal Britain.
(see p.106), but sewed items for troops
and raised funds with a Christmas KING’S DECLINING HEALTH
pantomime. She joined the Auxiliary King George VI always had a delicate
Territorial Service (ATS) later. constitution, and the stress of
In recognition of the demands that office – in particular, leading the nation
modern warfare inflicted on ordinary during World War II – severely affected
people, the King decided to create his fragile health. A heavy smoker, he was
medals to honor men and women— eventually diagnosed with lung
military and civilian—who had cancer. The King suffered a coronary
performed acts of outstanding courage. thrombosis, a fatal blood clot to the
In 1942 the George Cross was awarded heart, 132 ❯❯ and died in his sleep in 1952
to the people of Malta in recognition at the age of 56.
of the bravery they displayed during
the long siege by the Germans.

9 The number of times

Buckingham Palace was
directly bombed by German
planes during World War II.

Victory day
It is perhaps an indication of
the relationship that had grown
through the war years between
the Royal Family and the British
public, that on May 8, 1945, on the
night of Victory in Europe (VE) Day,
after appearing on the balcony of
Buckingham Palace to cheering
crowds, the King agreed to his
daughters’ rather unexpected
request. “We asked my parents if
we could go out and see for
ourselves,” Elizabeth later revealed.
Princess Elizabeth, 19, and her
14-year-old sister, Princess Margaret,
with caps pulled down low over their
eyes, mingled anonymously with the
crowds. Describing it afterward,
Elizabeth said, “We walked through
the streets, a line of unknown
people linking arms and walking Working in the ATS
down Whitehall, swept along on a Princess Elizabeth learns to change a car wheel as
tide of happiness and relief... I think a subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)
it was one of the most memorable in 1945. By the end of the war she was promoted
nights of my life.” to Junior Commander.

103
Visiting the war-affected
George VI and Elizabeth visit people in Sheffield
made homeless after a German bombing raid
during World War II—one of many initiatives the
Royal Family undertook to boost public morale.
 1911–1947

Elizabeth’s Teenage Years

Although Elizabeth and Margaret were raised in a privileged and sheltered environment,
their lives were turned upside down at a very young age by two major events—the
abdication of Edward VIII and the outbreak of World War II.

A
fter the abdication crisis governess to Elizabeth and Margaret
(see pp.92–93) of 1936, for 16 years, remains the main source
Elizabeth’s father became for information on the Princesses’
king and the family moved from their lives at the time.
Piccadilly townhouse to Buckingham
Palace. The Piccadilly house was hardly A new home
modest—it had 25 bedrooms and a According to Crawford, there was
staff of 16—but it was a thriving and nothing lovable about Buckingham
much-loved family home, typical of Palace. It was bleak, vast, cold, and
the kind of London base maintained by infested with rodents: “You may think
wealthier members of the aristocracy. a royal palace is the last word in
Marion Crawford (see pp.98–99), up-to-date luxury but nothing could
be further from the truth. Living at
Buckingham Palace was rather like
BE F O RE camping in a museum—one that’s
dropping to bits… that first night, the
wind moaned in the chimneys like
There was every reason to assume 1,000 ghosts. The palace had only
that Edward VIII would continue to be recently had electricity installed…
king and produce heirs of his own. It My bedroom light, for instance, could
seemed very unlikely that Elizabeth only be turned on and off by a switch
would ever accede to the throne. two yards outside in the passage…
Food had to come the better part of
A PRIVILEGED PRINCESS half-a-mile from the kitchens at the
Elizabeth and Margaret led the kind of Buckingham Palace Road end to the had been. He encouraged her to sit Wartime broadcast
sheltered, undemanding lives considered dining room at the Constitution Hill with him as he studied state papers In 1940, Elizabeth made her first radio
appropriate for aristocratic girls—lives in which end. We also needed the vermin man, (see p.130), and engaged Henry Marten, broadcast to the nation’s children, many
the greatest achievement was to some day who fought an endless battle against Vice-Provost of Eton College, to give of whom had been evacuated. At the end,
marry well. Education was not taken very the mice with cardboard traps that her an intensive course of classes in Margaret joined in too.
seriously—both girls were homeschooled, had a lump of aniseed in the middle constitutional history, the role of
with dancing and riding as well as math and and treacle all around.” monarchy, and parliamentary procedure. rowing his boat after the departing
English on the curriculum. Lessons were often If Crawford’s account is to be Meanwhile, Margaret’s education was Royal Yacht until the King had to
interrupted when the Princesses’ mother trusted, it was she who worried less rigorous and regimented. bellow to him to go back.” Elizabeth
thought of something more fun to do. about the Princesses being too isolated, Thanks to their parents’ royal visits was apparently charmed.
and suggested that they join the to Australia, New Zealand, Canada,
Girl Guides. The 1st Buckingham and the US, the Princesses had the War breaks out
Palace Guide Company met for the first opportunity—rare at the time—to A few months later, when war broke
time on June 9, 1937. It comprised learn about foreign countries and out, the King and Queen remained in
20 members, all of whom were cultures from people who had actually London, while the girls were removed
daughters of the aristocracy or members traveled. In 1939, on a tour of the to Windsor Castle. It was a gloomy,
of the royal household and Palace staff. US, Elizabeth’s mother wrote to her eerie place—windows had been
A Brownie pack—a Guiding describing a now famous picnic at blacked out, paintings removed for
group for girls ages 7 to 10 President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home safety, chandeliers suspended three
years old—was started for in New York State: “We all sat at little inches above the ground so they
Margaret with 14 members. tables under the trees round the house, wouldn’t shatter in the case of a
and had all our food on one plate—a bomb, and furniture shrouded in
Preparing little salmon, some turkey, some ham, sheets. The King kept pigs at one of the
to be Queen lettuce, beans & HOT DOGS too!” estate farms, and the girls tended an
George VI was determined Occasionally, the girls accompanied “allotment”—a plot of land for growing
that Elizabeth be better their parents on royal visits. In July vegetables or flowers—and kept
prepared for the duties 1939, 13-year-old Elizabeth with her rabbits. Bathtubs at both Windsor and
of monarchy than he parents and sister, visited the Royal Buckingham Palace had a black line
Naval College at Dartmouth. Prince painted on them to ensure that no one
Girl Guides Philip of Greece (see pp.124–25), a bathed in more than 5 in (13 cm) of
Dressed in Girl Guide uniforms, boisterous 18-year-old cadet, was given water. During air raids, shelter was
Elizabeth and Margaret prepare the task of looking after the girls. In her taken in one of the castle dungeons,
to release a carrier pigeon with account of the meeting, Crawford said where beetles scuttled across the floor.
a message to Chief Guide Lady “He [Philip] played games with them However, the Princesses had the rare
Olave Baden-Powell on the [Elizabeth and Margaret], jumped over luxury of a bathroom in their air raid
occasion of her late husband’s tennis nets, wolfed down plates of food shelter. On one occasion, the librarian
birthday in 1943. and generally romped, ending by took the girls down to the vaults and
 ELIZABETH’S TEENAGE YEARS

AFTER
“ Thousands of you… have had to leave your
Prepared by her father, George VI,
homes… My sister Margaret Rose and I feel so for her eventual role of monarch,
Elizabeth grew up to be a serious

much for you as we know… what it means to young woman.

A DEDICATED QUEEN
be away from those we love most of all.” Elizabeth was made deeply aware of the
implications and duties of monarchy
ELIZABETH II, FROM HER FIRST RADIO BROADCAST TO THE NATION’S CHILDREN,1940 by her experience of World War II. In a
radio speech broadcast throughout the
showed them the Crown Jewels (see a live radio broadcast to the nation’s at camp, cleaning up, giggling in Commonwealth from South Africa on her 21st
pp.68–69), hidden in battered leather children, many of whom had been dugouts, and singing songs with the birthday, she made a solemn dedication:
hatboxes stuffed with newspaper. ordered to be evacuated. rest of the company, watched by their “I declare before you that my whole life,
The girls continued their work as Of the two children, Margaret was mother. The nation read with glee whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to
Girl Guides at Windsor during the war, more funny, capricious, and naughty, reports of the Queen drinking tea from your service and the service of our great Imperial
and, like girls throughout the country, and tended to attract all the attention. a stained, chipped mug presented to Commonwealth, to which we all belong. But I
knitted and made brooches to be Elizabeth, on the other hand, was shy, her by Margaret. shall not have the strength to carry out this
sold for the war effort. In 1940, they serious, and socially ill at ease. She said On her 18th birthday in 1944, resolution unless you will join in it with me.”
began to put on yearly plays to raise of her sister: “It’s so much easier when George VI appointed Elizabeth a
money to support the troops. The King Margaret’s there—everyone laughs Counsellor of State, making her ELIZABETH AND PHILIP
saw the Princesses’ efforts and quipped at what Margaret says.” responsible for performing his official After their 1939 meeting, Elizabeth and Philip
“At least if I am dethroned the girls will Forays outside Windsor were duties at times when he was abroad or would be thrown together on several other
be able to earn their living.” In October rare, although the girls did sometimes absent due to illness. This was no mere occasions 114–15 ❯❯, sowing the seeds for
1940, Princess Elizabeth, with accompany their parents on public ceremonial task; shortly afterward, their marriage 120–21, 266–67 ❯❯.
Margaret by her side, engagements. At age 15, Elizabeth when the King was away in Italy, it
made her first public joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service was Elizabeth’s duty as Counsellor to
speech— (ATS) as a volunteer, and learned sign a reprieve for a murderer. The
to drive a truck and maintain an Princess had so far been sheltered from First official engagement
engine. Guiding continued to give the less savory aspects of life, and was A special parade was organized at Windsor Castle
the Princesses an occasional unprepared for the task and seemingly to celebrate Elizabeth’s 16th birthday—her first
taste of normality. In 1944, disturbed by it. She asked, “What official engagement. The Princess newly appointed
the two were filmed makes people do such terrible things?” as colonel-in-chief of the Grenadier Guards,
One ought to know! There must be inspected the regiment.
some way to help them.
I have so much to learn
about people.”
 INSIGHT 1952–Present

Family Pets
The Royal Family’s love of canines has a long history,
with pet dogs, ranging from pugs to King Charles spaniels,
appearing in royal portraits from the 17th century onward.
Since the reign of Queen Victoria, royal dogs have had their
own graveyard at Sandringham.

Elizabeth II is renowned for her love of corgis: the Crown coin that
commemorated her Golden Jubilee shows her with a corgi. In 2012,
three of her dogs, Monty, Holly, and Willow, featured in the opening
ceremony for the Olympic Games.
The Queen’s love of corgis began as a child. In 1933, her father
bought one as a family pet. Although officially named Rozavel Golden
Eagle, the household servants began calling him Dookie, a cheekily
shortened version of “Duke”. Since then Elizabeth has bred 30 corgis,
most of them descended from her 18th birthday present, a corgi
named Susan, who accompanied Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
on their honeymoon in 1947. Although corgis remain her favorites,
Elizabeth has also had labradors, a golden retriever, a cocker spaniel,
a shih tzu, and has bred several dorgis, a corgi-dachshund cross.
The Royal Family’s love of animals is not limited to dogs. Elizabeth
is a skilled horsewoman and world-class race horse owner. At times,
the Royal Family has been given rather unusual animals as presents.
During World War II, Earl Mountbatten (see pp.192–93) showed up
with a chameleon for Elizabeth and Margaret; in 1956, Soviet leader
Nikita Krushchev gave a brown Syrian bear to six-year old Princess
Anne; while in 1961, on a state visit to the Gambia, Elizabeth and Philip
were presented with a baby crocodile—a gift for one-year-old Prince
Andrew. The Queen's private secretary kept the baby crocodile in
his bathtub until it could be donated to London Zoo.
The Queen’s children and grandchildren have inherited her love of
animals. They own dogs of various breeds and work as patrons for a
wide range of animal charities.

“ The Queen carries a magnet

when having clothes fitted… to
comb the room for any stray
pins and needles so the
dogs don’t hurt their paws.”
A ROYAL DRESSMAKER, IN BRIAN HOEY'S PETS BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT

The Queen and her dogs

This picture of Elizabeth II was taken by photographer
Lisa Sheridan in the gardens of Balmoral Castle in
1952. Sheridan became the Royal Family’s most trusted
photographer after a commission to photograph the
royal corgis for a book on dogs in the early 1930s.

108
 1911–1947

Born 1900 Died 2002

Queen Elizabeth,
the Queen Mother
“ [Elizabeth is] the most
dangerous woman
in Europe.”
ADOLF HITLER, ON ELIZABETH’S ABILITY TO BOOST BRITISH MORALE DURING THE WAR

T
he first “commoner” to marry into Portrait of a queen
the Royal Family, Elizabeth Bowes- In this official portrait from 1954, Elizabeth
Lyon was born into one of the wears a satin frock embroidered with gold and
most important aristocratic families in silver thread and crystal beads. Her jewelry
Scotland. Her marriage to Prince Albert and tiara are made of diamonds.
was considered a step toward political
modernization as princes had thus far hospital, and Elizabeth and her sister
only married into other royal families. Rose helped nurse the wounded men.
She had an idyllic childhood complete Four of their brothers joined the army;
with everything from woodland dens one was captured and imprisoned,
to candlelit balls. Elizabeth was largely while another was killed. Nonetheless,
educated at home, with emphasis on frivolity was resumed with gusto after
preparation for a good marriage. the war. Elizabeth was one of the
London set’s “It girls”—charismatic,
Growing up lively, and outgoing, but blessed with
World War I began when Elizabeth the good sense to do nothing that
was only 14. The family castle, Glamis could earn her the dreaded reputation
Castle, was turned into a military of being “fast.”

New challenges
It was Elizabeth’s zest for life and easy
informality that Prince Albert, the
Duke of York, loved. These qualities
were not, however, appreciated by the
senior royals. When Elizabeth gave an
interview about her engagement and
referred to her fiancé as Bertie, her
future father-in-law, George V was
furious. Once they were married,
Elizabeth worked behind the scenes
to help Albert overcome his stutter
and build up his self-confidence.
Determined that life for their
children should have none of
the bleak formality of Albert’s
Victorian upbringing, she created
a warm family home.
Elizabeth was not shy of
making her feelings known.
Invited to dinner at Balmoral
Early life by Edward VIII, she found
Known as Buffy at home, Elizabeth was the ninth of herself being welcomed
10 children. She spent most of her early childhood by the new King’s lover,
at her parents’ country home, St. Paul’s Waldenbury twice-divorced American
in Hertfordshire, north of London. socialite Wallis Simpson.

110
 QUEEN ELIZABETH, THE QUEEN MOTHER

TIMELINE
■ August 4, 1900 Born to Claude Bowes-Lyon
and his wife, Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck.
■ August 4, 1914 Turns 14; Britain declares
war on Germany.
■ September 27, 1915 Elder brother, Fergus,
is killed in action at the Battle of Loos.
■ April 28, 1917 Elder brother Michael, also
serving in the army, is reported missing in action.
■ May 1917 The family learns that Michael has
been captured after being wounded. He remains
in a prisoner of war camp for the rest of the war.
■ 1921 Turns down Prince Albert’s first proposal
of marriage.
■ February 22, 1922 Serves as bridesmaid at the
wedding of Princess Mary, daughter of King
Elizabeth walked straight past her, Setting a precedent Birth of Elizabeth George V and Queen Mary.
saying “I came to dine with the King,” Elizabeth and the Duke of York were wed at Westminster The Duchess of York had her first child— ■ 1922 Refuses Prince Albert’s second
and seated herself at Edward’s right Abbey on April 26, 1923. The eight bridesmaids were: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, known to the family proposal of marriage.
hand. A few months later, Edward (left to right) Mary Cambridge, Diamond Hardinge, Mary as Lilibet—by Caesarean section at 2.40 a.m. on ■ January 13, 1923 Accepts Albert’s
abdicated (see pp.92–93) and Albert Thynn, Elizabeth Elphinstone, May Cambridge, Katharine April 21, 1926. Her second child, Margaret Rose, third proposal.
was crowned King George VI and Hamilton, Betty Cator, and Cecilia Bowes-Lyon. was born four years later.
■ April 26, 1923 Marries Prince Albert and
Elizabeth became Queen. For them,
becomes Duchess of York.
the challenge was not simply that of high heels, and ropes of jewels, she completely impossible.” The Queen
■ 1925 Organizes speech therapy for Albert
having inherited the monarchy, but was jeered at and pelted with garbage. Mother responded, “Then I think
with Australian Lionel Logue.
having done so as World War II Elizabeth soon realized her folly, and I should be thankful you’re not
approached. In an effort to avoid dressed more modestly. responsible for me.” ■ April 21, 1926 Gives birth to Elizabeth
another war, Elizabeth committed the After the war, palace life went back What Prince Charles referred to as Alexandra Mary, the future Queen Elizabeth II.
only overtly political act of her life. to normal. But the King’s health Elizabeth’s “effervescent enthusiasm for ■ January 6, 1927 Embarks on a six-month-long
When Prime Minister Neville was failing, and in 1952, he died. life” also manifested itself in an world tour with Prince Albert.
Chamberlain returned from having Elizabeth blamed Simpson for his extravagant love for the finer things ■ August 21, 1930 Gives birth to Margaret Rose.
convinced Hitler to sign a treaty for
■ December 11, 1936 Becomes Queen Elizabeth
peace, she invited him onto the palace
balcony, a clear breach of protocol, “ The curious thing is that we are not as Albert accedes the throne on Edward VIII’s
abdication.
as Parliament had not yet voted
on the treaty. afraid. I feel that God has enabled ■ May 12, 1937 Is crowned Queen Elizabeth in
coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey;
When war did break out, Elizabeth’s
role was to give moral support. On us to face the situation calmly.” Albert becomes King George VI.

her first visits to London’s East End ■ September 30, 1938 Prime Minister Neville
ELIZABETH BOWES-LYON, IN A LETTER TO ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY COSMO LANG TWO DAYS AFTER
Chamberlain appears on the balcony of
bomb sites, dressed in flimsy pastels, EDWARD VIII‘S ABDICATION, DECEMBER 12, 1936
Buckingham Palace on the Queen’s invitation,
following his visit to Hitler seeking appeasement.
Coronation gowns death, believing that if her husband in life—at one point resulting in a
For her coronation, Elizabeth wore had not been forced to be King he £4 million ($6 million) bank overdraft. ■ May 17, 1939 Visits Canada with George VI,
a silk gown, with pure would not have died so young. But the Queen Mother still had fans who is the first reigning monarch
to visit the nation.
gold thread embroidery from all walks of life. Never pretentious,
in a rose-and- Later years she remained unapologetically and ■ April 26, 1948 Celebrates
thistle pattern. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, adamantly herself until her last days. 25th wedding
Her daughters following her daughter’s accession, anniversary with
wore white silk retained her self-possession. In 1968, George VI.
gowns with when student demonstrators hurled ■ February 6, 1952
cream lace. toilet rolls at her, Elizabeth stopped and George VI dies;
picked them up, as though someone Elizabeth II
had misplaced them. “Was this yours?” becomes Queen.
she said, turning to a student, “Oh, ■ April 1975 Visits
could you take it?” The students Iran, where the people
fell silent. are bemused by her habit
QUEEN MOTHER’S
Elizabeth could handle politicians of speaking to everyone 80TH BIRTHDAY COIN
equally well. On one occasion, she regardless of status or
asked former Foreign Secretary Lord importance.
Carrington why the Tories had ■ August 4, 1990 Celebrates her 90th birthday.
replaced Prime Minister ■ May 8, 1995 Opens the 50th anniversary
Margaret Victory in Europe celebrations.
Thatcher.
■ August 4, 2000 Turns 100.
He replied,
■ February 9, 2002 Death of Princess Margaret.
“Well, frankly Birthday celebrations
Ma’am, The Queen Mother waves to the public on her ■ March 30, 2002 Dies in her sleep at the Royal
toward the 90th birthday in August 1990. Celebrations were Lodge, Windsor Great Park.
end she began earlier, on June 27, with a parade at Horse
became Guards Parade.

111
DECISIVE MOMENT January 31–May 11, 1947

The First Tour in Africa

The British Empire was disintegrating. With India on the
cusp of independence, attention fell on South Africa, with
its prodigious sources of gold and diamonds. South Africa
had backed Britain during the war, but Anti-British Afrikaners
were on the ascendant, among them pro-Nazi racists.

The royal tour began with King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret boarding HMS Vanguard. News reels
of the voyage include the princesses enthusiastically playing deck games
with the sailors, arguably the most relaxed images of the Princess to
have been made public. But once on land, the fun stopped.
They were welcomed by a crowd of more than 250,000 white South
Africans on their arrival in Cape Town on February 17. Colorfully staged
encounters with tribal kings followed, including an occasion on which
the royal entourage was greeted by hundreds of Basuto tribesmen
thundering through the dust on horseback. Commemorative stamps
were issued and Princess Elizabeth received gifts of diamonds for her
21st birthday. But despite this elaborate show of South Africa as a model
colony, the Royal Family was aware that the reality was very different.
Members of South Africa’s Indian community in Natal boycotted
the royal tour in protest of the Ghetto Act, designed to curtail Indian
ownership of property in white areas. The Afrikaner press was also
hostile. Detesting the overt signs of racial separation, and appalled by
the authorities opposing him decorating black South Africans for war
service, George VI found speech-making increasingly difficult. He
referred to the officious Afrikaner police as Gestapo.
The Royal Family left for the UK on April 24. Within a year, South
Africa had passed apartheid legislation. The impact of her disturbing
visit endured, as Elizabeth would go on to show her support for
anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela on several occasions. She
went so far as to signal her distance from Margaret Thatcher when
the British Prime Minister referred to Mandela as a terrorist.

“ In view of the disabilities

imposed upon… colored
peoples, it would be improper…
to share the rejoicings of the
white of South Africa.”
MAHATMA GANDHI, ENDORSING THE BOYCOTT OF THE ROYAL TOUR

Into Africa
On March 22, 1947, the Royal Family visited the Natal
National Park in South Africa. In addition to national
parks, the Royal Family also took time to visit game
reserves and the Victoria Falls. However, throughout
the tour, they were keenly aware of the racial tensions
plaguing the country.

113
 1911–1947

BE F O R E

The first two decades of the

20th century saw many of Europe’s
monarchs toppled by war and
Elizabeth and Philip
revolution. Centuries of dynastic They seemed an unlikely couple—the shy, dutiful, and serious Princess Elizabeth and an
marriage had created a intricately exuberant, outspoken, and penniless exiled Prince Philip of Greece. Although third cousins,
interrelated web of royalty.
their childhoods could not have been more different.
ROYAL MARRIAGES

A
In 1863 Queen Victoria arranged the marriage t the age of 13, Elizabeth
of her eldest son, the future Edward VII to visited the Royal Naval College
Alexandra, eldest daughter of King Christian IX at Dartmouth with her parents
of Denmark. By the outbreak of World War I, and sister (see p.106). While there, she
the grandchildren of either Victoria or Christian met her royal cousin, 18-year-old
occupied the thrones of the UK, Russia, Prince Philip of Greece. The next time
Germany, Greece, Spain, Denmark, Norway, they met was when Philip came to
and Romania— closely related monarchs watch the Princesses’ performance in
found themselves on opposite sides. the annual Christmas pantomime (see
p.107) at Windsor. Shortly afterward
MATCHMAKER a photograph of the Prince appeared
Prince Philip’s uncle, Louis Mountbatten, on Elizabeth’s mantelpiece, and when
had done much to engineer the match her governess, Marion Crawford,
between Elizabeth and Philip, to the extent warned that she was risking gossip,
that Philip wrote to him saying “Please, I beg she changed it for one of Philip with a
of you not too much advice in an affair of the bushy beard. “There you are, Crawfie,
heart, or I shall be forced to do the wooing by I defy anyone to recognize him in this.
proxy.” Mountbatten had hoped for his name He’s completely incognito.” Following
to be immortalized in the surnames of the the pantomime, they started writing
would-be Queen’s descendants. regularly to one another, as Philip
joined the Royal Navy as a cadet.

Apt match
The son of Prince Andrew of Greece
and Princess Alice of Battenberg, Philip
moved from place to place, after his
“ His wardrobe family was exiled from Greece in 1922.
Later, with Nazism on the rise, he left
Germany for Scotland and became one
was scantier of the first pupils to attend Gordonstoun
school (see p.124, p.162). Philip seems
than that of to have taken delight in giving his
address as “no fixed abode” in the
visitors’ books of the grand town
many a bank mansions and country estates to which
he was invited, often turning up only in
clerk… he what he was wearing—plus a razor.
Outspoken, self-reliant, and

had only one unrestrained, with a cheery sense of

humor and uncrushable zest for life,
Philip was no average young aristocrat.
civilian suit The general opinion was that he
was “rather unpolished,” rude, and

and his socks overbearing. However, for Elizabeth,

who was accustomed all her life
to fawning and flattery, Philip’s
were full forthrightness and unconventionality
came as a breath of fresh air.

of darns.” War hero

In July 1943, during World War II, his
JOHN DEAN, PHILIP’S VALET ship, HMS Wallace took part in the Allied
landings in Sicily. Off the coast of
southeast Sicily, at the dead of night, the
ship came under repeated bombardment.
Prone and unprotected, the ship seemed
Elizabeth as a bridesmaid doomed, until Philip came up with a
In October 1946, as speculation mounted about their plan to throw overboard a wooden raft
relationship, Princess Elizabeth was bridesmaid and with smoke floats to create the illusion
Prince Philip an usher at the wedding of Lord of debris ablaze on the water. The
Mountbatten’s daughter Patricia to Lord Brabourne. German plane was fooled into attacking

114
 ELIZABETH AND PHILIP

At work
Prince Philip undertakes “ Elizabeth began to take more
the role of an instructor
at the Petty Officers’ trouble with her appearance and to
Training Center at
Corsham, Wiltshire, play the tune ‘ People Will Say We’re In
between 1946 and 1947.
He became engaged to Love,’ from Oklahoma.”
Princess Elizabeth while MARION CRAWFORD, ELIZABETH’S GOVERNESS
working here.

escorted the Royal Family from their returned, pale and thin, and so relieved
car. The media caught Philip and to get back, that she danced a jig on the
Elizabeth looking at each other deck as the ship, HMS Vanguard,
pants instead affectionately as she moved to steamed into Portsmouth harbour.
of plus fours remove her fur coat. With no official On July 10, 1947, the long-awaited
(knickers). A announcement of an engagement, the engagement of Princess Elizabeth and
footman revealed speculation in the media increased. Philip Mountbatten was announced
to the press that As a prelude to the impending coinciding with a garden party being
his “solitary naval engagement, Philip’s uncle, Lord celebrated at Buckingham Palace.
valise” contained Mountbatten, had long campaigned
the decoy while the Wallace sailed to no spare shoes, pyjamas, or slippers for Philip to be naturalized.
safety. This extraordinary initiative by and that his only walking shoes had to Mountbatten secured the agreement
Prince Philip helped save many lives. be taken to the local shoemaker to be of Home Secretary and Prime Minister
repaired. It is believed that it was at to Philip’s naturalization in 1946.
Beginning of a long liaison Balmoral in 1946 that Philip proposed He was then known as Lieutenant
Back in London after the war, Philip to Elizabeth and she accepted. Initially Philip Mountbatten. Ironically, it
and his black MG sports car became the King and Queen seemed to share turned out that the procedure had
regular visitors to Buckingham Palace. the common misgivings about Philip. been unnecessary—a law of 1705
The first occasion he seems to have But as they got to know him, they stated that descendents
invited himself, as he wrote to grew to appreciate his direct manner, of Sophia of Hanover (mother of
Elizabeth afterward apologizing for his joshing humor, and love of the George I) were British.
“monumental cheek.” “Yet however countryside. On one occasion Philip,
contrite I feel,” he wrote, “there is wearing a borrowed kilt, curtseyed to Separated for a while
always a small voice that keeps saying the King, allegedly because the kilt In early 1947, it was decreed that
‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’— was so short that it was the only way Elizabeth and her sister would
well I did venture and I gained a of maintaining modesty. Philip was accompany their parents on a trip
wonderful time.” According to Crawford, fun, an extrovert, a good foil to to South Africa on what was to be a
Philip did most of his courtship in the Elizabeth’s seriousness. four-month royal tour (see pp.112–13).
old nursery, at tea time, with Margaret In early October 1946, at the She would be 21 when she returned.
in attendance. She wrote, “Just as there wedding of Lord Mountbatten’s The couple wrote to each other
was nothing polished about Philip, who daughter Patricia to Lord Brabourne throughout their separation and
often wandered about in his shirtsleeves, at Romsey Abbey, the two got together Elizabeth put Philip’s photograph on her
so there was nothing fancy about these again. Philip was an usher, and he dressing table during the trip. Elizabeth
meals: just fish and some sort of sweet,
washed down with orangeade. After
dinner, it would be high-jinks in the Engagement announcement
corridors as the three of them played Elizabeth and Philip stroll on the terrace at
ball (a good many lightbulbs suffered) Buckingham Palace after the announcement of
and raced about like a bunch of their engagement in July 1947. The engagement
high-spirited children.” ring is a diamond solitaire set in platinum with
Philip and Elizabeth did, however, five smaller diamonds on each side.
occasionally go out together, but
despite taking care always to be
seen in company with other friends, AFTER
speculation in the press became
fevered. Visiting a factory at the age of
19, Elizabeth was hugely embarrassed With the announcement of Princess
when the crowd began asking Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s
“Where’s Philip?” Shortly afterward, engagement, public interest in the
Philip was invited to Balmoral, future Queen’s consort abounded.
where he seems to have shocked
other guests by brashly going shooting CONSPIRACY THEORY
with a borrowed gun, wearing flannel As a descendent of the Greek-Danish royal
dynasty, with his four sisters married to
Family portrait German aristocrats, it was inevitable that
The portrait of the Royal Family following the after World War II, conspiracy theories
announcement of the engagement of Elizabeth about the pro-German (and even pro-Nazi)
to Philip Mountbatten features (from left to sympathies of Philip would arise.
right): Elizabeth, Philip, Queen Elizabeth (later the
Queen Mother), King George VI, and Margaret.

115
ELIZABETH II
1947–1960

St. Edward’s Crown, used during the

coronation of a new sovereign
 1947–1960

ELIZABETH II
1947–1960
1947 1948 1950 1951 1952
APRIL 21 JANUARY 30, 1948 JUNE MARCH JANUARY 31
Elizabeth celebrates her Assassination of Korean War begins; The Duke of Windsor Elizabeth and Philip are
21st birthday with a Mahatma Gandhi. over 100,000 British publishes his memoirs: waved off on tour of
Commonwealth broadcast. soldiers will serve with A King’s Story. Africa by George VI.
SEPTEMBER 6, 1948 the multinational
JULY 10 Peter Townsend accompanies United Nations (UN) MAY 3 FEBRUARY 6
Buckingham Palace Princess Margaret to the forces until 1953. George VI opens the George VI dies in his
announces the engagement coronation of Queen Juliana Festival of Britain—a sleep at Sandringham,
of Princess Elizabeth to of the Netherlands. showcase for British but Elizabeth is in Kenya
Prince Philip of Greece. enterprise and and does not learn for
ingenuity. several hours that she
Announcement of is now Queen.
the engagement

APRIL 30, 1948 Prince Charles’s JULY 7 FEBRUARY 16

christening
Silver wedding anniversary The Duke of Edinburgh Funeral of George VI,
of George VI and Elizabeth. leaves the Royal Navy with coffin borne
to focus on his duties through London,
JULY 29, 1948 as consort. then placed in a
London Olympics, which come crypt at Windsor.
to be known as the Austerity
Games, commence.

NOVEMBER 14, 1948

Birth of Prince Charles.
George’s grieving
widow and daughters

AUGUST 15 MARCH 12, 1949 JULY 1949 AUGUST 15

The King loses the title George VI undergoes Elizabeth and Philip Princess Anne
of Emperor of India, an operation. move into Clarence is born.
following July’s India House, which has been
Independence Act; APRIL 28, 1949 extensively refurbished.
Pakistan becomes a Foundation of the modern
separate nation. Commonwealth with the NOVEMBER 1949
London Declaration. Elizabeth and Philip move
NOVEMBER 20 to Malta where Philip is
Elizabeth marries Philip stationed with the
at Westminster Abbey. Royal Navy.

NOVEMBER OCTOBER 26 NOVEMBER 4

Marion Crawford Winston Churchill Elizabeth attends
publishes The Little becomes British State opening of
Princesses. Prime Minister for Parliament, her first
the third time. major state function.

Princess Elizabeth’s
wedding procession

DECEMBER 25 SEPTEMBER
Stone of Scone, a block George VI has
of red sandstone placed a lung removed
under the coronation due to cancer.
chair in Westminster
Abbey since 1296 and
associated with Scottish
nationhood, is stolen.
It will be recovered four
months later.
En route to State Opening
of Parliament, 1952

118
 ELIZABETH II

The postwar years brought joy, tumult, and glory to the life of and devotion from Fiji to Fife. She oversaw a period of transition
Elizabeth, as she celebrated marriage and motherhood, mourned the for Britain’s international status, all the while managing to balance
death of her father and grandmother, and dedicated herself to a life the needs of her family with the demands of monarchy. Meanwhile,
of service amid the pomp and circumstance of her coronation. In the Elizabeth’s sister Margaret wrestled with her own agonizing
years that followed she would travel the world, inspiring excitement dilemma in choosing between love and duty.

1953 1954 1955 1956 1958

NOVEMBER FEBRUARY 17 MARCH 24, 1956 MARCH 6, 1957 JULY 3, 1958
Elizabeth and UK announces it The Queen Mother’s horse, Gold Coast becomes first End of presenting
Philip embark has the H-bomb. Devon Loch, stumbles African colony to gain debutantes at court;
on a tour of the within feet of the finishing independence as Ghana. the last deb curtsies
Commonwealth. post in the Grand National. to the Queen at
OCTOBER 1957 Holyrood, following
Queen tours North the final Buckingham
America and meets Palace ball in March.
President Eisenhower.
Tea caddy
commemorating
Elizabeth’s visit
to Australia

APRIL 5 APRIL 23, 1956

Sir Anthony Eden becomes Nikita Kruschev, Soviet
PM after Churchill resigns leader, visits the Queen
due to ill health. at Windsor.
MARCH 24 JANUARY 12
AUGUST 14
Death of dowager Queen Elizabeth
Annigoni portrait of the
Queen Mary, age 85. opens the New
Queen draws massive
Zealand parliament.
MAY 29 crowds to the
Conquest of Everest Royal Academy.
by Edmund Hilary
and Tenzing Norgay.

APRIL 15 SEPTEMBER 18
Queen Elizabeth UK annexes Rockall,
and Philip return from a tiny speck of rock in
Commonwealth tour. the Atlantic Ocean, in
order to preempt Soviet
expansion in the region.

OCTOBER 31
Margaret announces
that she will not marry
Peter Townsend.
Elizabeth II’s
Coronation Day

MAY 6 OCTOBER 1956 First televised Christmas JULY 26, 1958

message
English athlete Anglo-French forces, which Commonwealth Games
Roger Bannister had attacked Egypt after it DECEMBER 25, 1957 begin at Cardiff, Wales;
breaks the nationalized the Suez Canal, Queen Elizabeth delivers Charles is named
four-minute are forced to withdraw the first televised Prince of Wales.
mile record. under international Christmas message.
pressure. The debacle
signals the end of Britain’s
imperial pretensions.

Margaret’s doomed
romance in the news

JUNE 2 DECEMBER 31, 1956 APRIL 1959

Coronation of Prince Philip launches Queen Mother and Princess
Queen Elizabeth II at the Duke of Edinburgh Margaret visit Pope John
Westminster Abbey. Awards. XXIII at the Vatican.

JANUARY 10, 1957 JUNE–AUGUST 1959

Harold Macmillan becomes Queen and Prince Philip
Prime Minister after Anthony undertake the longest
Eden’s resignation causes royal visit ever to Canada,
JULY 4 constitutional crisis. partly to open the
End of rationing in UK after St. Lawrence Seaway.
over a decade of privation.

119
 1947–1960

BE F O RE

In 1947, two years after the end

of the war, and in the wake of the
harshest winter in living memory,
The Wedding of
Britain was held fast in the grip of
austerity, with rationing getting
worse rather than improving.

Most goods were rationed, with coupons

Elizabeth and Philip
needed to buy clothing, candy, sugar, Amid the gray austerity of postwar Britain the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to
gasoline, meat, cheese, butter, lard, Philip Mountbatten offered a flash of color and gaiety, triggering a national and
margarine, tea, and soap. Gas was restricted
by law to use for “essential motoring” and global outpouring of celebration... and fascination.
vacationing abroad was banned. Prime

T
Minister Clement Attlee admitted, “I cannot he engagement (see pp.114–15) Spain, the King of Romania, the King
say when we will emerge into easier times.” of Princess Elizabeth to Philip and Queen of Denmark, and the Kings
Mountbatten was announced in of Norway and Iraq. Philip Mountbatten
IN KEEPING WITH THE TIMES July 1947, with the wedding planned had not one but two bachelor parties the
In October 1947, new restrictions came for November. Despite a strong school night before the wedding, while the
into force. The weekly rationing of meat was of thought that the wedding should be King hosted a dance at the palace for
reduced to a single low-key, keeping in mind the dismal visiting royalty, which saw the Duke of
shilling’s worth, state of national finances, the opposing Devonshire assaulted by an Indian rajah
potatoes were faction won out. The royal wedding and the King himself lead a raucous
restricted, and the would be celebrated with royal pomp conga line through the state apartments.
clothing ration was and circumstance, providing, Churchill
cut. While 32 coupons declared, “a flash of color on the hard Like any villager in the Dales
had been available road we have to travel.” But the King On November 20, the princess
earlier, the allowance would bear the bulk of the cost, emerged clothed in a beautiful ivory
for the next five paying for it from the income from the satin dress by Norman Hartnell. Like
months was just Crown Estates. other brides, Elizabeth had been
20 coupons. awarded extra clothing coupons to help
Against this High society her prepare, but unlike the others, she
backdrop, the One minor obstacle was the groom’s was able to rely on extravagant gifts
CLOTHING relatively lack of estate; Philip had abandoned his from family and other sources. Her
RATION BOOK
opulent event Greek and Danish royal tiara was a gift from
planned for the Royal Wedding aroused fierce
resentment. “Any banqueting and display of
wealth at your daughter’s wedding,” the
titles on becoming a
naturalized British
citizen. On the eve of
10,000 The number her grandmother.
of pearls
imported from the US for
Her wedding ring was
crafted from a piece
Camden Town branch of the Amalgamated the ceremony, King Elizabeth’s wedding dress. of gold sent from
Society Of Woodworkers warned the King, “will George VI bestowed Wales. “There is
be an insult to the British people at the present upon him the honorific “His Royal enough for two rings,” she told Philip, The grand cake
time. You would be well advised to order a very Highness” and awarded him the Order of “We can save a piece for Margaret.” The decorations on the wedding cake included the
quiet wedding in keeping with the times.” the Garter. On the wedding morning, he Some 2,000 guests waited to greet coats of arms of both families, monograms of bride
was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of her at Westminster Abbey. Conspicuous and groom, and regimental and naval badges.
Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. The by their absence were Philip’s sisters,
King remarked, “It is a great deal to give tainted by Nazi connections, and the carriage. Elizabeth kept warm with a hot
On the way to the abbey a man all at once, but I know Philip Duke and Duchess of Windsor, who water bottle underneath a rug on her
The wedding procession advances toward Westminster understands his responsibilities.” were not invited (see pp.92–93). The lap and her favorite corgi, Susan,
Abbey. Travelling in the Irish State Coach at the head Wedding guests—an array of surviving service was intended to be as simple alongside her. From there, Philip and
of the procession is Elizabeth, accompanied by her royalty from around the world—stayed and unaffected as that of “any cottager Elizabeth went by train to Winchester,
father dressed in his uniform as Admiral of the Fleet. at Claridge’s, including the Queen of who might be married in some small to spend the first night of their
country church in the Dales this honeymoon at Broadlands, the country
afternoon,” gushed the Archbishop of home of Philip’s uncle Lord
Canterbury. A huge audience listened in Mountbatten.
on radio, and although highlights were After their honeymoon, their first
televised, television set ownership across home would be Windlesham Moor, in
the country was minuscule at that time. Surrey, while they waited for Clarence
Huge crowds surged down the Mall to House to be refurbished (see pp.122–23).
call for the newlyweds, and especially This grand but now rather dilapidated
the King, to come out and greet them. house was near to Buckingham Palace,
allowing the King to keep his daughter
Kept warm by a corgi close. At Windlesham Moor they
At the wedding meal for 150 close sorted through the eclectic array of
friends, the cake, made by McVities about 3,000 gifts they had received,
and Price, was 9 ft (2.74 m) high in four which included 500 cans of pineapple
tiers and weighed 500 lb (227 kg). The from Queensland, a piece of lace made
princess changed into another Hartnell from yarn Gandhi had spun himself,
dress—a pale blue number described as and a rabbit tea cozy, two pieces of soggy
“love in a mist”—and the couple was toast, and a rock from Mt. Snowdon sent
driven to Waterloo Station in an open by an elderly Welshman.

120
THE WEDDING OF ELIZABETH AND PHILIP

“It is a far more

moving thing
to give your
daughter
away than
to be married
yourself.”
KING GEORGE VI, TO THE ARCHBISHOP
OF YORK, NOVEMBER 20, 1947

The newlyweds
Elizabeth and Philip are seen here posing for a
photograph after the wedding. The princess’s ivory
duchess satin dress is embroidered with garlands
of lily heads and white York roses with orange
blossoms and ears of corn.

AFTER

The marriage of Elizabeth and Philip

has withstood the constant scrutiny
and pressures of royal obligations. But
for some time after the wedding, the
focus shifted to Princess Margaret.

SPOTLIGHT ON MARGARET
With Elizabeth now married, public and media
attention soon began to focus on Margaret.
On August 21, 1948, she celebrated her 18th
birthday with an official “coming out”
onto the social scene. For some time now
the spotlight would be on the beautiful
and glamorous young princess and
her prospects for marriage.

ENDURING
PARTNERSHIP
After their wedding,
Philip, in a letter to his
mother-in-law, stated
that Elizabeth “is the
only thing in this
world which is
absolutely real to
me.” Elizabeth and
Philip would go on
SILVER
to celebrate their ANNIVERSARY
silver anniversary STAMP, 1972
and, later, their
golden anniversary. In 2007, they
completed 60 years together, making the
Queen the first British monarch to celebrate
a diamond wedding anniversary
266–67 ❯❯. They celebrated their blue
sapphire—65th—wedding
anniversary in 2012.
In the library
Despite a refurbishment before Prince Charles took
residency, on his insistence many of the contents
in the House are arranged as they were in Queen
Elizabeth’s time, including her books in the library.
 CLARENCE HOUSE

ROYAL RESIDENCE

Clarence House
This elegant Georgian residence is attached to St. James’s Palace and shares its gardens. For
more than 50 years it was the much-loved London home of the Queen Mother. It is now the
official London residence of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

I
n the late Georgian period, London entrance from the Mall (the original Restoration
had become one of the most entrance was from a public road), and After the death of the Queen Mother
influential cities in the world. It replaced the house’s somber crimson in 2002, the house became the official
was, however, smelly, crowded, and damasks with the pale painted residence of Prince Charles and his
disorganized. Determined to create a wallpapers then in vogue. When the sons. It underwent essential renovation
city whose architecture reflected its Duchess died, Queen Victoria’s second and redecoration, though great pains
growing importance on the world stage, son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, were taken by Prince Charles to use
the Prince Regent, later George IV, hired took up residence. After his marriage sustainable materials and to preserve
three architects whose remit was to in 1874 to the Grand Duchess Marie the style and atmosphere created by
transform London. The most inspired of Alexandrovna of Russia, the House his grandmother. Charles’s main
these was John Nash, who created was lavishly renovated, receiving a innovation was the formal, organic
iconic buildings such as Buckingham fourth story and an opulent Orthodox garden, which he designed himself
Palace and Marble Arch, and changed chapel (which no longer exists). in memory of the Queen Mother.
the face of the city forever with grand Headquarters of the British Red Cross It incorporates an ancient pear tree
ceremonial boulevards such as the Mall and Order of St. John of Jerusalem and a black mulberry reputed to have
and Regent Street. during World War Two, Clarence been planted in the time of James I.
One of the buildings he created along House was again refurbished in the
the Mall was Clarence House, built for late 1940s to make it a family home Use today
the Duke of Clarence, who became King for Princess Elizabeth, the Duke of Every year the Prince and the Duchess
William IV on the death of his brother Edinburgh, and the one-year-old receive thousands of official guests
in 1830. A white stucco Classical Charles. They moved to Buckingham from this country and overseas, and
mansion of three stories, it was a far Palace after Elizabeth succeeded to the bring together people from all walks
more restrained and intimate building throne in 1952. of life through seminars and
than Buckingham Palace. William was a receptions. On the initiative of Prince
man who shunned pretension and The Queen Mother Charles, the house and its garden
formality, and on his accession to the In the latter half of the 20th century, are open to the public for one month
throne he decided to remain in Clarence Clarence House became synonymous every summer.
House instead of moving to Buckingham with Queen Elizabeth, the Queen
Palace—simply adding a passage to Mother, who lived there for over 50
connect it with the state apartments of years. She was an enthusiastic hostess House and home
St. James’s Palace for ease of access. of luncheons, evening receptions, and Clarence House is said to have the atmosphere of a
Clarence House later became the afternoon teas; and an avid collector family home, despite its offices for staff and guards
home of Queen Victoria’s mother, and patron of the arts. The house is outside. The Garden Room, which leads out to the
the Duchess of Kent, who added a still decorated with important objects garden, was created by knocking two rooms together
conservatory, created a new private and works of art. to provide a large entertaining space for Queen Elizabeth.

THE GARDEN ROOM’S 1945 PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH SUNDIAL IN THE FORMAL GARDEN GUARD OUTSIDE CLARENCE HOUSE

123
 1947–1960

Born 1921

The Duke of
Edinburgh
“ The Queen
has the quality
of tolerance in
abundance.”
PRINCE PHILIP, 1997

B
orn in a villa named Mon Repos adopted; in the wake of
on the island of Corfu in Greece, anti-German sentiments
Philip was the product of the during World War I,
tangled 19th-century heritage of Philip’s grandfather Prince
European royalty. His family was Louis Battenberg anglicized
of German-Danish background, but his name to Mountbatten
by a quirk of dynastic fate, he was on request of King George V,
born a Prince of Greece as well as and in 1946, Philip followed
Denmark. Philip’s full dynastic name suit. Meanwhile, back in
at this point was Schleswig-Holstein- 1933, just as Adolf Hitler came
Sonderberg-Glucksburg. to power, Philip was sent to
Around the start of the 20th century, school at a castle in Germany.
monarchies were being widely discarded Although some members of his
by nationalist, republican, communist, family—including his sisters—
and fascist movements. When Philip supported the Nazis, Philip had a
was just 18 months old, his father, distinctly antipathetic reaction to their
Prince Andrew of Greece, and his ideology. Along with his inspirational
mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, headmaster, Kurt Hahn, he was chased In uniform
were exiled to Paris and relieved of out of Germany and relocated to Philip, seen here wearing his naval uniform,
their crowns as a result of a coup. This Gordonstoun School in Scotland, had a fairly distinguished naval career. In 1942,
made Philip, in the words of his official where he excelled. at 21 years old, he became one of the youngest
biographer, “nameless, stateless, and first lieutenants in the Royal Navy.
penniless” despite his noble birth. In the navy
Aged 7, Philip was sent to Surrey, As World War II loomed, Philip followed Graduating at the top of his class in
England, to live with his maternal in the footsteps of his illustrious 1940, he embarked on a glittering
relatives, whose name he later Mountbatten relatives by joining the though ultimately short-lived naval
Royal Navy via cadetship at the Royal career. After marrying Elizabeth, Philip
Naval College, Dartmouth. In 1939, went on to take command of a ship of
when George VI and Queen Elizabeth his own, but was forced to give up his
toured the college, Philip was asked to career when the princess became Queen
escort Princess Elizabeth, then only 13 in 1952. Philip bitterly regretted his
years old, and her sister Margaret. Philip retirement from the service—“I’d much
was Elizabeth’s third cousin, since, like rather have stayed in the Navy,
most European royalty, he could trace frankly,” he said in 1992.
his descent back to Queen Victoria.
By royal appointment
The Philip Movement The course of Philip’s life changed
Philip is the object of veneration in one of the world’s forever when he struck up a
strangest religions, the Philip Movement, which emerged romance with young Elizabeth,
in the 1960s on the island of Tanna in the South Pacific. whose soft demeanour concealed
Worshipers regard the prince as a divine being and a core of steel. At the time of
treasure the signed photos he has sent them. the courtship, the young naval

124
 THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

officer had a raffish reputation and Four-in-hand

TIMELINE
a fast sports car to match, and there Philip, along with his groom and navigator,
was both public and royal opposition drives through a water obstacle at the Lowther ■ June 10, 1921 Born in Corfu, Greece.
to the pairing. However, Elizabeth’s Driving Trials in Cumbria in 2005. ■ 1922 Coup d’etat sees Philip’s family exiled
will would not be denied, and Philip to Paris.
soon became His Royal Highness The ■ 1928 Philip is sent to live with the Mountbatten
Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, family in Surrey.
and Baron Greenwich. Today he is the
■ 1933 Goes to Germany to study at a school
longest serving consort in British royal
run by Kurt Hahn.
history, as well as the oldest ever male
member of the British Royal Family. ■ 1934 Joins Hahn at relocated school in
Gordonstoun, Scotland.
Social blunders ■ 1939 Becomes cadet at Royal Naval
Alongside his many years of faithful College, Dartmouth and escorts Elizabeth
service as consort, Philip has also on a royal tour of the institution.
pursued passions of his own. He became ■ 1940 Graduates at the top of his class and is
a skillful carriage driver, helping to awarded the King’s Dirk and a prize for the best
formulate the rules of the sport. He Cadet of his entry.
has also long nurtured an interest in ■ 1940 Joins Royal Navy.
wildlife—both hunting and conserving ■ 1941 Participates in the Battle of Cape
it. This contradiction was illustrated in Matapan and is mentioned in dispatches.
1961, when in the same year that he
■ 1943 Strikes up romance with Elizabeth after
was made president of the new World
watching her in a royal pantomime.
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), he On an official state visit to Papua New can be counterproductive. After the
sparked controversy by shooting Guinea in 1988, he asked a British war, Hahn was eager to extend his ■ 1947 Marries Elizabeth after being created
a tiger in India. Controversy has, student who had trekked across the program across Britain, and Philip Duke of Edinburgh.
in fact, become one of Philip’s country, “You managed not to get helped him achieve his vision. ■ 1947 Posted to Malta.
trademarks, particularly his eaten then?”; after the Royal Variety Philip said, “I could see that ■ 1952 Promoted to commander and given first
propensity for gaffes, or Performance in 1969 he famously some such ‘achievement-based’ command, but retires soon after from service.
social blunders. asked singer Tom Jones, “What do you program, without requiring ■ February 1952 Breaks the news to Elizabeth
gargle with—pebbles?” He later added: membership, might be a valuable that her father is dead.
“It is very difficult to see how it is tool for… the development of young
■ 1956 Founds the DofE award program.
possible to become immensely people… to respond to Hahn’s four
valuable by singing what I major concerns about the
think are the most hideous development of young
songs.” Philip is not, people… the decline of
however, lacking compassion, the decline
in self-awareness: of skills, the decline of
“Dontopedalogy is the physical fitness, and the
science of opening decline of initiative.”
your mouth and The program was
putting your foot launched in 1956, with
in it,” he once told Bronze, Silver, and
the General Dental Gold Awards. To earn
Council, “a science them, boys needed
which I have to achieve targets
practiced for a Philip’s monogram in fields as diverse
good many years.” Popular with European royalty since the as physical fitness,
Victorian era, monograms are used to volunteering, and
Encouraging identify and decorate a person’s items. expeditions. Two years
the youth Philip’s monogram graces everything later, a DofE program
One of Philip’s most from letterheads to handkerchiefs. was introduced for PHILIP ADDRESSES WWF’S SECOND
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS IN 1970
enduring girls. Philip described
contributions to public life has been the development of the program:
his program for young people—the “I put together a group of women, ■ 1961 Becomes president of WWF.
Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award. and asked them to devise a similar ■ 1986 Lands in hot water on state visit to China
The award grew out of the Prince’s program, which they thought after making a remark about “slitty eyes.”
formative experiences with Kurt would be appropriate for girls in the ■ 2001 Steps down as Chairman of DofE
Hahn at Gordonstoun School. Hahn same age groups.” The Awards Award program after successfully managing
had initiated an awards program at the soon went international, operating it for nearly 50 years.
school to encourage young people to in 22 countries by 1966. Today, over ■ 2002 Publishes letters between himself and
set and surpass their own targets for 2 million Awards have been achieved in Diana, Princess of Wales, to refute allegations
physical achievement, in line with his the UK alone, and over 7 million young that their relationship was strained.
philosophy that while physical people from 132 countries have taken ■ 2009 Becomes longest serving royal consort
education is paramount, competition part in the program since 1956. in British history.

“ Prince Philip... has been a constant

■ 2011 Turns 90 and steps down as patron of
over a dozen organizations.

strength and guide.”

QUEEN ELIZABETH, DIAMOND JUBILEE ADDRESS, MARCH 2012

125
 1947–1960

BE F O RE

Public excitement about the

imminent arrival of a royal
baby reached fever pitch in the
The Births of
days before Princess Elizabeth’s
first child was due.

A BUZZ IN THE AIR

Crowds of well-wishers congregated
Charles and Anne
in front of Buckingham Palace as the Within a year of their marriage, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of
delivery day grew near. They were so Edinburgh were celebrating the birth of their first son. In the years
noisy and excited that Elizabeth’s family
became genuinely concerned that the that followed, the couple went on to have another three children.
clamor would disturb the Princess.

I
Her parents suggested that she move to n the spring of 1948, Elizabeth Racecourse in Surrey. The Princess
a quieter room overlooking the gardens and her husband Philip made a duly appeared at the racecourse, and
on the other side of the palace, but she triumphal visit to Paris, greeted by greeted the crowds with good cheer.
refused. Elizabeth insisted, “I want my cheering crowds and prompting French Correspondence flooded in from
baby to be born in my own room, amongst newspapers to declare that it was like all over the world, with an
the things I know.” the Norman Conquest (see pp.16–17) avalanche of cards, gifts,
in reverse, with the English winning and pregnancy advice.
over the French this time. Discerning The buggy that had
observers noted that, despite her borne Elizabeth and

33 The number of
generations in the line
of descent from William the
enthusiasm for Parisian horse racing,
nightclubs, and shops, the young
Princess looked tired and needed
her sister Margaret
as infants was
retrieved from
Conqueror to Prince Charles. frequent rests. storage and
Later that year, Buckingham Palace decorated in gender-
Proud parents confirmed what was widely suspected: neutral yellow, so that,
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh Elizabeth was expecting a child. The said Elizabeth, “No one can
smile for the camera with Prince Charles after announcement was made on Derby guess whether we want
his christening in the Music Room at Buckingham Day, on June 4, when the famous flat a boy or a girl.”
Palace on December 15, 1948. horse race takes place at Epsom Downs
The custom is only a custom
While Elizabeth was nearing full
term, her father’s health was
declining, along with his
grasp of state matters, and
his temper became more
volatile. Both privately and
publicly, the young Princess
was moving to center stage
as her parents were
pushed to the margins. It
was clear that Elizabeth
would soon be Queen,
and the public appetite
for news of her and her
new family was insatiable.
Meanwhile, ministers
and courtiers wrestled with a
thorny issue: the venerable tradition
of ministers attending the birth of
a royal heir. This custom stemmed
from medieval anxieties about the
succession and the provenance
of royal babies. It had served as
a safeguard against plots to
smuggle into the royal birthing
chamber babies who were not the
legitimate offspring of the
monarch, or more precisely,
against the risk that others might
cast aspersions on the legitimacy
of royal heirs. Clearly, this rationale
was now antiquated, along with
the custom itself. Victoria had
modernized it somewhat in the
19th century, by insisting that
her ministers wait outside in the

126
 THE BIRTHS OF CHARLES AND ANNE

AFTER
corridor rather than actually being November, when the Canadian was delivered by Sir William Gilliatt,
present at her bedside while she was High Commissioner mentioned to the royal gynecologist, with the help
in labor. James Chuter Ede, the Home Sir Alan Lascelles, the top courtier in of forceps. Elizabeth was unconscious After becoming Queen, Elizabeth
Secretary, ruled that there was no the Palace, that he was expecting to throughout the labor. As was would go on to have two more
constitutional imperative for him to attend the birth alongside the Home customary at the time, she was given children—becoming the first reigning
attend the birth, writing, “The custom Secretary and other representatives a powerful anesthetic to induce what monarch to have a baby since the
is only a custom… there is no legal of the Dominions. Lascelles realized was known as “twilight sleep,”and birth of Victoria’s youngest daughter
requirement for its continuance.” But that, constitutionally speaking, if one which caused amnesia for the labor Princess Beatrice.
the traditionalist King, along with the of them were to be present, all the itself. Here Elizabeth was following
Queen, felt strongly that the Home others would also be entitled to attend, royal tradition, as her great-great- MORE ROYAL BIRTHS
Secretary should attend the birth. so “there would be no less than seven grandmother Victoria had pioneered On February 19, 1960, Elizabeth gave
The issue came to a head in early ministers sitting in the passage.” This the use of anesthesia in childbirth birth to Andrew Albert Christian
was enough to convince the King that in the 19th century. Edward at Buckingham Palace. She wrote
what he now admitted was an “archaic Philip had been playing squash to a friend: “The baby is adorable, and is
custom” was obsolete. Lascelles was while waiting for the news. He arrived, very good, and putting on weight well. Both
relieved, and he later wrote that he accompanied by the cheers of the the older children are completely riveted by
him, and all in all, he’s going to be terribly

“Prince Charles, as he is to be spoilt by all of us, I’m sure!” Four years later,
on March 10, 1964, the Queen gave birth
to Edward Antony Richard Louis,
named, is an obedient sitter.” also at Buckingham Palace.

CECIL BEATON, PHOTOGRAPHER, DECEMBER 1948

“had long thought that the practice… crowd on the Mall, to meet his new separation because of measles, and less
was out-of-date and ridiculous.” son, who was to be named Charles than 18 months later, Elizabeth and
The Princess’s labor would Philip Arthur George. The choice of Philip celebrated the arrival of their
be a private affair. the name Charles was somewhat second child—a girl.
controversial, given the ill-starred Born at 11:50 a.m. on August 15,
Breach of trust fate of a previous English monarch 1950, the new baby weighed exactly
Just before the baby was due, of that name (see pp.38–39), but 6 lb (2.7 kg). She was named Anne and
Elizabeth made a visit to Marion Elizabeth and Philip liked the sound was given middle names reflecting her
Crawford, her former nanny who of it. When Charles does come to the immediate heritage: Elizabeth after her
had just retired from royal service throne, he may not necessarily take maternal grandmother, the Queen;
after 17 years. In 1948, Crawford the title Charles III, since he could Alice after her paternal grandmother,
left the royal household to set up choose to reign under a different Alice of Battenberg; and Louise after a
house with her husband. At this name, in similar fashion to his great-aunt. The Duke of Edinburgh
time, she and the Princess were still grandfather and great-uncle. toasted her arrival with champagne,
very close, with Elizabeth confiding Charles’s arrival sparked a tidal and after registering her names with
in her that she did not fear childbirth: wave of correspondence from well- the Westminster registrar, was
“After all, it’s what we’re made for.” wishers, and prompted the Princess to presented with his daughter’s identity
Unfortunately, relations between announce that food parcels would be card, ration book, and a bottle of
Crawford and the Royal Family were sent to every child in the country born cod-liver oil. Shortly after Anne’s birth,
soon to turn sour. In a bid to improve on the same day. The baby Prince was her mother wrote “The baby is quite
her finances, the former nanny christened in December the same year. unlike her brother, so it will be
collaborated with journalists on a Not long after this, mother and son interesting to see whom she will take
series of articles for the American had to endure two months of forced after when she is older.”
press that included what today
seem like harmless reminiscences. Blessing the new Princess
To the secretive royals, however, Princess Elizabeth cradles Princess Anne
this was a traitorous breach while Queen Elizabeth holds Prince
of trust. The problem was Charles on the Princess’s christening
compounded when, in 1950, day in October 1950.
Crawford’s memoirs of her time The ceremony was
as royal nanny were issued as a conducted by the
book titled The Little Princesses. All Archbishop of York,
contact with the former nanny was Cyril Forster Garbett.
immediately severed and the breach
was never healed.

Royal births
All this lay in the future, when, at
9:14 p.m. on November 14, 1948, a
baby boy weighing 7 lb 6 oz (3.34 kg)

Grounded childhood
Charles and Anne pose in coats on the Prince’s
fourth birthday. The little Prince and Princess can be
seen in this attire in many other photos from the time.
Their mother insisted on being frugal with clothes at
a time of continued rationing.

127
Their happiest time
For a few months, Elizabeth was able to live a
carefree life as a naval officer’s wife in Malta. The
Duke of Edinburgh’s valet recalled: “They were so
relaxed and free. I think it was their happiest time.”
 1947–1960

Born 1926 public address, to

promote the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital for

Elizabeth II, Children in Hackney,

east London, a
charitable institution
named after her
mother. There she

the Early Years pledged her support

for voluntary traditions
at a time when the
fashion was for
ever-increasing state

“ I declare... that my whole

intervention in welfare.
Thus she launched
what has become a
central feature of the

life, whether it be long or royal project up to the

present day: the role of “good works.”
Currently, the Crown’s patronage
Sticking with tradition
With a passion for stamps running in the Royal Family,

short, shall be devoted list extends to more than 3,000

organizations—the Queen alone has
800. According to British historian
Elizabeth here is going through her collections in 1946.
Her father George VI kept his stamps in blue binders,
while her collection is kept in green books.

to your service.” David Cannadine: “charitable activity

has become the place where the royal
culture of hierarchical condescension,
Commonwealth tour of 1953–54, she
was away from her young children
ELIZABETH II, IN HER SPEECH ON HER 21ST BIRTHDAY, 1947 and the popular culture of social Charles and Anne for more than six
aspiration, have successfully merged.” months. This was followed in 1956
by a three-month period in which her
Learning to be queen Devoted to service husband Philip was absent putting the
King George VI prepares his elder daughter Another early clue to the type of new yacht HMY Britannia through its
Elizabeth for the role of queen. Here he is queen Elizabeth would be, came sea trials, a separation that excited
going through some state papers with in her 21st birthday broadcast to much speculation about their
her in a study at Windsor Castle in 1942. the Empire (see p.107), made in marriage. Moreover, when it came to
1947. Recalling the dedication of her her sister Margaret, and the agonizing
In childhood Elizabeth was third in ancestors, she told the people she, too, choice she faced over marrying Group
line to the throne, but since it was not would be devoted to their service. Duty Captain Peter Townsend (see pp.154–
her father but her uncle David who has become perhaps the overarching 55), the steeliest side of the young
would inherit the crown as Edward VIII, principle of Elizabeth II’s reign, but this Queen’s personality came to the fore.
few could have suspected that she in turn has led to some difficulties in She bluntly refused to support
would ever sit on it. Yet in late 1936 balancing priorities, because alongside Margaret in choosing love over duty.
came the abdication of Edward VIII being the monarch of several nations
(see pp.92–93). “The shock of those and head of the Commonwealth, the A perfect balance
terrible December days was literally Queen has also been a devoted wife, Yet against these examples of a harsh
stunning,” recalled Queen Elizabeth, mother, daughter, and sister. devotion to duty, can be set the
the Queen Mother. Her daughter was The two sides of Elizabeth have overwhelming evidence of her
now destined to become queen. The not always been easily reconciled. devotion to family. The Queen’s
new King George VI was very different For instance, during her epic Christmas message of 1956 (see
in character from his flighty and
self-indulgent brother, David. George
VI and his wife would go on to instill

T
o get a clear picture of the early their values in their daughter. The
years of Elizabeth II’s reign, it is influence of her parents has been
important to know that she was evident throughout her reign in
never intended to rule. Her childhood her approach to the role of monarch,
was sheltered and insular, and she forming her overriding characteristics:
had regular contact with her parents. an exceptional sense of public service
Elizabeth and her sister Margaret lived married to traditional values.
in a little world of their own. In her
1950 book, The Little Princesses, Marion Good works
Crawford—“Crawfie,” the governess Before Elizabeth took the throne
who stewarded the education and would come the drama and challenges
early years of the lives of Elizabeth of World War II, with her own war
and Margaret, recalled that their service and an increasing public
nanny, Clara Wright (known as Alah) profile. In May 1944, Elizabeth gave a
“had entire charge in those days of the
children’s out-of-school lives—their Equestrian love
health, their baths, their clothes— Elizabeth II is really fond of horses. In this
while I had them from 9 to 5. (Alah) photograph, she and the Queen Mother are admiring
had to help her an under-nurse the greatest flat racehorse Sea Bird II winning the
and a nursemaid.” prestigious Epsom Derby in June 1965.

130
 E L I Z A B E T H I I , T H E E A R LY Y E A R S

“ We should remember that in TIMELINE

■ April 21, 1926 Born in London, the first child
spite of all the scientific advances of the Duke and Duchess of York, is named
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.
and great improvements in our ■ 1936 Death of King George V; Edward, Prince
of Wales becomes King Edward VIII; after
material welfare, the family a tumultuous year of controversy over his
politics and personal life, Edward VIII chooses
remains as the focal point to abdicate. Elizabeth’s father becomes
King George VI on December 12.
of our existence.” ■ 1934 First meets Philip Mountbatten.
■ 1944 Becomes a Counsellor of State after
QUEEN ELIZABETH, CHRISTMAS MESSAGE, 1965
turning 18, and, following an act of Parliament
the previous year, can now become ruler
pp.156–57), for instance, included years and was evidently a without a regent.
these touching words in respect of strong feature of her early ■ 1945 Joins Auxiliary Transport Service (ATS) as
her husband’s long absence: “You will reign; when asked what he subaltern and learns to drive and service trucks.
understand me, therefore, when I tell and the Queen talked about
■ November 20, 1947 Marries Philip, who is
you that of all the voices we have at their weekly Tuesday
made Duke of Edinburgh.
heard this afternoon none has given meetings, Winston Churchill
my children and myself greater joy replied: “Racing mostly.” ■ November 14, 1948 Birth of Charles, Elizabeth
than that of my husband.” While they and Philip’s first child.
were still alive, Elizabeth would make ■ August 15, 1950 Birth of Elizabeth’s only
sure to telephone her mother and daughter Anne.
sister every day. Private person ■ 1952 Death of George VI. Elizabeth II lays to
There is a kind of conflict central The Queen places a lot of value rest her father on February 15 and opens
to the persona of the Queen between on her privacy, despite being Parliament for the first time on November 4.
her public face and her private the most famous and possibly
demeanor. In public, she is widely most photographed woman
perceived as reserved and aloof, but in the world. This official
many accounts of her in private paint photograph was released in
a picture of a woman with a robust January 1956 before her
sense of humor. Nigeria tour.
The Queen prefers to focus on
her work. At 7 p.m. every weekday
evening of the year, except Christmas
and Easter Day, she receives a red
despatch box of state papers to go
through, which she needs to read
and sign where necessary.

Racing mostly ROYAL COAT OF ARMS OF THE UK

The Queen has long had an
abiding love of horses and ■ June 2, 1953 Is crowned Queen; later that year
horse racing. She runs a racing she and her husband embark on a six-month
stable of her own and has had tour of the Commonwealth.
many classic winners. This love
■ January 1957 Becomes embroiled in a
dates back to her teenage
constitutional crisis over the leadership of the
Conservative party—when Prime Minister
Anthony Eden had to resign due to the Suez
Crisis. Elizabeth was advised to choose Harold
Macmillan rather than and R A Butler.
■ February 19, 1960 Birth of her second
son, Andrew.
■ March 10, 1964 Birth of her third son, Edward.
■ May 1970 Inaugurates a new tradition of royal
tours on a visit to New Zealand.
■ February 6, 1977 Celebrates her Silver Jubilee.
Celebrations happened throughout the year.
■ 1979 Assassination of Louis Mountbatten
by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on
August 27; the Royal Family is devastated.
■ November 1979 The Queen is embarrassed
by revelations that the keeper of her pictures,
Anthony Blunt, was a Russian spy.

131
 Return of the Queen
The new Queen steps down from a 24-hour flight from
Kenya, arriving at London Airport at dusk on February
7, 1952. Prime Minister Churchill and other statesmen
were waiting to meet her.
Elizabeth
becomes Queen
BE F O RE Elizabeth’s hopes of a few years of low-profile family life were shattered
when the unexpected death of her father propelled her to the throne at
King George VI had long been in the age of just 25.
declining health. His heavy smoking

O
habit lay at the root of a host of ne consequence of the King’s Elizabeth was delighted to accept
serious illnesses. poor health was that the Palace an invitation to stay at the unique
could not countenance foreign Treetops safari lodge near the
FAILING HEALTH tours for the monarch; instead, Sagana Lodge—a house that had
The King suffered from severe artherosclerosis, Princess Elizabeth and her husband been given to the royal couple as
was afflicted with cancer, and had to undergo would deputize for him. In October a wedding present by the Kenyan
a number of operations —one to relieve 1951 they visited Canada and the US, government. The morning after a
nerve pressure that was causing great pain, returning in time to spend Christmas family trip to see the musical South
and in the fall of 1951, when his lung with the King at Sandringham. The Pacific at the Drury Lane Theatre,
cancer had progressed too far, presence of his daughter prompted the King waved Elizabeth and Philip
the King to rally and he was able to goodbye from the tarmac of London
Access all areas
42 The number of
reigning sovereigns
of England since William
go shooting and enjoy the festivities.
Elizabeth had no cause to think
twice about agreeing to undertake
Airport. The Princess would never
see her father again.
Back at Sandringham, the King
Tickets for admission were issued to the funeral of
George VI, which was held at St. George’s Chapel at
the Conqueror. a mammoth six-month tour of the seemed in good spirits. On February Windsor Castle, after a procession had borne the coffin
Commonwealth, starting in February 5 he went out shooting, wearing a through the streets of London to Paddington Station.
an operation to remove a lung. The King 1952, leaving Prince Charles and specially designed electrically heated
himself was not told the lung was cancerous; his baby sister, Anne, in the care of vest, and was able to bag nine hares. watchman saw him adjusting
instead, he believed it was removed because their grandparents. The tour would That evening he was “in tremendous his window around midnight, but
of a bronchial blockage. officially begin in Ceylon (now Sri form and looking so well and happy,” when his servant James Macdonald
Lanka), but would be prefaced with the Queen later recalled. The King took in a cup of tea to wake him at
a romantic stopover in Kenya, where went to bed at 10:30 p.m., and a 7:30 a.m. the next morning, the King

132
 ELIZABETH BECOMES QUEEN

AFTER
Funeral train sovereign of England, at the age of
The Royal Train carried 25 she was the youngest monarch
the King’s body from to accede to the throne since 1837, Although kings and queens are
Norfolk to London. His when Victoria acceded at just 18. referred to without a last name, their
coffin was taken by gun Elizabeth’s full title depends on which royal houses are named. The choice of
carriage to lie in state at realm is involved, but in the UK she surname for the new Queen’s family
Westminster Hall, where would henceforth be styled as Her caused a great deal of dissent.
300,000 people paid Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by
their respects. The train the Grace of God, of the United WHAT’S IN A NAME?
later went to Paddington, Kingdom of Great Britain and On April 9, 1952, Queen Elizabeth II signed an
and then Windsor for Northern Ireland, and of Her other order declaring that “she and her children
George VI’s funeral. Realms and Territories Queen, Head of shall be styled and known as the
the Commonwealth, Defender of the House of Windsor.” This was in accordance
Faith; in Latin: Elizabeth II, Dei Gratia with the strident views of her grandmother,
Britanniarum Regnorumque Suorum Queen Mary, who had asserted that her
Ceterorum Regina, Consortionis Populorum husband had founded the House of Windsor
Princeps, Fidei Defensor. In addition she for all time. Philip protested bitterly,
holds numerous other titles and lamenting, “I am the only man in the country
was dead. “There were jolly jokes something similar: “[Elizabeth] had honors. Examples include: Duke of not allowed to give his name to his children.”
and he went to bed early because he climbed up that ladder as Princess; she Normandy and Lord of Mann; Member Queen Mary, the first queen ever to see her
was convalescing,” reflected Princess was going to have to climb down again grandchild accede to the throne, passed away
Margaret, “Then he wasn’t there any
more.” He had died of a heart attack
early on the morning on February 6.
as Queen.”
Royal aides got wind of the news
of the King’s death from reporters
539 MILLION The number
of subjects and citizens
on Elizabeth II’s accession.
on March 24, 1953 at the age of 85.

Despite the clear warning signs no staying nearby, and furtively tuned
one had actually planned what to into the BBC world service to verify First Class of the Most Esteemed life.” On February 11, the Royal Train
do in the event of the King’s death. the rumors. They learned that Royal Family Order of Brunei; Grand from Wolferton, Norfolk, arrived at
Macdonald told the King’s wife, and Elizabeth had been Queen for at Commander of the Order of the Niger; King’s Cross bearing the body of George
the gamekeepers carried the King’s least five hours, much of which she and Honorary Companion of Honor VI, and was met by members of the
body to the local church, but it was and Philip had spent fishing. Royal with Collar of the National Order of Royal Family. After lying in state at
over an hour before a courtier was equerry Mike Parker broke the news Merit of Malta. Westminster Hall, the coffin was moved
sent to Downing Street to break the to Prince Philip, who responded as Meeting with the accession council to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, where
bad news to the recently reinstalled if the world had collapsed on him. at St. James’s Palace, Elizabeth told the King’s funeral took place on
Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, He saw immediately that the idyll of them, “I pray that God will help me to February 15. The lord chamberlain
a friend of the King. “Bad news?!” their life together had come to an end. discharge worthily the heavy task that snapped his staff of office in two
cried Churchill, flinging aside state Philip in turn told Elizabeth, who took has been laid upon me so early in my and tossed it into the grave. Choosing
henceforth to be known as Queen

“ A fair and youthful figure, Princess, wife, and

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the King’s
wife thanked the world for their
sympathies: “I want you to know how

mother, is heir to our traditions and glories... your concern for me has upheld me in
my sorrow. I commend to you our dear
daughter. Give her your loyalty and
to all our united strength and loyalty.” devotion: in the great and lonely station
to which she has been called she will
WINSTON CHURCHILL, HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEBRUARY 11, 1952 need your protection and your love.”

papers, “The worst! How unimportant the news, he said, “Bravely,

these matters seem.” His private like a queen.” An aide
secretary later found Churchill later found her in her
weeping, and protesting in relation room, “seated at her desk,
to the new Queen that he did not very upright, high color,
know her and she was only a child. no sign of tears.” Asked
under what name she
No sign of tears would rule, she replied
The child in question was at one without hesitation, “My
of the most remote places in the own name, Elizabeth, of
world, in terms of communication. course—what else?” Philip
She had spent a delightful night lay on the sofa with a
filming elephants at the water hole newspaper over his face.
that lay below the branches of the On February 7, Queen
great fig tree in which Treetops sat. Elizabeth II arrived back in
But, as the visitors’ book records, the UK. The 43rd reigning
“For the first time in the history
of the world, a young girl climbed Grieving family
into the tree a Princess and climbed The Queen Mother, Elizabeth, and
down the next day a Queen.” This Margaret—wife and daughters of
has become a well-worn cliché, and George VI—in mourning dress, are on
it is unclear who coined the phrase. their way to attend the King’s funeral.
The new Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Queen Mary was too ill to attend
Pamela Mountbatten, wrote the actual ceremony.

133
 1947–1960

BE F O RE

Three days before the Queen’s first

State Opening, the government was
finalizing her speech. Traditionally,
The Queen in Parliament
the speech was written on goat skin
vellum with ink that took three days
to dry. Once written, it could not
easily be changed. Today sending
the speech to the Palace for approval
and Politics
is still known as “going goat.” One of the first of Elizabeth II’s duties as Queen was to attend the State Opening of Parliament.
Loaded with pomp and pageantry, this event perfectly encapsulates the nature of the British
GUNPOWDER SEARCH
On the morning of the Queen’s first State constitution and the monarch’s vital but precarious part in it.
Opening, the Yeoman of the Guard,
the Queen’s personal bodyguard, performed proroguing or dissolving Parliament, with memories still fresh of the regicide to summon the Commons. This is
a ceremonial sweep of the cellars of and receives weekly briefings on of 1649. Charles I was executed by followed by a great showpiece moment,
the palace—a nod to the Gunpowder parliamentary matters. Parliament after tensions over the in which Black Rod walks to the door of
Plot of 1605 ❮❮ 38–39. constitutional relationship between the House of Commons, which is
The Crown in Parliament King and legislature boiled over into
By far the Queen’s best known and Civil War (see pp.40–41). At modern The Imperial State Crown
most visible role is to attend the annual state openings, the Vice-Chamberlain Originally made for Elizabeth II’s father, this crown

T
he Queen is head of state State Opening of Parliament ceremony, is delivered to Buckingham Palace and is worn on state occasions such as the State Opening
of Britain and several other the ritual that marks the start of a new waits there until the monarch returns. of Parliament. It has three very large stones, and is
realms, and her role at the top parliamentary session. The Queen opens set with 2,868
of a constitutional monarchy is at the Parliament in person, and addresses both The royal regalia diamonds.
same time fundamentally symbolic, Houses with the Queen’s Speech—a While this goes on, the royal regalia
of vital importance, and extremely speech that lays out the legislative are taken from Buckingham Palace
delicate. Simply by being at the top programme of her government over to the Palace of Westminster, to
of the constitutional “pyramid” she the forthcoming session. Neither House be ready and waiting when the
helps to guarantee the rights and can proceed to public business until Queen arrives. Among them are
liberties of all her subjects, yet it is The Queen’s Speech has been read. The the Imperial State Crown, which
essential that she is scrupulously ceremony articulates the delicate but the Queen wears during the
apolitical and visibly remains above time-hardened nature of the British opening ceremony, the Cap
of Maintenance, which was
“ It is Her Majesty’s pleasure that originally the lining for a crown—
given as a gift from the Pope—and
the Sword of State, originally made
they [the Commons] attend for Charles II, which symbolizes justice
and mercy. The crown is taken to the
her immediately in this house.” Robing Room to await the Queen.
The Queen and the Duke of
GENTLEMAN USHER OF THE BLACK ROD TO PARLIAMENT, NOVEMBER 4, 1952 Edinburgh, escorted by the Household
Cavalry, make the 12-minute journey
the political fray. In formal terms, constitution, and the Palace itself between the palaces by State Coach,
she has the right to be consulted, describes this as “the most colorful with the Queen wearing the George IV
to encourage, and to warn her event of the parliamentary year [and] State Diadem. She is greeted with a
ministers via regular audiences with also the most important, because it fanfare by the State Trumpeters, and
the Prime Minister. Her duties include brings together the three elements of the Royal Standard is raised above the Sapphire,
assenting to the passage of laws through the legislature [the House of Commons, Palace of Westminster to signal that linking
Parliament, and consenting to the the House of Lords, and the Queen]. the Queen is in residence. The Queen cross and
fleur-de-lis
debate of bills that affect the Crown. The ceremony therefore represents the proceeds to the Robing Room to put
She also has the responsibility for Crown in Parliament.” on the Imperial State Crown and the
The theater begins before Her Majesty Robe of State. She then moves on to
even leaves Buckingham Palace, where the House of Lords, heralded by another
one of the government’s chief whips fanfare, via a staircase guarded by the
(a Member of Parliament who serves, “staircase party,” a special detachment
for these purposes, in the archaic office of the Household Cavalry, who are the
of Vice-Chamberlain of the Household) only troops allowed to draw swords in
is offered by Parliament as a symbolic the Houses of Parliament.
“hostage,” to guarantee safe return of
the sovereign. This ritual is a holdover White wand and Black Rod
from days when there was a genuine When the Queen reaches the House
edge of jeopardy to relationships of Lords she says “My Lords, pray be
between the monarch and Parliament, seated,” which triggers a sequence
of events in which the Lord Great
En route Chamberlain raises his white wand of
Queen Elizabeth II, en route to her first State Opening office, a signal to the Gentleman Usher
of Parliament, is wearing the George IV State Diadem. of the Black Rod (commonly known
She will change this on arriving at Westminster for the as Black Rod). He serves as the Queen’s Ermine
Imperial State Crown. messenger in Parliament, and it is his job band

134
 T H E Q U E E N I N PA R L I A M E N T A N D P O L I T I C S

First time on film

The 1958 opening marked the first time in history
that the sovereign was photographed reading the
speech from the throne in the House of Lords. It
was also the first time the ceremony was televised.

ceremonially shut in his face, to

symbolize that the House of Commons
is independent of the Crown. Black Rod
knocks three times on the door before
the command “Open the door” is given,
and he is admitted to deliver the Queen’s
summons: “Mr. Speaker: the Queen
commands this honorable house to attend
Her Majesty immediately in the House of
Peers.” The Speaker and Black Rod then
lead the MPs from the Commons to the
Lords to hear the Queen’s Speech.

A fixed point
The Queen’s first State Opening came on watch as she arrived at Westminster. prerogative, choosing between two
November 4, 1952. It was her first major Wearing a specially made parliamentary candidates for his replacement. Informal
state event, attracting large crowds to robe of crimson velvet, decorated with soundings were taken by peers and the
gold lace and lined with ermine, she Queen was advised by Churchill; she
started her first Queen’s Speech with chose Harold Macmillan over R. A.
a tribute to her late father. In 2014, Butler, to the surprise of many. A similar
she attended her 60th opening—a situation arose again in 1963, when the
remarkable record, which has seen Queen was once again advised to pass
her miss just two: in 1959 when over Butler, this time in favor of Alec
pregnant with Prince Andrew, Douglas-Home.
and in 1963 when pregnant with
Prince Edward. During her reign
she has held weekly meetings AFTER
with 12 prime ministers,
outlasted 12 US presidents, and all
the general secretaries of the After the Queen leaves Parliament
Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to return to Buckingham Palace,
witnessed white smoke coming from the Royal Standard is replaced
the Vatican six times, and seen the by the Union Flag over the
building and tearing down of the Berlin Palace of Westminster.
Wall. It is often said that one of the great
values of her role as constitutional THE OUTLAWRIES BILL
monarch is that she offers a fixed point, The parliamentary session begins, but
stable in a world of constant change. instead of immediately moving to debate
Although the Queen is kept thoroughly the Queen’s Speech, both MPs and Lords
informed about government business and introduce in their respective chambers
politics, it is important that she does not what is known as the Outlawries Bill,
Cabochon red get involved in making political decisions. a symbol of the autonomy of both houses
spinel, known When it looks as though she has or from the monarch. Purely ceremonial,
as the “Black
Prince’s Ruby” might, constitutional crisis threatens. the bill is not taken forward and members
Perhaps her greatest constitutional crisis are then able to debate the Queen’s Speech
came in January 1957 when Prime and agree an “Address in Reply to Her
Minister Eden resigned in the wake of Majesty’s Gracious Speech.”
the Suez crisis (see pp.118–19) and the
Queen had to exercise her royal

Prime Minister’s
briefing
The Queen meets with
her Prime Minister once
a week. Here she is
photographed meeting
with Tony Blair in 2002.
Her favorite prime
minister was probably
Winston Churchill—
she even went to
Cushion-shaped Downing Street for
Cullinan II diamond his farewell dinner.

135
 1947–1960

1 ASCOT LANDAU 2 1902 STATE LANDAU

Three gilded cherubs, representing

England, Scotland, and Ireland,
support the Imperial Crown

3 GLASS COACH

One of four tritons, one on

each corner, representing
Britain’s imperial power

All carvings by English

sculptor Joseph Wilton
(1722–1803)

4 GOLD STATE COACH

Panels by Italian
painter Giovanni
Cipriani (1727–85)

Brace, covered with

Morocco leather,
bears weight of coach

136
 CARRIAGES AND COACHES

Gilded crown, carved from

oak from Nelson’s flagship
HMS Victory, is hollow and
5 DIAMOND JUBILEE contains a video camera
STATE COACH to film the crowds

Hydraulic stabilizer
Electric
window
Fasces crowned with a trident, both
symbols of imperial authority, are
carried by each rear triton

Brake

6 AUSTRALIAN STATE COACH

Carriages
and Coaches
More than 100 carriages and coaches, maintained at the Royal Mews at
Buckingham Palace, provide horse-drawn road transportation for the Royal
Family. They are used for weddings, coronations, and royal and state occasions.

1 Ascot Landaus These light carriages—driven by a since George IV. Weighing four tons and pulled by eight
postilion mounted on one of the drawing horses—are used horses, it is the most elaborate and unwieldy of all Royal
each year at the Royal Ascot race meeting. At the wedding coaches. Queen Victoria complained of the “distressing
of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the bridesmaids oscillation” of its ride. 5 Diamond Jubilee State Coach
traveled by Ascot Landau. 2 1902 State Landau This was This was as a private project originally conceived by
Gilded brake
built for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. Since it is Australian W. J. Frecklington to celebrate the Queen’s 80th
open-topped, passengers are clearly visible, making it a birthday. It incorporates historic fragments, including wood
popular choice for Royal Weddings. 3 Glass Coach One of from Sir Isaac Newton’s apple tree and Henry VIII’s warship
the principal state carriages of the British Monarch, it was Mary Rose. It entered service in 2014. 6 Australian State
Ornately carved wheel
built in 1881 and purchased by the Crown for the coronation Coach Designed by Frecklington in 1988 for the Australian
of George V in 1911. 4 Gold State Coach Built in 1762, it Bicentennial, this enclosed coach incorporates contemporary
has been used at the coronation of every British monarch comforts, such as heating and hydraulic stabilizers.

137
Rain on the parade
Representing one of the new Queen’s realms, the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police participate in
the Coronation Day parade on June 2, 1953. Vast
crowds turned out despite the gloomy weather.
 1947–1960

BE F O RE

The coronation dress would reflect

the realms and dominions of the
Crown and Commonwealth, but
the real heavyweight piece of the
Queen’s ensemble would be the
purple Robe of Estate.

FIT FOR A QUEEN

For the coronation the Queen asked Norman
Hartnell to make a white satin dress similar
to her wedding gown. His design incorporated
delicate embroidery of the symbols of the many
different countries of the United Kingdom. The
Queen, mindful of her wider estate, asked him
to include symbols of the Commonwealth:
Canadian maple and New Zealand fern, jute,
cotton, and wheat for Pakistan. Meanwhile,
heroic labor—3,500 hours in total—was
undertaken by a team of 12 seamstresses from
the Royal School of Needlework, stitching 21 ft
(6.5 m) of purple silk velvet to make the Robe of
Estate, which was edged in ermine and
embroidered with gold.

FROM THE ROOF OF THE WORLD

Just as these efforts were about to bear fruit,
a different kind of heroism was played out on
the other side of the world. On the morning
of the coronation, news began to filter
through of a great feat: Tenzing Norgay
and Edmund Hillary had reached the
summit of Everest. “Collectively and acting
in unity the men of the Empire can conquer
everything," observed the Evening Standard,
reflecting on the symbolism of the ascent.

Arrival at the abbey

Ticket to the main event The Queen entered the abbey through a
Lady Godfrey-Faussett was one of the ticket-holders to purpose-built, temporary annex, her train supported
the abbey itself. The guests included prime ministers by six maids of honor under the instruction of the
and heads of state from the Commonwealth and Mistress of Robes, the Duchess of Devonshire.
foreign royalty, both reigning and non-reigning.

140
 T H E C O R O N AT I O N

AFTER

The Coronation The cultural impact of the coronation

was immediate and enduring. The
event helped change the way the
Although the weather was in contrast to the glory of the occasion, nothing could dampen the British consumed their media and
fervor of the crowds lining the processional route nor the enthusiasm of a global audience their chicken, and triggered an
avalanche of memorabilia.
granted access to an event that combined tradition, reverent solemnity, and genuine joy.
MARKING THE OCCASION

B
y 1953 Britain was beginning to Immediately after the coronation, the Queen
emerge from the grip of postwar hosted a luncheon featuring a dish concocted
austerity, and the coronation of especially to mark the occasion. This Rosemary
a new Queen offered a bridge between Hume and Constance Spry recipe—initially
past and future. The ancient and called poulet reine Elizabeth—came to be
solemn traditions of the coronation known as Coronation Chicken. In addition to
ceremony promised to combine with chicken, the dish incorporated curry powder
the excitement and glamour offered and other spices to reflect the culinary
by the youthful monarch, a glorious heritage of the Commonwealth. Other
alchemy to usher in the start of a cultural outpourings included a vast range of
new Elizabethan age. The application celebratory memorabilia, from porcelain
of technology would bring the pomp sets to toy coronation carriages.
and circumstance of the event to
a vast audience with an immediacy BROADCASTING TO THE WORLD
incomprehensible to previous After lunch, the Queen appeared on the balcony
generations, thanks to the eventual at Buckingham Palace, still wearing the Imperial
decision to televise the coronation. State Crown, while RAF aircraft performed a
flypast. That evening she made a radio
Sweet celebration broadcast: “Throughout this memorable
On the day of the coronation, street day I have been uplifted and sustained by the
parties would be held across the land knowledge that your thoughts and prayers were
and civic bodies such as schools and with me. I have been aware all the time that my
churches would mark the occasion. peoples, spread far and wide throughout every
Churchill's enthusiasm for the continent and ocean in the world, were united
coronation was boundless and he favor of it, Churchill, the Archbishop The crowning moment to support me in the task to which I have now
incited his government to plan a lavish of Canterbury, and others were The coronation ceremony began interspersed been dedicated with such solemnity.” She
national party on unprecedented scale opposed. But the televising of with the gleeful chorus of the assembled masses: continued, “Therefore I am sure that this, my
(the cost of the coronation would Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding had set “God save Queen Elizabeth Long live Queen Coronation, is not the symbol of a power and
eventually come in at around £2 a precedent and public clamor was too Elizabeth! May the Queen live forever!” a splendor that are gone but a declaration of
million [$5.6 million]), horrifying civil great to be ignored, so it was agreed our hopes for the future, and for the years I
servants by decreeing that everyone that only the most solemn parts of the Into the abbey may, by God’s Grace and Mercy, be given to
should receive an extra pound of sugar coronation—the anointing and the At 11 a.m. the Queen arrived at the reign and serve you as your Queen.”
in their ration. Sweet rationing would communion—would not be filmed. abbey in the Gold State Coach,
end the day before the coronation, on Over the objections of ministers, it was accompanied by the Duke of TELEVISION REVOLUTION
Churchill’s orders. Perhaps partly in agreed that the ceremony would be Edinburgh in his uniform as Admiral The televising of the coronation helped
recognition of his enthusiasm for the broadcast live on radio and television of the Fleet. She was wearing the accelerate the existing boom in television
event, Churchill was made Knight of around the world and interpreted in George IV State Diadem. St. Edward’s ownership. One notable casualty was a
the Order of the Garter the day before. 44 different languages. Crown, which would be used for the 3-D film of the coronation created
coronation itself, had preceded her by Pathé News, for which there was little

“ The coronation was like into the abbey. At 11:15 a.m. a great
procession of dignitaries, foreign and
appetite at movie theaters.

domestic, clergy, and peers entered the

a phoenix-time.” abbey through the Great West Door,
followed by the Queen with her maids
PRINCESS MARGARET of honor and the Mistress of the
Robes. Once she had reached the altar,
On January 1, 1953, Westminster On the day of the coronation, June 2, a the Queen was seated in the Chair
Abbey was closed for preparations for quarter of the world’s population took of Estate while the coronation props
the coronation. Overseeing the details the day off in celebration. Despite were assembled. She curtsied to
of the ceremony was the Earl Marshal, persistent drizzle, crowds had camped each corner of the congregation.
the Duke of Norfolk (by ancient out overnight along the route of the Now the ceremony could begin
tradition the premier nobleman in procession to secure the best views. (see pp.142–43). After the
the land). His wife stood in for the Carriages, most of them closed, coronation, a procession of
Queen during two major dress brought dignitaries to the abbey to 16,000 people made their way
rehearsals, watched by Elizabeth, who join the 8,000 guests, including the back along the 5 mile (8 km) route
conducted her own rehearsals in the peers of the realm decked out in their to Buckingham Palace, taking two
palace. The major controversy arose ceremonial dress. After the ceremony, hours. Already, film from the cameras
over whether or not the coronation to the delight of the crowd, Queen inside the Abbey was winging its way
should be televised. While Prince Salote Tupou III of Tonga would defy to Canada, where it would begin to be
Philip, Chairman of the Coronation the weather and leave the top of her broadcast within four hours of the CORONATION SOUVENIR CONFECTIONERY TIN
Commission, may well have been in carriage down, wielding a large parasol. end of the ceremony.

141
DECISIVE MOMENT June 2, 1953

The Coronation
Ceremony
In a moving ceremony, replete with ancient traditions, Elizabeth
offered solemn oaths, was anointed with holy oil, and received
the crown of her ancestors. The service was laden with the
physical and metaphorical weight of royal emblems.

As the coronation ceremony moved to its climax, Elizabeth,

having arrived at the altar, was seated on the Chair of Estate, or
the Coronation Chair. She read the coronation oath and took Holy
Communion. The most significant part of the ceremony was the
anointment. Hidden behind a silk canopy, the Queen was daubed
with blessed holy oil, containing oil of orange, rose, musk, cinnamon,
and ambergris—a rare material created in the digestive system of
sperm whales. Traditionally, this oil was drawn from a supply dating
back to previous sovereigns, but preparations for the 1953 coronation
revealed that the last phial had been destroyed in bombing raids on
London during World War II. Unfortunately, the pharmacy that
made the oil had gone out of business, and it looked as though
the recipe might have been lost. But the Coronation Commission
was able to locate perhaps the last man from the pharmacy, an
elderly person who had kept few ounces of the oil as memento,
and he mixed up a batch.
After the annointment, the Queen was dressed in the imperial
vestments and handed the trappings and regalia of state. She put on
a cloth-of-gold robe, called the Supertunica, over the Colobium
Sindonis, a loose linen tunic. She was then presented with the golden
spurs, symbolic of chivalry, and a jeweled sword. These were followed
by the armills (gold bracelets), representing sincerity and wisdom.
Elizabeth then put on the cloth-of-gold Imperial Mantle robe and
received the Sovereign’s Orb and the two scepters: the Scepter with the
Cross, symbolizing temporal power under God, and the Scepter with
the Dove, representing equity and mercy. Finally, she was crowned
with the solid gold St. Edward's Crown, although for the regalia
portrait shown here, it was swapped for the Imperial State Crown.

“ I here present unto you,

Queen Elizabeth, your
undoubted Queen.”
GEOFFREY FISHER, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, DURING
ELIZABETH II'S CORONATION, JUNE 2, 1953

Iconic picture
This famous coronation portrait by photographer Cecil
Beaton was shot inside Buckingham Palace after the
Queen had returned from her coronation service. A painted
backdrop of Henry VII’s Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey
was used to create atmosphere.

143
 1947–1960

Coronation Dress Fleur

de lys

Contemporary fashion and ancient tradition came together at Elizabeth’s

coronation, with dresses created by fashion designer Norman Hartnell, and
robes and regalia by Ede & Ravenscroft, royal tailors since 1689.
1 THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S CORONET
1 The Duke of Edinburgh’s coronet Created by Ede & reflects the white and gold scheme worn by the royal ladies.
Ravenscroft, the coronet consists of a silver gilt circlet with 4 The Halo Tiara Commissioned from Cartier in 1936 by
alternating crosses and fleur de lys, and a cap of ermine- King George VI, the tiara was given to Elizabeth on her Collar of
the Order
fringed crimson velvet, with a gold tassel in the center. 18th birthday. Princess Margaret wore it to the Coronation. of the Garter
2 The Duke of Edinburgh’s uniform with coronation 5 St. Edward’s Crown This crown of gold is studded with
robe An Ede & Ravenscroft creation, the robe was sapphires, tourmalines, amethysts, topazes, and citrines, and
worn over the full dress uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, weighs 41/4 lb (2.23 kg). 6 Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation
including the star, collar, and badge of the Order of the dress and robe Designed by Hartnell, the dress has national
Garter. 3 Princess Margaret’s dress and robe Designed by and Commonwealth floral emblems embroidered on it in
Norman Hartnell, Princess Margaret’s dress is distinctive, yet gold, silver, and pastel-colored silks.

Tiara studded Enameled blue garter with

with 739 brilliant and a red rose alternates with a
149 baton diamonds double gold knot

4 THE HALO TIARA

2 THE DUKE OF
EDINBURGH’S UNIFORM
WITH CORONATION ROBE
Openwork design of
broderie anglaise

Marguerites and roses, embroidered

in silver thread, in reference to the
Princess’s name, Margaret Rose

Robe of purple velvet,

trimmed with ermine

3 PRINCESS MARGARET’S
DRESS AND ROBE

144
 C O R O N AT I O N D R E S S

5 ST. EDWARD’S CROWN

Robe embroidered with wheat ears

and olive branches, representing
peace and prosperity

The neckline, together with the inverted

“V” of the short sleeves, each tier, and
the edge of the skirt, was bordered with
alternating lines of gold bugle beads,
diamantes, and pearls

6 QUEEN ELIZABETH II’S

CORONATION DRESS
FULL VIEW OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II’S AND ROBE
CORONATION ROBE

White satin skirt constructed with a

backing of reinforced cream taffeta to
support the heavy embroidery

Red silk-velvet robe Ermine-trimmed robe of English

trimmed with ermine purple silk-velvet; over 21 ft (6.5 m)
long, with six hidden handles to
make it easier for the maids of
honor to carry
 NORWICH GATES, 1952

ST. MARY MAGDALENE’S CHURCH ANMER HALL SHOOTING PARTY, C.1910

146
 SANDRINGHAM

ROYAL RESIDENCE

Sandringham
The house at Sandringham stands on a 20,000-acre (8,000-ha) estate in an area of outstanding
natural beauty near the coast of Norfolk. It was bought by Queen Victoria in 1862 as a wedding
present for the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, and his new bride, Princess Alexandra.

A
lthough the Sandringham estate English races the St. Leger and the of the estate houses, York Cottage,
included a substantial Georgian Derby in 1896, and Diamond Jubilee, where his happiest times were spent
mansion, it was too small for which won the 1900 Triple Crown. with his grandparents. It was he who
Albert and Alexandra, and they had it The Prince plowed his prize money planted Sandringham’s first apple
demolished. It was replaced in 1870 into the estate, creating a vast walled orchards—the estate is now famous
with a multiple-gable, red-brick, kitchen garden. This has been recently for its apple juices. He also turned a
Jacobean-style country house. revived to produce vegetables for the bomb crater on the estate, created
The facilities were cutting-edge for Sandringham Visitor Center restaurant. during the first German Zeppelin raid
the time, and included gas-lighting, Both Albert and Alexandra were in January 1915, into a duck pond.
flushing toilets, and a shower. passionate about hunting on the Since her father’s death, it has
There were large reception rooms Sandringham estate, so much so been the Queen’s custom to spend
for formal and family occasions, but that in 1901, Albert, now crowned the anniversary privately with her
the everyday living quarters were Edward VII, ordered all the clocks to family on the estate.
modest by comparison. Plenty of space be set half an hour ahead of GMT
was even provided for the family (Greenwich Mean Time), to increase Public viewings
menagerie of dogs, cats, and horses. the amount of daylight at the end Sandringham was first opened to
Sandringham suited Princess of the day in winter for hunting. The the public in 1977. Between April
Alexandra and her five children tradition of “Sandringham Time” and October, when the Royal Family
very well, which compensated in part continued until 1936. is not in residence, several of the
for the long absences and infidelities of In 1932, under George V, a new reception rooms on the ground
her husband. Geographically, it lies in Sandringham tradition was born: he floor are made accessible.
a fascinating part of England. It was made the first live radio broadcast The decoration of the rooms and
once part of Doggerland, the land to the Empire from the house on their furnishings have changed little
bridge that linked Great Britain and Christmas Day. Queen Elizabeth from the time of Queen Alexandra
Scandinavia before the last Ice Age. continued the tradition 20 years later, and Queen Mary, wife of George V.
Its similarities to Princess Alexandra’s but made history again in 1957 when Lavish gifts from members of the
native Denmark are therefore no she invited the nation into the Library Russian and European royal families,
coincidence, and it is perhaps why at Sandringham in the first live who were frequent guests of the
Sandringham House she felt at home here. televised Christmas Day broadcast. royals at Sandringham, are on display,
Dating from 1870, the country house built for In 1886 Edward established the including a Dresden porcelain
Albert, the Prince of Wales, and Princess Alexandra Royal Stud at Sandringham, and Private times chandelier and mirror frame from
was described by their friend Charles Carrington he soon became one of the most For Elizabeth, Sandringham holds Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany. ❯❯
as “the most comfortable house in England.” influential breeders in the country, particular significance. Her father,
producing two legendary racehorses: George VI, was born on the estate and
Persimmon, which won the famous he also died there. He grew up in one

Snapshots from the estate

Owned by the Royal Family for over 150 years,
Sandringham has been a much-loved home to four
British monarchs—and with the move of Prince
William and his young family to Anmer Hall, a new
generation are set to enjoy life on the estate. The
Queen particularly likes to spend Christmas at
Sandringham, and traditionally joins the celebration
at the church of St. Mary Magdalene, within easy reach
of the house. The spectacular wrought- and cast-iron
DAIMLER MAIL PHAETON CAR Norwich Gates designed by Thomas Jekyll were a
wedding gift to the future Edward VII from the County
of Norfolk and City of Norwich. Edward (here seated at
the wheel of the car) was very attached to the estate,
and indulged his love of country pursuits by hosting
regular shooting parties. Today visitors can inspect
vintage royal vehicles at the Sandringham Museum,
and stroll through the grounds, which are home to
over 100 species of bird, including colorful pheasants.

LADY AMHERST’S PHEASANT

147
 1947–1960

❯❯ The walls of these rooms are hung vintage cars, the highlight being the many species of wildlife as possible. After Prince William announced his
with family portraits by the leading Daimler Phaeton bought by Edward With the Prince’s eye always on role with East Anglia’s Air Ambulance
court painters of the time. An VII. He was the first British monarch conservation, more than 5,000 trees in 2014, he and the Duchess of
important collection of oriental arms to own a car—but it is not known and several miles of hedges are planted Cambridge decided to make Anmer
and armor is housed at Sandringham, whether he could drive. each year, and 10 wetland areas have Hall on the Sandringham estate their
brought back from the Far East and Sandringham is run by the Royal been created. family home. The Georgian mansion
India in 1876, the year of Prince Family as a modern estate. When the The estate features 198 acres (80ha) was a wedding present, and a house
Albert’s tour (see pp.72–73) and a Queen acceded to the throne in 1952, of orchards and soft fruits—including William knows well from his
special exhibition of them in the Prince Philip was made responsible the black currants that Sandringham childhood, when it was leased to his
Ballroom is changed every year. for its running, and it is only recently grows for the soft drink brand Ribena. father’s friend Hugh van Cutsem. They
A recent innovation beside the moved in after some refurbishment
“Dear old Sandringham, the place orchards is an experimental organic
black truffle plantation. The ground
and additions, including a conservatory
designed by architect Charles Morris,
I love better than anywhere in conditions at Sandringham are thought
to be ideal for oak and hazel trees
who also did work at Highgrove.

the world.” infected with truffle spores, while it is

hoped that staff at the Sandringham
KING GEORGE V kennels will be able train truffle- Vintage views of Sandringham
hunting dogs. Photographs taken in the 1880s show grand rooms
The estate museum, in the former that the day-to-day management has Sandringham Country Park was at Sandringham, such as the Saloon and the Dining
coach houses and stable block, holds begun to be handed over to Prince first opened to the public in 1968. Room, which were crammed with memorabilia from royal
an extraordinarily diverse collection. Charles. Most of the crops are still An area of woodland and open trips abroad as well as gifts from foreign dignitaries.
George V used the museum to gather farmed conventionally, but there is a heath, it has been enlarged to cover Many of the interiors are lit by natural light streaming
together all his big game trophies from gradual move over to organic farming. 600 acres (240ha) and comes with through bay windows: Queen Mary’s desk, covered with
his other royal residences. There are Practices are designed to encourage as two signed nature trails. family photographs, occupied a bright alcove.

THE DINING ROOM, 1880

THE SALOON, 1882 QUEEN’S MARY’S DESK

148
Frills and flounces
The Principal Drawing Room was photographed for
Country Life in the early 1900s. Ornate plasterwork
on the ceilings, walls, and doors, and the painted
panels, can still be seen by visitors today.
An Anglican abroad
A goodwill ambassador to the Anglican world
outside England, the Queen greets James
Horstead, the Archbishop of West Africa, at
a cathedral in Nigeria, in 1956.
 THE QUEEN AS HEAD OF THE CHURCH

The Queen as Head AFTER

Some experts are questioning the

sustainability of the monarch’s role

of the Church as head of the Church of England,

after the changes in the law in 2011
that made it legal for a royal to
marry a Catholic.

The Queen has always taken her public role as head of the Church of England very FUTURE OF THE QUEEN’S ROLE
seriously. In private she has nurtured an undemonstrative but abiding faith, as well It is now theoretically possible for the heir
to the throne to marry a Catholic. The
as a commitment to ensure freedom of worship for all. political and constitutional reform committee
commented: “The scenario does beg the

A
mong the Queen’s many titles A significant portion of the Queen’s A royal place of worship question of whether it remains appropriate
is that of “Defender of the Faith coronation oath was given over to The 19th-century Crathie Kirk near for the monarch to be required to be in
and Supreme Governor of the asserting this role. Among other Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has communion with the Church of England.”
Church of England,” a role that is things, the Queen swore “to strong connections to Queen Victoria
set out in the Preface to one of the maintain in the United Kingdom and to successive generations of
foundational documents of the Church the Protestant Reformed Religion the Royal Family, who worship
of England, where the monarch is established by law... preserve there when vacationing at
described as “being by God’s inviolably the settlement of Balmoral Castle. I should sign something which will
Ordinance, according to Our just Title, the Church of England... and change the liturgy until at least we’ve
Defender of the Faith and... Supreme government thereof, as by law prayed it through.”
Governor of the Church of England.” established in England” to In a 2012 address at Lambeth Palace,
The Queen also has a role in the the utmost of her power. the Queen gave an impassioned
Church of Scotland. Although she is To the Queen these are not defence of the role and value of the
simply an ordinary member and not merely words, but a spiritual Church of England: “The concept of
supreme governor, she is required charge that she took to her our established Church is occasionally
by the Treaty of Union of 1707 heart. “The sense of misunderstood and, I believe,
spiritual exaltation that commonly underappreciated... It

7 The number of Archbishops

of Canterbury during
Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
radiated from her was
almost tangible to those of us who
stood near her in the abbey,” recalled
believing woman,” relates a story
about the introduction of a new
certainly provides an identity and
spiritual dimension for its own many
adherents. But also, gently and
Dermot Morrah, Arundel Herald version of the Church of England assuredly, the Church of England
to preserve the Church of Scotland. Extraordinary, one of the principal prayer book in 1966. Before she signed has created an environment for other
Her role is central to the status of both organizers of the Coronation in 1953. off on the new version, Elizabeth faith communities and indeed people
these churches as “established The Queen appoints and invests called Woods, saying, “I don’t think of no faith to live freely.”
churches,” which means that they are bishops (on the advice of the prime
regulated by British law. minister and Church Commission),
and bishops and parish priests take
“ … woven into the fabric of this
B E F O RE
an oath of allegiance to the Queen
and need royal authority to resign.
country the Church has helped
Much as with Parliament, the
Queen opens the Synod
to build a better society.”
The monarch’s role (the governing assembly THE QUEEN’S LAMBETH PALACE ADDRESS, 2012
in the Church of of the Church of England),
England is a direct and her assent is required
consequence of for it to pass measures and
Henry VIII’s break canon legislature.
with Rome in the
16th century, which Defending the faith
led to a series of GOLD MEDAL
On a more personal level, the
Parliamentary Acts OF HENRY VIII Queen has a deep and abiding faith.
in the 1530s. Every Sunday, wherever she is,
she attends church, including the
POWER TO THE MONARCHY private royal chapel in Windsor Great
In 1534, Parliament proclaimed Henry the only Park, St. Mary Magdalene at
supreme head of the Church of England, and in Sandringham, and Crathie Kirk at
1559 Parliament decreed an Act of Supremacy, Balmoral. One commentator remarks
declaring that Elizabeth I was the “only that “Her every decision is informed
Supreme Governor of this realm and of all by her faith.” For instance, her former
other her highness’ dominions and countries, Domestic Chaplain Robin Woods, who
as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical things or describes the Queen as “a praying and
causes, as temporal.” The act was to “restore
to the Crown the ancient jurisdiction over the Papal visit
estate ecclesiastical and abolishing all foreign In September 2010, Pope Benedict XVI, on his first visit
powers repugnant to the same.” to the UK, met Queen Elizabeth in Holyroodhouse
in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was received with a Royal
Salute and a Guard of Honor.

151
 1947–1960

Travel and At sea

Captain Alan McNicoll shows Elizabeth
around his ship, HMAS Australia, during her
1954 tour of Australia. This ship was part

State Visits
of the escort for the Royal Yacht carrying
the Queen during the Australian leg of
her coronation world tour.

Elizabeth II is probably one of the most recognizable women on the

planet—partly because she has visited most of it. The Queen’s constant
tours enable her to connect personally with millions of people.

T
he Queen has traveled more (see pp.106–107). In 1951, the princess
widely than any other monarch. and her husband Philip were sent
Her extraordinary history of on a five-week-long, coast-to-coast
official overseas visits dates back to tour of Canada in place of the ailing
1947, when she was still a princess. George VI. However, it was only after
That year, Elizabeth accompanied Elizabeth’s accession (see pp.132–33)
her parents on a tour of Rhodesia and coronation (see pp.140–43) that
(now Zimbabwe) and South Africa, her truly epic travel itinerary began.
where she celebrated her 21st birthday
in Cape Town, with a memorable First Commonwealth tour
radio broadcast to the Commonwealth One of Elizabeth’s first duties as
newly crowned queen was to
undertake a grueling tour of the
Commonwealth that had originally
been planned for her father. She
took off with Philip in 1953, leaving
behind their two young children
for a period of seven months. Her
goal, she said to the people of the
Commonwealth in a Christmas
Day message broadcast from New
Zealand, was “to show
that the crown is not merely an
abstract symbol of our unity, but
a personal and living bond
between you and me."
The highlight of the tour
Commemorative tea caddy was the 1954 royal visit
The Queen's 1954 visit to Australia caused nationwide to Australia, which
excitement. This octagonal tin of tea, with illustrations produced some
of Elizabeth and Philip on opposite sides, was specially extraordinary
produced to commemorate the visit. scenes. In

BE F O RE

The prelude to the Queen’s epic

1953–54 tour of the Commonwealth
was her coronation tour of the British
Isles, including visits to Scotland
and Northern Ireland.

FIRST VISIT TO NORTHERN IRELAND

In July 1953, Elizabeth visited Northern
Ireland for the first time. Accompanied
by Philip, she traveled by train through
the Ulster countryside and along the north
coast. A public holiday was declared, and
cheering crowds thronged to see the Queen.
Conspicuous in the royal entourage was
equerry Peter Townsend, brought
along to put some distance between
him and Margaret 154–55 ❯❯.

152
 T R A V E L A N D S TAT E V I S I T S

Ballarat, in rural Victoria, more than and between the communities within
150,000 people lined the streets to get those two nations; a living testament
a glimpse of the Queen. “We shared to how much in common we have."
in an elevating experience from which
we should all emerge better citizens A royal ambassador
and better Britishers," gushed the For much of her reign, the Queen has
Ballarat Courier—a local newspaper. attended up to 10 official engagements
At Melbourne Cricket Ground (one a day when on tour, working up to 14
of the world’s biggest sports stadiums), hours a day. It is perhaps not surprising,
more than 100,000 children turned given the volume of arrangements and
out to greet Elizabeth. Excitement security involved, that tours take up to
turned to hysteria in other parts of the two years to organize. In recent times,
country: 2,000 people fainted while the Queen's state visits have become
waiting to see the Queen outside shorter and less onerous.
Sydney's town hall, and women and Elizabeth is of remarkable value
children were trampled underfoot as as an ambassador for Britain. A visit
a crowd surged to see the monarch in from the Queen helps the country
Lismore, northern New South Wales. exert influence, spread its culture
It was estimated that some 10 million and values, and advance its economic
Australians—about 70 percent of the objectives. For instance, Reader’s Digest
population—saw the Queen in person The Queen in Africa magazine described the Queen’s
during the visit. Elizabeth is escorted to a dais under a large sunshade 1953–54 Commonwealth tour as
to view a parade at Kumasi Sports Stadium during a “possibly the most ambitious and
Coming home state visit to Ghana in November 1961. The Queen certainly the most successful piece
Elizabeth’s tour of the Commonwealth also visited Sierra Leone and Gambia the same year. of public relations ever attempted."
was scheduled to come to an end in A visit from the Queen carries unique
May 1954. The Royal Yacht Britannia, comprehensive travel plans for the year prestige, due in part to the relative
built in 1953 by the prestigious Clyde ahead, the Queen famously quipped, scarcity of ruling royal families since
shipyards of John Brown & Co. at "Between us, we are going to many World War II. Lord Chalfont, who
a cost of more than £2 million ($5.6 parts of the world. We have no plans frequently served as the Queen’s
million), was enlisted to bring the royal for space travel—at the moment." Minister in Attendance on state visits,
couple home. The yacht would carry noted: “The British monarchy occupies
Prince Charles and Princess Anne to the Historic firsts a unique band in the spectrum of
Mediterranean, where they would During her reign, Elizabeth has visited international diplomacy… [the Queen]
join their parents before sailing back more than 100 nations, and achieved has for most people overseas that
to Britain. The family was reunited many historic firsts. In 1986, she indefinable quality sometimes
on May 1, when became the first described [as] ‘glamour.’"
Elizabeth and Philip
boarded the yacht
at Tobruk, Libya.
43,617 The total

(70,196 kilometers) covered by

reigning British
distance in miles monarch to visit
China, and also AFTER
On May 15, Elizabeth II during her 1953–54 made first state
the Royal Family tour of the Commonwealth. visits to Russia
received a rapturous in October 1994, Accompanied by the Duke of
welcome as they sailed up the Thames Brunei and Malaysia in 1998, and Edinburgh, Elizabeth continues
River. Prime Minister Winston South Korea in 1999. In 1995, the to undertake one or two official
Churchill was also on the yacht, Queen finally went back to South visits abroad each year.
having boarded the previous day at Africa for the first time since 1947,
Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight. The after the end of apartheid. ON BEHALF OF THE QUEEN
twin arms of Tower Bridge were In 2011, Elizabeth became the first In recent times, the Queen has increasingly been
opened to their fullest extent to let British monarch to visit the Republic represented abroad by her family—her
the yacht through, and a huge banner of Ireland (see pp.270–71), making the son, Prince Charles, and grandchildren, Princes
bearing the words "Welcome Home" first visit to southern parts of the island Harry and William 294–95 ❯❯. The newest
ran across the top of the bridge. A since the 1911 tour by her grandfather member of the Royal Family, Prince George,
41-gun salute thundered out from the George V. At a state dinner held in her made his first visit abroad—a three-week tour
Tower of London. After bringing the honor, the Queen reflected on the of Australia and New Zealand 294–95 ❯❯
Queen's first Commonwealth tour to historic import of the occasion, talking at only 8 months old.
a successful conclusion, Britannia went of “the peace and understanding we
on to cover more than a million miles now have between our two nations
in over 44 years of royal service.

Far and wide

The Queen's Commonwealth tour of Her Majesty's Yacht
1953–54 was her longest. Since then, The Royal Yacht Britannia is
she has continued to tour extensively, seen docked alongside the
travelling around 100,000 miles Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
(160,000 km) per year for much of her during Elizabeth’s 1995 historic
reign, making at least one state visit visit to South Africa after the
a year. The rest of the Royal Family abolishment of apartheid,
shares some of the burden with her. or racial segregation. The
In her 1958 Christmas broadcast, yacht was decommissioned
after listing the Royal Family's two years later.

153
Lovers on parade
A photo of young Princess Margaret, inspecting
the troops at a ship launch in 1947, captures royal
equerry Peter Townsend in the background. This
was at the start of their relationship.
 MARGARET’S DOOMED ROMANCE

Margaret’s Doomed Romance

The young Queen Elizabeth’s fledgling rule soon faced a test that pitted changing social
mores against the traditional conservatism of the monarchy, as Princess Margaret considered
marrying a divorcee, Group Captain Peter Townsend.

O
n her 18th birthday, Princess Captain Peter Townsend, a war hero
BEF O RE Margaret enjoyed a glittering whose daring exploits as a pilot during
coming out. Her private life the Battle of Britain were legendary.
would now be the talk of the gossip
Margaret’s first encounter with columns, as commentators speculated Out in the open
Townsend came in February 1944 at over the identity of the most likely The outside world first became aware
Buckingham Palace, when she was 14. suitor for perhaps the most eligible of the relationship between princess
She sat next to Elizabeth, waiting for woman in the world. The general view and equerry in 1953. On the day of
the heroic pilot to pass by en route to was that Margaret ran with a “fast” set: Elizabeth’s coronation (see pp.140–43),
an audience with the King. As the dashing young playboy aristocrats. But Margaret was seen picking a bit of fluff
young airman came in, Elizabeth in truth she merely dallied with them, off Townsend’s uniform, a gesture that
whispered to Margaret: “Bad luck, for her heart had long been set on an spoke volumes. Their relationship
he’s married.” older, more serious figure: Group immediately became a media circus,
with sensational coverage that
ROYAL APPOINTMENT disturbed the Palace greatly. After
After the war Townsend had a nervous Edward VIII’s abdication crisis (see
breakdown, and it was agreed that the pp.90–91), the thought of another For the love of Peter
relatively low-key role of equerry—a personal royal getting involved with a divorcee Headlines from the Daily Mirror, dated
aide to the royals—might suit him. He soon was unacceptable. Various steps were October 19, 1955, give a flavor of the pervasive
became a firm favorite with the King taken to separate the couple. In July media coverage of Margaret’s relationship.
and Queen. Townsend and Margaret were 1953 Margaret was sent to accompany
increasingly thrown together, especially during the Queen Mother on a tour of The final decision
the 1947 tour of South Africa, where they spent Southern Rhodesia (now part of Margaret was faced with a stark choice:
much time in each other’s company and began Zimbabwe), while it had been arranged renounce the marriage, or renounce
to fall in love. In 1950 Townsend was that Townsend would take a new job her royal life. At the end of October,
appointed Deputy Master of the Household, Keeping her distance as the British Air she made her decision
with his own office at Buckingham Palace.
In 1952 he divorced his wife.
Princess Margaret’s visit to the West Indies in
February 1955 was widely seen as an attempt
to put some distance between herself and Peter
Attache in Brussels.
When Margaret
learned that he
£6,000 Annual income and informed
($17,000) that the Archbishop
Margaret would have lost had of Canterbury,
Townsend. It did not work. would have left the she married Townsend. Dr. Geoffrey Fisher.
UK by the time she On October 31, after

“ We were both exhausted… we

returned, she collapsed. The Palace, a meeting with Townsend, she issued
including the Queen herself, were her statement: “I would like it to be
against the match, but when she known that I have decided not to

felt mute and numbed at the reached the age of 25 Margaret would
be able to marry without permission
marry Group Captain Peter Townsend.”
It was signed “Margaret” but had been
from the monarch. written by Peter Townsend.
center of this maelstrom.” Opposition to the marriage
PETER TOWNSEND As Margaret approached her 25th AFTER
birthday, tension mounted. On
October 14, the Palace issued a
statement that no announcement After issuing her statement that she
concerning Princess Margaret’s personal would not marry Townsend, Margaret
future was at present contemplated. was left to nurse her broken heart.
Various constitutional and religious Asked if she had been sacrificed to the
issues seemed to block any prospect institution of monarchy, the Queen’s
of a union. Meanwhile Prime Minister private secretary Martin Charteris
Anthony Eden had told the Queen that replied, “She sacrificed herself.”
any marriage between the two would
not receive parliamentary sanction and LAST FAREWELL
that if it took place, a bill would be set Margaret and Townsend saw one another
out to deprive Princess Margaret of sporadically for a few years afterward. Their
her rights of succession, her title, last meeting, till they met again in the
and her Civil List entitlement. 1990s, came in December 1958. Townsend
came for tea at Clarence House, where the
Hounded by the press Princess was chaperoned by her mother. The
As speculation about their marriage mounted to fever meeting lasted about half an hour and left
pitch, Margaret and Townsend found themselves at the Margaret in tears.
center of a media circus. Here the press wait for them
to leave a dinner party in late October 1955.

155
DECISIVE MOMENT December 25, 1957 3:00 p.m.

The First Televised

Christmas Message
The Christmas broadcast had served to provide a powerful
connection between the monarch and the people since the
1930s. In 1957, Elizabeth II was eager to use the latest
technology to connect even more directly with the public.

On Christmas Day 1932, George V inaugurated one of the most deeply

embedded of British yuletide customs—the royal Christmas message
(see pp.88–89). The message was delivered via radio to millions of
listeners. Elizabeth II continued this tradition, bringing to it her own
love of television. She was a great fan of the new medium: after
returning from her 1954 tour of the Commonwealth, she delayed
appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace until she had finished
watching English actress and singer Gracie Fields in the BBC’s
Welcome Home Ball. By 1960, there were 50 TV sets in the Palace.
The year 1957 would mark the 25th anniversary of the first
Christmas broadcast on radio. Richard Webber, the BBC’s head of
outside broadcasting, recalled: “In television, we were keen to do
everything that radio had done, so we asked the Palace if the Queen
would consider reading the message live on television. She was
a young monarch keen to enter into the spirit of the new era, and
approved of the idea.” The broadcast would be made live from the
Long Library at Sandringham.
Elizabeth went from a single run-through into a live broadcast, in
which she read from the teleprompter. She was filmed throughout by
a single camera, which panned in during the speech. Toward the end
of the broadcast, she was to quote some lines from English writer and
preacher John Bunyan’s Pilgrim's Progress and pick up a book as a
prop. The Queen was the only one to notice that it was the wrong
book, a detail that would not have been apparent to viewers, but she
made sure that the correct volume was fetched from the library.

“ I should seem a rather remote

figure to many of you… But
now at least for a few minutes I
welcome you into the peace
of my own home.”
ELIZABETH II, ROYAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE, 1957

Gathering around to watch

Millions of viewers watched Elizabeth II’s 1957
Christmas message. She struck a chord with her
audience by saying: “My own family often gather
round to watch television as they are this moment,
and that is how I imagine you now.”

157
QUEEN AND
MOTHER
1960–1980

Hybrid tea rose named “Silver Jubilee” in

honor of Elizabeth II’s 25 years on the throne
 1960–1980

QUEEN AND MOTHER

1960–1980
1960 1962 1964 1966 1968
FEBRUARY 3, 1960 MARCH 10, 1964 FEBRUARY DECEMBER 22, 1966 APRIL 20, 1968
British Prime Minister Elizabeth II gives Prince Charles Rhodesia leaves Enoch Powell delivers
Harold Macmillan birth to her third starts his two-term the Commonwealth, his “rivers of blood”
makes his “winds son, Edward. attendance at having illegally declared speech, warning of the
of change” speech Geelong Grammar independence the dangers of increased
to the South African School in Australia. year before. immigration.
parliament, heralding the
decolonization of Africa. SEPTEMBER 27, 1968
US musical Hair opens in
London following repeal
of theater censorship the
previous day.

FEBRUARY 19, 1960 MARCH 27, 1966 MAY 28, 1967 JUNE 21, 1969
Elizabeth II gives Football World Cup Aviator and sailor Francis Royal Family documentary
birth to her second trophy, which was stolen Chichester completes airs on BBC, followed by
son, Andrew. in London, is found by a solo around-the-world a second transmission
dog; England wins World sailing voyage. on ITV a week later.
Cup at Wembley on July
30, 1966.

The Queen with

Prince Andrew and the
baby Prince Edward

MAY 6, 1960 MAY 11, 1962 OCTOBER 15, 1964 OCTOBER 21, 1966 JULY 2, 1967
Princess Margaret 13-year-old Prince Charles The Labour party comes to Aberfan disaster in Wales; The Queen and
marries Antony starts at Gordonstoun power under Harold Wilson. massive mudslide kills 116 Prince Philip visit
Armstrong-Jones, School in Scotland. children and 28 adults as Ottawa for the
later created Earl JANUARY 25, 1965 it buries a school. Canadian centennial.
of Snowdon. AUGUST 6, 1962 Churchill dies, state funeral
Jamaica becomes independent. follows six days later.
OCTOBER 21, 1960
The Queen launches JUNE 1963 JUNE 1965
the UK’s first nuclear Government minister John Queen presents Member of
submarine. Profumo resigns after the Order of the British Empire
involvement in a sex scandal. (MBE) to each of the Beatles. An investiture chair

1960 OCTOBER 1963 JULY 4, 1967 JULY 1, 1969

Elizabeth allows her When Prime Minister Harold England and Wales Investiture of
portrait to be used MacMillan steps down due decriminalize male Charles as Prince
on currency for to ill health, the lack of homosexuality. of Wales at
the first time. a replacement sparks a Caernarfon Castle.
constitutional crisis. The
Queen is
advised to
appoint Alec
Douglas-
Home.

£1 note; SEPTEMBER 20, 1967 AUGUST 1969

design first
issued in 1960 The Queen attends the Northern Ireland riots
launching ceremony of mark climax of year of
the ocean liner Queen escalation of sectarian
Elizabeth II (QE2). and nationalist conflict
known as the Troubles.
MAY 31, 1961
South Africa leaves the NOVEMBER 25, 1963
Commonwealth after other The Duke of Edinburgh
nations reject its apartheid represents the Queen at the
policy and white South funeral of assassinated US Launch of
Africans vote for a republic. president John F Kennedy. the QE2

160
 QUEEN AND MOTHER

Two decades of upheaval and transition at home and abroad former overseas territories, changing social mores at home, and the
brought an era of rapid change to which the Royal Family managed breakdown of her sister’s marriage. The public would get its first
to adapt, even as it expanded, with the Queen, Princess Margaret, intimate look at royal life, while national joy over the Silver Jubilee
and Princess Anne all having children. The Queen would face celebrations would soon be overshadowed by private tragedy as
multiple challenges, including the widespread decolonization of a terrorist atrocity struck close to the heart of the royals.

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978

JUNE 19, 1970 JUNE 5, 1972 JANUARY 1974 JANUARY 21, 1976 1978–1979
Ted Heath becomes Prime Funeral of the Queen’s Miner’s strike forces Prime The Concorde begins Widespread strikes by
Minister after shock victory uncle, Duke of Minister Heath to introduce transatlantic flights. public-sector unions,
for Conservatives. Windsor, formerly three-day week and leads to together with the coldest
Edward VIII. collapse of government and winter in 16 years makes
JULY 1970 general election; this in turn what the papers call “the
Following visits to Fiji, Tonga, results in hung parliament and Winter of Discontent.”
New Zealand, and Australia, fresh elections, returning
Queen Elizabeth tours Canada; Harold Wilson to power.
JULY 25, 1978
the following month Charles
World’s first test-tube baby,
and Anne are guests of
Coin commemorating the Louise Brown, is born in
President Nixon in Washington.
Queen’s Silver Jubilee Oldham, Greater Manchester.

JANUARY 1971 NOVEMBER 20, 1972 JANUARY–JUNE 1976 JUNE 6, 1977 MAY 1979
First Commonwealth The Queen and Prince Cod War between the The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Margaret Thatcher
Heads of Government Philip celebrate UK and Iceland erupts reaches a climax. The becomes Prime Minister.
meeting takes place their silver wedding due to differences over extended celebrations
in Singapore. anniversary. fishing rights. include home and foreign AUGUST 27, 1979
tours, Armada beacon The IRA assassinates
JANUARY 1, 1973 chain, Thanksgiving Service Earl Mountbatten along
1971 The UK joins the at St. Paul’s Cathedral, with three others.
Anne wins the European European Economic nationwide street parties,
Eventing Championship, Community (EEC). Thames River procession,
and later BBC Sports and Jubilee walkway.
Personality of the Year.

FEBRUARY 15, 1971 NOVEMBER 14, MARCH 19, 1976

Decimalization in UK 1973 Princess Margaret and
and Ireland, with Princess Anne her husband, the Earl
introduction of marries Captain of Snowdon, separate.
new money. Mark Phillips. Stamp commemorating
the Queen and the Duke of
Edinburgh’s silver wedding
anniversary

MARCH 20, 1974 SUMMER 1976

Attempt to kidnap A heatwave brings
Princess Anne is foiled. longest drought and
hottest summer on
record for the UK.

NOVEMBER 11, 1975 DECEMBER 31, 1976 JUNE 15, 1977 Mountbatten’s
funeral procession
Governor-General The Prince’s Trust— Gleneagles Agreement
of Australia sparks a Prince Charles’s charity marks the start of sports
constitutional crisis when for young people—is boycott of South Africa.
he fires the Australian officially launched.
prime minister.
NOVEMBER 21, 1979
NOVEMBER 15, 1977 Sir Anthony Blunt, the
Princess Anne gives Queen’s art adviser, is
birth to Peter, her first named as a Soviet spy
child and the Queen’s and the fourth man in
The wedding of Princess
Anne to Captain Mark Phillips first grandchild. the Cambridge spy ring.

161
 1960–1980

The Childhood of the

Princes and Princess
The Queen’s four children are not at all like each other, despite their similar
upbringing. Part of this is probably due to their very different experiences
in childhood, as well as the considerable age gap between them.

F
Mother and children ew families of the postwar the same way as any other mother Royal plaything
Queen Elizabeth with 4-year-old era have had to contend with did. I just think it’s extraordinary This miniature version of an Aston Martin DB5, famous
Andrew and the infant Edward, anything like the level of scrutiny, that anybody could construe that that from the James Bond movies, was presented to Prince
the youngest princes, fascination, adoration, and criticism might not be true.” Andrew in 1966 by the car company. It had rotating
photographed by Cecil that apply to the British Royal Family. license plates and a functional smoke screen.
Beaton in 1964. These unique pressures and influences Charles’s education
have shaped the four children of Charles’s father, Philip, was determined “This [has been] a memorable year
Queen Elizabeth II in different ways. that the little prince should not be for the principality... I have decided
During the childhoods of Charles and spoiled, but toughened up. Part of this to mark it further by an act which will,
Anne, their mother had only recently would be achieved by his education, I hope, give as much pleasure to all
become Queen, a role that she embraced and he was sent to a series of suitable Welshmen as it does to me. I intend
wholeheartedly. She dedicated herself institutions. His first school was Hill to create my son Charles Prince of
to service, the Commonwealth, touring, House, where a 1957 report described Wales today.”
and the daily business of monarchy, him as, “A good, average schoolboy.” Philip had absolutely no doubt
while at the same time deferring to Later that year he became a boarder at that the proper destination for his
her husband in matters of parenting. Cheam School, Headley, Hampshire. son when he turned 13 would be
By the time Andrew and Edward came His parents were eager that he be Gordonstoun, the experimental school
along in 1960 and 1964, the Queen treated like any other schoolboy, but that had done so much to shape his
was older, wiser, more assertive, and, the truth of his unique status would own character. The children at
according to various biographers
and royal journalists, determined
to provide a warmer and more
“ We would like our son and daughter
maternal environment. This, along
with significant innate differences in
to grow up as normally as possible
BE F O RE the siblings in temperament and
so that they will be able to serve you
intellect, and the wide gap in age,

Prince Charles’s earliest years were

meant that Charles would have a very
different experience from his younger
and the Commonwealth faithfully.”
rather lonely and he missed out on brothers, and turn out to be a very ELIZABETH II, CHRISTMAS BROADCAST, 1958
a close maternal relationship, since he different person from them.
saw his parents very little. slip out occasionally, such as the Gordonstoun endured a tough routine
Conflicting views on childhood time when, wanting to write home, of cold showers and cross-country
SOLITARY BIRTHDAY The early years of Charles and, to a he enquired, “I know my mother is runs, intended to build character.
Before Elizabeth acceded to the throne, she lesser extent, Anne were characterized the Queen, but how do I put that Charles described the prospect as
was already leaving her children behind by a degree of emotional distance from on the envelope?” “pretty gruesome,” and, reportedly, he
to go on long overseas tours. When their parents. It is worth noting, In 1958, in a surprise move, the was deeply unhappy during his time
Philip was posted to Malta in 1949, Elizabeth, however, that Princess Anne Queen announced that she was there, despite being made head boy.
unencumbered by little Charles, had enjoyed a vehemently disagrees with Charles’s making her son the Prince of Wales: His stay at Gordonstoun was marked
carefree few months there as an officer’s rather bleak assessment of his by one headline-grabbing
wife. Charles celebrated his third birthday with a mother’s lack of affection. incident when he got in
tea party at Buckingham Palace and a buggy “I’m not going to speak for trouble for ordering a cherry
ride around Green Park, while his parents were anyone else,” Anne told one brandy at the age of 14, at a
away on a tour of Canada. interviewer, “but I simply hotel in Stornaway. While
don’t believe there is any Charles was in Scotland, back
GREETING WITH A HANDSHAKE evidence whatsoever to at Buckingham Palace his
After Elizabeth came to the throne, she threw suggest that she wasn’t future was being mapped out,
herself into the role, and five months after the caring. It just beggars belief. with a 1965 summit to plan
coronation embarked on a tour that saw her We as children may have
separated from her children for not been too demanding, in Bondi beach bum
almost six months. When the children and the sense that we understood Prince Charles, during his 1966 sojourn
Elizabeth were reunited in Tobruk, in Libya, what the limitations were in in Australia, smiles broadly as he is
as the royal couple made their way back to time and the responsibilities fitted with the distinctive bathing
Britain at the end of the tour, she greeted placed on her as monarch... cap of the Sydney Surf Club, worn by
Charles by shaking his hand. but I don’t believe that any lifeguards on Bondi Beach in Sydney.
of us, for a second, thought In this ceremony, he was made an
she didn’t care for us in exactly honorary member of the club.

162
 THE CHILDHOOD OF THE PRINCES AND PRINCESS

his higher education and career—a Guides—with little Anne as a founding School in Ascot before Gordonstoun. Princess Anne
summit to which he was not invited. member. In 1963 Anne went to Edward was born in 1964, and for A portrait of
Soon Prince Charles had become the Benenden School, Kent, to board, the first time, Prince Philip was Princess Anne on
first heir to the throne to sit public and soon fell in love with the world of present at the birth. Edward was a her 19th birthday, by
examinations, winning a place at horse trials and eventing (see pp.186– quiet child who loved listening to photographer Norman
Trinity College, Cambridge. 87), winning her first trials in 1969. Swedish music group ABBA and Parkinson, who also
Irish radio and TV personality Terry photographed her
Private Tutoring Andrew and Edward Wogan. While Andrew went straight on her 21st birthday,
Meanwhile, Anne’s early childhood Prince Charles was big brother to into the navy, Edward was awarded her engagement, and
took place out of the public eye, two little princes, who would follow a place at Jesus College, Cambridge, her wedding.
with private tutoring. Mindful of him to Gordonstoun. Andrew was despite poor exam results, which
the difficulties facing a young princess educated by a governess up to the age sparked accusations of special In their
in terms of meeting other children, of 8, keeping him close to home—a treatment. After university he joined childhood,
her aunt, Princess Margaret, prompted notable departure from the course the Royal Marines as a university cadet Charles was
the formation of a new Buckingham followed with Charles—and then but found the training too arduous a loving older
Palace Brownie Pack—a unit of Girl went to Heatherdown Preparatory and dropped out. brother to Anne, whose tomboy
spirit and no-nonsense pluck he
admired, but to Andrew and Edward
he was a more remote figure, more
like an uncle. Today the relationship
between the royal siblings has
somewhat cooled. According to a
former aide, quoted by the London
Daily Telegraph, in later life, “There
was very little contact between them
actually, save at family gatherings and
events. Communication used to be
dealt with by households—private
secretaries. They were very un-close,
leading independent lives.”

AFTER

Prince Charles retains fond memories

of the time he spent studying in
Australia at the age of 17.

DOWN UNDER
From February to July 1966, he spent two
terms at Timbertop, a remote campus
of Geelong Church of England Grammar
School in Melbourne, Australia. Despite the
fact that Timbertop, too, was tough, it was
an experience the Prince enjoyed
very much, in contrast to his miserable
time at Gordonstoun.

SHREDDED SHEEP
On one field trip to New Guinea, after
seeing examples of the folk art of the Papuan
people, the Prince expressed concern about
pre-industrial societies losing their
traditional ways of life. This experience
gave him an introduction to the study of
anthropology, which may have helped
to foster some of his later concerns and
pursuits. Charles also tried his hand
at sheepshearing, but admitted to the
press, “I made rather a mess of it and left
a somewhat shredded sheep.”

Big brother, little brother

Prince Charles entertains his little brother
Edward, in a scene from the 1969 behind-the-
scenes documentary film Royal Family (see
pp.172–73). Edward is just 5 years old, while
his big brother is nearly 21.

163
Against the Wall
During an 11-day tour of West Germany
in 1965, the Queen and Prince Philip visited
the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz. Vast
crowds turned out to see them.
1960–1980

Born 1948

The Prince
of Wales
“I only take on the most
difficult challenges...
to raise aspirations...”
CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES

P
rince Charles’s full title is His
Royal Highness Prince Charles
Philip Arthur George, Prince of
Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO,
PC, ADC, Earl of Chester, Duke of
Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of
Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the
Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of
Scotland. This may sound as if he is a
bastion of tradition and an archetype
of conservatism, and in many ways he
is, but he also represents a new breed
of royal. Charles is a royal in the classic
tradition of engagement and service,
but with a distinctive and modern
twist. An academic and thoughtful
man, he was the first heir to the
throne to be sent to school, the first
to take public exams, one of the few
to go to university rather than straight
into the military, and the first to get
a degree.

Conservative radical Father and sons

Charles’s abiding concerns for the Prince Charles is seen here with his young sons princes
conservation of traditions and William and Harry at their Kensington home in 1985.
the environment became apparent As adults, the three are said to be very close and share
early in his life. As a teenager several common interests.
attending school in Australia, he wrote
an essay about the threat to traditional technology, he confessed to be “in a
societies in New Guinea, while as an slightly difficult position,” as a result
undergraduate at Cambridge, he of his status. He still straddles uneasily
proposed a telling motion to the the line between personal opinion
university debating society in 1970: and official impartiality.
“This house believes that technological
advance threatens the individuality of Formative influences
man and is becoming his master.” Charles was close to his great-uncle
Expressing concern about the march of Louis Mountbatten, and the pair had
affectionate nicknames for one
Man of contradictions another: “honorary grandfather” and
In character, the Prince of Wales is humorous, “honorary grandson.” Charles had
self-deprecating, intelligent, and passionately engaged never gotten a chance to know his real
with a lot of issues, but also deeply insecure. He is grandfathers—King George VI died
pictured here looking very relaxed during a visit when Charles was 4 years old, and
to Pakistan in 2006. Prince Andrew of Greece and
 THE PRINCE OF WALES

Organic farming methodology is

TIMELINE
just one of a number of hobby horses
for which the Prince is famous. He ■ November 14, 1948 Born Charles Philip
promotes alternative medicine, Arthur George at Buckingham Palace to
especially homeopathy. He famously Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.
admitted to talking to his plants to help ■ November 14, 1951 Celebrates his
them grow. He holds strong views on third birthday without his parents, who
architecture, outspokenly criticizing are in Canada on a royal tour.
buildings he finds distasteful—when he ■ February 6, 1952 King George VI dies; Charles
labeled a proposed National Gallery becomes Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay,
extension “a monstrous carbuncle on Earl of Carrick and Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the
the face of a much-loved and elegant Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.
friend”, the extension was scrapped. ■ June 2, 1953 Attends coronation of his mother.
To further his own taste in architecture,
■ November 7, 1956 Starts school at Hill House
Prince Charles has developed a village
in central London.
at Poundbury in Dorset, with buildings
that follow his architectural principles. ■ July 26, 1958 Charles is created Prince of Wales.
Red Crow marvelous... Fortunately I landed... I
Prince Charles smokes a peace pipe—a ceremonial had visions of myself going round and Forging a new style of monarchy
pipe—during a royal tour of Canada in 1977. During round until eventually the fuel ran out.” With advancing years, the Queen has
the visit, he was given the name “Red Crow,” an As a father, Charles sought to bring up increasingly looked to Charles to serve
Indian Chief of the Kainai tribe. his children very differently from how as a sort of co-monarch. He has moved
he was brought up. He had a strong center stage in guiding royal strategy,
Denmark, passed away four years desire not to create the sense of distance
before Charles was born. He also had a and loneliness he experienced as a child.
difficult relationship with his father.
Mountbatten would later attempt to Hobby horses
matchmake his granddaughter, Amanda Although a military career was not
Knatchbull, into the Royal Family, and for Charles, he did take to farming,
he vigorously promoted the match to particularly appropriate for one of PRINCE OF WALES COAT OF ARMS
Charles. But the young Prince had little Britain’s largest landowners. As Duke ■ May 1, 1962 Starts school at Gordonstoun
in Scotland.
“He has spent an awful lot of his life ■ June 17, 1963 Causes media storm by ordering
cherry brandy at a hotel in Stornoway, Scotland.
searching for a role, but I think ■ February–July 1966 Spends two terms at
Timbertop, a remote annex of Geelong Church
he does now feel fulfilled pursuing of England Grammar School in Australia.
■ October 8, 1967 Starts studying archeology
his various interests.” and physical and social anthropology at Trinity
PENNY JUNOR, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER College, Cambridge.
■ July 1, 1969 Charles is invested as Prince of
interest in being tied down, and would of Cornwall, he owns massive estates Prince’s Foundation Wales at Caernarfon Castle.
continue to be one of the world’s most (see pp.256–57), leading to one Charles speaks at the annual conference of the Prince’s ■ June 23, 1970 Becomes first heir to the throne
eligible bachelors into his 30s. memorable quip from his father, who, Foundation for the Built Environment—now known as to earn a university degree.
At his father’s insistence, Charles on being asked whether he was familiar the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community—in ■ July 29, 1981 Marries Lady Diana Spencer.
pursued a career in every branch of the with the Scilly Isles, remarked, “I think 2010. Charles established the charity in 1986.
■ June 21, 1982 Birth of Prince William.
military, arguably enjoying Royal Air my son owns them.” Charles pursues
Force the most. In January 1969, organic farming, and started the pursuing a “slimming” agenda that ■ September 15, 1984 Birth of Prince Harry.
Charles made his first solo flight, and multimillion-dollar Duchy Originals sees the Royal Family pared down ■ December 9, 1992 Separates from Diana.
later recalled, ”... it was absolutely brand to market his own produce. to a core of his parents and his own ■ August 28, 1996 Divorces Diana.
direct family, moving his siblings and ■ August 31, 1997 Diana dies in a car crash.
DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
their offspring to the margins. Charles
■ November 1998 Charles’s press secretary
himself promises to be a new style of
provokes a furore after an interview in which
CAMILLA monarch, outspoken and an activist,
he suggests that the Prince would like the
but this has raised serious political
Queen to abdicate in his favor.
The Duchess of Cornwall was born Camilla and constitutional issues. These came
to a head in the 2015 court battle ■ April 9, 2005 Marries Camilla Parker Bowles.
Rosemary Shand on July 17, 1947, in
London, into a well-connected, though not over the release of the “black spider” ■ November 2012 During a visit to Dumfries
aristocratic, family. In 1973, she married memos, the letters in the Prince’s House in East Ayrshire, Charles reportedly says,
Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, and had two distinctive spidery handwriting that “Impatient? Me? What a thing to suggest!
children, but they got divorced in 1995. In 2005, he regularly fires off to government Yes, of course I am... I’ll run out of time soon.”
she married Charles in a civil ceremony, followed ministers to argue policy or push an ■ September 20, 2013 Passes the age of 64
by a service of prayer and dedication in St. agenda. “In defining his role as heir years, 10 months, and 5 days to become the
George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, presided apparent,” says Catherine Mayer, his likely holder of the record for oldest person
over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, biographer, “the Prince has signaled to be crowned in British history, when he
followed by a reception hosted by the Queen. a redefinition of the monarchy. eventually succeeds the Queen, surpassing
The Palace also announced that if Prince Some courtiers—and the sovereign William IV, who became king in 1830. Charles
Charles becomes King, Camilla will use the herself—fear that neither the crown is also the longest serving heir apparent.
style HRH Princess Consort. nor its subjects will tolerate the
shock of the new.”

167
DECISIVE MOMENT September 20, 1967

The Launch of the QE2

The construction of the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2)—the mighty
new flagship of the famous Cunard Line—signaled both the
end of one era and the start of a new one. The last great
passenger ship to be built on the Clyde River in Scotland,
it marked the beginning of cruisers replacing liners.

Just a few days before the launch of the shipping company Cunard’s
latest and greatest ocean liner, the previous holder of that title, the
Queen Mary, had made her last transatlantic crossing. This marked
the transition from the old era of pre-aviation passenger shipping
to a new age. In the early 1950s, liners carried over one million
passengers a year across the Atlantic. By 1967, sea traffic had
almost halved to around 600,000 journeys, while the airlines were
carrying more than five million people each year. Accordingly, the
59,000-ton new ship was built to be very different from its
predecessors. It was equipped for cruising as an end in itself, with
nearly 1,000 cabins, restaurants on the upper decks with sea views,
cocktail bars, nightclubs, and a theater. As Sir John Brocklebank,
chairman of Cunard, had announced in 1962, “She must be a top
flight cruise ship... with a concept in advance of any existing ship."
The great mystery to be revealed on the day of the launch was
the name of the vessel, known up to that point simply as Q4. The
presence of the Queen’s sister at the launch led many to conclude
it would be named the Princess Margaret. However, written on the
slip of paper that was handed to the Queen with the name of the ship
on it was simply “Queen Elizabeth." It was she who chose, by the act
of declaring it aloud, that the ship would be known as the Queen
Elizabeth the Second.
The Queen pressed the button to release a bottle of white wine
(which Cunard always uses in preference to champagne) to smash
against the bow. Soon the huge ship began to gather pace down the
slipway, reaching 22 mph (35.4 kph) before entering the water stern-
first and sending a 2-ft- (60-cm-) high wave washing across the Clyde.

“ Like her great predecessors,

the new liner will write
a further chapter in the
history of ocean travel.”
BRITISH PATHÉ NEWSREEL COMMENTATOR, 1967

Ready for launch

The QE2, with its vast bulk of the hull and lower
superstructure, is poised for its launch on September 20,
1967. Thousands of tons of drag chains were used to slow
the mighty ship's descent and prevent her from crashing
into the far bank of the Clyde.

169
 1960–1980

BE F O RE

Charles began studying at Trinity

College, Cambridge, in 1967. As the
day of the investiture approached,
Charles is Invested as
he left Cambridge and went to
Wales to prepare.

LIFE AS A STUDENT
Charles spent his first year at Trinity College,
the Prince of Wales
Cambridge, studying archeology and physical Although Charles had been made Prince of Wales 11 years earlier in 1958 when he was 9 years
and social anthropology. He studied history for old, it was deemed better to wait until he had grown to manhood before unleashing all the
another year and then, in April 1969, left
pomp and pageantry of the investiture ceremony on him.

T
he title of Prince of Wales, who, having slain Llywelyn ap Gruffud, appoint a Welshman, when he actually
traditionally, though not always, the last independent Prince of Wales, meant his preverbal infant son. By
held by the heir to the throne, promised the people of Wales a prince 1301, Edward had indeed invested the
has a long but contentious history. “who spoke not a word of English.” title on his son, the future Edward II.
According to legend, it was Edward I This led them to believe he would This legend extends to the origin of the
motto of the Prince of Wales,
Ich Dien, usually translated as
“I serve.” According to one
Welsh tradition, when Edward I
presented his newborn son
to the Welsh assembly, he
proclaimed in Welsh Eich dyn,
which means “Behold the
man.” The more general belief
is that Ich Dien was the motto
under the plume of John, King
of Bohemia, who was slain by
CHARLES AT CAMBRIDGE IN 1969 the Black Prince—Edward of
Woodstock, Prince of Wales,
Cambridge to study Welsh and the history eldest son of Edward III—at
of the Principality at the University College of Crécy in northern France in
Wales in Aberystwyth, in a move to improve 1346. According to Brewer’s
his appeal to the Welsh public. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,
when the Black Prince
WELSH BLOOD IN HIS VEINS defeated John of Bohemia,
At the time there was considerable he assumed the slain King’s
controversy stirred by Welsh nationalists, motto in a show of modesty,
who questioned the legitimacy of an to indicate that “he served
English Royal being installed as under the king, his father.”
their prince. One newspaper reported
that the Welsh “are sick and tired of having Delayed ceremony
the skeletons of long-dead princes dug up Charles became Prince of
and rattled before them.” Charles responded Wales when he was only
by pointing out that he was “descended 9 years old, and it was felt
three times over from the original that the investiture ceremony
Welsh princes. My grandmother, Queen would be too much for him
Elizabeth, is descended twice over through at that young age. Accordingly
both sides, so I seem to have quite a lot of it was decided to wait until
Welsh blood in me.” Three weeks before the he was older, and so the
investiture, Charles gave a speech in Welsh investiture was planned for
at Aberystwyth, but it failed to dissuade 1969, when he would be
militant Welsh nationalists from staging almost 21 years old.
bomb attacks on government and Caernarfon Castle in North
military buildings. Wales was chosen as a suitably
spectacular backdrop for a
ceremony intended to entertain
and impress. Lord Snowdon,
husband of Princess Margaret,
was appointed Constable of
Caernarfon Castle and given the
task of devising and arranging
Accoutrements of office the ceremony, a job he took
Charles kneels before his mother, the Queen, to receive on with gusto, inventing an
the accoutrements of his new office. He is holding the array of pomp and pageantry.
ceremonial sword and the gold rod, and wearing Snowdon ordered 4,000 chairs
the newly fashioned coronet of Welsh gold. upholstered in bright scarlet

170
 CHARLES BECOMES THE PRINCE OF WALES

Impressive backdrop singers, a very memorable ‘Goon,’

With its tall polygonal towers, and eminent film stars. All these people
sheer scale, and dominating have been inspired in some way by this
presence, the 13th-century heritage.” The mention of a “Goon” is
Caernarfon Castle proved to a reference to Harry Secombe, a Welsh
be the perfect venue for the member of the cast of The Goon Show,
investiture ceremony. an offbeat radio comedy of which
Charles has always been a huge fan.
titles including the In addition to the 4,000 guests at the
Principality of Wales castle and some 90,000 people on
and the Earldom the streets of Caernarfon, the investiture
of Chester. He was was witnessed by a television audience
presented with the of 19 million people in the UK and
accoutrements of his up to 500 million around the world.
new offices, including This is believed to be the largest
a sword, new coronet TV audience ever gained for an
of Welsh gold, mantle, event in Wales. The event was
gold ring, and gold used to market Wales at a time of
rod. In formal response upheaval and change for the Welsh
to the Queen, he economy, and against a backdrop
pledged: “I, Charles, of increasing Welsh nationalism.
Prince of Wales, do A year-long promotional campaign
become your liege man called “Croeso [Welcome] ‘69”
of life and limb and was built around the investiture.
earthly worship
and faith and truth
for the guests—these were later sold bridge on the road from Porthmadog I will bear unto you to live and die AFTER
by the Ministry of Works for £12 ($29) to Caernarfon Castle a month before against all manner of folks.” After
each in an attempt to recover some of the ceremony. This would then be this the Queen led Charles to
the considerable cost of the ceremony. blamed on British security services Queen Eleanor’s Gate overlooking Despite nationalist opposition, the
Snowdon devised for himself as (to what end is unclear). However, the square to present him formally investiture seemed popular with
constable a costume in Lincoln the unlikely scheme was aborted at to the crowd. the Welsh. On the day, a poll in the
green, which he later described as Western Mail newspaper reported
a cross between “a cinema usherette
from the 1950s and the panto “It is with… pride and emotion that 74 percent of people were glad
the investiture was taking place and
character Buttons.” This caused some that Charles would be Prince of Wales.
controversy with the arch-traditionalist
Sir Anthony Wagner, Garter King of
that I have received these STINT WITH DRAMATICS
Arms. Snowdon also modernized other
aspects of the ceremony, introducing symbols of office.” Later that year, Charles returned to Trinity
College, Cambridge, for the final year of his
a transparent plexiglass canopy for the PRINCE CHARLES, IN RESPONSE TO THE LOYAL ADDRESS FROM THE PEOPLE OF WALES degree. A fan of dramatics, Charles
dais where the Prince would be became involved with the college acting
invested, so that TV cameras could the last minute, leaving the British A loyal address from the people of society, memorably appearing during a show
capture the event. security services to cope solely with Wales was read out in Welsh and standing in a garbage can. In November 1969,
homegrown Welsh nationalists. In English by the President of Aberystwyth he turned 21 and came into the colossal
Gunpowder, treason, and plot one incident, two Welsh extremists, University, where Charles had studied income due from his estates as the Duke
The investiture would not have Alwyn Jones and George Taylor, Welsh. The president explained that of Cornwall. He was now one of the
happened at all, had a plot by foreign were killed when the bomb they were the Principality looked forward to most substantial landowners
powers been duly executed. This at carrying exploded prematurely. It is a period when the Prince would in Britain 256–57 ❯❯.
least was the tale of Russian defector believed that they were targeting the associate himself personally with
Major Vasili Mitrokhin, who smuggled railroad line that would bring the royal its tradition and language, its
the information out of archives train to Caernarfon. aspirations and problems. He
in the Soviet Union concluded by stating, “In this
during the 12 years Loyal addresses confidence and hope we greet him
he worked for the On July 1, 1969, however, the and declare our loyalty.” In turn,
KGB (the Soviet event went off without Charles responded in both languages,
foreign intelligence a hitch. Prince telling the crowd: “It is with a certain
service), before Charles was sense of pride and emotion that I have
defecting to Britain invested with received these symbols of office, here
in 1992. It was in this magnificent fortress, where
revealed in 1999 Chairs for sale no one could fail to be stirred by its
that Mitrokhin’s The scarlet chairs atmosphere of time-worn grandeur,
trove of smuggled commissioned for nor where I myself could be unaware
documents outlined the ceremony were of the long history of Wales and its
a fantastical plot emblazoned with determination to remain individual
to disrupt the the triple ostrich and to guard its own particular
investiture. Code- feathers of the Prince heritage—a heritage that dates back
named Operation of Wales crest. The into the mists of ancient British CHARLES GIVES A MOCK WEATHER FORECAST
Edding, the plan chairs, sold off by the history, that has produced many IN A DRAMATIC PRODUCTION
called for the government, are now brave men, princes, poets, bards,
destruction of a valuable collectables. scholars, and, more recently, great

171
INSIGHT June 21, 1969

Royal Family
One of the television events of the postwar era, the
remarkable 1969 behind-the-scenes documentary Royal
Family changed the way the world saw the monarchy
and was subsequently broadcast in 140 countries.

Traditionally, Buckingham Palace had been very wary of the

media, at best keeping them at arm’s length, but Philip, the Duke
of Edinburgh, had long advocated a more open approach for the
Royal Family. He recognized that the ever-increasing clamor for
access would need a higher degree of proficiency in dealing with
the media, especially in the younger royals. He was supported by
a few of the more progressive Palace staff, who recognized that the
monarchy itself might be threatened as young people increasingly
came to see them as irrelevant and old-fashioned.
It was against this background that the idea for a documentary was
planned by the Queen’s new Press Secretary, William Heseltine. In the
wake of the announcement of the forthcoming investiture of Prince
Charles, Heseltine recalled, there was “an unsolicited rush of requests
from the media for... features about the young Prince... The Queen
and Prince Philip decided that a biography of such a young man was
not likely to be a very interesting one.” Instead it was suggested that
a more general documentary would be an “icebreaker.”
Then then BBC Controller David Attenborough worried that a
documentary of the Royal Family would “kill the monarchy” by
“damaging the mystique” upon which it relied. However, the project
went ahead nonetheless, with producer Richard Cawston and his
team following the family at official engagements and in private from
June 1968 to May 1969. The resulting film was first broadcast on
June 21, 1969, when it was watched by an audience of 23 million,
and repeated on commercial television eight days later.

“ A television film
designed to show
something of the role for
which the heir to the
throne was being
educated and prepared...”
WILLIAM HESELTINE, PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

Filming the documentary

The Royal Family, observed by a camera, try to act natural.
Princess Anne looks less enthusiastic than the others. She
later said “I never liked the idea of Royal Family... The
attention which had been brought upon one ever since
one was a child… you just didn’t need any more.”

173
 1960–1980

Born 1950 his interrogation after being arrested,

Ball told the police: “There is one good
thing coming out of this: you will have

The Princess to improve on her protection.”

No titles for children

Princess Anne and her husband went on
to have two children. Peter Mark

Royal Andrew Phillips was born on November

15, 1977, at St. Mary’s Hospital,
Paddington, and christened at a service
conducted in the Music Room of
Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop
of Canterbury on December 22, 1977.

“ Princess Anne … [is] a Wedding portrait

Princess Anne and her future husband Captain
Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips was born
on May 15, 1981, also at St. Mary’s
Hospital. She was christened at Windsor

formidable girl... Mark Phillips, photographed before their wedding,

once again by her favourite photographer
Norman Parkinson.
Castle by the Dean of Windsor on
July 27, 1981. Zara followed her mother
in a highly successful riding career,

She is a challenge.” dashing cavalryman who shared her

love of equine sports—Captain Mark
becoming the Three-Day Event
European Champion in 2005 and
winning the World Championships in
PHOTOGRAPHER NORMAN PARKINSON, 1981 Phillips of the Queen’s Dragoon 2006. On June 13, 1987, the Queen
Guards—they conducted their created Anne Princess Royal, the title
courtship in private for some years. traditionally given to the monarch’s

F
amed for her down-to-earth been particularly closely involved with By early 1973, the news had spread, eldest daughter. However, Anne decided
manner and relentless work ethic, the creation of The Princess Royal’s leading the Palace to issue an official at the start of her children’s lives not to
Anne has achieved success in Trust for Carers, Transaid, and Riders statement on Anne’s behalf in February: burden them with titles, which means
sports, campaigned tirelessly for social for Health. Other significant roles “We are not engaged and there is no that Peter Phillips is the first grandson
causes, and fought to give her children have included being President prospect of an engagement.” However, of a monarch not to have a title.
as normal an upbringing as possible. of the British Olympic Association an engagement was in fact announced
and a UK member of the International just three months later; Mark had
The hardest working royal Olympic Committee, and working on proposed in April at the Badminton
Since Princess Anne embarked on the London Olympics committee. Anne horse trials, and on May 29, the Palace
public life in the late 1960s, she has is often described as “the hardest released the news. Anne insisted that
carved out a distinctive role for herself working royal”: she undertakes over she wanted a quiet wedding, but on
as a tireless and able advocate for 600 official engagements each year, the morning of November 14, 1973,
charity. She has been closely associated both in the UK and overseas. Asked as she rode in the glass coach to
with the Save the Children fund, the what she would have done if she’d not Westminster Abbey, 1,800 guests
presidency of which she accepted in been a princess she said she’d like to waited for her there, and 500 million
1970. In the course of her work for the have been a long-distance truck driver. people watched on television.
organization she has visited more than
70 countries, including Indonesia, Private life Kidnap attempt
China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Like her mother, Princess Anne takes a On March 20, 1974, a dramatic attempt
Malawi, Botswana, and Madagascar. dim view of the public fascination with was made to kidnap the Princess. Four
In addition, she is associated with over and media intrusion into her private people, including protection officers,
200 charities, among which she has life. So when in 1968 she met a were shot by lone gunman Ian Ball, who
then attempted to drag Anne from her
car on the Mall, near Buckingham
Palace. According to the official
investigation: “Ball then came around to
the side of the car, pointed a gun at
Princess Anne, and said, ‘I want you to Save the Children
come with me... because I want £2 Princess Anne at the launch of the International
million ($4.6 million). Will you get out Save the Children campaign. The purpose of the
of the car?’” The Princess replied, “[Not] campaign was to bring attention to the mortality
bloody likely; and I haven’t got £2 of children under 5 years of age.
million.” The conversation went on for
some time. “It was all so infuriating,” the
Princess said. “I nearly lost my temper
with him, but I knew that if I did, I
should hit him and he would shoot me.”
Nearby pedestrians and policemen
intervened to foil the kidnap attempt. In

Kidnap survivors
Anne visits police officer Michael Hills at St. George’s
Hospital in London. Hills was shot in the stomach while
trying to intervene during the attempt to kidnap the
Princess on the Mall.
 T H E P R I N C E S S R O YA L

“[I’m] not everyone’s TIMELINE

idea of a fairy-tale ■ August 15, 1950 Born at Clarence House,

London; baptized Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise

princess.” at Buckingham Palace on October 21.

■ 1962 Has a run-in with French paparazzi while
PRINCESS ANNE on vacation, signaling the start of her spiky
relationship with the press.
Second time around ■ 1963 Joins Benenden School, Kent,
In April 1992, Anne’s first marriage as a boarder.
was dissolved, and in December,
■ 1967 Attends the State Opening of Parliament
she married Commander Timothy for the first time.
Laurence—now Vice Admiral
■ 1968 Meets Lieutenant Mark Phillips of the
Laurence—of the Royal Navy in
Queen’s Dragoon Guards at a party to
a private ceremony at Crathie
celebrate Britain’s gold medal for eventing
Church (see pp.150–51), near
at the Mexico Olympics.
Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The Church of England forbids ■ May 1969 Accompanies the Queen and the
Duke of Edinburgh to Austria; this is her first
the remarriage of divorcees, so
state visit.
Anne’s second marriage was
under the auspices of the Church ■ June 21, 1969 The documentary Royal Family
of Scotland. She was the first airs—Princess Anne has strong reservations
British Royal since Henry VIII to about it.
divorce and remarry (see pp.28–29). ■ 1970 Becomes President of the Save the
Children fund.
■ September 4, 1971 Wins the individual title
at the European Championship 3-day event,
Fantastic in fur and is voted the BBC’s Sports Personality
In this photograph of Princess Anne, of the Year (see pp.186–87).
taken by Norman Parkinson for Vogue ■ May 29, 1973 Buckingham Palace
magazine in 1973, she is wearing announces Anne’s engagement to
white fur and the Festoon Tiara, a gift Lieutenant Mark Phillips.
from the World Wide Shipping Group. ■ November 14, 1973 Marries Captain Mark
Phillips in the “wedding of the decade.”
■ March 20, 1974 Ian Ball attempts to kidnap the
Princess, shooting four people in the process.
■ 1975 Wins a silver medal in the individual
and team events at the European
Eventing Championship.
■ July 1976 Competes in the Montreal Olympics
as part of the British equestrian team.
■ November 15, 1977 Birth of Peter Phillips.
■ May 15, 1981 Birth of Zara Phillips.
■ June 13, 1987 The Queen creates Anne the
Princess Royal.
■ 1989 Announces separation from Mark Phillips.
■ April 1992 Divorces Mark Phillips.
■ December 12, 1992 Anne marries Commander
Timothy Laurence of the Royal Navy.

WEDDING OF ANNE AND TIMOTHY LAURENCE

■ May 17, 2008 Peter Phillips marries

Miss Autumn Kelly.
■ July 30, 2011 Zara Phillips marries England
rugby player Mike Tindall.

175
 DECISIVE MOMENT 1970

The Royal Tour

Today it seems the most natural thing in the world for any
royal visit to be marked by an informal meet and greet
with a crowd of well-wishers. However, when Elizabeth II
first went “walkabout” in New Zealand in 1970, it signalled
a radical break with centuries of tradition.

Elizabeth II's 1970 visit to New Zealand and Australia was particularly
notable for inaugurating what has now become an integral royal
tradition—the “walkabout,” an event where royals meet and greet
crowds in person. In fact, the first royal walkabout was arguably not
Elizabeth's, but one led by her father and mother in Canada in 1939.
On May 21 of that year, they charmed the Canadian people when,
after unveiling the national war memorial in Ottawa, they plunged
into a crowd of over 6,000 veterans and spent 30 minutes interacting
with them in person. Lord Tweedsmuir, Canada's governor general,
related how: "One old fellow said to me, 'Aye, man if Hitler could just
see this.’ It was wonderful proof of what a people's King means.”
The official story of Elizabeth II's walkabout in New Zealand was
that the Queen spontaneously broke protocol when she spied a group
of schoolchildren waiting to greet her. However, the walkabout was
in fact far from impromptu. "It didn't happen by accident," admitted
William Heseltine, who had just been appointed the new press
secretary to the Queen. "We were thinking, 'How can we make this
a bit different so it's not just a repeat of the rather anticlimactic visit
in 1963?' Out of our deliberations came the idea of closer contact
with the public at large—who'd mostly been the recipients of little
more than a wave or smile—rather than just mayors, councillors,
and politicians.”
Back home in England, the Queen did her first walkabout in
Coventry, and it was a huge success. A new royal tradition had
been born, and soon politicians were emulating it, and have
done so ever since.

“ The most important thing

of all was that it got a name—
‘ the walkabout’… it had
a romantic aura…”
WILLIAM HESELTINE, PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

Breaking traditions
The Queen, with her trademark bag on her arm,
goes "walkabout" among a crowd of schoolchildren
in New Zealand in 1970. The choice of a bright primary
color for her dress is very deliberate, as the Queen has
always believed that part of her role is to be visible.

176
Full kilt
This Royal Family portrait—taken in 1972, on their
annual summer vacation at Balmoral—is part of a
series to mark the silver wedding anniversary of
the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
 1960–1980

BE F O RE

In 1976, Charles spent nearly 10

months in command of minesweeper
HMS Bronington, following a
The Prince’s Trust
lieutenant’s course at the Royal In the early 1970s a young, idealistic prince saw the opportunity to make a real, sustained
Naval College, Greenwich. difference to the lives of young people who had not enjoyed similar advantages to his own.
RETIRING FROM MILITARY SERVICE He set up the Prince’s Trust and, 40 years on, it is still changing lives.
In December, Charles retired from active

I
military service, although he continued n 1972 a young Prince Charles a meeting. Pratt later recalled how of young offenders go camping in the
to be promoted in all three branches of the heard something on the radio that he “met this young, enthusiastic, and Peak District, Derbyshire, Charles paid
armed forces. By 2006 he was an Admiral in grabbed his attention. On BBC idealistic person.” Charles told him for their train fares and sent camping
the Royal Navy, General in the Army, and Air Radio 4’s Today program, he listened that he wanted to do something to equipment that he had borrowed from
Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force. to an interview with George Pratt, the help young people like those Pratt the Armed Forces.
second-ranked probation officer in had talked about.
London, talking about the challenges At this point the Prince was still Birth of the Trust
facing troubled youngsters. Prince serving in the navy, and he started This went on for some time with
Charles believed firmly that it was off on a small scale, channeling his Charles remaining incognito but,
his duty to help those less fortunate efforts through Pratt, who put the eventually, the Prince was encouraged
than he was. He also had a strong word out for funding applications. to come out of the shadows when
sympathy for people of his own These applications would be sent in a it was suggested to him that his public
generation who needed support and diplomatic bag to the Prince, wherever involvement would help raise the
to believe in themselves. he was stationed. Charles would read
nearly every one, and where he Keeping it real
Enthusiastic and idealistic thought he could help, he would Prince Charles poses for a photograph with local young
IN CHARGE ON HMS BRONINGTON Not long after the radio broadcast, disburse, via Pratt, anonymous small people who take part in the Prince’s Trust activities
Pratt received a phone call from the gifts of cash and equipment. On one during a visit to Surrey County Cricket Club. The
Prince’s private secretary to arrange occasion, for instance, to help a group Trust helps over 100 young people a day.
 THE PRINCE’S TRUST

AFTER
profile of the program. Accordingly, to young people. And he really cares
in December 1976, Charles formally about making a difference to them.
launched the Prince’s Trust. Looking You talk to young people—somehow In 2006 the Trust turned 30, and
back in 2013, Charles explained, they understand it, because he has to celebrate a special 30th Birthday
“The belief that every young person been the one person over the last 37 concert took place at the Tower
deserves a chance to succeed, no years that has consistently stood up of London, together with a
matter what their background, led for them.” Charles himself reflects: documentary, The Prince of Wales: Up
me to set up the Prince’s Trust back “You can see how it is possible to turn Close, and a three-hour live televised
in 1976.” The Trust started with 21 pilot young people’s lives around and give event featuring an interview with all
projects around the UK. Examples them self-confidence, self-worth, and three princes—Prince Charles, Prince
included a grant for a 19-year-old self-esteem.” William, and Prince Harry.
woman to run a social center for the
Haggerston Housing Estate (a housing Success stories TECH SAVVY
project) in east London; a grant for two Among all the statistics of the Trust’s In 2009 the Trust launched its new website,
ex-offenders to start a fishing club; funds Three feathers good work, individual success stories achieving over five million page views that
to rent swimming pools in Cornwall to The logo of the Prince’s Trust is based on the Prince stand out. Arnold Sebutinde was sent year. It also embraced the social media
train young lifeguards; and money to set of Wales’s badge, specifically the insignia of the to jail at the age of 22 and faced a age by launching a Twitter account.
up a self-help bicycle repair program. three ostrich feathers, which comes from the “shield difficult path when he was released.
Since these modest beginnings, the of peace” of the Black Prince in the 14th century. He recalls, “I’d seen a television report RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT
Prince’s Trust has flourished, becoming about how the Trust supports young When it was established in 1976 the Trust
one of the most important charities young people—a program to help people, but I was worried it might awarded £7,417 ($14,800) in grants. By
in Britain. Part of its success has been young people put together the turn me away as soon as I mentioned 1977 that had risen to £30,000 ($51,000) a
due to its fund-raising ability, with a business model and initial funding my criminal record. Instead, they year, and by 2013 an amazing £47 million
to start their own businesses. Within invited me to join their Enterprise ($94 million) a year, with two-thirds of that

750,000 The number

of young
people helped directly by the
three years, 1,000 businesses were
trading, and 80 percent survived the
first year of existence (a high success
program.” Workshops, a loan,
and a business mentor helped him to
start a successful business capitalizing
coming from donations and fund-raising. This
money has a huge impact on the young
people supported by the Prince’s Trust. It has
Prince’s Trust since 1976. rate compared to normal start-ups). on his artistic talent. “The Trust was helped 750,000 young people since 1976
Since the launch of the start-up there for me at a time of greatest need and supports over 100 more each day; in
particular emphasis on using rock program, the Prince’s Trust has helped and has opened so many doors for 2014, for instance, the charity supported 58,000
music to raise money. In 1982 the more than 80,000 young people set me.” Arnold has since been invited to vulnerable young people across the UK.
Trust held its first fund-raising concert, up a business. Clarence House as a Trust ambassador,
with Status Quo. The same year the

“Every young person deserves a

first Prince’s Trust Rock Gala was
held at the Dominion Theatre on A higher-profile Trust alumnus is
London’s Tottenham Court Road, Hollywood star Idris Elba, who was
featuring Madness, Joan Armatrading,
Phil Collins, Kate Bush, and Pete chance to succeed, no matter only able to attend theatre school
thanks to a grant from the Prince’s
Townshend. In 1996 the Trust held a Trust. “It was the Prince’s Trust that
huge rock concert in Hyde Park—the
first one allowed there in over 20 years.
what their background...” made it possible,” he says. “It was
a life-changing experience for me
PRINCE CHARLES, 2013 and taught me the importance of
Milestones charity—of being there for people
In 1983 a key platform of the Trust In 1998, the Trust marked the Prince’s and reflects, “I’ve gone from being when they need it most.”
was launched with the business 50th birthday year with a £40 million the guy whom society didn’t think
start-up program for unemployed ($64 million) appeal. This amount was was safe to walk our streets to being Investing in the future
matched by the government to raise a a guest at one of our finest palaces. Prince Charles spoke on the subject of “Invest in Futures”
DECISIVE MOMENT total of £80 million ($128 million). In I’m proof that with the right help at the Prince’s Trust Gala in February 2013. In 2007, a
1999 a reorganization saw various Trust you can make it back from the brink. £20 million ($30 million) loan was taken out from his
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY? charities brought under one umbrella That is what the Prince’s Trust has foundation for the purchase of Dumfries House, Ayrshire,
as the Prince’s Trust, and the Queen done for me.” for the nation. This loan was repaid in full by 2012.
In 2010, senior officials at Clarence granted the Trust a Royal Charter,
House, the Prince of Wales’s household generally regarded as the stamp of
from where his many different interests approval of a stable and successful
and charities are supervised, were institution embedded in public life. In
engaged in a massive reorganization 2000 the organizational structure of the
of the Trust. This was primarily intended Trust changed, with the introduction of a
to consolidate all the different offices director and council for each region. By
under a single roof in one of the 2001 the total number of young people
redeveloped railroad sheds at King’s helped in some way by the Trust reached
Cross, London. Up to £200,000 400,000, and in 2003 the 10,000th
($300,000) was spent on architects’ Development Award was made.
plans, and an offer was made on the
property, but the plan fell through. Standing up for young people
According to one biographer, the The personal involvement of the Prince
journalist Catherine Mayer, this was makes a real difference to the work of
because “internal conflicts [at Clarence the charity. Martina Milburn, the chief
House] scuppered the plan after it was executive of the Trust, explains, “I’ve
already significantly advanced.” sat with him in prisons, I’ve sat with
him on sink estates, I’ve sat with him
in classrooms when he’s been talking

181
 Meeting the people

The Silver Jubilee The Queen on a royal walkabout in Camberwell,

South London, greeting well-wishers young and
old, all brandishing flags, during her Silver Jubilee
year, in June 1977.

As with her coronation in 1953, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee offered the nation a
chance to forget gloomy headlines and enjoy a day of national celebration, with
street parties being held across the land.

BE F O RE
A
s the Queen’s reign approached value of sterling plunged. Just as at the around the Commonwealth. On
its jubilee year, she might have time of the coronation, the approaching February 10,she embarked on a
been forgiven for wondering Silver Jubilee was seen as a chance to world tour, starting in Fiji.
Five years before the Jubilee festival, whether things had improved much distract the nation from its misery. On May 4, the Queen received a loyal
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip since the start of her rule, a time of address from both Houses of Parliament,
celebrated another royal milestone: rationing, bitter winters, and grim Theme of unity and in her controversial, forthright, and
their silver wedding anniversary. economic news. The notorious “winter The celebrations began on February 6, heartfelt reply she ignored her advisers’
of discontent” was just a couple of 1977, the anniversary of the Queen’s counsel to avoid addressing the topic of
SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY years away, and Britain was riven with accession to the throne. The palace the possible breakup of the Union.
To commemorate the Queen and Prince recession, civil strife, and the looming and the government together Making direct reference to those
Philip’s silver wedding anniversary, a special 25 prospect of the weakening or breakup had planned an ambitious agitating for devolved
pence coin was minted, and a thanksgiving of the Union in the face of imminent series of events and tours
service was held at Westminster Abbey. In her devolution referenda. There were for the jubilee year. The Commemorative coin
Christmas message for the year, the Queen strikes, the oil crisis, the three-day Queen declared that This coin is unique in featuring no
spoke of how, “My whole family has been week, runaway inflation and, by unity was the theme inscription or date on the reverse.
deeply touched by the affection you have shown 1977, mass unemployment. The UK of the Jubilee, and that Vast numbers were minted and
to us when we celebrated our silver wedding…” was in such dire economic straits that she wanted to be seen by issued for the Jubilee, and despite
the country had to get a loan from the as many of her subjects as its size the coin only had a face
International Monetary Fund after the possible, both in the UK and value of 25 pence.

182
 T H E S I LV E R J U B I L E E

“ The cheerful crowd was

symbolic of... people who
greeted us wherever we
went this Jubilee year.”
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, CHRISTMAS MESSAGE, 1977

national assemblies, she told the biggest crowds ever seen there, and
combined Houses of Parliament: “I continued to draw vast numbers
number Kings and Queens of England wherever she went. In Lancashire, After the service, at a Corporation of Family affair
and of Scotland and Princes of Wales over a million came out to see her London lunch at the Guildhall, the The Queen and the entire Royal Family greeted the
among my ancestors and so I can readily in a single day. Queen gave another heartfelt speech, crowds from the balcony at Buckingham Palace on
understand these aspirations. But I thanking “all those in Britain and the June 7, 1977. By contrast, 35 years later Prince Charles
cannot forget that I was crowned Queen Light the beacons Commonwealth who through their insisted on a “slimmed down” family group on the
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain The climax of the Jubilee year came on loyalty and friendship have given me balcony for the Diamond Jubilee.
and of Northern Ireland. Perhaps this June 7, proclaimed a public holiday by strength and encouragement during
Jubilee is a time to remind ourselves royal decree, with a glorious procession these last 25 years,” and also “to the boat. Accordingly, the Sex Pistols tried to
of the benefits which the union to St. Paul’s for a thanksgiving service. many thousands who have sent me crash the royal party by sailing down the
has conferred, at home and in our The day before, the Queen herself messages of congratulations on my Thames while playing their controversial
international dealings, on the inhabitants initiated the Armada beacon chain, an single, but they were eventually forced
of all parts of the United Kingdom.” homage to the beacons lit across the to shore where they were arrested.
nation in the time of Elizabeth I to
Home tours warn of the approach of the invading Continued celebrations
On May 17, the Queen began a series force of the Spanish Armada. The On June 9 came the final event of the
of home tours, designed, as she Queen lit a huge bonfire in Windsor main week of the Jubilee celebrations,
told Members of Parliament, to Great Park, which was followed by 100 with a river procession along the
demonstrate that she was “Queen of other beacons being lit from Land’s End Thames, from Greenwich to Lambeth.
the whole United Kingdom.” In six to Shetland, many on the sites of the At Lambeth, the Queen opened the
tours, over three months, she covered original beacons. Silver Jubilee Walkway and the new
all parts of the UK, from Scotland to On Tuesday, June 7, over a million South Bank Jubilee Gardens, and then,
Northern Ireland, clocking up 7,000 people watched the Royal Family following a magnificent fireworks
miles (11,200 km). No other sovereign progress to St. Paul’s Cathedral. At display, the Queen traveled back to
had visited so much of the country in the Cathedral a service of thanksgiving Buckingham Palace by carriage and
so little time. The Queen toured 36 was attended by guests, including Jubilee service appeared several more times on the
counties, starting in Glasgow, with the international heads of state and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, with other members balcony to delight the waiting crowds.
current and former prime ministers of of the Royal family, joined 2,700 other guests at St. Paul’s Soon afterward the Queen visited
Golden miles Britain. The service began with Ralph Cathedral during the service of thanksgiving. Wimbledon for the tennis championships,
The Gold State Coach passing Buckingham Palace on Vaughan Williams’s arrangement of the and her presence is widely credited with
the way to St. Paul’s Cathedral for the Silver Jubilee hymn “All People That on Earth Do silver jubilee, that and their good wishes inspiring the British player Virginia
service of thanksgiving, with members of the Queen’s Dwell,” which was played at the for the future.” As thousands celebrated Wade to win the ladies’ singles title.
Guard in the background. Queen’s coronation in 1953. with street parties across the nation, the
Queen went on: “My Lord Mayor, when
I was 21, I pledged my life to the service AFTER
of our people and I asked for God’s help
to make good that vow. Although that
vow was made in my salad days, when I The extraordinary scenes in London
was green in judgment, I do not regret in early June did not mark the end
nor retract one word of it.” Later, the of the Jubilee events. After the UK
Royal Family made an appearance on celebrations, the Queen was soon
the balcony of the palace, to the acclaim back on the road, visiting Canada
of a vast crowd. to open Parliament, and then on to
the West Indies.
Anarchy on the Thames
But not all of Britain was in a mood to A SPECIAL YEAR
celebrate. The Sex Pistols, who had burst The combined distance of the Queen’s
onto the scene with their anarchic punk Jubilee year itinerary is estimated at 56,000
rock, and their iconic antiestablishment miles (89,600 km). But perhaps the best event
song “God Save the Queen” had been of this special year, from a personal perspective,
banned from radio stations. Their had come on November 15, when the Queen
manager Malcom Mclaren had the idea was delayed on her way to an investiture
of combining a piece of “situationist” by a phone call from her daughter Anne,
performance art with a publicity stunt, telling her that she had just become a
and teamed up with Richard Branson, grandmother for the first time 296–97 ❯❯.
whose Virgin label was the only one
who would sign the Sex Pistols, to hire a

183
Party like it’s 1977
Residents of Fulham, southwest London, show
their support for the Queen (affectionately dubbed
“Betty”) during her Silver Jubilee year, 1977.
Street parties were held across the country.
INSIGHT 1969–1976

Princess Anne's
Equestrian Career
Princess Anne's grit and determination drove her to prove
herself at the grueling sport of equestrian eventing. She
went on to achieve glory in Britain as well as in Europe.

Princess Anne first tasted eventing success in 1969 at age 18, riding
Queen Elizabeth II's horse Royal Ocean. She had started training just
a year earlier under coach Alison Oliver. Anne saw eventing as “a way
of proving that you had something that was not dependent on your
family, a way of being judged on what you did rather than having
even more assumptions made."
In 1971, after coming fifth at the Badminton horse trials in April,
Anne was selected to ride in the European championships at Burghley
in September. However, her buildup to the competition was threatened
by an operation on an ovarian cyst. Despite this, Anne won the three-
day eventing championship on September 4. Riding the horse Doublet,
she achieved a clear round in show-jumping to win the gold.
Anne capped a year of remarkable personal achievement by
winning the national press accolade for Sportswoman of the Year
in November, followed by being voted BBC Sports Personality of
the Year in December. She went on to win silver at the European
Championships in 1975, before being selected for the British Olympic
team in Montreal in July 1976. Although Anne did not win a medal
at Montreal, she completed the course despite being knocked out and
concussed in a fall during the cross-country.
The Princess's response to accusations that she sometimes lacked
royal decorum at events was blunt: “Horses and eventing are part
of my private life—that's outside working hours. If people choose
to think that I'm going to behave in the same way at a highly
competitive event, where the pace is fast and the hazards are testing…
they expect too much." Anne's achievements would be matched
34 years later by her daughter Zara Phillips (see pp.286–87).

“ [Eventing] is the one thing...

that has got nothing to
do with my position, my
money or anything else.”
PRINCESS ANNE

The Princess's horse

Anne crosses an obstacle on her horse Doublet at
the 1972 Crookham Horse Trials. Doublet was a gift to
the Princess from her mother Elizabeth II. The horse's
career ended when he broke one of his legs during
routine exercise in 1974 and had to be destroyed.

187
 1960–1980

Born 1930 Died 2002

Princess
Margaret
“ The dark princess,
if you like.”
LORD CHARTERIS, ELIZABETH II’S PRIVATE SECRETARY
children: David, born on November Rock and roller
3, 1961, and Sarah, born on Margaret was known to keep eclectic company. Here

M
argaret Rose of York was born 30 charitable and professional bodies, May 1, 1964. she is seen enjoying a meal with Mick Jagger, lead
in August 1930 in Scotland. which spanned a diverse range of However, the marriage seemed to be singer of the Rolling Stones, at a restaurant in the
She was christened in October organizations, such as the Girl Guides built on a shaky foundation—Margaret West Indies in December 1976.
the same year, in Buckingham Palace’s Association, the English Folk Dance had supposedly accepted Armstrong-
private chapel, with her Uncle David and Song Club, the Winnipeg Art Jones’s proposal a day after discovering a senior royal since that of Princess
(Edward, the Prince of Wales), among Gallery, and the National Society for that Townsend was getting married to Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and
others, present as a godparent. the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. a Belgian woman. Still, Margaret and Gotha in 1901.
From her earliest years, Princess The Princess was particularly fond of Armstrong-Jones appeared a stylish
Margaret was characterized as flighty music and ballet—she became the first couple at the heart of the swinging Dark princess
and capricious (see pp.106–107). Her President of the Royal Ballet in 1957 sixties. They mixed with a variety of By 1974, Margaret had already begun
grandmother, the Dowager Queen and also headed the Sadler’s Wells people, from aristocrats and artists to a relationship with Roddy Llewellyn, a
Mary, told a friend during World Foundation. Yet her dedication to bohemians and rock stars, and were landscape gardener 17 years her junior.

“She was a plaything... warm

War II that Margaret was “so As the affair became progressively
outrageously amusing that one can’t public, Margaret began to drink heavily
help encouraging her.” Margaret began and disappeared on increasingly long
her public life at the age of 18 and and demonstrative, made to be jaunts to her vacation home on the
went on to become patron of over Caribbean island of Mustique. Her love
cuddled and played with.” affair with the Caribbean can be traced
back to her royal tour of the West Indies
MARION CRAWFORD, GOVERNESS, DESCRIBING MARGARET AS A CHILD in February 1955, which inspired a
calypso tribute, with lines including:
royal duties was often overshadowed credited with helping to break down “Lovin’ sister of Queen Lilibet, is the
by the intricacies of her private life, social barriers between commoners Princess Margaret! Like to dance, like to
and as she grew up, she came more and the aristocracy. sing, like to try anything!” By the
and more under the intense glare of Sadly, the marriage started to fall 1970s, however, public opinion had
media scrutiny. apart by the early 1970s, as both turned against the Princess, with calls
partners were
Royal soap opera suspected of
Margaret’s agonizing, lonely, and having frequent
very public dilemma over whether affairs. The couple
to choose love for an “unsuitable” separated by 1976,
man—Group Captain Peter although the
Townsend—over her royal status marriage was not
dominated headlines in the 1950s formally dissolved
(see pp.154–55). But happiness seemed until 1978—the
within the Princess’s grasp some time first divorce of
later, when she became involved with
photographer Antony Armstrong- Happy exterior
Jones. The two were married in 1960, Margaret and Antony
and Armstrong-Jones was created the Armstrong-Jones pose
Earl of Snowdon by the Queen a year with their children in
later. The couple went on to have two what appears to be a
relaxed family portrait.
Belle of the ball There were already
Margaret attends a film premiere at the Odeon great tensions in the
Theatre at Leicester Square in London in 1958. With marriage at the time
her slim waist and vivid blue eyes, the Princess was the photograph
considered a great society beauty. was taken.

188
 PRINCESS MARGARET

to strike her from the Civil List—a list

TIMELINE
of individuals to whom money was
paid by the government—and ■ August 21, 1930 Born at Glamis Castle
denunciations as a “royal parasite.” It in Scotland.
appeared that public preconceptions had ■ November 29, 1934 First public appearance
been stacked against Margaret from the at the wedding of her uncle, Prince George.
very beginning. “One of the functions ■ January 20, 1936 George V dies and Edward
of the Royal Family in the minds of VIII comes to the throne.
the people is to be the continuing story
■ December 11, 1936 Edward VIII abdicates,
of Peyton Place,” explained Lord
and Margaret’s father becomes King. Margaret

“When my sister and

is styled “The Princess Margaret.”
■ 1937 Becomes a Brownie in the 1st
Buckingham Palace Brownie Pack.
I were growing up, ■ 1944 First meets Peter Townsend, Battle of

she was made out to Britain war hero and, later, equerry to the King.
■ May 8, August 15, 1945 Joins her sister to walk

be the goody-goody incognito among the crowds on both Victory in

Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day.

one. That was boring, ■ January 31–May 11, 1947 Tours southern
Africa with her parents and sister, chaperoned

so the Press tried to by Townsend.

■ August 21, 1951 Celebrates her 21st birthday
make out I was with a party at Balmoral.
■ February 6, 1952 Death of her father, George VI.
wicked as hell. ” ■ 1953 Peter Townsend secures a divorce and
proposes to Margaret; her sister, the Queen,
PRINCESS MARGARET
refuses to give them permission to marry.

Charteris, formerly the Queen’s private ■ October 31, 1955 Renounces Townsend.
secretary, referring to a long-running ■ 1957 Becomes first President of the
soap opera of sex, secrets, and family Royal Ballet.
intrigue, “And of course in that story ■ May 6, 1960 Marries Antony Armstrong-
there is always somebody who is not Jones at Westminster Abbey.
actually behaving as they should be...
The dark princess, if you like.”

Decline and fall

In later years, Margaret’s heavy
drinking and smoking took a
toll on her health. The Princess
had a stroke while on vacation in
Mustique in 1998, followed by more
debilitating strokes in 2001. She
suffered restricted mobility, partial
paralysis of the face, as well as
blindness, and finally died in
February 2002, with her two
children by her side. Among
the tributes on her death were MARGARET AND ANTONY ARMSTRONG-
JONES AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
words from the Pope, who, THEIR ENGAGEMENT
“hoped the Princess would find
■ November 3, 1961 Birth of son, David,
in death the peace that had
Viscount Linley.
so often eluded her in life,”
and from one of her oldest ■ May 1, 1964 Birth of daughter, Lady Sarah.
friends, Lord St. John of ■ 1973 Introduced to landscape gardener Roddy
Fawsley, who said, “After Llewellyn.
a turbulent life she had ■ 1976 Media storm after publication of photos
come into port some years of the Princess and Llewellyn cavorting in
ago and had achieved swimsuits on Mustique.
happiness and serenity ■ May 1978 Marriage to Snowdon dissolved.
until this cruel illness
■ 1985 Has part of her left lung removed.
struck her down.”
■ February 24, 1998 Has a stroke on Mustique.

Style icon ■ 2001 Further debilitating strokes leave her

Margaret was known for her inventive partially blind and with mobility problems.
and fashionable style. She has inspired ■ February 9, 2002 Dies at King Edward VII
designers such as Vivienne Westwood Hospital, London.
and Christopher Bailey, whose Spring 2006
collection for Burberry is said to have been
inspired by Margaret’s 1960s look.
 1960–1980

ROYAL RESIDENCE

St. James’s Palace

Although no monarch has lived in St. James’s Palace since George III moved his family to
Buckingham House in 1762, it remains the official residence of the sovereign and is the home
of several members of the Royal Family. It is also used for many official functions.

S
t. James’s Palace was built on the The gift proved deeply unpopular Since then, it has been used for a
orders of Henry VIII between with Parliament and she was soon number of royal weddings, including
1531 and 1536, on the site of asked to move from the palace. those of Queen Victoria and George V.
a leper hospital dedicated to St. James Charles I was tried for high treason Both chapels have been used for the
the Lesser, one of the more obscure in 1649 during the English Civil War. lying-in-state of members of the Royal
members of the Catholic canon. At the He stayed at St. James’s Palace the Family—the coffins of the Queen
time, Henry was evidently much in night before his execution in nearby Mother and Princess Margaret were
love with his wife, Anne Boleyn—the Whitehall. With the monarchy laid in the Queen’s Chapel, while the
initials “H” and “A,” entwined in a abolished, the Protestant Oliver coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales, was
lover’s knot, are a common motif at Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, set before the altar in the Chapel
the palace, carved into fireplaces. turned the palace into a barracks. Royal, so family and friends could pay
their respects in private.
Queen’s Chapel Restoration Weekly Sunday services take place
The Queen’s Chapel at St. James’s Following the restoration of the English at either the Chapel Royal or the
Palace was the brainchild of James I, monarchy in 1660, Charles II, who had Queen’s Chapel, which remain active
who commissioned the architect Inigo been born in St. James’s Palace, had it places of worship. They are the only
Jones to design it. The chapel, which restored. Inspired by the extravagant parts of the palace open for services.
was completed in 1626, was used by royal gardens he had seen during his
Queen Henrietta Maria, the Catholic exile in France, he had the gardens Working palace
wife of his son Charles I. landscaped around a long canal. He In addition to being used for a number
King James was also responsible for also opened the park to the public, and of official functions, St. James’s Palace
ordering the draining and landscaping it became a notorious rendezvous spot contains the London residences
of the palace grounds, now St. James’s for secret lovers’ trysts, including that of the Princess Royal and Princess
Park, creating lakes, and introducing of Charles and his mistress Nell Gwynn. Alexandra. Various royal offices
exotic animals, such as camels, In 1698 the palace became the are also based here.
crocodiles, and an elephant. administrative center of the monarchy
after Whitehall Palace was destroyed in
Religious conflict a fire. Years later, George I and George
Existing tensions between Catholics II found it convenient to keep their
and Protestants in England were mistresses here. The Palace and the Chapel Royal
exacerbated when, in 1638, Charles I The exterior of St. James’s Palace today has changed
gave St. James’s Palace to his mother- Chapel Royal little from the time of this illustration from 1812
in-law, Marie de Medici. She was not The Chapel Royal at St. James’s was (below left). A general view of the interior of the
only the former queen of France, a built by Henry VIII from 1531 for his Chapel Royal, where the christening of Prince George
recent enemy, but also a Catholic. marriage to Anne of Cleves in 1540. of Cambridge took place in 2013 (below right).

ST. JAMES’S PALACE CHAPEL ROYAL

190
Garden design
This color engraving, c.1690, by Dutch dratsman
Johannes Kip (1653–1722, shows the design of
the gardens at St. James’s Palace, with the formal
landscaping, avenues of trees, and a deer park.
 1960–1980

BE F O RE

Mountbatten spent decades at

the very highest levels of British
statecraft, involved in machinations
The Assassination of
relating to many major issues of
post-war British history.

PLOTS AND SCHEMES

Having served as First sea lord and chief of the
Lord Mountbatten
defense staff, Mountbatten was approached A tragedy that rocked the Royal Family to its core, the 1979 assassination of Louis Mountbatten
allegedly in the late 1960s by rogue MI5 on his boat took the lives of one of the great figures of postwar British history, along with
agents plotting a right-wing coup to
overthrow a possible Labour government those of his grandson and son-in-law’s mother, and a young Irish crew member.
under Harold Wilson. More pertinently to

L
his assassination, Mountbatten was also ouis Mountbatten was a
involved in making peace advances to fascinating character in some
representatives of Ireland, approaching of the great dramas of the
the Irish ambassador to the United Kingdom. 20th century, from World War II
to Indian independence and the
THE WRONG MAN? partition, but his final act would
According to papers in the National prove to be part of the grim tragedy
Archives in Dublin, Mountbatten told the of the Northern Irish Troubles—the Family affair
Irish ambassador to London, Donal O’Sullivan, period of unrest and terror attacks The entire Royal Family
“that he hoped the policies of Edward Heath’s arising from the ongoing political and was present for the
government would ultimately achieve Irish sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. funeral of Mountbatten.
unity.” If it is true that Mountbatten Mountbatten had a home in Ireland Here the Queen and
supported the policy of reunification, it (in Eire), just across the border from Prince Philip lead the
makes his death at the hands of the IRA Northern Ireland. “I have a place in Queen Mother and
a particularly bitter irony. Eire, Classiebawn Castle in County Charles; behind them
Sligo,” Mountbatten told the Empire are Andrew in his
Club of Canada in 1967, “and I and midshipman’s uniform
my family could not be treated with and Edward.
greater friendship by the Irish.” This
E A R L M O U N T B AT T E N O F B U R M A
may have been true, but many was at any time contemplated,” the organization that wanted a united
LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN questioned the wisdom of one of reply went, “it would in my opinion be independent Ireland—than this widely
the highest grandees in the British asking too much to say in effect that admired and much loved Englishman.”
Born on June 25, 1900, Mountbatten establishment residing in a part of the we can guarantee his safety while in
was Queen Victoria’s great-grandson, country where his presence was likely this country.” Mountbatten refused to Attack on the boat
Elizabeth II’s second cousin, and Prince to be seen as a provocation. As early as heed warnings anyway, protesting that At the height of the Troubles, an
Philip’s uncle. He had a distinguished 1960, Mountbatten’s estate manager, he was used to giving orders, not taking audacious plot was hatched by the
naval career in both World Wars, after Patrick O’Grady, raised questions with them. But, according to his biographer IRA. Early on August 27, 1979,
which he was appointed by Winston the Irish police, the Garda, about the Richard Hough, “Second only to his Thomas McMahon—one of the IRA’s
Churchill to take a lead role in Earl’s safety. “While everything points cousin, Queen Elizabeth II, there was experienced bombmakers—planted a
Combined Operations, a special to the fact that no attack of any kind no more attractive victim for the IRA huge bomb on Lord Mountbatten’s
executive developing radical ideas on the Earl by subversive elements (Irish Republican Army)—a militant 29-ft (9-m) fishing boat Shadow V,
and technologies to help the war which was moored in the harbor at
effort. As Supreme Allied Commander Mullaghmore, near Classiebawn
in Southeast Asia, he oversaw the Castle. Shortly afterward, McMahon
reconquest of Burma. After the war, was stopped at a police checkpoint and
he was appointed the last Viceroy taken into police custody on suspicion
and First Governor General of India. of driving a stolen vehicle. He was later
found to have on his clothes flakes of
green paint from Lord Mountbatten’s
boat and traces of nitroglycerine.
At around 11 a.m., Mountbatten and
five others—his elder daughter,
Patricia, her husband, Lord Brabourne,
Brabourne’s 83-year-old mother,
the Dowager Lady Brabourne, and the
14-year-old identical-twin sons of
the Brabournes, Timothy and Nicholas
Knatchbull—joined 15-year-old local
crew member Paul Maxwell on board
the Shadow V. Maxwell took the helm

Happier times
Mountbatten and his family enjoy a quiet day’s
fishing on board his fishing boat, Shadow V,
nine years before it would become the scene
of his grisly death.

192
 T H E A S S A S S I N AT I O N O F L O R D M O U N T B AT T E N

AFTER
and set off around Mullaghmore Head Knatchbull and Paul Maxwell were on the details for his funeral as many
to the fishing ground. A routine Garda killed instantly; Timothy was seriously members of the Royal Family are
police patrol followed the progress of injured, while the Dowager Lady expected to do. He had outlined The events of August 27, 1979 elicited
the boat out of the harbor. Brabourne died the day after. A few everything from the roles of more shock and condemnation. As the
hours later, two bombs went off at than 500 Royal Navy and Royal world became aware of the situation
The scene Warrenpoint in County Down, Marines personnel to his choice of in Ireland, the Royal Family reeled
At 11:39 a.m., a bomb on board the ambushing an army convoy and killing hymns. Interviewed on television under the weight of their loss.
boat was detonated by radio control, at least 18 soldiers, in the single worst not long before his death, and asked
just as it cleared the harbor wall. loss of life during the Troubles. A what kind of funeral he would like DEEP IMPACT
statement from the IRA said: “This to have, Mountbatten replied that At a memorial service held in December that

50 LB (23 KG) The weight

of explosives in the bomb.
operation is one of the discriminate
ways we can bring to the attention of
the English people the continuing
he would wish it to be “a happy
occasion.” The funeral parade, with
the coffin borne on a gun carriage,
year, Prince Charles condemned the IRA
as “the kind of subhuman extremist that
blows people up when he feels like it.”
Richard Hough described what occupation of our country.” was led by his horse Dolly, riderless In 2009, on the 30th anniversary of the
happened next: “The boat disintegrated with her master’s boots reversed in assassination, Timothy Knatchbull
in a cloud of smoke and spume, and State funeral their stirrups, as was tradition. published From a Clear Blue Sky—an account
countless fragments of timber and The death of such a highly placed Mountbatten’s daughter Patricia, of surviving the bombing.
metal, rope and cushions, life jackets individual in such an appalling who had become Countess A narrative of loss,
and shoes, filled the air and fell in manner called for a show of state Mountbatten of Burma on her trauma, and
an oval pattern of splashes in the strength and solidarity, an opportunity father’s death, and her husband, reconciliation, it won
sea.” Mountbatten, his legs blown amply afforded by Mountbatten’s Lord Brabourne, were still too badly the Christopher
off, was pulled from the water still state funeral on September 5, 1979. injured to attend either this funeral Ewart-Biggs
alive but died shortly after. Nicholas Mountbatten had left copious notes or that of their son, Nicholas. Memorial prize
for promoting peace

“ Life will never be the same and understanding

in Ireland.
Final journey
now that he has gone.” Mountbatten’s funeral procession, with police
and military escorts for the coffin, makes its KNATCHBULL’S BOOK
PRINCE CHARLES, DIARY ENTRY AFTER LEARNING way from Westminster Abbey to Waterloo Station.
OF THE DEATH OF HIS BELOVED GREAT-UNCLE
 1960–1980

The Decolonization of
Africa and the Caribbean
The British Empire had already embarked on a transition to something new and different
when Elizabeth came to the throne—a transition that she stewarded into a Commonwealth
family that she has always cherished and nurtured.

W
hen Elizabeth was growing Caribbean. The Commonwealth was Zanzibar, the Gold Coast, and The magic of the moment
up her father still ruled vast and populous; it covered a quarter Somaliland. But from the very start Harold Macmillan giving the “winds of change”
territory that, viewed on of the world’s habitable surface and its of Elizabeth II’s reign, the changing address to the South African parliament, in which he
a map, colored a large proportion population exceeded one-quarter of the relationship between the monarch and spoke against the host country’s policy of apartheid.
of the world pink: the lands of the human race. A large proportion of it former and current British dominions
British Empire. Much had changed by was not yet independent. Territories was made plain; the cabinet decided In its early days the Commonwealth
the time she acceded to the throne— that were still British colonies or that Elizabeth’s accession proclamation seemed to be a successful and vibrant
most notably the independence of protectorates included Northern and would not refer to the British Dominions project. In October 1957, Reader’s Digest
the Indian subcontinent—yet even Southern Rhodesia, Malta, Malaya, or the Imperial Crown, and that she magazine was able to reflect that the
in 1952 she could travel around Singapore, Jamaica and the British would not be “Queen of the British Queen “is as proud as her countrymen
the world without leaving her own West Indies, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Dominions beyond the seas” but “Queen that, while the Communists have been
territories. But this was a world in Tanganyika, the Sudan, Nyasaland, of her other Realms and Territories.” holding 100 million foreign people
rapid transition; the Empire was
transforming into a Commonwealth
of nations, which, as the Queen
herself said, “bears no resemblance
to the Empires of the past. It is an
entirely new conception...”

A bridge across the world

In the 1950s, the former empire
comprised the Commonwealth—nations
such Canada, Australia, and India—plus
many other realms and protectorates,
many of which were in Africa and the

BE F O RE

The Commonwealth had existed

in some form since 1924, but the
independence of India meant that
the former constitution of the
Commonwealth would have to change.

THE LONDON DECLARATION

Issued on April 28, 1949, the London
Declaration marked the birth of the
modern Commonwealth ❮❮ 64–65.
Recognizing the “impending constitutional
changes in India,” the Declaration stated:
“Accordingly the United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India,
Pakistan and Ceylon hereby declare that
they remain united as free and equal
members of the Commonwealth of
Nations, freely cooperating in the pursuit
of peace, liberty, and progress.”

The last dance

Queen Elizabeth II and the first president of Ghana,
Kwame Nkrumah, dance the shuffle at a ball held
at State House, Accra, in November 1961.

194
 T H E D E C O L O N I Z AT I O N O F A F R I C A A N D T H E C A R I B B E A N

AFTER
behind the Iron Curtain and giving In October 1960, a few months after
them the treatment of Hungary, Britain a tense Commonwealth premiers’
has been freeing 500 million people conference held at Windsor in May, In 1994, South Africa held the first
from colonial ties, investing £100 where apartheid was criticized, South free and fair elections in its history,
million ($280 million )a year in their African whites voted to jettison the after Nelson Mandela was freed and
local industries, helping them to Queen as head of state and the new apartheid dismantled. That same year
organize complete self-government, no republic left the Commonwealth. it rejoined the Commonwealth.
strings attached.” By 1957, Britain’s Meanwhile the “wind of change”
trade with her former territories had Macmillan had talked about in his Fly the flag QUEEN AND COMMONWEALTH
nearly doubled and the territories’ own speech was pushing over a dozen The Commonwealth flag features a stylized globe According to Kenneth Kaunda, a nationalist
local revenues increased by 1,200 black-majority regions from across surrounded by a crescent of golden spears making in Northern Rhodesia, the transformation
percent. That same year the Queen, in Africa and the Caribbean into up the letter “C.” from Empire to Commonwealth was
a speech to the young people of the nationhood. Nigeria and Somalia only possible “because of the personality of
Commonwealth, said, “You are gained independence in 1960, told him, “Danger is part of the job.” the Queen. Without that, many of us would
growing up in a world which is as full Sierra Leone and Tanzania in 1961; After arriving at Accra airport, her have left.” During her reign, the Queen has
route into town had to be lit by torches paid more than 200 visits to Commonwealth

“ The wind of change is because of a power failure. Royal

correspondent Audrey Russell recalled,
countries and has visited every country
of the Commonwealth except Cameroon,
“I was very anxious for the Queen. which joined in 1995, and Rwanda, which
blowing… whether we like To carry on in those circumstances
showed her enormous courage.”
joined in 2009.

it or not… growth of national Contentious opinions

After Northern Rhodesia was granted The August 1979 Commonwealth
consciousness is a political fact.” independence as Zambia in 1964,
the mostly white government of
conference was dominated by a row
over the future of Southern Rhodesia.
HAROLD MACMILLIAN, SPEECH TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN PARLIAMENT, 1960 Southern Rhodesia pushed hard British Prime Minister Margaret
for sovereignty, a demand that was Thatcher backed a proposal for the
of possibilities of adventure as it was in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and refused by Britain under its policy independence of Zimbabwe—the name
the days of my predecessor, Queen Uganda in 1962; Kenya in 1963, Malawi of “no independence before majority Southern Rhodesia would take on after
Elizabeth I. What the world now needs and Zambia in 1964; the Gambia in rule.” While African premiers were independence—under Bishop Abel
most is a solid bridge between East and 1965; Botswana and Lesotho in 1966; strongly urging Britain to initiate Muzorewa. The proposal excluded the
West. The British Commonwealth is Mauritius and Swaziland in 1968; immediate action against Southern
surely such a bridge.”

The wind of change

and after a long and bitter struggle,
Zimbabwe in 1980. Most of these
countries immediately joined
Rhodesia, Prince Philip, in a speech
given to students in Edinburgh, shared
his personal views on the
11,566,870 The
combined land area in square miles
It was in Africa, where British the Commonwealth. crisis: ”... it is better to spin out the (29,958,050 sq kilometers) of
dominions and protectorates covered solution of these difficulties with current Commonwealth nations.
a huge proportion of the continent, Danger is part of the job patience, and with a bit of luck get
that the reign of Queen Elizabeth II In 1961, the Queen defied security a better result than risk a bloodbath nationalists under Robert Mugabe and
would see the most profound changes. risks and bomb threats to visit Ghana, by forcing a pace.” The Labour Party Joshua Nkomo, but it was argued that a
From the late 1950s onward, a wave of previously the Gold Coast, the first MPs tabled a motion stating that lasting peace was impossible without
newly independent nation states “black” colony in Africa to become “royalty should not give expression them. The Queen played a significant
spread across the continent, in many independent. The stakes were high; to contentious political opinions,” backstage role in brokering a proposal
cases peacefully but sometimes resulting a bomb blast five days before the visit and Kenyan politicians joined in for a conference in London to devise a
in desperate struggles and violent cast it into doubt, but British diplomats the criticism. new constitution for Zimbabwe.
upheaval. In 1957, the Gold Coast, feared that cancellation
in West Africa, became independent would drive the new
as the Republic of Ghana and joined country into the Soviet
the Commonwealth; it was the first sphere of influence.
majority-ruled African country to join. The Queen reportedly
The independence movement was said, “If I were to
gaining momentum across Africa when cancel now, Nkrumah
on February 3, 1960, British Prime [the Ghanaian
Minister Harold Macmillan gave a president] might
famous speech to South African invite Khrushchev,
Members of Parliament in Cape Town. and they wouldn’t
At the time, the ruling Nationalists like that, would they?”
were pursuing apartheid, and When Macmillan
Macmillan had aroused criticism objected that it was
by agreeing to visit the country as their too dangerous, she
guest. But Macmillan disappointed the
white politicians as he told them bluntly Honor guard
that a “wind of change” was blowing The Queen inspects an honor
through Africa. “Whether we like it or guard at Entebbe, on arrival in
not,” Macmillan warned, “this growth Uganda for the Commonwealth
of national consciousness is a political Heads of Government Meeting
fact.” The Nationalists were outraged; on November 21, 2007. These
“We are the people who brought meetings are the principal policy
civilization to Africa,” blustered South and decision-making forum for
African Prime Minister Dr. Verwoerd. the Commonwealth.

195
 QUEEN AND
GRANDMOTHER
1980–2000

1994 half-Sovereign, struck in 22-carat-gold,

featuring the 1985 Raphael Maclouf
portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
 1980–2000

QUEEN AND GRANDMOTHER

1980–2000
1980 1984 1988
OCTOBER 17, 1980 APRIL 17, 1982 MAY 30, 1984 APRIL 3, 1987 MARCH 10, 1988 SEPTEMBER 19, 1990
The Queen makes a state visit The Queen and Canadian Prince Charles critiques The late Duchess of Prince Charles escapes an RAF flyby over
to the Vatican to meet Pope Premier Pierre Trudeau sign modern architecture in a Windsor’s jewels sell for avalanche in Switzerland Buckingham Palace
John Paul II. the Proclamation of the controversial speech made £31 million at an auction that kills one of his commemorates the
Constitution Act, 1982 giving during the 150th anniversary in Switzerland; the entire companions, Major Hugh 50th anniversary of
JUNE 13, 1981 Canada the power to amend celebrations of the Royal proceeds of the sale are Lindsay, former equerry the Battle of Britain.
A 17-year-old youth fires its own Constitution. Institute of British Architects donated to the Pasteur to the Queen.
shots at the Queen in the Mall (RIBA). The speech would lead Institute in Paris.
as she rides to the Trooping JUNE 7–9, 1982 to the proposed plan for an
the Color ceremony. US President Ronald Reagan addition to the National
visits the UK. Gallery being scrapped.
Trooping the Color Birth of Princess Beatrice

SEPTEMBER 15, 1984

The Princess of Wales gives
birth to Prince Harry, her
second son.

APRIL 29, 1986 AUGUST 8, 1988 NOVEMBER 28, 1990

The Queen attends the The Duchess of Margaret Thatcher
funeral of the Duchess York gives birth to resigns as Prime
of Windsor, widow of Princess Beatrice, Minister. The Chancellor
Edward VIII. her elder daughter. of the Exchequer, John
Major, becomes the
JULY 23, 1986 new Conservative
Prince Andrew marries Prime Minister.
Sarah Ferguson in
Westminster Abbey. They
become the Duke and
Duchess of York.

JULY 29, 1981 JUNE 21, 1982 OCTOBER 12–18, 1986 Marriage of Prince Andrew AUGUST 31, 1989 JANUARY 16–
and Sarah Ferguson
Prince Charles marries The Princess of Wales gives The Queen and the Princess Anne and FEBRUARY 28, 1991
Lady Diana Spencer in birth to Prince William, her Duke of Edinburgh make JUNE 15, 1987 Captain Mark Phillips British forces join a
St. Paul’s Cathedral. elder son and second in a state visit to China. The Prince Edward, Princess separate after 16 years US-led coalition army
line of succession. Queen becomes the first Anne, and the Duke and of marriage. to drive Iraqi troops out
British monarch to visit Duchess of York take part of Kuwait during the
JULY 9, 1982 the country. in TV gameshow The Grand Gulf War.
An intruder finds his way Knockout Tournament.
into the Queen’s bedroom
in Buckingham Palace.

FEBRUARY 9, 1983 APRIL 1987 NOVEMBER 8, 1987 MARCH 23, 1990 MAY 17, 1991
The British £1 coin, with The Princess of Wales Irish Republican Army The Duchess of The Queen addresses
the Queen’s head on the is photographed (IRA) bomb kills 11 in York gives birth a joint session of
obverse, replaces the holding the hand a Remembrance Day to Princess Eugenie, the US Congress
pound note. of an AIDS-infected service in Enniskillen, her second daughter.. in Washington, D.C.
man at the Middlesex Northern Ireland.
MARCH 1983 Hospital, London.
Prince and Princess of
Wales take 9-month-old
William along on their
official tour of New
Zealand and Australia.
Commemorative stamp

198
 QUEEN AND GRANDMOTHER

The 1980s opened brightly with the marriage of the Prince of Wales as the press declared open season on the privacy of the Royal Family.
to Lady Diana Spencer, followed by the birth of their sons, William At a time of economic recession, the royal finances came under fire,
and Harry. By the end of the decade, the Queen had six grandchildren, leading to the Queen’s offer to pay income tax. Diana’s tragic death
but the divorces of three of her children and the bitter quarrel was met with an outpouring of public grief. Toward the end of the
between the Prince and Princess of Wales were highly damaging, 1990s, the conflict in Northern Ireland finally came to an end.

1992 1993 1997

FEBRUARY 7, 1992 NOVEMBER 26, 1992 MAY 2, 1997 APRIL 10, 1998
Britons become citizens Parliament is informed that Tony Blair becomes Prime Good Friday Agreement
of the European Union the Queen will pay income Minister after Labour Party brings peace to Northern
(EU) with the signing of tax from April 1993. wins a landslide victory. Ireland after 30 years
the Maastricht Treaty. of conflict.
JUNE 30, 1997
MARCH 19, 1992 Prince Charles represents
The Duke and Duchess the Queen at the return
of York separate. of British-ruled Hong
Kong to China.

The Green Room at

Buckingham Palace

APRIL 23, 1992 DECEMBER 9, 1992 AUGUST 31, 1997

Princess Anne and Captain The Prince and Princess Diana is killed in a car
Mark Phillips divorce. of Wales separate. accident in Paris.
Commemorative mug
JUNE 7, 1992 DECEMBER 12, 1992 AUGUST 1993 MARCH 19–25, 1995 issued at Diana’s death
Andrew Morton’s Princess Anne marries Buckingham Palace opens The Queen visits South
controversial biography Commander Timothy its doors to the public for Africa after a gap of
Diana: Her True Story Laurence, former the first time. 48 years.
is published. equerry to the Queen.

Fire ravages
Windsor Castle

DECEMBER 3, 1993 NOVEMBER 16, 1995

Diana announces The Queen Mother has a
her withdrawal from hip replacement operation
public life. at the age of 95.

NOVEMBER 20, 1995 SEPTEMBER 6,

MARCH 12, 1994 The Princess of Wales gives 1997
The Church of a revealing interview to Funeral of Diana
England ordains its Martin Bashir on BBC TV. takes place in
first women priests. Westminster
Diana tells all in
Abbey after a
a BBC interview week of mourning.

MAY 6, 1994 NOVEMBER 20, 1997 JUNE 15, 1999

The Queen and The Queen and Prince Prince Edward marries
President Mitterrand Philip celebrate their Sophie Rhys-Jones.
of France formally open Golden Wedding
the Channel Tunnel. anniversary. JULY 1, 1999
The Queen opens the
JUNE 1, 1994 Scottish Parliament in
South Africa rejoins Edinburgh. The parliament
the Commonwealth would look after devolved
following the end domestic matters of Scotland,
of apartheid. such as education, health,
agriculture, and justice.

NOVEMBER 20, 1992 DECEMBER 23, 1992 JUNE 5–6, 1994 DECEMBER 20, 1995 DECEMBER 11, 1997 NOVEMBER 6, 1999
Windsor Castle is badly The Sun publishes the The Queen leads the The Queen writes to the The Royal Yacht Britannia In a referendum,
damaged by fire. text of the Queen’s national commemorations Prince and Princess of Wales is decommissioned after Australians vote to
Christmas Day of the 50th anniversary of urging them to divorce. 44 years in service. retain the Queen
NOVEMBER 24, 1992 speech two days the D-Day landings. as monarch.
The Queen gives her before the event. MAY 30, 1996
annus horribilis speech The Duke and Duchess
at London’s Guildhall. of York divorce.

AUGUST 28, 1996

The Prince and Princess
of Wales divorce.

199
 1980–2000

BE F O RE

Charles and Diana had been seeing

each other for about six months
before he proposed on 6 February
1981. The engagement was announced
on 24 February. Charles was 33 and
Diana was 19.

A SUITABLE MATCH
Prince Charles’s name was linked with several
possible brides during the 1970s, including
Lady Sarah Spencer, Diana’s elder sister. He
met Diana at a country weekend in 1980.
With her connections to the monarchy—her
sister was married to the Queen’s assistant
secretary, and Diana had spent her early
childhood on the Sandringham Estate
206–207 ❯❯—Diana seemed a suitable
wife for the future king.

ENGAGEMENT RING
Diana chose her engagement ring from a
selection at Garrards, the royal jewellers. Her
engagement ring was made of 14 solitaire
diamonds surrounding an oval sapphire
and was said to be
worth £30,000.
THE ENGAGED
COUPLE

“ It was
an easy
decision.
I am looking
forward to
being a
Fairy-tale wedding
good wife.” The radiant bride is seen here leaving St Paul’s
Cathedral on her husband’s arm. Millions around
LADY DIANA SPENCER, INTERVIEWED the world watched the splendid ceremony unfold.
BEFORE HER WEDDING, JULY 1981 The day was declared a national holiday in Britain.

200
 THE MARRIAGE OF CHARLES AND DIANA

The Marriage of
Charles and Diana
The marriage of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer on 29 July 1981 held the promise of a
bright new future for the Royal Family. For the British public, it offered a welcome distraction
from a gloomy summer of strikes, social discontent, and riots.

The question of a future wife for day” of her life and that she felt “like to thee my country”, would be sung
Prince Charles had long been a subject a lamb to the slaughter” as she saw again in the less happy circumstances
of speculation, but few had predicted the crowds camped in the Mall. of Diana’s funeral in 1997.
that his choice would fall on a young Diana made the journey from Clarence
English aristocrat, the daughter of a House in the Glass Coach (from the The kiss and the honeymoon Commemorative stamp
duke, rather than a suitable European collection at the Royal Mews) with her Smiling and waving at the cheering Postage stamps featuring Charles and Diana were
princess. Press and public quickly fell father, the 8th Earl Spencer. The coach crowds, the newly married couple released a week before the wedding. The stamps
in love with Lady Diana Spencer, proved too small to accommodate them returned to Buckingham Palace in were designed by Jeffrey Matthews, and the
13 years the Prince’s junior and the both, and the train of her wedding dress, an open carriage. Later they appeared photograph was taken by Lord Snowdon.
first Englishwoman and commoner which was 8 m (25 ft) long, emerged on the balcony and, egged on by the
to marry the heir to the throne since rather crumpled at St Paul’s. It took crowd, exchanged a kiss. The balcony
1660. With her ready smile and her two senior kiss has now become AFTER
fleeting downward glance, she was
thought to bring something completely
new and fresh to the Royal Family.
bridesmaids—Lady
Sarah Armstrong
Jones (daughter of
10,000 The number an established part
of pearl sequins of the ritual of royal
sewn on to Diana’s dress. weddings, but this Although the stresses in Charles
As preparations for the “wedding of Princess Margaret) was the first. After and Diana’s relationship did not
the century” got underway, Diana and India Hicks (granddaughter of the a wedding breakfast with 120 family become obvious until the late 1980s,
went to live with the Queen Mother late Lord Mountbatten)— some time to guests, the couple were driven in a it is clear the marriage came under
in Clarence House, supposedly to disentangle and arrange the train before landau sporting a “Just Married” sign strain as Diana struggled with the
gain an insight into royal life. the bride mounted the red-carpeted to Waterloo Station to travel by train to pressures of royal life.
The choice of venue was a steps of the cathedral on her father’s Broadlands, the Mountbatten family
departure for a royal wedding. arm. A stroke had left the Earl unsteady home in Hampshire, where the Queen COLLAPSE OF A MARRIAGE
St Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher on his feet but he was determined to and Prince Philip had also spent the In November 1981 it was announced that Diana
Wren’s masterpiece at the heart lead his daughter down the aisle. first part of their honeymoon. was expecting a baby, and Buckingham Palace
of London’s commercial centre, Diana’s nerves showed during the asked the press to allow her greater privacy. We
is the site for important national ceremony, which was conducted by Mismatched couple now know she was suffering from depression
commemorations. It had never the Archbishop of Canterbury, when At the time, and for a while afterwards, and bulimia. Charles and Diana maintained
before held a royal wedding, but its she muddled up the Prince’s names, Charles and Diana’s marriage was seen a united front while their sons William (born
long nave and magnificent dome calling him “Philip Charles Arthur as a true love match and a fairy-tale 1982) and Harry (born 1984) were young,
provided a theatrical setting for the George” rather than “Charles Philip romance. However, the gulf between but Charles appears to have resumed his
ceremony. The cathedral can house Arthur George”. Three of the Prince’s their ages and their separate interests— relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles by
3,500 guests, and was large enough favourite orchestras—the Philharmonia, Charles liked classical music, Diana 1985. That was followed by Diana’s affair with
for the wedding of a Prince of Wales, the English Chamber, and the Royal liked Duran Duran; Charles loved the James Hewitt. By 1992 the marriage was to all
a major event attended by heads Opera—played during the wedding, country, Diana preferred city life; intents and purposes over. They were divorced
of state, Commonwealth leaders, and the world-renowned New Zealand- Charles liked formality, Diana rebelled in 1996 230–31 ❯❯.
politicians, and diplomats, as well born soprano Kiri Te Kanawa sang a against it—made them a highly
as foreign royalty. An estimated Handel aria. One of the hymns, “I vow mismatched couple.
650,000 people lined the long route
from the Mall to St Paul’s, and some
750 million people worldwide watched
the ceremony on television.

Nervous bride
When shortly before the wedding
Diana confessed to her sisters that
she was having cold feet, they are
said to have replied, “Too late, your
face is already on the tea-towels”.
She later described her wedding day
as “the most emotionally confusing

The balcony appearance

The Royal Couple exchanges a public kiss. Giving them
company on the balcony are, left to right, Prince Philip,
the Queen Mother, the page boys, the bridesmaids, the
Queen, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew.

201
DECISIVE MOMENT October 17, 1980

Visiting the Vatican

Following several previous visits by British royals to
the Vatican, including her own as princess and as queen,
Elizabeth went to Rome in 1980 for the first ever state
visit by a British monarch—a trip she hoped would
“support the growing movement of unity between
the Christian Churches throughout the world.”

One of the key moments in the history of British royalty was the
break with Rome in the 16th century (see pp.28–29). For centuries
the monarchs were at loggerheads—and sometimes at war—with the
Papacy. Only in 1914 were diplomatic relationships reestablished,
and since then the Windsor dynasty has made great efforts to improve
relations with the Vatican, and the Queen's 1980 state visit to the
Vatican must be seen in this context.
The Queen's first meeting with the Pope as head of her own state
came in May 1961. She and Prince Philip had flown to Sardinia,
cruised across the Mediterranean, and visited the island of Vulcano.
There they strolled incognito among the fishermen and dined on
grilled shrimp, veal, and strawberries. Traveling by train to Rome, she
was met by crowds cheering “Bella! Viva la regina!,” while 20,000
people chanted outside the Quirinale Palace for an hour, as Elizabeth
and Philip attended a state banquet and a glittering reception for 3,000
members of Italian high society. The next day the Derby Italiano horse
race was run, the date having been deliberately set to coincide with
her visit. After meeting with Pope John XXIII, and enjoying a
rendition of “God save the Queen!“ by 1,000 nuns and priests, the
royal couple went on to Venice, where Elizabeth won the hearts
of gondoliers by declaring “I would love to ride in a gondola.”
The Queen's 1980 trip to meet Pope John Paul II was marked by
an exchange of gifts. The Pope presented her with a copy of Dante's
Divine Comedy with its illustration of the Order of the Garter in
the time of Edward IV. The Queen responded with a book about
Windsor Castle by St. John Hope and two signed photographs.

“ Meetings between popes

and British sovereigns…
serve to push back… political
and bilateral obstacles…”
MARK PELLEW, FORMER UK AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE

Heads of state and church

The Queen, dressed in black according to Vatican protocol,
chats with Pope John Paul II. At this meeting she invited
him to the UK to visit “the Roman Catholic community in
Great Britain where some four million of my people are
members of the Roman Catholic Church.”

203
 1980–2000

Commemorative Stamps
Although some commemorative stamps were produced in Britain’s overseas
territories in the 1800s, they were not issued in Britain until 1924. The first
royal event marked in a British stamp was George V’s Silver Jubilee in 1935.
1 Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Canada was one of eight was also produced in red. 8 The life of Diana Issued a
Commonwealth territories to issue commemorative stamps year after Diana’s death, these British stamps belong to
to mark the Diamond Jubilee. 2 George V’s Silver Jubilee a set of five, each with a different portrait. 9 The life
Stamps featuring a portrait of the King against Windsor of the Queen Mother The stamps in this set show the
Castle were issued throughout the empire. 3 George VI’s Queen Mother’s transition from young girl to royal
coronation A total of 57 Commonwealth countries brought matriarch. 10 William’s 21st birthday Prince William
out these coronation stamps. 4 Silver wedding of George was the first royal to have his 21st birthday marked
VI and Elizabeth Initial designs for this British stamp included with stamps and coins in Britain. 11 Marriage of
famous landmarks, but George VI preferred this simple Charles and Camilla The issuing of these stamps was
portrait style. 5 Elizabeth II’s coronation Stamps were widely seen as a sign of the Queen’s support for the
issued in 68 countries to mark the occasion. The New marriage. 12 Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday This stamp
Zealand set featured Westminster Abbey, the Royal Crown is from a series of eight stamps featuring cheerful,
and Scepter, Buckingham Palace, the Gold State Coach, informal photographs of the Queen. 13 Engagement 6 ELIZABETH II’S
and a portrait of the Queen. 6 Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee and wedding of William and Catherine The royal SILVER JUBILEE, 1977
This set was designed by British designer Richard Guyatt. wedding was featured in stamps across the Commonwealth.
7 Marriage of Charles and Diana Various territories issued 14 Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee These British stamps show
stamps to celebrate the royal wedding. This one from Australia the Queen carrying out various royal duties during her reign.

7 MARRIAGE OF CHARLES
AND DIANA, 1981

1 VICTORIA’S 3 GEORGE VI’S CORONATION, 1937

DIAMOND JUBILEE, 1897

4 SILVER WEDDING OF GEORGE VI

AND ELIZABETH, 1948

8 THE LIFE OF
DIANA, 1998

5 ELIZABETH II’S
2 GEORGE V’S SILVER JUBILEE, 1935 CORONATION, 1953

204
 C O M M E M O R AT I V E S TA M P S

10 WILLIAM’S 21ST BIRTHDAY,

GREAT BRITAIN, 2003

9 THE LIFE OF THE QUEEN MOTHER, 2002

12 ELIZABETH II’S 80TH BIRTHDAY, 2006

10 WILLIAM’S 21ST BIRTHDAY, BRITISH
INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY, 2003

11 MARRIAGE
OF CHARLES AND
CAMILLA, 2005

13 ENGAGEMENT AND
WEDDING OF WILLIAM
AND CATHERINE,
PITCAIRN ISLANDS, 2011

13 WEDDING OF WILLIAM AND

CATHERINE, AUSTRALIA, 2011 14 ELIZABETH II’S DIAMOND JUBILEE, 2012

205
 1980–2000

Born 1961 Died 1997

Diana, Princess
of Wales
“ Hugs can do great
amounts of good,
especially for children.”
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES

D
iana Spencer was the fourth Honourable Diana Spencer). In 1976,
child and the youngest daughter her father married Raine, Countess
of Viscount and Viscountess of Dartmouth, daughter of the
Althorp. Her father, Edward John best-selling romantic novelist,
Spencer, was a former Equerry—officer Barbara Cartland.
attendant—to King George VI and Diana was first educated at
Queen Elizabeth II; her mother, Frances Riddlesworth Hall near Diss, Norfolk,
Roche, was the daughter of Baroness and later at West Heath Girls’ School
Fermoy, Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen in Kent, but she left school without
Mother. Diana grew up at Park House, passing her O-level exams. At school,
on the Queen’s Sandringham estate she showed a particular talent for music
in Norfolk. Diana’s parents divorced and dance – she was an accomplished
when she was 8 years old. pianist and was very keen on ballet.
In 1975, after the death of her After a brief spell at finishing school
grandfather, Diana’s father became at the Institut Alpin Videmanette in
the 8th Earl Spencer, and the family Rougemont, Switzerland, Diana moved
moved into the family seat of Althorp to London, where she shared a flat
in Northamptonshire. As the daughter with three other girls and held a Diana’s flat, she got an early taste of Royal bride-to-be
of an earl, Diana became Lady Diana variety of jobs including that of a the relentless paparazzi attention she The shy, naïve nursery assistant was about to become
Spencer (she was previously the nursery (pre-school) assistant. would have to live with for the rest engaged to the heir to the throne when this famous
of her life. photo was taken. Diana was always warm and
Engagement Prince Charles proposed on 6 February spontaneous with children.
Diana first met Prince Charles, who 1981, and the engagement was officially
was older than her by 13 years, in announced on 24 February. When Soon after the wedding, Diana became
1977, when he was going out with her asked by a reporter on the day of the involved in her official duties as a
elder sister Sarah. They met again in engagement if they were in love, Diana member of the Royal Family.
1980, when Diana was 19, and the replied in tones of mock rebuke, “of On 5 November 1981, Diana’s first
affair between Charles and Sarah had course”, and Prince Charles added, pregnancy was announced, and the
been over for more than two years. “whatever ‘in love’ means”. couple’s eldest son, William, was
Their relationship developed over the born just 11 months after the wedding.
She flouted tradition by deciding that

“… the unique, the complex, 9-month-old Prince William should

accompany her and Prince Charles to
Australia and New Zealand rather than
the extraordinary Diana.” be left in the care of nannies.
Their second son, Harry, followed
CHARLES, EARL SPENCER, WHEN GIVING DIANA’S FUNERAL EULOGY, 1997 two years later in 1984. Diana was a
devoted and protective mother who
summer of 1980, and that same Marriage and children declared, “I live for my sons. I would
year the Queen invited Diana to Charles and Diana’s wedding (see be lost without them.”
English schoolgirl Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s private pp.200–01) attracted a great deal of
Diana enjoyed sport as a girl, especially swimming, holiday home in Scotland. The Royal public interest. The couple made their Divorce and death
and she dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer until Family, too, approved of Diana. As homes at Kensington Palace and at The marriage, under strain from very
she grew too tall for it. This photo was taken the the press got wind of the affair and Highgrove House, the Gloucestershire early on, fell apart in the early 1990s
year after her parents divorced. photographers set up camp outside estate Prince Charles acquired in 1980. (see pp.230–31). Diana continued to

206
 DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES

TIMELINE
live in Kensington Palace after her Sparkling princess
separation and divorce, and gave Princess Diana is seen here ■ 1 July 1961 Born Diana Frances Spencer
much of her time to her charities wearing a beautiful tiara in Norfolk, England, to Viscount and
(see pp.208–09). In the last year featuring 19 fabulous Viscountess Althorp.
of her life she used her status as pearls hanging from ■ 1969 Her parents divorce; her father gains
an international figure to call for diamond-encrusted custody of the children.
a ban on the manufacture and use lover’s knots. Part of ■ 1970 Goes to her first boarding school –
of landmines, a move that was the Royal Collection, Riddlesworth Hall in Norfolk.
seen by some as being out of step it was lent to her
■ 1974 Goes to West Heath Girls’ School, Kent.
with government policy. Her tragic by the Queen.
death in a car crash at the age of ■ 1975 Her father succeeds as 8th Earl Spencer.
36 (see pp.242–43) shocked and ■ 1977 Leaves West Heath and goes to finishing
stunned the world. school in Switzerland for a few months.
■ Summer 1977 Meets Prince Charles at a

“I’d like to be a queen

country weekend.
■ 24 February 1981 Official announcement
of engagement to Prince Charles.

of people’s hearts, ■ 29 July 1981 Marries Prince Charles at

St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

in people’s hearts, but ■ 21 June 1982 Birth of Prince William.

■ September 1982 Represents the Queen at the

I don’t see myself State funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco on

her first official visit overseas on her own.
■ March–April 1983 Charles and Diana take
being Queen of William with them on a 6-week visit to
Australia and New Zealand.

this country.” ■ February 1984 Attends a performance of

Carmen by the London City Ballet in Norway,
during her first solo overseas tour.
DIANA, IN BBC1 PANORAMA INTERVIEW
■ 15 September 1984 Birth of Prince Harry.
WITH MARTIN BASHIR, 1995
■ 9 November 1989 Dances with John Travolta
at the White House (see pp.240–41).
■ 19 April 1987 Shakes hands with an AIDS
patient on a visit to Middlesex Hospital, London,
THE 9TH EARL SPENCER in an effort to rid the disease of social stigma.
■ June 1992 Andrew Morton publishes her
CHARLES SPENCER
biography, Diana: Her True Story.
Born in May 1964, Charles was the ■ 9 December 1992 Charles and Diana agree
youngest of Diana’s siblings – she to separate.
had two older sisters, Sarah and Jane. ■ December 1993 Announces that she will
Charles became the 9th Earl Spencer be reducing the extent of her public life.
on the death of his father in 1992. ■ 20 November 1995 Appears in an interview
As Diana’s closest male relative, Charles by Martin Bashir on BBC television.
gave the eulogy at her funeral in
■ 28 August 1996 Divorce of Charles and Diana.
Westminster Abbey. He described
her as “the very essence of compassion, ■ January 1997 Backs international anti-landmine
campaign on a visit to Angola.
of duty, of style, of beauty”, and
recalled how she had mothered him ■ 25 June 1997 Auction of her dresses at
when, as young children, they were Christies’ New York raises money for cancer
shunted back and forth between and AIDS charities.
their parents’ homes. ■ 21 July 1997 Visits the children’s accident and
emergency unit in Northwick Park Hospital,
London, on her last official engagement.
■ 31 August 1997 Dies of injuries sustained
in a car accident in Paris, France.
■ 6 September 1997 Funeral in Westminster
Abbey, followed by burial at Althorp.

DIANA’S SIGNATURE

207
 1980–2000

BE F O RE

Royal patronage goes back a long

way. Queen Victoria was the patron
of many hospitals, including
The Caring Princess
Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Princess of Wales threw herself into charity work in a very personal way. She is best
the Royal Free Hospital in London. remembered for her natural warmth and compassion, and for the time and energy she spent
QUEEN ALEXANDRA ROSE DAY supporting humanitarian causes around the world.
Queen Alexandra launched the Alexandra Rose
Day Appeal on June 26, 1912, to mark
the 50th year of her arrival in Britain to marry
the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII
❮❮ 72–73. The goal was to raise money for

POSTCARD FROM ROSE DAY, JULY 11, 1914

hospitals through the sale of silk roses.

The first appeal raised £32,000 and was such
a success that it became an annual event.
By 1920, Rose Days had raised more than
£775,000 ($2.9 million) for London hospitals.
Rose Days still take place every year.
Princess Alexandra, great-granddaughter of
Queen Alexandra, is the present royal patron.
Traditionally, the prime minister buys
the first rose.

“ Anywhere
I see
suffering,
that is where
I want to be,
doing what
I can.”
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, 1997

Caring for sick children

This picture from the 1996 National Heart Week
shows Diana posing with young patients at a children’s
hospital ward in London. The Princess was known to
take time to sit by patients’ beds, hold their hands,
and listen to their individual stories and problems.

208
 THE CARING PRINCESS

O
n marrying the heir to the
throne, Diana was expected to
give her patronage to charities
and philanthropic organizations. Visiting
hospitals, opening buildings, and
hosting receptions had long been seen,
particularly since World War I, as a key
function of the monarchy, and a means
of bringing it into contact with ordinary
people. Much of this work was high
profile—Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,
was president of the World Wildlife
Fund; Charles founded the Prince’s Trust
and functioned as its president since
1976; and Princess Anne worked
extensively for Save the Children.
But, for the most part, royal charity
work meant acting as a figurehead for
fund-raising. To the public, it seemed
that the royals’ work mostly involved
shaking hands, making speeches,
receiving bouquets, and cutting ribbons.

Personal touch
That, however, was not Diana’s style.
Her natural empathy with sick people
broke the mold of royal hospital
visits. She had a special way of
connecting with vulnerable young
people, stemming from her own to three times a week, befriending Chosen charities Landmine victims
unhappiness during and after her some of the sickest patients. She As a working royal, Diana was patron Diana is photographed with young landmine
parents’ divorce and from her battles painted the fingernails of one little girl of more than 100 charities. After her victims during a visit to Angola in January 1997.
with bulimia and depression. on a dialysis machine a different color separation from Charles, she gave She visited war-torn Bosnia just two weeks before
It is sometimes suggested that, after every week. Discovering that another nearly all of them up, retaining only her death, calling for a ban on these weapons.
the breakdown of her marriage, Diana was fascinated by ballet, she had a six. These were: the Centrepoint
used her charity work to promote birthday cake made for her in the charity for homeless young people,
her own image at the expense of her shape of pink ballet shoes. English National Ballet, Great Ormond
husband’s. There may be some truth in Diana used her relationship with the Street Hospital for Children, Royal
this, just as there is in the charge that press to help change public attitudes. Marsden Hospital for cancer, National AFTER
she colluded with the press to give In April 1987, she opened Britain’s first AIDS Trust, and the Leprosy Mission.
them the best photo opportunities. ward for HIV (human immuno- Diana had become patron of the
However, the individual stories that deficiency virus) infection and AIDS Leprosy Mission, the only international Diana’s humanitarian work
emerged after her death bear moving (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) charity on the list, after visiting a continued to be remembered after
testimony to her ability to reach out to patients at London’s Middlesex Hospital, leprosy hospital in Indonesia in 1989. her death. A fund was set up in
people in pain. She privately visited the and was photographed shaking hands Leprosy is easily treatable if caught response to donations that poured
Royal Brompton Hospital in London up with someone suffering from the disease. early enough, but sufferers are often in spontaneously from the public.
At that time, AIDS was regarded with revulsion because of the
still greatly feared and disfiguring effects. Officials advised The goal of the Diana, Princess of Wales
misunderstood, and Diana not to make the visit but she Memorial Fund was to create a lasting
her gesture helped to chose to ignore them. Instead, she was memorial to Diana’s humanitarian
break down the prejudice filmed holding hands with leprosy work by supporting charities for disadvantaged
surrounding the disease. patients and touching their bandaged people. A sum of £38 million ($65 million) was
wounds, actions that were highly raised from CD sales of the version of Candle in
Role model influential in tackling the age-old the Wind that singer Elton John performed at
Diana is regarded by many as taboos. On later tours, she went out of Diana’s funeral. The general public gave £34
a role model for the way she her way to visit the Leprosy Mission’s million ($58 million), and the princess’s brother,
spoke publicly about her projects in India, Nepal, and Zimbabwe. Charles Spencer, donated proceeds from the
unhappy marriage and about Diana: A Celebration exhibition, which
having sought psychiatric International star showcased 150 objects, including dresses and
help for her depression and Diana used her fame to support mementoes. By the time the Fund closed in
eating disorders, thereby humanitarian causes all over the world. 2012, it had awarded 727 grants to 471
enabling other women to talk She was photographed holding a baby organizations and spent over £112 million
openly about these problems. with AIDS at a paediatric unit in ($180 million) on charitable causes.
Harlem, New York. In June 1997, she
Meeting Mother Teresa auctioned a large number of her dresses CONCERT FOR DIANA
Diana meets Mother Teresa at the at Christie’s in New York in aid of AIDS Hosted by William and Harry, the Concert for
Missionaries of Charity in the South and cancer charities. In the last year of Diana was held at London’s Wembley Stadium
Bronx, New York, in 1997. The Princess’s her life, she campaigned extensively to in July 2007. The concert raised money for
visit to Mother Teresa’s hospice for the ban landmines. It was on a visit to New Diana’s charities and for those of her sons.
sick and dying in Kolkata, India, in 1992 York to promote this cause that Diana
left a lasting impression on her. met Mother Teresa for the second time.

209
Treading carefully
In the last year of her life, Diana, Princess of Wales,
campaigned actively for an international ban on
landmines. This famous picture of her walking
through a minefield in Huambo, Angola, was
taken in January 1997.
 1980–2000

ROYAL RESIDENCE

Kensington Palace
Originally a modest Jacobean mansion in a rural village, Kensington Palace became the Royal
Family’s favorite London residence for almost 70 years. It was acquired by William and Mary,
who wished to escape chilly Whitehall Palace and the fogs and floods of the Thames Rivers.

I
n 1688 when William III and Mary II her bedside. Eight years later, in 1702, designer, William Kent, who undercut
assumed the throne, the King was in William also died at Kensington Palace the expected choice—the established
frail health, and his asthma was after falling from his horse and then painter Sir James Thornhill—on price.
exacerbated by the cold, humid rooms contracting pneumonia as he George II and his consort Queen
of Whitehall Palace. Their search for a recuperated in the King’s Gallery. Caroline presided over a glittering time
suitable alternative ended in 1689 with William’s successor, Anne, continued for the palace. They loved to entertain,
the purchase of Nottingham House—a to improve the palace, commissioning and the court attracted a fashionable
two-story mansion in the village of a staircase from Wren to link her set of intellectuals, politicians, writers,
Kensington—for £20,000. Christopher apartments with the gardens. However, philosophers, and poets. Outside, the
Wren, Surveyor of the King’s Works, it was in the grounds that Anne made old-fashioned parterres were replaced
was hired to transform it into a palace. her mark: she redesigned the garden with gardens designed in a romantic
The royal couple was anxious to as a baroque parterre with elaborate “natural” style by the royal gardener
move in, so speed was of the essence. topiary and erected a magnificent Charles Bridgeman. He created many
Using bricks rather than stone to keep Orangery to protect her orange trees features still seen in Kensington
costs down, Wren’s first step was to over winter. Designed by Nicholas Gardens today, such as the Serpentine,
build a three-story pavilion at each Hawksmoor and John Vanbrugh, the Round Pond, and the Broad Walk.
corner of the mansion to accommodate with carvings in pear- and pinewood The gardens were opened on Saturdays
the monarchs and their retinue, with by Grinling Gibbons, the Orangery when the Royal Family decamped to
a series of grand rooms—the State served an additional purpose as an Richmond; they soon became a center
Apartments—for audiences and state enchanting venue for royal receptions. of high society, as the great and good
ceremonies. Wren reoriented the gathered to parade the latest fashions.
house toward the west, and the Georgian heydey After Caroline’s death in 1737, the
north and south wings were added to After Queen Anne died in 1714, the palace declined. George II died there in
flank a courtyard accessed through an throne passed to her closest Protestant 1760; his successor, George III, elected
archway that pierced the clock tower. relative, George, Elector of Hanover. A to live at Kew, Windsor, and newly
The grounds were landscaped with survey discovered that the palace was purchased Buckingham House. ❯❯
lawns and formal gardens laid out in in need of repair, but the new King
the Dutch fashion with geometrical “lik’d it very much” and proceeded to
paths and flower beds. spend vast amounts on Kensington.
By Christmas 1689—just six months Three additional state rooms—the Palatial heights
after work began—the royal court was Cupola Room, the Privy Chamber, The palace complex sits at the edge of Kensington
able to move in, although building and the Withdrawing Room—were Gardens. A statue of Queen Victoria by her daughter,
work continued. In 1694, tragedy created in the process. The existing Princess Louise for the 1887 Golden Jubilee celebration
struck the palace when Mary died of State Apartments were given a marks the main public entrance, while the bronze
smallpox, with a devastated William at makeover by the unknown artist and figure of William of Orange guards the south front.

WILLIAM OF ORANGE AT THE SOUTH FRONT KENSINGTON PALACE FROM THE SOUTH

212
The Sunken Garden
The 17th-century Dutch style garden is a relatively
modern development. It was created by Ernest Law
in 1909 at the behest of Edward VII, to replace an
unsightly cluster of greenhouses and potting sheds.
 1980–2000

THE KING’S GALLERY THE KING’S STAIRCASE

❯❯ Kensington thenceforth became a the palace in which she was born The King’s State Apartments
home for minor royals and monarchs- should not be destroyed.” Eventually Kensington was at the heart of Georgian society: well-
in-waiting. One of the more colorful Parliament agreed to fund the palace’s dressed courtiers were immortalized by Kent on the
denizens was George III’s sixth son, restoration. Subsequently the state staircase leading to the sumptuous rooms. William III’s
Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of rooms opened to the public on the wind dial, connected to a weather vane on the roof,
Sussex, whose menagerie of songbirds Queen’s birthday in 1899, launching was retained when Kent redesigned the King’s Gallery.
flew freely around his apartments. His the palace’s dual role as a private home
brother, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent to royalty and public museum.
and Strathearn, also had rooms in the Kensington Palace was hit by a bomb “normal” childhood, with visits to the
palace; Edward’s daughter, Alexandrina in 1940, which severely damaged local barbers, Kensington Odeon, and
Victoria, was born at Kensington nine many of the surrounding buildings, McDonalds on Kensington High Street.
months before his death, on May 24, including the Queen’s Apartments. Kensington Palace remained the
1819. Her childhood was lonely: The garden was full of antiaircraft official residence of Diana, Princess
educated under the “Kensington guns, sandbags, and trenches. After of Wales until her untimely death on
System” she was confined to the Palace the war, the palace entered another August 31, 1997, when the Golden
with every move monitored by her period of neglect, but in the 1960s Gates at the south entrance became
mother and her equerry, Sir John its fortunes revived when Princess the focus of public mourning. Over
Conroy, who strove to keep the Margaret and Antony Armstrong- one million bouquets, reaching 5ft
(1.5m) deep in places, were left in

“ I have gone through painful and

tribute. The Princess’s coffin spent its
last night in London at Kensington
Palace, departing on the morning of
disagreeable scenes here, ‘tis September 6, 1997, on a gun carriage,
to Westminster Abbey.
true, but still I am fond of the In 2011, it was announced that the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
poor old Palace.” would move from Nottingham Cottage,
in the grounds of Kensington Palace,
QUEEN VICTORIA, 1837 into the former residence of Princess
Margaret. The following year Prince
Princess under their control. Victoria’s Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon moved Harry also moved back into the palace:
first request, when she became 18, in. They lived in Apartment 10—“the the long-established tradition of
was that she be allowed an hour by doll’s house” as Margaret described it, combining private royal residences at
herself each day, and one of her first while they renovated and redecorated the palace with a public space looked
acts upon her accession to the throne Apartment 1A in Margaret’s favorite set to continue for years to come.
was to banish Conroy forever from pink and kingfisher blue with the Meanwhile, the State Rooms have
the royal apartments, and to evict her help of theater designer Carl Toms, also seen a major renovation. They
mother from the palace. adding a photographic darkroom were reopened in 2012, in time for
for Lord Snowdon. Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, as a
A palace for everyone In 1981, the newly married Prince museum with digital presentations,
By the end of the 19th century, the of Wales and his wife, Diana, moved interactive experiences, and audio
State Rooms were severely neglected. into a part of the palace that George I sequences bringing to life the State
With the brickwork decaying, and the had created for his mistress. Princes Apartments and the people who lived
woodwork infested with dry rot and William and Harry were raised there, there, and making the rich collections
rising damp, calls came for the palace attending local preschool and pre- of royal fashion, antique furniture, and
to be demolished. However, Queen preparatory schools in Notting Hill. other memorabilia accessible to visitors
Victoria declared that “while she lived, They were given occasional tastes of from around the world.

214
The Cupola Room
Queen Victoria was christened in the magnificent
Cupola Room, William Kent’s first commission for
George I. The King liked his work so much, he was
commissioned to redecorate other State Rooms.
INSIGHT April—June 1982

Prince Andrew in the

Falklands
On April 2, 1982, Argentina invaded the British overseas
territory of the Falkland Islands, a remote, windswept
archipelago in the South Atlantic. Prince Andrew, a
sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy, was serving on board
the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible as Britain set about
assembling a task force to retake the islands.

The hastily assembled fleet of 127 ships that set sail in mid-April
included two aircraft carriers, one of them being the HMS Invincible.
Prince Andrew was a Sea King helicopter pilot, trained for operational
flying. He was also second in line to the throne. It was widely assumed
that he would be kept out of harm’s way and given a safe desk job, as
several members of the Cabinet urged, but Andrew, backed up by the
Queen, insisted on being allowed to remain with his ship.
The battle to regain the islands began on May 1. As a Sea King
copilot, Prince Andrew flew on missions that included antisubmarine
and anti-surface warfare. One task of the Sea King helicopters was
to act as decoys against the deadly Exocet missiles launched by
Argentinian jets against British warships. By hovering near the rear
of the carrier, the helicopter created a large radar target that diverted
the missile away from the ship. Prince Andrew copiloted a Sea King
that helped save seamen from the requisitioned merchant navy ship
SS Atlantic Conveyor after it had been hit by two Exocets. He later
described the experience as “probably the most frightening moment
of my war." He also revealed that his biggest worry was being hit by
friendly fire from the Royal Navy’s Sea Wolf defense missiles: “It is not
much fun having one of those fellows pick you out as a target.”
Port Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands, was retaken
on June 14. When HMS Invincible returned to Portsmouth on
September 17, the Queen and Prince Philip joined other families
of the crew in welcoming the ship carrying their son home.

“ It’s not particularly nice

being shot at and I can attest
to that. You look at life in a
different way.”
PRINCE ANDREW, ON THE FALKLANDS WAR, AUGUST 2014

Action man
Prince Andrew, seen here with the Sea King helicopter
in the background, returns to Portsmouth on board
HMS Invincible after the cessation of the Falklands War.
The first royal to see frontline action in modern times,
he served 22 years in the Royal Navy.

217
1980–2000

Born 1960

The Duke
of York
“I’m not even going
to say that was a piece
of cake. I will never
do it again.”
PRINCE ANDREW, AFTER ABSEILING DOWN THE SHARD, SEPTEMBER 2012

P
Naval officer rince Andrew is the second
In his 22-year-long naval son and third child of Queen
career, Prince Andrew Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
participated in the Born on February 19, 1960, in
Falklands War and Buckingham Palace, he was the first
commanded HMS child to be born to a reigning monarch
Cottesmore. He since the birth of Queen Victoria’s
retired from active youngest child, Princess Beatrice, in
service in 2001. 1857. At the time of his birth, he was
second in line of succession to the
throne; he is now sixth. He was
christened Andrew Albert Christian
Edward, Andrew being the name of his
paternal grandfather, Prince Andrew of
Greece, who died in 1944.
Prince Andrew was educated at
Heatherdown Preparatory School,
Ascot, in Berkshire, from the age
of 8 to 13, before going on to
Gordonstoun School in Scotland,
where both his father and his elder
brother, Charles, had been educated.
After taking his O-levels, he spent
two terms at Lakefield College School
in Ontario, Canada, before returning
to Gordonstoun to take his A-levels.
Unlike his brothers, he did not go
to university, but entered the Britannia
Royal Naval College at Dartmouth
(BRNC, popularly known as
Dartmouth), Devon, where he
began training to become an
officer in the Royal Navy.

Naval career
After graduating from Dartmouth,
Andrew learned to fly Gazelle
and Sea King helicopters and was
appointed to 820 Naval Air Squadron,
serving aboard the aircraft carrier HMS
Invincible. Six months later, in April
1982, he sailed in HMS Invincible as
 THE DUKE OF YORK

TIMELINE
■ February 19, 1960 Born at Buckingham
Palace, the first child born to a reigning
monarch for 103 years. Christened Andrew
Albert Christian Edward.
■ 1973 Attends Gordonstoun School in
Morayshire, Scotland.
■ 1979 Joins the Royal Navy on a short-term
commission as a Seaman Officer with the
goal of becoming a helicopter pilot.
■ April 1981 Receives his flying brevet (wings)
from the Duke of Edinburgh as well as winning
an award as best pilot.
■ April 5, 1982 Sails on board HMS Invincible as
part of the Task Force to regain the Falkland
Islands; flies several frontline missions.
■ May 1984 Promoted Lieutenant and serves as
Flight Pilot in the Type 22 Frigate HMS Brazen.
■ 1984 The Queen appoints him her personal
Farewell to Hong Kong for the second son of the monarch—on the press began to publish pictures aide-de-camp.
Prince Andrew undertakes many military duties. He his marriage to Sarah on July 23, 1986 of her in the company of other men. ■ July 23, 1986 Marries Sarah Ferguson at
is seen here visiting a British army unit based on (see pp.222–23). The Queen built The couple separated in March 1992, Westminster Abbey and is created Duke
Stonecutters Island in Hong Kong as preparations a 12-bedroom, ranchlike house for and divorced in May 1996, just three of York.
are made for the transfer of sovereignty from Britain them at Sunninghill Park, Berkshire. months before Charles and Diana. ■ August 8, 1988 Birth of first daughter, Beatrice.
to China in 1997. Andrew and Sarah have two daughters, Like Diana, she was no longer styled ■ March 23, 1990 Birth of second
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Her Royal Highness. daughter, Eugenie.
part of the Task Force sent to the South Andrew and Sarah agreed to have
■ March 1992 Duke and Duchess of York
Atlantic to regain the Falkland Islands Separation and divorce joint custody of their daughters and
separate; divorce follows four years later.
(see pp.216–17). On his return, he As a serving naval officer, Andrew shared Sunninghill Park as their family
converted to flying Lynx helicopters. was frequently away, and during home until 2004, when Andrew moved ■ November 20, 1992 Helps to rescue treasures
from the Windsor Castle fire.
He was made a Commander in 1999, one of his absences Sarah took lessons into Royal Lodge, the Queen Mother’s
and retired with the rank of honorary in helicopter flying. This experience former home. Since 2008 Sarah has ■ 1993 Appointed Commander to command the
Captain. In 2010 he was promoted to led her to write a series of children’s lived there as well. She spends much anti-mine vessel HMS Cottesmore.
Honorary Rear Admiral, and five years books about Budgie, a little helicopter, of her time in New York, where she ■ 1999 Appointed Commander in the Diplomatic
later to Vice Admiral. which later became an animated pursues various commercial interests. Directorate of the Naval Staff.
television series. Sarah’s popularity In 2010 she was caught in a newspaper ■ July 2001 Retires from active service with the
Marriage and children started to fall about this time, when sting offering access to Andrew for Royal Navy.
Andrew was known to have had many
girlfriends, including American actress
Koo Stark, before his engagement to
“ There is something about going
Sarah Ferguson. The redhead was a
great success with the press and was
to sea. A little bit of discipline
soon universally known as Fergie.
Prince Andrew was created Duke of
and humility is required.”
York, a dukedom traditionally reserved PRINCE ANDREW, IN AN INTERVIEW

£500,000 ($750,000) and was forced

THE DUCHESS OF YORK
to apologize. She and Andrew remain
SARAH FERGUSON on good terms and often speak
affectionately of each other.
Born in 1959, Sarah Ferguson is the
daughter of the late Major Ronald Life after the navy PRINCE ANDREW AT CERN, GENEVA
Ferguson, polo manager to the Duke On leaving the navy, Prince Andrew
■ 2001–11 Serves as Special Representative for
of Edinburgh and later to the Prince of was appointed Special Representative
International Trade and Investment, promoting
Wales, and his wife Susan. After Sarah’s for International Trade and
British business interests abroad. His tours
parents divorced in 1974, her mother Investment, promoting British business
included a trip to the European Organization
married an Argentinian polo player, interests abroad. He resigned from this
for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva.
Hector Barrantes. Sarah and Andrew role in 2011, following criticism about
■ July 2005 Promoted to Captain. Appointed
knew each other as children, but their his friendly relations with controversial
Commodore in Chief of the Fleet Air Arm
romance began after she was asked to figures, including one of Libyan
the following year.
join the royal party at Windsor Castle leader Colonel Gaddaffi’s sons, and a
during Royal Ascot in 1985, reportedly wealthy American financier convicted ■ February 2010 Promoted to Rear Admiral.
at Princess of Wales’s suggestion. Sarah of sex offences. ■ September 3, 2012 Abseils down the Shard,
was working in publishing at the time of Prince Andrew supports many London’s tallest skyscraper, to raise money for
their engagement. Andrew designed an charities, and is the chairman of the the Outward Bound Trust.
engagement ring for her consisting of Outward Bound Trust, an educational ■ February 2015 Promoted to Vice Admiral.
ten diamonds surrounding a ruby, chosen charity. He is colonel-in-chief of
to complement her fiery red hair. several regiments in the British Army,
and in Canada and New Zealand.

219
Queen visiting Canada
The Queen inspects a guard of honor of the
Governor General’s Foot Guards outside
the Parliament Building in Ottawa while
on a visit to Canada in 1984.
 1980–2000

BE F O R E

In 1923, an earlier Duke of

York, the Queen’s father (later
King George VI), was married
The Marriage of
in Westminster Abbey.

BRIDAL BOUQUETS
The bride on that day, Lady Elizabeth
Bowes-Lyon. As a young bride in 1923, she
Andrew and Sarah
had impulsively stopped on her way up On July 23, 1986, Prince Charles’s younger brother, Prince Andrew, married Sarah Ferguson
the nave of the abbey, and in a simple in Westminster Abbey. On the morning of the wedding, the Queen created Prince Andrew
gesture placed her bouquet on the Tomb
of the Unknown Warrior, containing Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh.
the body of an unknown soldier, killed on a
European battlefield during World War I.
She did this in memory of her beloved
brother Fergus, who had died at the
Battle of Loos in 1915.
Recalling this act, Sarah, as the new
Duchess of York, arranged to have her
bouquet placed on the tomb after the
official wedding photographs had been
taken. This tradition was later followed
by Catherine Middleton, at her
wedding to Prince William in 2011.

“It was
the finest
moment
of my life...
when I
married
him.”
SARAH, DUCHESS OF YORK,
IN AN INTERVIEW, 2015

Bridal procession
The newly married Duke and Duchess of York leave the
choir of Westminster Abbey through an arch of roses
and lilies. Pageboy Prince William, in a sailor-boy hat,
is immediately behind the couple.

222
 THE MARRIAGE OF ANDREW AND SARAH

T
housands of people lined the to Buckingham Palace. A crowd
route as Sarah Ferguson, soon to of about 100,000 had gathered in
be Her Royal Highness the front of the palace for the bridal
Duchess of York, traveled with her party’s balcony appearance. Smiling
father, Major Ronald Ferguson, in the broadly, Andrew and Sarah playfully
gilded Glass Coach from Clarence House pretended not to understand the
to Westminster Abbey. Some 2,000 crowd’s call for them to kiss. Their
people, including many of the crowned eventual embrace was greeted with
heads of Europe and a number of enthusiastic applause.
celebrity guests, such as Nancy Reagan, Later a party was held at the
Elton John, and Michael Caine, were Buckingham Palace. The Duke and
present in the abbey to witness the Duchess left for their honeymoon
traditional ceremony.
The wedding had a decided nautical
theme, in keeping with the groom’s
occupation. The silver beadwork on
1.6 The height of the wedding
cake in meters (5 ft 6in)
made by chefs at the naval supply
Sarah’s ivory satin wedding dress, school HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.
designed by Lindka Cierach, had
motifs of anchors and waves, and in an open carriage adorned with a
the train bore the couple’s intertwined papier-mâché satellite dish and a sign
initials “A” and “S.” The four young that read “Phone Home” (a reference
pageboys, one of whom was four-year- to the movie E.T.), placed there by
old Prince William, were dressed in Prince Edward. They shared the earlier, or later. The press thought he Happy family
sailor suits and boaters. Peter Phillips, carriage with a king-sized teddy had found an ideal soulmate in Sarah Prince Andrew and Sarah have remained friends after
son of Princess Anne, was also a bear, smuggled in by the Princess Ferguson. More relaxed and down-to- their divorce and have brought up their daughters
pageboy, and his sister Zara Phillips, of Wales and Viscount Linley, the earth than the Princess of Wales, together. The Queen, reportedly, is still fond of Sarah
a bridesmaid. Prince Andrew, wearing son of Princess Margaret, Countess Fergie—as she was now universally and thinks she is a good mother.
the dress uniform of a naval lieutenant, of Snowdon. On arriving at Heathrow known—was always ready with a joke
had his younger brother, Prince Airport, they boarded a royal jet and a quip. She was also, at 26 years,
Edward, as his best man. emblazoned with “Just Married” older and considerably more AFTER
The Archbishop of Canterbury, on the rear flaps to fly to the Azores. experienced than Diana had been at
Dr. Robert Runcie, conducted the Once there, they spent their five-day the time of her marriage. It was widely
service, and Prince Charles read a honeymoon on board the Royal known that Sarah had moved into The press’s love affair with the
lesson. During the exchange of vows, Yacht Britannia. Prince Andrew’s Buckingham Palace Duke and Duchess of York began
the bride promised to obey her apartment ahead of the wedding, in to die soon after their wedding. It
husband (a clause that Diana had Popular couple contrast to Diana’s seclusion in was Sarah who bore the brunt of
chosen to omit five years before)— Although some critics of royalty Clarence House. It was also common their criticisms.
and was roundly rebuked by feminists complained about the lavish knowledge that Sarah had at least one
for doing so. arrangements for Prince Andrew long-term boyfriend before Andrew. FALL FROM GRACE
and Sarah’s wedding, on the whole No one seemed to disapprove. Sarah suffered the vicious press fallout
The balcony kiss it was a popular event, and shops and after the disastrous TV show The Grand
Laughing and waving, the couple stores were full of wedding souvenirs. Breath of fresh air Knockout Tournament in 1987. Four
left the abbey in an open carriage Prince Andrew’s public image was still Observers suggested that Sarah would members of the Royal Family—Prince Edward,
for the procession along The Mall positive after his experience of active bring a welcome breath of fresh air to Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of
service in the Falklands War. He was the stuffiness of royal life. She was said York—participated
Relaxed demeanour known to enjoy partying and had to be popular with the Queen, who alongside celebrities
Sarah Ferguson was remarkably had many girlfriends, earning him enjoyed her jokes. It was also believed in this charity event,
at ease during her wedding the nickname “Randy that Sarah would be a good and which was not
to Prince Andrew, sharing Andy.” In this supportive friend to Diana, and the received well. In the
frequent laughs with respect, he was two were close for a time. show, Sarah was
her husband. She winked lucky in his The week before the wedding, seen raucously
to the child attendants as timing, escaping the tabloid newspapers reported urging her team on.
she walked down the the media censure that Sarah and Princess of Wales, with She was criticized for
aisle and gave a that might have Pamela Stephenson, the comedian and being overweight,
thumbs-up sign to the befallen him a actress, disguised as policewomen, had and the couple’s
crowd gathered outside. few years tried to gate-crash Andrew’s stag house at Sunninghill
(bachelor) party. They had later got a Park was mocked
case of nerves and changed their plans, and nicknamed as COMMEMORATIVE
STAMP
and instead spent their time sipping South York
champagne at Annabel’s, a West because of its
End nightclub. supposed resemblance to South Fork ranch
While this escapade was in keeping in the US soap opera Dallas. This relentless
with Sarah’s uncomplicated sense of and often spiteful campaign contributed to the
humor, the episode also pointed to couple’s separation in 1992. Her refusal to
something more—a growing intimacy stay out of the headlines afterward frequently
between the Royal Family and the embarrassed the Royal Family. The Queen’s
world of celebrity. This association former Principal Private Secretary, Sir Martin
would ultimately work to destroy Charteris, caught off camera, later referred to
the mystique of royalty and make her as “vulgar, vulgar, vulgar.”
its members increasingly vulnerable
to hostile press attack.

223
 1980–2000

BE F O RE

Trooping the Color dates back to

the 1700s when a battalion’s flag,
or color, was carried slowly (trooped)
The Queen’s
along the ranks of soldiers so it could
be seen and recognized.

BIRTHDAY PARADE
The Trooping the Color ceremony was first
60th Birthday
used to mark the sovereign’s birthday in 1748, The Queen celebrates two birthdays every year—her actual birthday on April 21, and the official
when George II was on the throne. Since one in early June, when she attends the Trooping the Color ceremony. Her 60th birthday in 1986
this time the Trooping the Color ceremony has
celebrated the sovereign’s official was marked by special tributes at home and around the Commonwealth.
birthday on a Saturday in June in the

T
expectation of good weather. he two royal events that took in the wake of the miners’ strike concerns did not deter the crowds
place in 1986—the marriage the year before, but this was instantly from turning out to celebrate the
of Prince Andrew and Sarah denied by the palace. The Royal Queen’s birthday.
Ferguson in July (see pp. 222–23) Family was frequently caricatured
and the Queen’s 60th birthday on the satirical TV puppet show Bagpipes and daffodils
celebrations—were welcome interludes Spitting Image—something that would Queen Elizabeth’s 60th birthday on
in what was otherwise a challenging have been unthinkable a few years April 21, 1986, started with an early
year for the monarchy. There was talk earlier. There were also worries over morning rendition of “Happy Birthday
of differences between the Queen and security—in 1981, a pistol had been to You,” played on the bagpipes by the
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher fired from the crowd as the Queen Queen’s Piper outside her apartment at
over Britain’s stance with regard to rode down the Mall for the Trooping
the apartheid regime in South Africa. the Color, and the IRA (Irish Say it with flowers
KING GEORGE V AT THE PARADE, 1925 In July, a newspaper report claimed Republican Army) terror campaign Radiant in springtime yellow, a smiling Queen
that the Queen was dismayed with in mainland Britain was an ever- Elizabeth collects bunches of daffodils from a group
the government’s harsh social policies present threat. However, these of children in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.
 T H E Q U E E N ’ S 6 0 T H B I R T H D AY

AFTER

Twenty years on, the Queen

celebrated her 80th birthday with
a royal tour in Windsor, where
she was greeted by thousands
of well-wishers.

SAY IT WITH EMAILS

Buckingham Palace announced that the
Queen had received 20,000 cards and
17,000 emails, sent via her 80th-birthday
website. Tributes included a visual greeting
from the 500 members of the crew of
HMS Illustrious, on deployment in
the Indian Ocean, who lined up to spell
out “Happy 80th.” The Cabinet presented
the Queen with a Spode china tea set.
In the evening Prince Charles, who
had earlier broadcast a tribute to
his mother on BBC Radio, hosted
Birthday procession by Placido Domingo. It included a ballet carried the Queen, who always rode a family dinner for the Queen at Kew
The band and troops of the Household Division, headed portraying the Queen and Princess her side-saddle, at every Trooping the Palace, before a fireworks and laser display
by five Drum Majors in ceremonial state dress, return Margaret as young girls. Color for 18 years. The Queen had been over Kew Gardens in southwest London. On
along the Mall towards Buckingham Palace at the end mounted on Burmese in 1981 when June 25, a party for 2,000 children, chosen
of the Trooping the Colour ceremony in June 2014. Last appearance for Burmese the horse reared after five blank shots through a national ballot, was held in the
The Trooping the Color parade held on were fired from the crowd. The Queen garden of Buckingham Palace.
Windsor Castle. The Piper is a member June 14 was notable for being the last quickly brought the mare under control,
of the royal household. His principal public appearance of Burmese, the winning great praise for her presence of
duty is to play under the Queen’s Queen’s favorite black parade horse. mind. She later explained that Burmese
window every morning at 9 a.m., a Burmese, a mare, had been presented had not heard the shots above the noise
tradition started by Queen Victoria. to the Queen by the Royal Canadian of the crowd, but was reacting to the
This was followed by a 21-gun salute Mounted Police in 1969 and had

“ We saw your car, Hurrah! 6,000 The number

of children in the
Mall who sang “Happy Birthday”
as part of the Queen’s 60th
Hurrah! We saw you wave, birthday celebrations.

the smile you gave, We movement of the Household Cavalry’s

horses who had immediately turned to
protect the sovereign. “Burmese felt that
saw your horse, of course, the Household Cavalry was going to
attack me, so she attacked them first,”
of course.” she was reported as saying. The assailant
was a 17-year-old boy who did it, he
THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY SONG, BY CHRISTOPHER LOGUE, 1986 said, because “I wanted to be famous.
I wanted to be somebody.”
in Windsor Great Park, a service Burmese was retired after the 1986 THE QUEEN’S 80TH BIRTHDAY, 2006
of thanksgiving in St. George’s Chapel, Trooping the Color and put out to
Windsor, and a carriage procession pasture in Windsor Castle’s Home
through the town. Park. She died in 1990. The Queen
That afternoon the Queen was decided not to replace her. In 1987, Queen at different times of her life,
driven to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen was driven to the Trooping from the earliest portrait of her as a two
she was greeted by a parade of 6,000 the Color in a phaeton (light carriage) year old to the present time. Eleven
children from all over Britain and and took the salute from a dais, a Commonwealth countries also issued
the Commonwealth who processed the procedure she has followed ever since. commemorative stamps. However,
length of the Mall in the steady rain, when the Queen opened the 13th
each carrying a daffodil. Standing on Commemorative stamps Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
the balcony of the Palace, she listened The Queen’s 60th birthday was on July 24, 32 of the 59 countries that
to them sing a song specially composed celebrated at home and around the were eligible to compete stayed away in
for the occasion, “Happy Birthday Commonwealth with the issue of protest against the British government’s
Ma’am, God Bless You,” before going commemorative stamps and coins. policy of maintaining sporting links
down into the palace forecourt to The British set of four stamps carried with South Africa and its refusal to
collect bunches of daffodils from the portraits, three on each stamp, of the apply economic sanctions against the
children. She was helped by Prince apartheid regime. The Queen rounded
Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, who Inspecting the Terra-cotta Army off her 60th birthday year with a state
were due to be married in three Queen Elizabeth II visited the now world-famous visit to China in October. It was the first
months’ time. In the evening the entire excavation site of the “terra-cotta warriors” at Xi’an in time a British monarch had ever visited
Royal Family attended a gala at the Shaanxi province in October 1986. She was the first China, ending years of enmity dating
Royal Opera House with a cast headed British monarch to set foot in China. back to the 19th century.

225
Come reign, come shine
Elizabeth rides through pouring rain on to
Horse Guards Parade for the 1983 Trooping
the Color. The ceremony is held each year
on her official birthday in June.
 1980–2000

Diana’s Dresses
Diana was famous throughout the world for her glamorous dress-sense.
Shortly before her death, she selected 10 dresses to be auctioned for charity.
Her other dresses occasionally feature in royal exhibitions.
1 Victor Edelstein dress The Princess of Wales wore this stars and a dramatic fish-tail skirt of layered tulle—to a
midnight blue velvet dress to a state dinner at the White dinner held at Claridge’s Hotel for the President of Greece
House in 1985. At this event she danced with American in 1986. A stamp issued in Togo to commemorate her
actor John Travolta to music from the movie Saturday Night charity work features the Princess of Wales wearing this
Fever (see pp.240–41). It became known as the Travolta dress. 4 Catherine Walker evening gown This sea
dress, and raised £240,000 ($360,000) at an auction in green sequined evening gown is by one of Diana’s favorite
2013. Diana also wore it in her last official portrait designers, Catherine Walker. It was worn by Diana on a
photograph, taken by the Earl of Snowdon, former husband variety of occasions ranging from a state visit to Austria
of Princess Margaret, in 1997. 2 Bruce Oldfield evening in 1989 to the premier of the film Biggles in 1993.
dress This dress was worn by Diana while on royal tour of 5 Catherine Walker gown and jacket This opulent
Saudi Arabia in 1986. This dress was included in the Mughal-inspired dress was made for Diana’s official visit
“Fashion Rules” royal clothing exhibition held at Kensington to India in 1992. Made of pink slubbed silk, the bolero
Palace, London, in 2013. 3 Murray Arbeid dress Diana jacket and bodice are encrusted with opulent embroidery.
wore this dress—a midnight blue creation with diamanté The sleeveless dress is lined in ivory satin.

Long bodice
embroidered
with beads

1 VICTOR 2 BRUCE OLDFIELD

EDELSTEIN DRESS EVENING DRESS

Blue tulle skirt lined

with purple silk

3 MURRAY
ARBEID DRESS

228
 D I A N A’ S D R E S S E S

Bolero jacket with floral

embroidery in corded silk,
embellished with pink
sequins and colored beads

Gathers running
down the center
seam at the front
of the dress

Gold chain-stitched
leaves on bodice

5 CATHERINE WALKER
GOWN AND JACKET

4 CATHERINE WALKER
EVENING GOWN

229
 1980–2000

Charles and Diana Divorce

The marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales fell apart publicly in the early 1990s. Their
mutual accusations—fanned by press speculation and rumor—scandalized, entertained,
and divided the nation. The media came to call the divorce “the war of the Waleses."

T
he cracks that appeared early in the on her own to the Taj Mahal, she was throwing herself down a staircase at precedent—but there was a new factor
marriage of the Prince and Princess photographed sitting alone in front Sandringham. It also exposed Charles’s to be reckoned with: the media. Over
of Wales did not become obvious to of the white marble mausoleum, built long-running affair with Camilla the coming months, it proved impossible
the public for a few years. To the outside by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan Parker Bowles (see pp.264–65). Diana to keep the couple’s increasingly bitter
world, they seemed like a united couple as a memorial to his wife and widely undoubtedly cooperated in the writing estrangement out of the headlines.
and the caring parents of two young regarded as a monument to love. The of the biography and encouraged her A series of leaked phone calls, first
sons. But they began to appear together pose was clearly intended to signal her friends to do so too. The book had a between Diana and a close friend,
less frequently, and when they did, loneliness and isolation. devastating effect on public opinion James Gilbey, and then between
Charles often seemed peevish and by portraying the Royal Family as Charles and Camilla, horrified and
unhappy that Diana was more popular Revelations cold and dysfunctional. enthralled the nation. Meanwhile,
with the crowds than he was, whereas Three months later, English writer In the past, the Royal Family might rumors began to surface that
in the early days of their marriage Andrew Morton published Diana: Her have hoped to cover up Diana was having an affair with
he had been proud to show her off. True Story. This book revealed the marital difficulties her children’s former horse riding
Rumors about the failing marriage details of Diana’s bulimia of the heir to the instructor, James Hewitt.
first broke when Charles and Diana and her attempted throne—a In December 1992, Prime Minister
were on a official visit to India in suicide while pregnant situation that John Major announced to the House
February 1992. When Diana went with William by was not without of Commons that Charles and Diana

Unhappy couple
BE F O RE Charles and Diana attend the State Opening of
Parliament in October 1991. Increasingly, photographs
of the couple showed them staring in different
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker directions, suggesting a rift in the relationship.
Bowles, then Camilla Shand, got to
know each other in the early 1970s.
They frequently met at polo matches
and soon began dating.

THE THIRD IN THE MARRIAGE

Charles’s relationship with Camilla ended
abruptly in 1973, and she married Andrew
Parker Bowles, a cavalry officer with whom
she had had an on-off relationship for some
time. It is doubtful that Camilla would have
been thought a suitable wife for Charles at
this time, even if she had wished to marry him.

CHARLES AND CAMILLA AT A POLO MATCH, 1975

The friendship between Charles and Camilla

appears to have revived in the late 1970s or
early 1980s, before his engagement to Diana
Spencer, who became aware of it just before
or soon after their marriage. Camilla and
Andrew Parker Bowles had two children. They
were divorced in 1995, a year after Charles
admitted to his relationship with Camilla in
his interview with Jonathan Dimbleby.

230
 CHARLES AND DIANA DIVORCE

“ Well, there were three AFTER

of us in this marriage, After the separation was announced,

discussion centred on whether Diana
so it was a bit crowded.” would be allowed to retain the style
of Her Royal Highness, reserved for
DIANA, TO BRITISH JOURNALIST MARTIN BASHIR, ON BBC'S PANORAMA, NOVEMBER 20, 1995 members of the royal family.

were to separate amicably but had continued to attend some LOSS OF TITLE
no plans to divorce, adding that, functions together. Decisions In July 1996, a joint statement issued by
“there is no reason why the Princess had to be made about their Buckingham Palace and Diana’s lawyers
of Wales should not be crowned sons, now at boarding school. announced that Diana would receive a
Queen of England in due course." It was arranged that they lump-sum financial settlement. Just
Diana turned down an invitation to should spend part of each before the divorce was made absolute in
spend that Christmas at Sandringham school vacation at Highgrove, August, letters patent were issued regulating
with the Royal family, but the couple with their father, and part at Panorama interview royal titles after divorce. As she was no
Kensington Palace, with their mother. Diana was able to make her controversial interview longer married to the Prince of Wales,
In December 1993, Diana announced on BBC’s Panorama by keeping the broadcast a Diana would in future be styled “Diana,
her withdrawal from public life. secret from Buckingham Palace until just before Princess of Wales," without the Her Royal
the program was aired. Highness (HRH). She would continue to
Swaying public opinion live at Kensington Palace and, as the
A large proportion of the British a documentary on his life and work. mother of the second and third in line to
public sided with the Princess—she In it he publicly admitted that he had the throne, would be “regarded as a member
was young and attractive, and a been unfaithful to Diana “once the of the Royal Family." Upset by the loss of his
devoted mother. They could not mother’s HRH, Prince William is reported to
understand why Charles should prefer
an older woman, and questioned why
he always seemed so glum. In June
15 MILLION The number
of people who tuned
in to watch Diana's BBC interview.
have said he would give it back to her when
he became king.

1994, in an apparent attempt to make

himself seem more appealing, the marriage had irretrievably
Prince gave a television broken down." His words The Prince’s biography
interview to caused an instant furore and For the completion of the
journalist Jonathan undid any chance the biography, Dimbleby was
Dimbleby as part of program might have had of given access to the Prince’s
restoring his reputation. In own archives—more than
November, the publication 10,000 letters, private
of Dimbleby’s authorized journals, and diaries, none
biography of the Prince of which had ever been
of Wales confirmed made public before.
he was having an affair
with Camilla. early divorce. Charles
A year later, Diana issued a statement
had her revenge by saying he took the same
giving an hour-long view, and declared he
interview on BBC's had no intention of
Panorama. Millions tuned in to remarrying. Diana took
watch ashen-faced Diana, wearing longer to agree, but
minimal makeup except for kohl eventually announced that she
around her eyes, confess to her had instructed her lawyers to begin
adultery with James Hewitt, her negotiating a divorce settlement.
depression and bulimia, and her hurt
over Charles’s affair with Camilla.
Perhaps the most damaging exchanges
came late in the interview when Diana
£17 MILLION ($26 million)
The amount of Diana's
financial settlement.
said she did not think she would ever
be queen, and that she doubted that The terms were agreed upon in July
Charles would adapt to the demanding 1996, and the couple divorced on
role of being king. She also said she August 28 after 15 years of marriage.
had no wish for a divorce.
Changing times
Damage limitation Sixty years earlier, a constitutional
The Queen, however, thought crisis had erupted over Edward VIII’s
otherwise. Too much harm was being decision to marry a twice-divorced
done to the monarchy to allow this woman (see pp.90–91). He chose to
undignified warfare between her son abdicate rather than give her up. Now,
and her daughter-in-law to continue. when Charles eventually becomes
After consulting the prime minister king, he will do so as a divorced and
and the Archbishop of Canterbury, remarried man—a sign of how much
she wrote to both the Prince and the public opinion and the Royal Family
Princess, advising them to seek an have changed through the years.

231
Windsor Castle on fire
Perched high above its towering walls, a firefighter
tackles the flames that swept through Windsor
Castle on November 20, 1992. The blaze was
visible for miles around.
 1980–2000

BE F O RE

The Latin phrase annus horribilis was

suggested to the Queen in a letter
from Sir Edward Ford, a former
The Annus Horribilis
private secretary to George VI. Four days after Windsor Castle had been badly damaged by fire, the Queen referred to 1992
as her annus horribilis (horrible year). The occasion was a speech given at a lunch in London’s
ANNUS MIRABILIS
The phrase was a rueful play on words, Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession.
reversing the more common Latin phrase

T
annus mirabilis (wonderful year). In British he Queen’s voice was noticeably Restoration in progress
history, annus mirabilis usually refers hoarse as she gave her speech A craftswoman works with skill and precision to
to the year 1759, when the British won a on November 24, 1992. She had repair a damaged stained glass window. The task
series of decisive battles against the French in caught a cold on the night of the fire of restoring the castle was completed six months
the Seven Years’ War (1756–63). The while watching the firefighters’ efforts ahead of schedule.
greatest victory of all was the capture of to save Windsor Castle. This added to
Quebec in Canada by General James the bleakness of her words, making to rescue the Castle’s valuable
Wolfe, who sailed up the St. Lawrence River her appear more vulnerable than at collection of works of art and
with a fleet of 50 ships and 5,000 men to lay any other time in her reign. furniture. In the fire, only
siege to the heavily fortified city, and was The Queen had reason to sound one painting—an enormous
killed on the field of battle. rueful—the year 1992 had been equestrian portrait of King George III,
disastrous for the Royal Family. The too big to remove from its frame—
THE DEATH OF separation of the Duke and Duchess of one large sideboard, some pieces of
GENERAL WOLFE
York in March had been followed by porcelain, and several chandeliers
Princess Anne’s divorce from Mark were lost. The damage to the fabric
Phillips in April, the publication of of Windsor Castle was much more
Andrew Morton’s revelations about substantial: St. George’s Hall, the
the marriage of the Prince and Princess announce their separation. The State Dining Room, and the Grand
of Wales in May, and the release of publication of Andrew Morton’s book Reception Room were all severely
scandalous photos of the Duchess of Diana, serialized in The Sunday Times, damaged, with their ceilings wholly
York in August. The leaked tapes of the had exposed the Royal Family to public or partially collapsed.
Princess of Wales’s intimate phone censure as never before and, for once,
conversations, followed by those of not even the Queen escaped the Royal finances
Prince Charles with Camilla Parker barrage of criticism. The fact that three In the immediate aftermath of the blaze,
Bowles, kept the tabloids in a frenzy of her children’s marriages had failed the Heritage Secretary Peter Brooke
throughout the fall. Before the year so publicly was said to reflect badly on suggested that, since the Castle was
was out, Charles and Diana would her and Prince Philip’s parenting skills. uninsured, the government would meet
the cost of repairs, estimated at between

“ 1992 is not a year on which I Windsor Castle fire

The fire that broke out in Windsor
Castle on the morning of November 20
£20 and £40 million ($30 and $60
million. Although the Queen’s plight
had produced a wave of sympathy, it
shall look back with undiluted was a personal tragedy for the Queen,
who regards the Castle as her real
soon became clear that the public was

pleasure… it has turned out home. The fire started in the Private
Chapel in the northeast wing of the 15,000 The number
of fragments
of plaster salvaged from the fire.
Castle and spread rapidly through
to be an annus horribilis.” the State Apartments. More than
35 fire engines and 225 firefighters 100 The number of rooms
damaged in the fire.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, NOVEMBER 24, 1992 were called in to deal with the flames,
which were finally extinguished after not prepared for taxpayers’ money to
15 hours. As night fell, the flames and be used to subsidize repairs to what
smoke engulfing the Castle could be was still largely a private palace,
seen for many miles. although owned by the government.
Prince Andrew, who was present In recent months, the question of
in the Castle at the time, alerted the whether the Queen should lose her
Queen, and she arrived on the scene exemption from paying tax on her
at about 3 p.m. It was her 45th private income had been hotly debated
wedding anniversary; Prince Philip, in the press, with opinion polls
at a conference in Argentina, suggesting that 80 percent of the
consoled her over the phone. Along population was in favor of such a
with members of the Royal Household, move. The government quickly backed
officers and soldiers of the Household down. In her Guildhall speech, the
Cavalry, and policemen from the Queen remarked that “no institution—
royalty protection squad, Prince City, Monarchy, whatever—should
Andrew took part in the human chain expect to be free from the scrutiny of
those who give it their support, not to
Scene of desolation mention those that don’t” and that
Charred roof timbers dating from the 15th century this sort of questioning should act
litter the floor of St George’s Hall. The hall was as an “effective engine for change.”
completely destroyed in the blaze, but has been Two days later, on November 26,
magnificently rebuilt. Prime Minister John Major announced

234
 THE ANNUS HORRIBILIS

AFTER
Diana’s biography four children and Princess Margaret)
The controversial biography of Diana, Princess of herself. She offered to meet 70 percent
Wales, took the Royal Family by surprise. The of the repair costs to Windsor Castle A Restoration Committee, headed
details of her difficult marriage to Prince Charles herself, and planned to open by Prince Philip, the Duke of
were made public. Buckingham Palace (see pp.236–37) Edinburgh, and Prince Charles, was
to the public to help raise the money. set up to oversee the task of restoring
reached earlier in the summer. Some Windsor Castle.
elements of the press, however, were Christmas Day speech leaked
clear that credit for the change should The Queen had to face one more RESTORING THE CASTLE
go to them. The Sun newspaper, which blow before the end of her annus One of the first tasks for the team of
had been campaigning on the issue, horribilis. Two days before Christmas, restoration workers was drying out the walls
boasted, “The Queen Pays Tax and it’s The Sun published the text of the and floors of the State Apartments, which had
Victory for People Power.” Queen’s Christmas Day speech across been soaked by the gallons of water pumped
The full details of the plan were its center pages, breaking the normal into them. The committee decided that some
released early in 1993. In addition embargo rules. The Queen was rooms destroyed by the fire—the Grand
to paying income tax, the Queen described as “very, very distressed” Reception Room, the State Dining Room, and
agreed to restrict Civil List payments and sued The Sun for breach of two drawing rooms—should be restored to
copyright. In a rare climb-down, the their former state, but others should be

£36.5 MILLION The cost

of repairing the
fire damage to Windsor Castle.
newspaper agreed to pay legal costs
of £200,000 ($300,000) to a charity of
the Queen’s choosing.
redesigned. This included St. George’s Hall,
which was reinterpreted in the Gothic style.
The work was completed in time for the Queen
in the House of Commons that the and Prince Philip to celebrate their 50th
Queen and the Prince of Wales had (money from the government) to Reflection on the difficult year wedding anniversary in the restored
volunteered to pay income tax on herself, the Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen’s annus horribilis speech at Guildhall state rooms, where they gave a reception for
their private incomes. The initiative, and the Queen Mother. She would in London came just four days after the Windsor 1,500 contractors, workers, and firefighters.
he said, had come from the Queen fund the other members of the Royal Castle fire. She expressed her sadness at her children’s
herself, and the decision had been Family previously on the Civil List (her broken marriages and the destruction to the castle.
 DECISIVE MOMENT August 7, 1993

Buckingham Palace
opens to the Public
Buckingham Palace had never before been put on public show.
The urgent need to raise funds to pay for the restoration of
Windsor Castle after the fire prompted the Queen’s decision to
open the State Rooms, with their priceless collections of
paintings, furniture, and porcelain, for two months each
summer while she was resident in Scotland.

The decision to invite the public into the heart of Buckingham Palace
came about after a period of intense soul-searching and debate within
the royal household following the Windsor Castle fire (see pp.232–33)
and other events that took place in the annus horribilis (see pp.234–35).
Taken aback by the strength of opposition to the idea that the
taxpayer should help fund the repairs, the Queen’s advisers hoped
that this move would help bring the monarchy closer to the people
and show its willingness to modernize.
On the first day of the opening, 4,314 people paid £8 ($15) each to
visit the palace’s State Rooms, including the 155-ft (47-m) long Picture
Gallery, the State Dining Room, the Green Drawing Room, and the
Throne Room. All group visits—booked in advance—had been sold
for the next three years. The scheme, originally intended to last five
years, proved a huge success, regularly drawing in around 400,000
visitors a year, and the palace continued to open its doors even after
the Windsor Castle restorations had been paid for.
In the early years, there was some criticism that the tour was dull and
uninformative. Since then, more rooms have been opened up and
visitors can now see part of the palace gardens, as well as an exhibition
on a particular theme each year. Buckingham Palace, together with
the Royal Mews and the Queen’s Gallery, which displays items from
the Queen’s fabulous art collection, is now one of London’s top tourist
attractions. The income it generates is plowed back through the Royal
Collection Trust into the upkeep of the royal palaces and their contents.

“ It is indeed not easy

to conceive anything
more splendid.”
ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ART CRITIC, ON JOHN NASH’S DESIGNS
FOR BUCKINGHAM PALACE, 1830

The Green Drawing Room

Visitors are given an extensive tour of the State Rooms,
designed by architect John Nash for King George IV.
The people enter the Throne Room, used by the
Queen for state and ceremonial entertaining, through
the Green Drawing Room.

236
 1980–2000

Wartime Anniversaries
The Queen and the Royal Family led the entire nation in commemorating two significant
50th anniversaries: the D-Day landings of Allied troops on the beaches of Normandy
on June 6, 1944, and the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945.

O
n June 6, 1944, an Allied force members of the Royal Family, together the first time since the war, to
of almost 160,000 American, with heads of state from all the countries revisit the scenes of past exploits,
British, and Canadian troops that had fought on the Allied side in meet up with old friends and, above
landed along an 50-mile (80-km) Normandy, including US President all, to remember with pride former
stretch of coast in Normandy, France. Bill Clinton, French President François comrades who had fallen in the battle
The operation, officially code-named Mitterrand, the kings of Norway and for Normandy. A large contingent
Neptune but commonly known as Belgium, and the prime ministers of veterans marched past the Queen
D-Day, was the largest amphibious of Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, on the beach at Arromanches.
assault in modern history. More than attended the service. President Lech
5,000 ships and landing craft were Wałesa of Poland, President Michal Celebrating the end of the war
mobilized in great secrecy to carry Kovác of Slovakia, and President The events that took place throughout
troops and supplies across the Channel Václav Havel of the Czech Republic Britain and the Commonwealth to
from England. The landings marked were there to honor the sizeable mark the 50th anniversary of the
the start of the invasion of Nazi- contingents of Polish and Czech soldiers end of the war were more celebratory
occupied Europe, which ended in and airmen who had fought with the in nature. A three-day holiday over
Germany’s defeat in May 1945. Allies in 1944. the weekend of May 6–8, 1995,
Later that afternoon the Queen and commemorated the end of the Act of remembrance
Portsmouth remembers her guests went on board Royal Yacht war in Europe. The commemorations The Queen walks among rows of headstones in
Fifty years later, in 1994, the D-Day Britannia to watch a flyby of military began solemnly enough on May 5, the Bayeux War Cemetery—the largest World War II
landings were remembered on both aircraft before reviewing two lines with a ceremony in Westminster Hall cemetery in France—on June 6, 1994.
sides of the Channel. The main of vessels drawn up offshore. These at which the Queen addressed both
commemorative events in England Houses of Parliament. Recalling the we owe our celebrations today.” A
took place in Portsmouth Harbour,
the major departure point for the
invasion fleet in 1944.
54 The number of world
leaders who attended
the service of thanksgiving
memories of war, she urged her
listeners to remember those who
did not come back: “It is to their
state banquet was held the next day
in London’s Guildhall, and on Sunday,
May 7, the Queen and the Royal
They began with a drumhead service, in St. Paul’s Cathedral. courage and heroic sacrifice that Family led the nation in a service
which is usually held on or close to
the field of battle, often with an altar ranged from the huge aircraft carrier
improvised from military drums. USS George Washington, temporary home
On this occasion, the service was to President and Mrs Clinton, the
held on the waterfront and several liner Queen Elizabeth II, and a wartime
upturned drums were used to form an Liberty ship that had been sailed
altar. The combined flags of the Allied from California for the occasion,
nations were prominently displayed. to hundreds of small landing craft
The Queen, Prince Philip, and other and pleasure boats. After the review,
Royal Yacht Britannia headed the
flotilla of ships that carried dignitaries
BEF O RE and veterans across the Channel for
the next day’s events in France.

Large American and British cemeteries Events in Normandy

in Normandy tell of the heavy cost On the morning of June 6, the
of life borne during World War II. Queen and Prince Philip attended a
These became centers of memory for service of remembrance at the military
returning Allied veterans. cemetery in Bayeux, which contains
the graves of more than 4,000 British
D-DAY REMEMBERED and Commonwealth servicemen
The first official commemorations of D-Day who died in Normandy. With other
were held on the 40th anniversary international leaders, the Queen was
in 1984, when US President Ronald present at the international ceremony
Reagan honored the heroes at Pointe on Omaha Beach, where 34,000
du Hoc, Normandy. The ceremony American troops landed on D-Day.
was also attended by She then made her way to the small
the Queen and other town of Arromanches, in sight of
Allied leaders the remains of the floating Mulberry
Harbor that served as the
disembarkation point for troops
COMMEMORATIVE
and supplies throughout the
D-DAY STAMP Normandy campaign. Thousands
of British veterans had returned to
Normandy, many of them for

238
 WARTIME ANNIVERSARIES

AFTER
Flotilla of ships
The Royal Yacht Britannia (center) is seen here
surrounded by tiny boats in the Solent. The USS The Queen was not present for the
George Washington is on the left and the Queen 65th anniversary commemorations
Elizabeth II on the right. of the D-Day landings in 2009; French
President Nicolas Sarkozy issued the
large festival site in London’s Hyde official invitation to Prime Minister
Park, along with displays of World Gordon Brown instead.
War II military vehicles and aircraft.
The highpoint of the celebrations THE LAST OF THE VETERANS
came on Monday May 8, exactly The Queen returned to Normandy for the
50 years after Victory in Europe (VE) 70th anniversary in 2014. She was
Day had united the country in an the only world leader in attendance to
exuberant outburst of rejoicing after have actually witnessed the war. The 70th
five grim years of war. At street parties anniversary would be the last official
throughout Britain, people dressed commemoration of D-Day, as there
of thanksgiving, reconciliation, A festive mood prevailed for most of themselves in 1940s’ style and even were now so few surviving veterans. Despite
and hope in St. Paul’s Cathedral. the weekend in Britain, bringing back replicated wartime recipes. Huge her years, the Queen carried out a full
Germany’s President Helmut Kohl memories of the victory celebrations crowds gathered outside Buckingham program of events, from the service
was among the world leaders who 50 years before. Most newspapers Palace and all the way down The Mall of remembrance in Bayeux cemetery to the
attended the service. Similar printed facsimile front pages from for a concert on the forecourt of the international ceremony on Omaha Beach. She
ceremonies were held over the 1945, with grainy black-and-white Palace, starring the much-loved then returned to Paris for an official state
weekend in Paris, Berlin, and Moscow photographs of Londoners reveling in wartime singer Vera Lynn, “the forces’ banquet given in her honor by Sarkozy’s
as world leaders came together to the fountains of Trafalgar Square and sweetheart.” The Queen Mother, successor, President François Hollande.
demonstrate common purpose in shinning up lampposts in The Mall. Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess
striving for peace. Concerts and picnics took place on a Margaret emerged onto the balcony

“ We remember the dark days of the

Battle of Britain… We remember
when we stood alone in Europe.”
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, AT LAUNCH OF VE DAY COMMEMORATIONS, MAY 5, 1995

to join the crowd in

singing wartime
favourites, such as
“We’ll meet again,”
“There’ll be bluebirds
over the white cliffs of Dover,” and Emotional tribute
“Roll out the barrel.” It was a reprise of Visibly moved by the applause of the crowd, the
the Royal Family’s famous balcony Queen Mother wipes a tear from her eye as she stands
appearance of 50 years before, when between her daughters on the balcony of Buckingham
the three of them had stood beside the Palace on the 50th anniversary of VE Day.
King and Winston Churchill to receive
the rapturous applause of the crowd, days later, on August 15, Japan
and they were visibly moved. Later surrendered unconditionally, bringing
that evening, a nationwide, two- World War II to an end.
minute silence was observed to The Queen headed the national
remember the dead of World War II commemorations held on August 19,
before the Queen lit the first of a chain 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary
of beacons that spread across the of these events. A large crowd
length and breadth of the country. gathered outside Buckingham Palace
for a memorial ceremony attended
The war against Japan by 25,000 veterans of the campaign
While the end of the war was being fought against the Japanese in the
celebrated in Europe in 1945, the jungles of Burma, in which thousands
Allies were still waging a bitter conflict of British and Commonwealth soldiers
against Japan in the Pacific. On died. Thousands more had perished
August 6, 1945, the US dropped the in Japan’s prison camps or as slave
first of two atomic bombs on Japan, labour building railways. After the
with horrific consequences. Just nine ceremony, the veterans marched
past the Queen as a World War II
Commemorative march past Lancaster bomber flew low over the
Standard bearers of the Royal British Legion, Palace to shower the veterans and
the association for British veterans, march over the wet crowds with thousands of red poppies
sands of Gold Beach, where British troops landed symbolizing the sacrifice of all those
in Normandy in 1944. who had died in the war.

239
 INSIGHT November 9, 1985

Diana: A Star is Born

It was at a gala dinner at the White House that Diana took
to the dance floor with Hollywood actor John Travolta.
Images of the princess in a figure-hugging, dark blue velvet
gown being swung around the floor by the world’s most
famed disco dancer announced Diana’s glittering arrival
on the international scene.

The dinner hosted by President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy
came at the beginning of Charles and Diana’s first visit to the US
after their marriage. There was a moment of embarrassment when
the President welcomed her as “Princess David… er, Princess Diane,"
but this was soon forgotten because, in the days that followed, Diana
took the US by storm.
From the naive preschool assistant, who avoided looking directly
at the camera, and the young bride and mother with an uncertain
taste for frills and puffed sleeves, Diana had transformed herself into
a beautiful and self-confident fashion icon, sure of her own taste.
Her favorite designers were Bruce Oldfield, Catherine Walker,
Victor Edelstein, and Versace. In the mid-1980s, she adopted the
“Dynasty” style, named after the popular TV series, which called
for wide shoulders and big hairstyles, but she later championed
the slim sheath dress, stamping it with her individual style and
elegance. Despite her fraught relationship with the paparazzi, no
one understood the power of the image better than she did or could
control the camera more effectively. Whether posing alone in front
of the Taj Mahal, wearing a dazzling evening gown for a gala movie
premiere or a demure white suit to meet Mother Teresa, or dressed
in a crisp chambray shirt and chinos on a minefield in Angola, she
filled the pages of the world press for more than a decade.

“As [Diana] matured, she

was less concerned about
fashion and followed her own
sense of style even more.”
VICTOR EDELSTEIN, DRESS DESIGNER

Iconic gown
Diana included this Edwardian-inspired gown, by
the British designer Victor Edelstein, in the collection
of dresses she auctioned for charity in New York in
June 1997. It was bought for £137,000 ($233,000).

240
 1980–2000

The Death of Diana

On Sunday, August 31, 1997, Britons awoke to the news that Diana, Princess of Wales had died
in Paris from injuries sustained in a car crash. They reacted with shock and disbelief as they
struggled to comprehend that the life of this vibrant, beautiful woman had ended so tragically.

D
iana was in Paris with Egyptian London and the Ritz hotel in Paris. Henri
heir and film producer Dodi Al Paul, deputy head of security at the Ritz,
Fayed, her boyfriend of only a was driving the couple in a Mercedes-
few weeks. They had just returned from Benz from the hotel to Dodi Al Fayed’s
vacationing on a luxury yacht belonging private apartment. They were being
to Dodi’s father, Mohamed Al Fayed, pursued by photographers on
owner of Harrods department store in motorcycles and in cars. At around
12:23 a.m., the car entered an underpass
at an estimated speed of 65 mph
BE F O RE (105 kph). Paul lost control of the car
and it hit a pillar before spinning off to
crash into the tunnel wall. Al Fayed and
Diana’s affair with Dodi Fayed is the driver died at the scene of the
said to have started in July 1997, accident. Diana died in Paris’s Pitié-
when the Princess and her sons Salpêtrière Hospital a few hours later.
vacationed on board Mohamed
Al Fayed’s yacht. The people’s princess
As news of the tragedy spread, one of
the first to pay public tribute to Diana
was British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Addressing the press before he entered
church for the Sunday morning service tributes to Diana outside Kensington Coming home
in his northern constituency, he said, Palace (see pp.244–45). They began Draped in the Royal Standard, the coffin containing
“We are a nation in a state of shock… to ask why the Royal Family was still Diana’s body arrives at Royal Air Force Northolt airfield,
she was the people’s princess.” His at Balmoral, their summer home, close to London. Prince Charles and Diana’s sisters were
words struck an immediate chord with instead of returning to London, and in the plane that carried her back from France.
thousands of grieving Britons, many why the Queen had made Princes
DIANA ON BOARD AL FAYED’S YACHT JONIKAL of whom were already laying floral William and Harry attend church response did not satisfy the tabloids,
which judged that the monarchy was
VACATION SNAPSHOT
A photo of Diana and Dodi kissing “There are lessons to be drawn out of touch with the people.
The Queen had never before
on board his father’s yacht Jonikal, taken come under such direct criticism. One
in late August, made headline news
around the world. It was the first that
from her life and from the headline read, “Speak to us, ma’am,
please speak,” while another demanded
most people knew of the affair. There are
suggestions that Diana herself may have extraordinary and moving “Show us you care.” On September 5,
the Queen returned to Buckingham
alerted the paparazzi to her presence Palace, stopping to look at the floral
on the yacht. reaction to her death.” tributes to Diana outside the gates.
Once inside, she made a live broadcast
ELIZABETH II, FROM A LIVE BROADCAST, SEPTEMBER 5, 1997 from the Chinese Drawing Room, in
which she paid her own personal
straight after learning of their mother’s tribute to Diana as “an exceptional and
death (the fact is that they had asked gifted human being.” Her dignified
to do so). Reflecting the people’s words were well received, suggesting
mood, the press—a portion of which that the storm of hostility whipped up
had been highly critical of Diana only by the press was beginning to abate.
a short while before—joined in the
attacks. These came to focus on why Diana’s funeral
the Union Jack was not flying at Diana’s funeral took place on Saturday,
half-mast over Buckingham Palace. September 6. Over a million people lined
According to royal protocol, the only the 4 mile (6 km) route along which
flag that ever flies over the palace is her coffin, draped with her personal
the Royal Standard, and only when standard, was carried on a gun carriage
the monarch is in residence. It is never from Kensington Palace to Westminster
flown at half-mast. This official Abbey. At St. James’s Palace, the Duke
of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, his
Flowers for Diana two sons, and their uncle Charles
The Queen and Prince Philip examine the floral tributes Spencer joined the procession to walk
outside the gates of Buckingham Palace. They were behind the coffin the rest of the way.
said to have been deeply moved by the expressions of At Buckingham Palace, the Union Jack
love for Diana following her death. was flying at half-mast on the Queen’s

242
 United in grief
Prince William and Prince Harry walk behind their
mother’s coffin, flanked by their father, grandfather,
and uncle. The princes were ages 15 and 12 when
their mother died.

orders. She was waiting at the gates was driving at excessive speed under the
with other members of the Royal influence of both prescription drugs and
Family and bowed her head as the alcohol. None of the photographers AFTER
coffin passed by. arrested after the crash were charged
Some 31.5 million viewers watched with manslaughter. Mohamed Al Fayed
the funeral in Britain, while an was not satisfied with this verdict. He In the years that followed her death, an unofficial memorial when people began
estimated 2.5 billion people viewed it claimed that Diana and his son were several memorials were erected in leaving flowers and messages there soon
live worldwide. During the traditional different locations to commemorate after the Princess’s death.
Church of England funeral service,
Elton John performed a version of his £12.5 MILLION ($20 million)
The cost of the
inquiry into Diana’s death.
Diana’s life and work. Her memory is commemorated by a classical
temple built close to the site of her island
song Candle in the Wind dedicated to REMEMBERING DIANA grave at Althorp. One of the most extraordinary
Diana. In his eulogy, Charles Spencer
took the opportunity to criticize the
press and, indirectly, the Royal Family
250 The number of witnesses
that were interviewed
during the inquiry.
The Princess of Wales Memorial
Playground in Kensington Gardens, close
to her former home, celebrates Diana’s love of
memorials was the bronze statue of
Diana and Dodi placed by Mohamed
Al Fayed at Harrods.
for their treatment of his sister. Many children. It encourages children to explore and
in the congregation applauded. about to announce their engagement, follow their imagination, and has a wooden
Afterward, the coffin was driven to the and that they had been killed by the pirate ship as its centerpiece. The playground
Spencer family home of Althorp where, British secret service to prevent this also features toys and play sculptures.
in a private ceremony, Diana was laid to from happening. He even accused Nearby in Hyde Park, the Diana Memorial
rest on an island in the middle of a lake. Prince Philip of masterminding the plot. Fountain is formed as a stone oval made
In 2004, a British inquest was opened from slabs of Cornish granite. It was opened
Cause of the accident into their deaths, but it did not begin by the Queen in 2004.
Immediately after the crash, the hearing evidence until 2007. In April The Flame of Liberty, built in 1989
paparazzi who had been pursuing 2008 the jury delivered its verdict that in Paris, stands not far from the entrance
the car were blamed for the accident. Diana and Fayed had been killed by the to the tunnel where Diana died. It became DIANA MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN, HYDE PARK
However, the official French report grossly negligent driving of Henri Paul
concluded that the driver, Henri Paul, and the vehicles in pursuit.

243
DECISIVE MOMENT August 31—September 6, 1997

Farewell to Diana
Diana’s death was met with an unprecedented wave of
emotion from the public. Within hours of the news breaking,
people of all ages began to leave bouquets of flowers and
other mementos outside the gates of Kensington Palace. In
places, the pile of flowers was 5 ft (1.5 m) high.

The spontaneous outpouring of grief over Diana’s death was

extraordinarily intense. Many people attached heartfelt messages
to the bouquets explaining that, although they had never met her,
it was as if they had lost a close family member. The waiting time
to sign books of condolence at St. James’s Palace grew to five hours,
then to 11, and the Salvation Army provided free cups of tea to
the lengthening lines. The displays of emotion were not confined
to London—floral tributes sprang up in cities throughout the country,
and people lined up to sign books of condolence all around the world,
from Sydney to New York. In Paris, messages and flowers were placed
at the foot of the Flame of Liberty memorial at the Pont d’Alma, close
to where Diana had died. On the day of her funeral, more than three
million people waited silently on the streets to watch Diana’s coffin
being taken to Westminster Abbey.
In retrospect, the heightened emotions that accompanied Diana’s
death seem inexplicable. Several commentators at the time put the
reaction down to mass hysteria, but there was no doubt that Diana’s
projected personality had struck a chord with the public, and many
people experienced genuine feelings of loss. A large number of the
personal notes written by the public contrasted her warmth and
spontaneity with the supposed coldness of the Royal Family. The
press picked up on this theme. They helped fuel accusations that
the Royal Family was uncaring by questioning why the Union Jack
was not flying at half-mast over Buckingham Palace.

“ I can’t understand this

feeling of pain for someone
who never even knew
my name.”
ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF HANDWRITTEN MESSAGES LEFT FOR DIANA

Floral tributes
Thousands of people left flowers outside Kensington
Palace, Diana's home. It was later estimated that
Londoners had spent £25 million ($42 million) on
1.3 million bouquets. The bottom layer had started
to compost before they were cleared away.

245
 1980–2000

ROYAL RESIDENCE

Balmoral Castle
Built of local granite and bristling with towers and turrets, Balmoral epitomizes the romantic
vision of Scotland prevalent in Victorian England. The Aberdeenshire estate has been the
private property of the Royal Family since 1852, when it was acquired by Prince Albert.

Q
ueen Victoria and Prince Albert ever more enamored of the property, bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom
first visited Scotland in 1842, they began negotiations to buy out Brunel was erected over the Dee
two years after their marriage. the landowner in 1849, with a view providing a direct link between
Captivated by its beauty, which Albert to building a completely new house. Balmoral and the village of Crathie,
felt was “very Germanic,” it was the Meanwhile, Albert came up with an home to many of the estate workers.
first of several visits. Their enthusiasm interim solution to their space issue. Victoria and Albert’s fondness for all
undampened by their experience Inspired by a display at the Great things Scottish had a powerful impact
of the rainy weather, they set about Exhibition of 1851, he ordered a on the castle interior. Tartan appeared
finding a highland retreat of their own. prefabricated iron building to serve as a everywhere: carpets were woven in
temporary ballroom and dining room, red Royal Stewart and green Hunting
A highland paradise which remained in use until 1856. Stewart; curtains and upholstery
The search began in Deeside at the Albert and Victoria finally managed covers in Dress Stewart. They even
suggestion of the royal physician, who to buy the Balmoral estate, and that designed their own tartans, the Queen
recommended the area for its gentler of neighboring Birkhall, outright in creating Victoria tartan, and Albert,
climate. Advised by Lord Aberdeen— 1852. On September 28, 1853, Victoria Balmoral; both are still used as royal
who had inherited the lease on the laid the foundation stone of their new tartans today. The decor was not to
estate from his brother—the royal house on a site just to the north of the everyone’s taste: visiting in 1855, the
couple bought the lease on Balmoral existing building. It was designed by Duchess of Kent’s lady-in-waiting,
blind. Both instantly loved the estate local Aberdeen architect William Smith Lady Augusta Bruce, admired many
when they arrived there for the first with “amendments” by Prince Albert. of the ornaments, but felt “a certain
time in September 1848. “All seemed The result was an extremely cleverly absence of harmony of the whole,”
to breathe freedom and peace, and to planned country house formed of two adding that the tartans were all “highly
make one forget the world and its sad quadrangular blocks, broadly arranged characteristic and appropriate, but not
turmoils,” wrote Victoria in her diary. on a diagonal, each with its own all equally flatteux to the eye.” ❯❯
Albert, on the other hand, found that courtyard, and a passage linking them
the landscape reminded him of his together. One block was devoted to
Thuringian roots, and prominent the kitchen, household offices, and the
artists including Edwin and Charles ballroom (the only public room); the Vacation home
Landseer were soon commissioned other provided the family and intimate The Queen spends about 10 weeks at the castle every
to paint Balmoral landscapes. guests with the privacy they craved. year, from August to October, relaxing on horseback
The house was deemed pretty, but it The royal apartments were ready in in the seclusion of the estate. She occasionally appears
was far too small to meet the needs of time for the fall visit in 1855; the old at local events: here she is pictured in 1967 at the
their growing family and a stream of house was used by the servants until North of Scotland Gun Dog Association’s Open Stake
official visitors. The initial plan to the construction finished the following Retriever Trials—held at Balmoral—with trial judge
extend the house was soon abandoned: year, then it was demolished. Finally, a Lord Porchester and head gamekeeper James Gillan.

THE QUEEN FOLLOWING GUN DOG TRIALS IN 1967

ELIZABETH II ON VACATION AT BALMORAL IN 1971 TURRETS AND CRENELLATIONS ARE TYPICAL OF SCOTTISH BARONIAL ARCHITECTURE

246
Balmoral south front
The walled garden laid out by Queen Mary in
the 1920s, complete with monogrammed gates,
enhances the castle’s fairy-tale setting at the
heart of the Cairngorm National Park.
 1980–2000

❯❯ Balmorality interest in country pursuits. According Today, the 50,000 acre (20,000
An advocate of the benefits of fresh air, to Henry Campbell-Bannerman it was hectares) estate remains the private
Victoria reveled in the freedom of the just like a convent: “We meet at meals, property of the royal family, who
secluded surroundings, often going for breakfast at 9:45, lunch 2, dinner 9, continue to spend summer vacations
long walks while Albert hunted deer and when we have finished each is off there. It is a working estate, rich in
and game. The Queen observed a strict to his cell.” Czar Nicholas II had hoped wildlife, with grouse moors, forest, and
farmland, as well as managed herds of

“The weather is awful, rain and wind Highland cattle, ponies, and deer, but
the grounds, gardens, and ballroom are
open to visitors at specified times of
every day and, on top of it, no luck year. With landscapes ranging from
the Dee river valley to lochs and open
at all—I haven’t killed a stag yet.” mountains including seven Munros—
hills over 3,000ft (910m)—it is one of
NICHOLAS II, CZAR OF RUSSIA, IN A LETTER TO HIS MOTHER, 1896 the most beautiful parts of Scotland.

daily routine of walking, answering to enjoy some family time with his
State correspondence, and writing her new wife (Victoria’s granddaughter)
diaries that continued after Albert’s and infant daughter when they visited Artists in residence
death, when she spent increasingly Balmoral in 1896; instead he endured James Giles and James Roberts were two of many
long periods at Balmoral. Castle guests long days hunting with the Prince of artists commissioned by Victoria and Albert to capture
were expected to adhere to a similarly Wales followed by heavy discussions interiors and landscapes before and after the new
rigid timetable—Victoria simply on European affairs with the Queen castle was built. Old Balmoral was demolished in 1856;
assumed her visitors shared the same and Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury. a stone in the lawn marks the position of its front door.

DINING ROOM, OLD BALMORAL (JAMES GILES,1855) BILLIARD ROOM AND LIBRARY, OLD BALMORAL (JAMES GILES,1855)

PRINCE ALBERT’S SITTING ROOM, OLD BALMORAL (JAMES ROBERTS, C.1860)

248
Queen Victoria’s bedroom, c.1880–1890
Balmoral was intended as a private house, and was
fairly simply furnished. With no one to please but
themselves, Victoria and Albert indulged a passion
for all things tartan—from carpets to tablecloths.
1980–2000

Born 1964

The Earl
of Wessex
“I love... show business.
It’s a wonderful world
of fantasy.”
PRINCE EDWARD, 1987

T
he Queen’s youngest son
was born on March 10, 1964,
at Buckingham Palace and
christened Edward Antony Richard
Louis. At the time of his birth he
was third in line of succession; he is
currently ninth. His first public
appearance was at the age of 3
months, when the Queen carried
Edward in her arms on the balcony
of Buckingham Palace after the
Trooping the Colour ceremony.
At the age of 13 Prince Edward went
to Gordonstoun school in Scotland,
following in his father’s and brothers’
footsteps. He was elected guardian
(head boy) for his last term and left
with A-levels in History, English
Literature, and Economic and Political
Studies. After a gap term spent Real tennis player
teaching at a school in Wanganui, Edward took up real tennis at university. Also known as
New Zealand, he went to Jesus College, royal tennis, the game is much older than lawn tennis.
Cambridge, to study history—his He met his future wife Sophie at a real tennis charity
admission caused some controversy competition he had organized.
at the time because his grades were
below the standard normally required furious with Edward for breaking with
for entry. During his time at Cambridge royal tradition by not following his
he acted in and produced a number of brothers into the armed services.
student shows. Edward opted instead for a career
in entertainment, but his first foray
Choice of career plunged him into fresh controversy
After leaving university in 1986, Prince when he helped stage The Grand
Edward joined the Royal Marines as a Knockout Tournament—nicknamed It’s
university cadet but dropped out after a Royal Knockout—for charity on British
completing one-third of the grueling television in June 1987. In the show,
12-month training course. Some in the four members of the Royal Family—
media criticized his decision to quit, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, and
and Prince Philip was said to be the Duke and Duchess of York—each
captained a team of celebrities, urging
Stage-struck prince them on to greater feats in rough-and-
Prince Edward’s decision to follow a career tumble games. The press panned the
in entertainment rather than the army, as show, and it is remembered as an
was royal tradition, was criticized at embarrassment; however, it succeeded
the time but it revealed that he had in raising over £1 million ($1.5 million)
a streak of quiet determination. for charity.
 THE EARL OF WESSEX

TIMELINE
■ March 10, 1964 Born at Buckingham
Palace; christened Edward Antony
Richard Louis.
■ September 1972 Goes to Heatherdown
Preparatory School near Ascot, Berkshire.
■ 1977–82 Attends Gordonstoun school;
elected guardian (head boy) in the last
term; attains three A-levels.
■ 1982 Spends part of his gap year teaching
at a school in New Zealand.
■ 1983–86 Studies history at Jesus College,
University of Cambridge.
■ 1986 Gains a Gold Award in the Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award program.
■ 1987 Fails to complete Royal Marines
university cadet training course.
■ June 15, 1987 Organizes a charity fundraiser
event, The Grand Knockout Tournament,
on television.
■ 1988 Joins the Really Useful Group, a theater
company founded by Andrew Lloyd Webber,
as a production assistant.
■ 1993 Sets up an independent television
company, Ardent Productions, under the
Home office Prince William’s privacy during his time than a royal duke, on marriage. name Edward Windsor.
At one time, Ardent Productions was housed in the at St. Andrews University, Edward left Edward’s choice of Wessex as his title
■ 1993 Meets Sophie Rhys-Jones, a public
stable block of Bagshot Park in Surrey, the family home the company to support the Queen showed his love of theater—he is said
relations professional, at a real tennis
of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. during her Golden Jubilee year. to have borrowed the title from a
charity event.
fictional character in the movie
■ June 19, 1999 Marries Sophie Rhys-Jones
In January 1988, Buckingham Palace Marriage Shakespeare in Love (1998).
at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle; they
announced that Prince Edward was In January 1999, Edward announced At first, Sophie, who became Her
become the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
joining the Really Useful Group, the his engagement to Sophie Rhys-Jones, Royal Highness the Countess of
theater company founded by composer a public relations executive he had met Wessex on marriage, continued to ■ 2001 Sophie gives an interview to an
Andrew Lloyd Webber. His job of in 1993. Their wedding on June 19 work for her own public relations undercover reporter, in which she appears
production assistant was described as was a low-key event compared with agency, but she resigned in 2002 to to use her royal status to benefit her agency.
being on “the very lowest rung” of the those of his elder siblings. It was held devote more time to her royal duties. ■ December 6, 2001 Sophie is admitted to
theatrical ladder. Five years later, in in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor She has performed more than 3,250 hospital with an ectopic pregnancy.
1993, Prince Edward formed Ardent Castle, rather than in Westminster public engagements since joining the ■ March 2, 2002 Edward announces that he
Productions, which produced a Abbey, and the guest list was much Royal Family. Edward and Sophie and Sophie will quit their respective companies,
number of television documentaries smaller—not even the then Prime frequently travel abroad on behalf Ardent Productions and RJH Public Relations,
and dramas but failed to make a profit. Minister Tony Blair was invited. In of the Queen and the Foreign Office. to support the Queen.
In 2002, not long after an Ardent film another break with tradition, the They made a tour of the Caribbean ■ November 8, 2003 Their daughter, Lady
crew was alleged to have invaded Queen made Edward an earl, rather during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Louise Windsor, is born prematurely.
year, and often act as the Queen’s ■ August 1, 2004 The Queen appoints Prince
personal representatives at events Edward her personal aide-de-camp.
THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX
involving foreign royalty. In recent
■ April 23, 2006 Prince Edward becomes a
SOPHIE RHYS-JONES years, Edward has taken on many of
Royal Knight of the Order of the Garter.
his father’s causes and organizations,
Born on January 20, 1965, Sophie particularly the Duke of Edinburgh’s ■ December 17, 2007 Their son, James,
Viscount Severn, is born.
Rhys-Jones is the daughter of Award program. It is known that the
Christopher and Mary Rhys-Jones. Queen would like him to succeed ■ January 20, 2010 Sophie is appointed a
Her father was a businessman and to the title of Duke of Edinburgh Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
she was brought up in Kent. Upon when it reverts to the Crown in ■ February–March 2012 The Earl and Countess
graduation, she embarked on a career due course. of Wessex visit nine Caribbean countries for
in public relations, working for a time The couple have two children, Lady the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
for Capital Radio before launching her Louise Windsor and James, Viscount
own agency, RJH Public Relations, in Severn. Both were born in Frimley
1996. She met Prince Edward at a real Park Hospital, a National Health
tennis charity event in 1993. Their Service (NHS) hospital. They are
relationship began soon afterward, styled as the children of an earl, rather
and they were married six years later. than a royal duke, so do not use the
In 2001, an undercover reporter HRH style The family home is at
recorded her appearing to use her Bagshot Park, a royal residence in
royal status to gain clientele for her Surrey that Prince Edward rents from
agency. This was firmly denied. the Crown. A 19th-century palatial
She is said to get along very well country house of Anglo-Indian style, it EDWARD AND SOPHIE WITH THEIR CHILDREN
with the Queen. was once the home of Queen Victoria’s
son Arthur, the Duke of Connaught.

251
 TODAY’S
ROYAL FAMILY
2000–PRESENT

Gilded bone china plate commemorating

Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, 2012
 2000–PRESENT

TODAY’S ROYAL FAMILY

2000–PRESENT
2000 2003 2006
JANUARY 1, 2000 MARCH 20, 2003 JULY 1, 2007
Queen Elizabeth II officially British land troops Princes William and
opens the Millennium Dome take part in the Harry host Concert
in Greenwich, London. US-led coalition for Diana at Wembley
invasion of Iraq. Stadium to mark the
AUGUST 4, 2000 forthcoming 10th
The Queen Mother anniversary of their
celebrates her mother’s death.
100th birthday.
Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Mug commemorating Prince William and
the Queen Mother’s Prince Harry hosting
100th birthday “Concert for Diana”

SEPTEMBER 21, 2001 NOVEMBER 2003 APRIL 9, 2005 MARCH 1, 2006 DECEMBER 2007
The Queen’s message— A Daily Mirror reporter Prince Charles and Camilla The Queen opens the James, Viscount Severn,
“Grief is the price we pay for APRIL 2002 reveals he faked references Parker Bowles are married Senedd—the debating son of the Earl and
love”—is read by the British The Queen Mother’s funeral to obtain a job as footman in a civil ceremony, followed chamber of the National Countess of Wessex, is
ambassador to the US, Sir is held on April 9, at at Buckingham Palace. by a service of blessing in Assembly for Wales—in Cardiff. born on December 17.
Christopher Meyer, at the Westminster Abbey, followed St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Royal Channel, the
prayer service for the 67 by burial at St. George’s Camilla becomes the Duchess APRIL 2006 official channel of
British victims of the 9/11 NOVEMBER 8, 2003 of Cornwall. Prince Harry is commissioned the British monarchy
terrorist attack in New York. 29 APRIL 2002 Lady Louise Windsor, into the Household Cavalry goes live on YouTube
The Queen attends dinner with the daughter of the Earl and on April 12. The Queen on December 23.
the five living prime ministers Countess of Wessex, is born. celebrates her 80th
Family photograph after Prince
who have served under her. Charles and Camilla’s wedding birthday on April 21.

OCTOBER 7, 2001 JUNE 1–4, 2002 JANUARY 6, 2004

Britain joins the US invasion The Queen’s Golden The coroner’s inquest
force to drive out the Jubilee is celebrated with into the deaths of Diana
Taliban and expel Al-Qaeda a weekend of events, and Dodi Al-Fayed opens
from Afghanistan. including “The Party in in London.
the Palace” in the
DECEMBER 2001 Buckingham Palace garden. JANUARY 8, 2004
Lucian Freud’s The Queen names the
controversial portrait of Queen Mary 2, the first
the Queen is exhibited. major transatlantic liner
The Queen en route to built in more than 30 years.
It is widely criticized St. Paul’s Cathedral for a
as unflattering. Golden Jubilee service

JULY 6, 2004
The Queen opens the
Diana Memorial Fountain
in Hyde Park, London.

FEBRUARY 9, 2002 JULY 25, 2002 JANUARY 30, 2005 JUNE 23, 2005 DECEMBER 10, 2006 MARCH 26, 2008
Princess Margaret The Queen opens the Pictures of Prince Harry Prince William graduates Zara Phillips, the daughter of The Queen welcomes
dies peacefully in her Commonwealth Games wearing a swastika from the University of Princess Anne, is voted BBC French President Nicolas
sleep at the age of 71. in Manchester. armband to a private St. Andrews, Scotland. Sports Personality of the Year. Sarkozy and his wife,
costume party appear Carla Bruni, on a state
MARCH 30, 2002 NOVEMBER 1, 2002 in the press. DECEMBER 15, 2006 visit to the UK.
The Queen Mother Paul Burrell, former butler Catherine Middleton attends
dies at the age of 101. to Diana, the Princess of Prince William’s passing out APRIL 7, 2008
Wales, is cleared of stealing parade at Sandhurst. The inquest into
from her estate. the death of Diana
records a verdict of
accidental death.

254
 T O D AY ’ S R O YA L F A M I LY

The first decade and a half of the 21st century saw public affection Prince Harry taking on greater responsibilities. Both pursued army
for Queen Elizabeth II soar with every milestone she passed—her careers. The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
Golden and Diamond Jubilees were both national celebrations. in 2011 was a worldwide event, as was the birth of their first son,
Her son Charles, the Prince of Wales, married again, and the royal George, two years later. In 2015, the Queen became the longest-
grandchildren began to take center stage, with Prince William and reigning monarch in British history.

2009 2012 2014

JANUARY 2009 FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY 6, 2012 AUGUST 30, 2012 JANUARY 17, 2014 OCTOBER 16, 2014
Prince William begins training Prince William makes The Queen marks the The Queen opens the Mia, the daughter of Zara The Queen visits the ceramic
as an RAF helicopter pilot. a special visit to New 60th anniversary of her Paralympic Games Philips and Mike Tindall, is born. poppy installation at the Tower
Zealand following the accession to the throne. in London. of London remembering the
SEPTEMBER 2009 Christchurch earthquake. APRIL 7–23, 2014 dead of World War I.
The Princes set up their own The Duke and Duchess of
charitable foundation: APRIL 29, 2011 APRIL 1, 2012 Cambridge tour New Zealand OCTOBER 24, 2014
Foundation of Prince William Prince William and The Civil List is replaced Commemorative and Australia The Queen sends her
and Prince Harry, renamed the Catherine Middleton by the Sovereign collection for the Queen’s with Prince first tweet.
get married in Diamond Jubilee George.
Royal Foundation of the Duke Grant—a single annual
and Duchess of Cambridge and Westminster Abbey. government grant.
Prince Harry in 2011.

JUNE 2–5, 2012

The Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee is celebrated
with a pageant of
boats on the Thames
River and a pop
concert outside
Buckingham Palace.

Wedding portrait of
William and Catherine
with the little attendants

JUNE 5–7, 2014 MAY 2, 2015

The Queen visits France for Duchess of Cambridge
the 70th anniversary of the gives birth to her
SEPTEMBER 2012 D-Day landings. second child, Charlotte.
Prince Harry is deployed
to Afghanistan as an JULY 23, 2014 JUNE 24–26, 2015
Apache copilot gunner. The Queen opens the The Queen and Duke of
Commonwealth Games Edinburgh make a state
in Glasgow. visit to Germany.

MAY 11, 2010 MAY 17–20, 2011 JULY 2012 APRIL 17, 2013
After the general election The Queen makes a The Queen officially The Queen and Duke of
on May 6 results in a hung state visit to Ireland. opens the Summer Edinburgh attend Margaret
parliament, David Cameron Olympic Games in Thatcher’s funeral in
becomes Prime Minister in a JULY 2011 London on July 27. Zara St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Conservative-Liberal coalition Duke of York relinquishes role Phillips wins a silver medal
government. as UK Special Representative with the British eventing
for Trade and Investment. team on July 31.
JUNE 15–21, 2010
JULY 30, 2011
Princes William and Harry
On Zara Phillips marries English
make their first joint tour
rugby player Mike Tindall. Zara Phillips competes in Harry and Zara at
to southern Africa. the London 2012 Olympics the Invictus Games

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 JULY 22, 2013

Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge
Middleton are engaged. gives birth to her first
son, George.
DECEMBER 9, 2010
Student protesters attack a car SEPTEMBER 10–14, 2014 SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
carrying Prince Charles and the The first Invictus Games for The Queen becomes the
Duchess of Cornwall in London. wounded soldiers are held longest reigning monarch
in London. in British history.
DECEMBER 29, 2010
The Queen’s first great SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
grandchild, Savannah Scotland rejects independence
Phillips, is born. by voting in a referendum.

255
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O RE

The Duchy was founded in 1337

by Edward III for his eldest son,
Edward, the Black Prince, who
The Duchy of Cornwall
became the first Duke of Cornwall In addition to being the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles is also the Duke of Cornwall. Founded as
at just 7 years of age. a source of private income for the heir to the throne, the Duchy of Cornwall’s revenues today
THE BLACK PRINCE support the public, private, and charitable activities of Prince Charles and his immediate family.
As an adult, the Black Prince spent much

A
of his time in France— fighting to lthough Cornwall is often When in 1337, Edward III created the boy—will inherit the throne, a woman
reclaim the French crown for referred to as “The Duchy,” the Duchy of Cornwall for his son, the Black cannot inherit the Duchy of Cornwall.
his father. However, in Cornwall he estate actually includes land Prince, and for all future “first-begotten” If the monarch has no male children,
was considered to be a benevolent throughout the southwest of England – sons and “heirs apparent to the kingdom the rights and responsibilities of the
landlord. When Cornwall and the rest only 13 percent of the estate is in of England,” its charter renounced the Duchy belong to the Crown and there
of England were in the grip of the Black Cornwall. Since it was founded by King’s rights to tax revenues within the is no Duke.
Death, he alleviated suffering Edward III, the extent of the estate has Duchy, and stated that royal ministers,
by letting his tenants live rent free, varied, as lands were bought and sold. sheriffs, or bailiffs had no right to enter The Duchy today
and commanded that the Duchy animals Today the Duchy includes 131,297 the territory. Although Prince Charles Prince Charles is the longest-ever
grazing on Dartmoor be given to the poor. acres (53,134 hectares) of land spread has volunteered to pay income tax serving Duke of Cornwall, having
over 24 counties. Almost half of the (see p.235), the Duchy estate is not inherited the Duchy of Cornwall on
holdings are in Devon, with others in subject to corporation tax on the the death of King George VI in 1952.
Herefordshire, Somerset, and Wales. grounds that it is a private estate; the He became the 24th Duke of Cornwall
The Oval cricket ground in London is Duchy retains the right to appoint a at just 4 years old on the Queen’s
also part of the Duchy—dating back to High Sheriff; and although the first-born accession to the throne. In 1969, at
the days when it was a market garden. child of a monarch—whether girl or the age of 21, he became responsible
The Duchy includes arable and
livestock farms, residential and
commercial properties, forests, rivers,
quarries, coastline—and the new town
of Poundbury, created in the 1990s.
Many of the Duchy’s holdings and
laws date back to the medieval era –
indeed, some have their origin in ancient
Celtic and Anglo-Saxon law—prompting
accusations of anachronistic feudalism.
The Duchy has the right of bona
vacantia—a right to the estates of anyone
in Cornwall who dies without a will
or surviving relatives. This is paid
into a charitable account that funds
The Isles of Scilly environmental and community projects.
The Duchy of Cornwall owns most of the Scilly Isles, It also has the right to appoint the
and is the archipelago’s port authority, based at county’s High Sheriff, is the port
St. Mary’s. Several of its properties are vacation authority for the Isles of Scilly, and
homes, run on environmentally friendly principles. owns about three-fifths of the Cornish
foreshore. The Duke has “right of wreck”
on all ships wrecked on Cornish shores,

“ My whole
as well as to any “royal fish,” such as
whales, porpoises, and sturgeon, washed
up on its beaches.
aim was to The origins of the Duchy
In Saxon times, Cornwall and Wales
repair the were not ruled by England—indeed
King Athelstan (see p.12) set the English
damage, border along the Tamar River—and their
independence survived the Norman
Conquest. William the Conqueror’s
to heal the half-brother, Robert of Mortain acquired
Cornwall in 1072, and the Domesday
wounds, as Book, compiled 14 years later, shows
that Cornish landowners owed

it were, of the allegiance only to Mortain, not, as in

the rest of the country, to the King.

countryside.” Educating the next duke

Prince William and Prince Charles check on their
PRINCE CHARLES, MAY 2006 rare-breed Ayrshire dairy cattle on the Highgrove
estate. Prince William will inherit the Duchy of
Cornwall when his father accedes to the throne.

256
 THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL

AFTER
Visit to Waitrose store
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the
Waitrose store in Belgravia, London, on September 10, When Prince Charles accedes to
2009. Duchy Originals was set up by Prince Charles to the throne, the Duchy of Cornwall
promote sustainable organic food and to raise money will pass to Prince William.
for his charities.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
many ancient and historical sites and As King, Charles will become Duke
monuments on its lands. The Duchy of Lancaster in succession to the
also owns most of the land, and almost Queen. Similar to the Duchy of Cornwall,
one-third of the residential buildings the Duchy of Lancaster is held in
on the Scilly Isles, where it promotes trust for a Royal Family member, in
sustainable tourism. It even has its own this case the Sovereign. Revenues
environmentally friendly vacation from its properties provide his or
cottages on the islands, in Cornwall, her main source of income.
and also in Wales.
THE FUTURE DUKE
The future of the Duchy Prince Charles has already taken measures
The Duchy has also given to prepare Prince William to take
Prince Charles the over the Duchy of Cornwall. Since
opportunity to put into 2011, Prince William has attended
practice the architectural the twice-yearly meetings of the Prince’s
and social theories in his Council, which controls the Duchy.
for the managing of the Duchy—and a pioneer in the field. book, A Vision of Britain. According to a Clarence House spokesman,
entitled to its income. Managed hands-on by In 1994 the Duchy William“… has been learning about
The Duchy of Cornwall’s portfolio of Prince Charles, the estate created Poundbury, an the Duchy for a number of years with
land and property is valued at £763 has been built and is experimental new town a view to getting a greater understanding
million ($1.1 billion). In 2013 the Duchy run on the philosophy Oat biscuit with the Duchy crest outside Dorchester. of how it all works.”
generated £28.8 million ($43.2 million), that commercial Oat biscuits are part of a brand of organic With houses built in
success can be balanced food sold in Waitrose stores in Britain. The a mix of traditional

205 The total extent of

lands in square miles
(531 sq kilometers) held by the
with environmental
and social
responsibility. The
Duchy Originals company was set up by
Prince Charles in 1990.
and classical styles, the
town was designed as a
“walkable community,”
1337—rents on its properties have been
frozen to make them affordable for
Duchy of Cornwall. commercial success has been huge— with stores, leisure facilities, and elderly tenants. The Duchy—a complex
with the Duchy’s income doubling residential areas integrated, rather than mix of arcane ancient tradition and
and Charles received an income of between 2012 and 2013. One success segregated as they are in many modern contemporary ecological and social
£19 million ($28.5 million)—up story is the Duchy Originals brand—set towns and cities. The Duchy has responsibility—will likely to continue
4 percent on the previous year. The up in 1990 to market its produce. Now undertaken similar projects in Truro to cause controversy, but the
Prince pays income tax on the money owned by Waitrose, a chain of British and Newquay, while in Kennington, commitment of Prince Charles to
left after costs—around £9.2 million supermarkets, the brand is known London—where it has owned land since his estate remains unquestionable.
($13.8 million) in 2013—so his tax bill as Duchy Originals from Waitrose.

“ I have tried to break

was £4.4 million ($6.6 million). The It pays royalties of around £1 million
vestiges of the ancient laws defining the ($1.5 million) each year back to the
Duchy mean that only the Royal Family, Prince’s Charitable Foundation.
its advisors, and HM Revenue and
Customs currently know what the
Home Farm is the Duchy’s flagship,
playing an important role in preserving conventional molds because
Prince claims as his expenses before tax. rare indigenous breeds such as
Prince Charles has silenced some critics
by offering to pay tax, but the demand
Tamworth pigs, Irish Moiled, Gloucester,
Shetland and British White cattle, as
I think they are mistaken.”
for more transparency continues. well as Hebridean and Shropshire sheep. PRINCE CHARLES, MAY 2006
Labour MP Margaret Hodge, chairing When British farmers complained about
the House of Commons Public Accounts how hard it was to sell mature sheep,
Committee, said, “The Duchy enjoys an Prince Charles headed the Mutton
exemption from paying tax even though Renaissance campaign, to encourage
it engages in a range of commercial British families to eat more mutton.
activities. This tax exemption may give it The Duchy includes many areas
an unfair advantage over its competitors of outstanding natural beauty and
who do pay corporation and capital gives much support to conservation
gains tax.” There have consequently projects. It makes regular contributions
been calls for the Duchy’s centuries-old to projects such as the Fishing for
charter, which confers it its tax-exempt Litter initiative, which encourages
status, to be reformed. fishermen to bring ashore litter caught
in their nets at sea. It also works
Sustainable farming with English Heritage to manage the
The Duchy of Cornwall has given Prince
Charles the opportunity to put his New Highgrove Farm shop
passions for sustainable agriculture Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall opening
and organic farming into practice. The the new Highgrove Farm Shop on the High Street,
Duchy Home Farm, in the grounds of Tetbury. The shop sells gifts inspired by Highgrove
Highgrove House, has been entirely or made from organic produce cultivated on the
organic since 1985, making the Prince estates and farms of the Duchy of Cornwall.

257
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O RE

As the Queen Mother became

celebrated for her longevity, well-
wishers would gather outside Clarence
House every year on August 4, her
birthday, to congratulate her.

100TH BIRTHDAY
More than 40,000 people were in
the Mall on the Queen Mother’s 100th
birthday in 2000 to greet her as she stepped
out onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace,
accompanied by her daughters. That
morning, the Queen, following her practice
of congratulating all centenarians on their
birthday, had a handwritten telegram
delivered to Clarence House, the Queen
Mother’s residence. The Queen Mother was
one of 12 centenarians celebrating
their birthdays that day.
Other 100th birthday celebrations for the
Queen Mother included a lunch at Guildhall,
London, on June 27. A pageant in her honor
was held at Horse Guards Parade on July 19.
It included marching bands, carnival floats,
choirs, racehorses, Aberdeen Angus bulls,
and even camels. The Queen Mother,
accompanied by Prince Charles, arrived
at the pageant in an open carriage. At the
end of the hour-long festivities, she thanked
all who had attended, saying the parade
had been “a great joy” to her.

Mother and daughters

This portrait of the Queen Mother with the Queen
and Princess Margaret was taken by celebrated
fashion and portrait photographer Norman Parkinson
for the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday in 1980.

Two Royal Farewells

The year 2002—the 50th of her reign—began on a sad note for Her Majesty the Queen.
Within the space of eight weeks she lost her sister, Princess Margaret, on February 9,
followed by her mother, the Queen Mother, on March 30, at the age of 101.

P
rincess Margaret, four years photographer Antony Armstrong- 50th anniversary of the burial of her
younger than Queen Elizabeth II, Jones (Lord Snowdon), their stormy father, King George VI. The mourners
died while hospitalized at the age relationship and divorce, and gossip were headed by the Queen and Prince
of 71. She had been ill for many years about her private life dominated the Philip, and by Princess Margaret’s
and had suffered the first of a series of newspaper headlines in the 1960s and children, Viscount Linley and Lady
strokes in 1998. To those born after 1970s. Margaret had sometimes seemed Sarah Chatto, and Lord Snowdon, her
1960, Princess Margaret seemed like a bored by her royal duties and was former husband. The Queen Mother,
remote figure, but an older generation judged by some to have been haughty who had had a chest infection since
remembered the young princess of and extravagant, but she was always Christmas, attended the service in a
the 1950s who loved nightclubs and unfailing in her loyalty to her sister. wheelchair, having been flown by
the theater. In the light of recent royal Despite their different lifestyles, she helicopter from Sandringham the day
divorces and scandal, it was now hard and the Queen remained very close. before. Princess Margaret had planned
to believe she had been prevented from many details of the funeral herself, Centennial menu
marrying the man she loved, Captain Margaret’s funeral including the choice of hymns, and The roundels on the menu for the Queen Mother’s
Peter Townsend, because he was Princess Margaret’s funeral service was had also requested that her body be centennial lunch show four places connected with her
divorced (see pp.154–55). Margaret’s held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, cremated. After the service, her coffin life (clockwise from top left): Clarence House, Royal
subsequent marriage to the successful on February 15, which was also the was driven by hearse to Slough Lodge, Glamis Castle, and the Castle of Mey.

258
 T W O R O YA L F A R E W E L L S

“ My mother... had an infectious Silent vigil

Wearing the dress
uniform of a Rear
zest for living.” Admiral, Prince Charles
mounts guard at a
FROM THE QUEEN’S TRIBUTE, APRIL 5, 2002 corner of the Queen
Mother’s catafalque.
municipal crematorium, and her ashes tributes to the Queen Mother poured Her three other grandsons
were later returned to St. George’s in from members of the public as well stood at the other corners
Chapel for interment in the Royal Vault. as national and international leaders, in a shared moment of
books of condolence were opened solemn tribute.
Death of the Queen Mother at locations including St. James’s
After attending the funeral of Princess Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse high catafalque
Margaret, the Queen Mother returned in Edinburgh, and Windsor Castle. (coffin support)
to the Royal Lodge, Windsor, her in the hall. Over
country residence since Lying-in-state and funeral the next three
1931. Her health On Friday, April 5, days, more than
steadily deteriorated, the Queen 200,000 people filed past the included two of the Queen Mother’s
and she died Mother’s coffin catafalque to pay their last respects, favorite hymns, “Immortal, invisible,
peacefully in her sleep was borne on a where soldiers stood guard at each God only wise,” and “Guide me, O
at 3:15 p.m. on March gun carriage in corner throughout the vigil. On thou great Redeemer.”
30, with Queen a solemn the eve of her funeral, the Queen After the service, as her coffin
Elizabeth II at her procession from Mother’s four grandsons—the Prince started on its final journey to Windsor
bedside. She was St. James’s Palace of Wales, the Duke of York, the Earl Castle, the Royal Air Force Battle of
101 years old. Prince to Westminster Hall, of Wessex, and Viscount Linley— Britain Memorial Flight of vintage
Charles, her eldest where it would lie-in-state mounted the guard as a mark of Spitfires, Hurricanes, a Dakota, and a
grandson to whom for four days until the mourning and respect. Lancaster flew over Buckingham Palace
she was particularly funeral. Fifty years earlier, On the eve of the funeral, the and the Mall. Large crowds lined the
close, immediately King George VI had Queen made a televised speech in 23-mile (37-km) route. Later that day,
returned to England Famous for her hats also lain in state in which she paid tribute to her in a private service of committal, the
from Klosters in The portrait on this 100th birthday Westminster Hall, the mother’s “resolve, dedication, and Queen Mother’s body was interred
Switzerland, where commemorative mug shows the medieval hall that is enthusiasm for life.” Before the start next to that of her husband in the
he was on a skiing Queen Mother wearing one of the oldest part of the of the funeral service on April 9, the black marble vault of the George VI
trip with Princes the broad-brimmed feathered hats Palace of Westminster. tenor bell of Westminster Abbey tolled Memorial Chapel in the north aisle
William and Harry. for which she was famous. Fourteen members of 101 times for every year of the Queen of St. George’s Chapel. The ashes
On hearing the the royal family walked Mother’s life, and her coffin was of Princess Margaret were placed
news of her death, crowds behind the coffin. In a break with carried from Westminster Hall to the with them.
immediately began to gather outside precedent (traditionally it was only Great West Door of the Abbey to the
Buckingham Palace and Clarence men who followed the coffin), Princess sound of 128 pipers. Over a million
House, the Queen Mother’s London Anne, the Princess Royal, was among people crowded the area outside the AFTER
home. Although the Queen Mother’s their number. The Queen attended a Abbey and the surrounding streets, as
death could by no means be described short service as the coffin, draped with more than 2,100 mourners, including
as unexpected, she was nevertheless the Queen Mother’s personal Royal 35 members of the British Royal After the Queen Mother’s death,
deeply mourned. Born in 1900, she Standard and bearing the crown she Family and representatives from Prince Charles moved into Clarence
represented continuity throughout had worn for George VI’s coronation in 25 foreign royal families, attended House, her former London home,
a century of change. Her popularity 1937, was placed on a 7 ft- (2 m-) the 55-minute-long service, which and Prince Andrew into the
with the public, forged in Royal Lodge at Windsor.
the days of World War II
(see pp.102–103), WORKS OF ART
remained as strong as ever, The Queen Mother left her entire estate
and she was loved and to the Queen, her only surviving daughter.
admired by millions for She had previously established a trust fund
her good spirit, ready for her great-grandchildren. Reported
smile, and devotion to to be worth an estimated £70 million ($110
duty. Her last official million), the Queen Mother’s fortune came
engagement had been mainly from paintings, china, jewelry, and
on 22 November, only other works of art, including a valuable Fabergé
four months before her collection. These now form part of the Royal
death, when she was Collection, and many can be seen on display
guest of honor at the in the Queen’s Gallery.
recommissioning
ceremony of the aircraft MEMORIAL STATUE
carrier HMS Ark Royal. As In 2009, a 91⁄2 ft- (3 m-) high bronze
statue of the Queen Mother was
Gun salute unveiled beside the statue of King George VI
Gunners of the 105 Royal Artillery on the steps overlooking the Mall. The statue,
Regiment fire a 41-gun salute from which cost £2 million ($3.2 million), was paid
the walls of Stirling Castle in Scotland for from the sales of the £5 ($11) coin issued to
to honor the Queen Mother. Similar celebrate the Queen’s 80th birthday in 2006.
gun salutes were sounded in several
other cities in the UK.

259
Golden occasion
Thousands of onlookers line the Mall as the Gold
State Coach carrying the Queen, guarded by
members of the Household Cavalry and other
mounted troops, approaches Admiralty Arch.
 THE GOLDEN JUBILEE

AFTER

The Golden Jubilee As part of her Golden Jubilee

celebrations the Queen founded the
Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Millions of people throughout the UK and the Commonwealth joined in celebrating the (originally known as the Queen’s
Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. During the year-long commemorations the Queen and Golden Jubilee Award).

Prince Philip traveled more than 40,000 miles (nearly 64,000 km) to all parts of the globe. HELPING THE COMMUNITY
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

T
he Queen wanted to celebrate is given for outstanding achievement
her Golden Jubilee year by visiting by groups of volunteers who regularly
and being seen by as many of give up their time to helping others in the
her subjects as possible—at home and community, improving the quality of life
around the world—to thank them for and opportunity for others, and providing
their support and loyalty during the an outstanding service. The first awards
50 years of her reign. Although the were given in 2003. The Cabinet Office
death of Princess Margaret in February announces the names of the winning groups
and that of the Queen Mother in March on June 2 each year, the anniversary of
(see pp.258–59), coming so close to the Queen’s coronation. Examples of
the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s the kind of service recognized include such
accession on February 6, 2002, cast things as providing support to victims of
a deep shadow over the start of the crime, driving cars for the elderly, or
celebrations, the Queen went ahead organizing community sport projects.
with the program as planned. Just
nine days after the death of her sister,
she was welcomed to Jamaica as its
Queen, and over the course of the Family returned to Buckingham Palace
next few months she and Prince Philip for the Jubilee Parade involving more
would make extensive tours of New than 20,000 people. Numerous floats
Zealand, Australia, and Canada. illustrating aspects of British life in the
Between May and August, the Wave of affection of a chain of more than 2,000 beacons 50 years since the Queen’s accession
Queen visited more than 70 cities The Queen waves to the crowds as she rides to the lit throughout British territories paraded down the Mall and in front
and towns in all four countries of service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. She and Commonwealth countries of the Palace. Later, an ocean of
the United Kingdom, and took part is said to have been amazed by the vast numbers around the world and covering people, nearly all of them waving
in scores of “meet the people” tours. who turned out to see her. the length and breadth of the Union Jacks, packed the
The predictions made by several British United Kingdom. entire length of the Mall
newspapers that the Golden Jubilee would turn out to be a flop as the public to cheer the Queen and
had lost its enthusiasm for royal events Jubilee Day the Royal Family
proved to be very wide of the mark. On Monday, June 4, as they appeared
BEF O RE the Queen rode on the balcony of
Golden Jubilee weekend in the Gold State Buckingham Palace
Thousands of adults and children Coach in a procession at the end of the
Vast numbers of those taking part took part in the celebrations organized from Buckingham day’s celebr.ations.
in the Golden Jubilee celebrations in London over the Golden Jubilee Palace to St. Paul’s People held their
were too young to remember the weekend at the beginning of June, Cathedral for a own street parties and
Queen’s Silver Jubilee, or had and millions more watched on national service of events to celebrate the
been born after it. television. Among the highlights thanksgiving led by Commemorative plate Jubilee, including a
of the weekend’s events were two the Archbishop of This blue-and-white Wedgwood plate cricket match played
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS BEFORE concerts in the gardens of Buckingham Canterbury. Leaders was one of many commemorative items on sea ice by members
The Golden Jubilee commemorations Palace. The “Prom in the Palace” on of the Roman Catholic produced to celebrate the Queen’s of the British Antarctic
reprised many elements of the Silver June 1, attended by 12,500 guests, and Methodist Golden Jubilee. Survey. In New York,
Jubilee ❮❮ 182–83, most notably the featured classical music performed churches, the Church the Empire State
ceremonial procession in the Gold State by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and in Wales, and the Church of Building was lit up in purple and gold
Coach from Buckingham Palace to the BBC Symphony Choir. The “Party Scotland also took part, as did on the evening of June 4 in honor
St. Paul’s Cathedral for the national at the Palace” on June 3 showcased representative leaders from of the Queen—a rare compliment to
service of thanksgiving. The nation in 50 years of British pop, and was led the Commonwealth. an overseas figure.
1977 was in festive mood, and street by Brian May, guitarist in the rock After a luncheon in
parties were very much a theme of the band Queen, playing his arrangement the Guildhall hosted
earlier celebrations. Millions greeted of “God Save the Queen” from the by the Lord Mayor
the Queen, who made several appearances roof of the Palace. The concert, which of London, the
on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. included performances by Paul Queen and Royal
There was a Royal Progress by boat McCartney, Eric Clapton, Cliff Richard,
along the Thames River and a and Tony Bennett, attracted over 200 Royal salute
fireworks display. But worldwide million viewers around the world Concorde and the Red
television was not yet the phenomenon and was particularly enjoyed by Arrows bring up the rear of
it became by 2002, and nothing was the younger members of the Royal the 22 km- (14 mile-) long
organized quite on the scale of the Family. Between two Paul McCartney flypast over the Mall and
two Palace music events. numbers, the Queen lit the National Buckingham Palace that
Beacon in front of the Queen Victoria brought the Jubilee Day
Memorial in the Mall. It formed part celebrations to a close.

261
 INSIGHT February 25, 2011

Back to School
Prince William and his fiancée Catherine Middleton returned
to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where they had
met as students 10 years earlier, to launch the university’s
600th anniversary commemorations. It was fitting that one
of their first official engagements together was at the place
where their romance began.

William and Catherine first met in September 2001 as students at

St. Andrews University, on the east coast of Scotland. St. Andrews,
home to the world-famous Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded
in 1764, is a small seaside town. Its university, the oldest in Scotland,
has 6,000 undergraduates, who wear a distinctive red gown. William
and Catherine lived in St. Salvator’s Hall (affectionately known as
Sallies), the university’s oldest hall of residence, during their first
year. Both were studying for an honors degree in the History of
Art, though William later switched to Geography.
While at university, William had reached an agreement with
the media that once he had given them an interview and a photo
opportunity, they would leave him alone to lead a normal student
life. He enjoyed shopping in the local supermarket and going out to
student pubs and bars. William captained the collegiate water polo
team and represented the Scottish national universities at the Celtic
Nations tournament in 2004.
Catherine is said to have caught William’s eye when she was
modeling at a student fashion show early in their first year of
studies. They shared an apartment in the center of St. Andrews
with two friends during their second year, and moved into a cottage
a little way outside the town for their final year. Both graduated on
the same day: June 23, 2005.
Speculation that the couple were about to get engaged intensified
around the time of Catherine’s 25th birthday in January 2007, and
caused them to split up for a time. They eventually got engaged in
October 2010 while on vacation in Kenya.

“ It feels like coming home.”

PRINCE WILLIAM, AT THE LAUNCH OF ST. ANDREWS’S 600TH ANNIVERSARY
CAMPAIGN, FEBRUARY 25, 2011

First official visit as a royal couple

Wearing a scarlet coat to match the scarlet gowns
worn by St. Andrews’s undergraduate students, Catherine
waves to a crowd of well-wishers. During their visit, the
engaged couple unveiled a plaque to mark the launch
of the university’s 600th anniversary.

262
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O RE

Following the death of Diana,

Camilla was rarely seen in public.
The campaign to rehabilitate public
The Marriage of
perception of her as Charles’s chosen
companion was carefully managed.

STEP BY STEP
Charles and Camilla’s first appearance as
Charles and Camilla
a couple was at the 50th birthday party for More than 30 years after their romance first began, a decade after their affair was first
her sister Annabel at the Ritz Hotel, London. made public, and nearly eight years after Diana’s death, the Prince of Wales and Camilla
The press had been
informed that the Parker Bowles finally became husband and wife on April 9, 2005.
Prince would be

C
present, and 200 larence House announced the In 2000 the Queen met Camilla for arrangements for the remarriage
photographers were engagement of the Prince of the first time since the relationship were consistent with the Church of
on hand to record Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles had became known. This was seen England guidelines, “which the Prince
them leaving the on February 10, 2005. Charles gave as a sign that she had come to accept of Wales fully accepts as a committed
event. In 2002, in her his bride-to-be a ring belonging to his Camilla, who was invited to sit in Anglican and as prospective Supreme
capacity as President grandmother Queen Elizabeth the the royal box at the 2002 Golden Governor of the Church of England.”
of the National Queen Mother, as an engagement Jubilee celebrations. Camilla moved Some constitutionalists argued that
Osteoporosis Society, ring. The Queen immediately issued into Clarence House when it became the heir to the throne could not legally
Camilla greeted a statement expressing her and Prince Charles’s household and official be married in a civil ceremony, but
Charles with a Philip’s good wishes for the couple’s residence in 2003, though she kept (and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer,
kiss —their first in future, and Princes William and Harry still keeps) her own house in Wiltshire. made it clear in a statement to the
public—as he arrived were said to be delighted. The climate of opinion had gradually House of Lords on February 24 that
at a reception for Following his divorce, Prince Charles changed, making it possible for the the Human Rights Act of 1998
CHARLES AND CAMILLA the charity. Much had publicly said that his relationship couple to legitimize their relationship. superseded any laws concerning
LEAVE THE RITZ
was made of her with Camilla Parker Bowles was “non- royal marriages.
commitment to raising awareness of negotiable,” but Diana’s popularity, and Constitutional questions
osteoporosis, a disease that had affected the swell of emotion after her death, Camilla’s divorced status raised Two ceremonies
her mother and grandmother, as part of the had made it hard for him to win the potential constitutional difficulties The marriage had originally been set
campaign to boost her public profile. public over to his side. Press opinion in view of Charles’s future rule as for April 8, but was postponed for one
was uniformly hostile to the woman it Supreme Governor of the Church of day, so that Charles could represent
blamed for causing Diana’s unhappiness. England, and aroused memories of the the Queen at the funeral of Pope John

“ The Duke of Edinburgh and

I are very happy that the
Prince of Wales and Mrs. Parker
Bowles are to marry.”
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, IN A STATEMENT ISSUED BY BUCKINGHAM PALACE

abdication crisis of Edward VIII in 1936 Paul II. A crowd of more than 20,000
(see pp.92–93). A traditional Church people greeted the couple as they
of England wedding service was ruled arrived for their private register office
out because Camilla was a divorcée wedding at 12:30 p.m. It took place in
with a husband still living; although front of a small group of family guests,
Charles had been divorced, his first who were driven from Windsor Castle
wife was no longer alive and so he was to the Guildhall in a hired minibus. The
a widower in the eyes of the Church. guests did not include the Queen and
It was decided that the couple would Duke of Edinburgh—the Queen had
have a civil wedding at the Windsor earlier announced her decision not to
Guildhall, the nearest register office attend on the grounds that the couple
to Windsor Castle, followed by a wanted to keep it low-key and her
service of blessing in St. George’s presence would not allow that to
Chapel, Windsor. The Archbishop happen. The legal witnesses to the
of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, marriage were Prince William and
issued a statement saying that the Tom Parker Bowles, Camilla’s son.
The bride wore a cream-colored dress
Highland Games and coat with a wide-brimmed, cream-
Charles and Camilla are seen here in relaxed mood colored hat for the civil ceremony.
at the Caithness Highland Games in Scotland in She changed into a blue and gold silk
August 2003. By now the public was becoming coat and dress with a gold headdress
used to seeing them together. for the televised service of blessing in

264
Family portrait said how very proud she was of her son
In this official wedding portrait, the newly wed who “despite Becher’s Brook and The AFTER
royal couple is seen with the Royal Family (left) Chair [a reference to the Grand National
and Camilla’s father Major Bruce Shand and her steeplechase being run that same day]
children Tom and Laura (right). and all kinds of other terrible obstacles… Camilla has taken on significant new she attended the State Opening of
has come through.” duties in recent years and played a Parliament for the first time. Dressed in full
St. George’s Chapel, which was attended prominent part in the Diamond regalia, she sat beside Charles at the side of the
by the Queen and Prince Philip. Other Duchess of Cornwall Jubilee celebrations in 2012. throne as the Queen addressed Parliament. This
guests included Charles’s biographer Camilla became Her Royal Highness the was taken by many as a sign that she was being
Jonathan Dimbleby, broadcaster Sir Duchess of Cornwall (the Duchess of The Duchess made her first overseas tour seen as a future Queen Consort. According to a
David Frost, and actors Kenneth Rothesay in Scotland) on her marriage with Charles a few months after their wedding, poll conducted in 2015, 49 percent of people now
Branagh and Joanna Lumley. instead of the Princess of Wales. This when they visited the US in November and met believed Camilla should become Queen Consort
Charles and Camilla was out of deference to with President George W. Bush in the White upon Charles’s eventual accession to the throne.
entered the chapel public opinion, which still House. She attended the Trooping the
arm-in-arm and stood associated Diana with the Color in London, in June 2005, making her
facing the Archbishop of title. For similar reasons first appearance on the balcony of
Canterbury to it was announced that Buckingham Palace.
reaffirm their vows. Camilla would become In December 2010 students protesting
Afterward they Princess Consort on against increased tuition fees and
walked around and Charles’s accession rather cuts in further education surrounded the
chatted with the crowd than Queen Camilla. car in which Prince Charles and Camilla
gathered outside the An opinion poll taken were traveling along Regent Street on their
chapel before returning at the time found that way to the Royal Variety Show.
to the State while 65 percent
Apartments at Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order of people were in FUTURE QUEEN CONSORT?
Windsor Castle for a The Queen created Camilla a Dame Grand Cross favor of the marriage, As the Prince of Wales took on more of the
reception hosted by of the Royal Victorian Order in 2012. Admission only 7 percent Queen’s public duties, Camilla appeared more
the Queen. In a to the Order is in the Queen’s personal gift, and thought that Camilla frequently at State events. On May 8, 2013, CAMILLA IN REGAL DRESS, 2013
speech at the is given in recognition of distinguished personal should eventually
reception, Elizabeth service and as a sign of her affection and trust. become queen.

265
INSIGHT November 20, 2007

The Diamond Wedding

Another milestone was passed when the Queen became
the first monarch in British history to celebrate 60 years of
marriage. She and Prince Philip were married in 1947 at a time
of austerity in Britain. Sixty years later they came together to
Westminster Abbey to renew their wedding vows in a special
service of celebration.

The service took place on November 19, the day before the actual
wedding anniversary. It was attended by more than 30 members of
the Royal Family and 2,000 guests. Among them were five choristers
who had sung in the Westminster Abbey choir in 1947 and 10
couples who had married on the same day. The music included
psalms and hymns chosen by the couple for their wedding, and
during the prayers the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams,
asked the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh “to renew in your hearts
promises you made to one another." Prince William gave a reading
from the Bible, and the Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench
read a poem specially written for the occasion by the Poet Laureate
Andrew Motion. Afterward the Queen and Duke chatted with some
of the waiting crowds in Parliament Square.
The day before the service, the couple revisited Broadlands, the
former home of the late Lord Mountbatten where they had spent
their honeymoon 60 years before. Then on November 20, the day
of their wedding anniversary, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh flew
to the Mediterranean island of Malta where they had lived from
1949 to 1951, when Prince Philip was serving in the Royal Navy. The
Queen is known to have especially fond memories of her years on
the island. It was the only period of their marriage when she and
Philip were able to enjoy a relatively normal life away from the
“full light of publicity… and the pressure this brings." These were the
words used by the Archbishop of Canterbury the day before in
thanking the couple for the public character of their 60 years of
service and dedication to the country and the Commonwealth.

“ Some couples have to live

more than others in the full
light of publicity.”
DR. ROWAN WILLIAMS, SERMON, NOVEMBER 19, 2007

Happy memories
As part of their Diamond Wedding celebrations the
Queen and Duke of Edinburgh revisited Broadlands,
the house where they spent their honeymoon. This
photograph of the couple was taken while they were
walking in the grounds together, remembering old times.

267
 2000–PRESENT

Born 1982

The Duke
of Cambridge
“ I’m pretty normal.”
PRINCE WILLIAM, IN CONVERSATION WITH MATT LAUER OF NBC NEWS, JUNE 15, 2007 Prince charming
This official photo was released for
William’s 21st birthday on June 21, 2003. He

W
illiam was born on June 21, went on a prolonged overseas denied having a girlfriend In an interview that
1982, at St. Mary’s Hospital, visit in 1949. Nicknamed Wombat, he gave for the occasion, though Catherine
Paddington, less than a year William proved a magnet for the Middleton attended his birthday party
after the marriage of the Prince and photographers covering the tour, at Windsor Castle that year.
Princess of Wales. Charles was present just as his own son George would
in the delivery room during the birth. 31 years later.
The baby immediately became second
in line of succession to the throne. He Childhood and school
was christened William Arthur Philip Diana first began to suffer from
Louis by the Archbishop of Canterbury depression and the eating disorder
in the Music Room at Buckingham bulimia while she was pregnant
Palace six weeks later. Among his with William, but strains in her
six godparents were the former marriage with Charles were still
Constantine II, the former king of concealed from the outside
Greece, and Laurens van der Post, world. Both parents were
the South African writer and explorer, determined to protect their sons
who was a spiritual guru to Charles. from press intrusion and to give
William was nine months old and them as normal an upbringing
just beginning to crawl when he as possible. Diana let the boys
accompanied his parents on a six-week wear casual jeans and
official visit to New Zealand and sweatshirts and took them
Australia. This, too, was a first—when on outings to amusement
Charles was at a similar age, he had parks and fast-food
been left behind at home when his restaurants so they could
mother, then Princess Elizabeth, have a wider experience
of life. Later she took
them with her on visits
to hospitals and
homeless centers to
deepen their emotional
understanding.
William’s schooling
began at the age of
four at Jane Mynors’
nursery school in
Notting Hill, about
five minutes away
from Kensington
Palace. He later went
to Wetherby School,
London, followed by
Ludgrove boarding school
in Berkshire when he was
eight. In 1995, William
entered Eton College, just
outside Windsor, founded by
Mother and son King Henry VI in 1440. It is
Chubby baby William gurgles with joy as his often said that it was Diana who
mother Diana swings him high in the air. William decided to send William to Eton
was very close to his mother, who died when as both her father and brother
he was only 15 years old. had been educated there. However,

268
 THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE

Charles, who had hated the rigorous

TIMELINE
regime of his own school, Gordonstoun,
was also in favor of the choice. ■ June 21, 1982 Born to Charles and Diana,
William was on vacation with his Prince and Princess of Wales, at St. Mary’s
father and brother at Balmoral when Hospital, Paddington, London.
Diana was killed in August 1997. ■ August 4, 1982 Christened William
In the hysteria surrounding her death, Arthur Philip Louis in the Music Room,
the media, quite unfairly, accused the Buckingham Palace.
Royal Family of insensitivity to ■ September 1985 Goes to Jane Mynors’
the princes in dealing with the blow. nursery school in west London.
William was devastated by his mother’s
■ September 1990 Starts at Ludgrove School,
death, and it was at his suggestion that a boys’ boarding school in Berkshire.
singer Elton John performed Candle in
■ December 1992 The Prince and Princess of
the Wind at her funeral. The agreement
Wales separate.
that had been reached earlier with the
tabloid press to allow William to study ■ September 1995 Enters Eton College, where
at Eton free of intrusion in return for he earns three A-Levels.
regular updates on his progress, ■ August 31, 1997 His mother, Diana, Princess
undoubtedly helped to protect him of Wales, dies in a car crash.
and Harry, who joined him there the ■ June 2000 Finishes his studies at Eton College.
following fall, in the difficult months ■ September 2001 Begins a four-year Master of
that followed. Arts (Honors) degree course at St. Andrews
University in Scotland.
Student prince
William left Eton in June
2000 with three A-levels—
in Geography, Biology, and Playing polo desire to experience active combat
History of Art. He had also William leads his brother in a charge for the ball service, this was considered too
captained the school during a charity polo match. The princes are both dangerous for the second in line to the
water polo team. After competitive players, and have inherited their throne. In January 2009 he transferred
a gap year traveling enthusiasm for the sport from their father. to the Royal Air Force (RAF) and
and working in Africa, qualified as a Search and Rescue Sea
Belize, and Chile, with royal tradition—every prince King helicopter pilot.
he enrolled at who had previously been to university
St. Andrews had gone either to Oxford or Royal responsibilities
University, the Cambridge (his father’s alma mater), The engagement between William and
oldest university in but St. Andrews, situated in a small Catherine Middleton was announced
Scotland, founded town on the Scottish east coast, offered on November 16, 2010, and their
in 1413. This was William the chance of greater privacy marriage took place five months later, PRINCE WILLIAM’S COAT OF ARMS
another break and freedom. There was only one when they became the Duke and
■ June 21, 2003 Becomes a Counsellor of State
on his 21st birthday.

“ It’s not a question of wanting to ■ June 2005 Completes degree at St. Andrews.
■ July 2005 Undertakes his first solo overseas tour,
be [king], it’s something I was born visiting New Zealand on behalf of the Queen.
■ September 2005 Becomes the patron
into, and it’s my duty.” of Centrepoint, the youth charity for
the homeless in London.
PRINCE WILLIAM, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH PETER ARCHER OF THE
■ September 2006 Enters the Royal Military
PRESS ASSOCIATION, JUNE 21, 2003 Academy at Sandhurst, Berkshire, to train
as an army officer.
serious press intrusion while he was Duchess of Cambridge. Shortly after
■ June 16, 2008 Becomes a Royal Knight
there. Ironically, this was by a film the birth of their first child, George, in
Companion of the Most Noble Order of
crew from Ardent Productions, his July 2013, William announced that he
the Garter.
uncle Prince Edward’s company. would be ending his full-time military
■ January 2009 Begins training as a Search
William met Catherine (Kate) career to give more time to his royal
and Rescue pilot in the RAF.
Middleton early on during his time responsibilities and charity work. Their
at St. Andrews, and he shared an second child was born in May 2015. ■ April 29, 2011 Marries Catherine Middleton
apartment with her and two friends In addition to carrying out many at Westminster Abbey, London.
in their final year. duties on behalf of the Queen at ■ July 22, 2013 Birth of their first child, George
After graduating with a Master of home and overseas, William supports Alexander Louis.
Arts degree in Geography in 2005, numerous charities, and has a strong ■ September 2013 Active service in the
William embarked on a military career, interest in conservation work, RAF ends.
entering the Royal Military Academy especially the Tusk Trust, dedicated ■ April 2014 Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Sandhurst, Berkshire, in the footsteps to the preservation of African wildlife. tour New Zealand and Australia with
of his younger brother, who had gone In 2009, he and Prince Harry set up Prince George.
there the year before. In December a charitable foundation as the main
■ May 2, 2015 Birth of his second child,
2006, William was commissioned as focus for their work. After his
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.
Lieutenant Wales into the Blues and marriage, this became the Royal
Royals regiment of the Household Foundation of the Duke and Duchess
Cavalry. Although he expressed a of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

269
DECISIVE MOMENT May 17–20, 2011

State Visit to Ireland

The Queen’s state visit to the Republic of Ireland, made at
the invitation of its President, Mary McAleese, was the first
by a British monarch since 1911. It marked a historic turning
point in the troubled relations between the United Kingdom
and the Republic of Ireland.

The last British monarch to visit Ireland was the Queen’s grandfather,
George V, when the whole of Ireland was still part of the United
Kingdom. Since then, the two countries had been divided by a long
history of hostilities stemming from the Easter Rising of 1916, the
bloody struggle for Irish independence, and the subsequent bitter
conflict over the island’s partition into the Irish Free State (later
the Republic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland, which remains part
of the United Kingdom. The signing of the Good Friday Agreement
in 1998, by which the Republic gave up its territorial claim to
Northern Ireland, helped to pave the way for the royal visit,
which was seen as a symbol of reconciliation.
Dublin was on full security alert throughout the Queen’s visit. On
the first day, Elizabeth laid a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance,
which was dedicated to the memory of “all those who gave their lives
in the cause of Irish freedom.” She visited Croke Park, where British
troops had fired on Irish civilians at a Gaelic football match in 1920.
Speaking later that evening at a state banquet in Dublin Castle, the
Queen delighted her audience by beginning in Irish, a notoriously
difficult language: “A Uachtarain agus a chairde” (President and
friends). On hearing this, Mary McAleese was seen to mouth “Wow.”
The Queen spoke feelingly of the troubled past and the building of
bridges to a better future. Her mention of the personal pain suffered
by those who had lost family members was a clear reference to the
murder of her cousin, Lord Mountbatten, by the Irish Republican
Army (IRA) in 1979 (see pp.192–93).

“ With the benefit of

historical hindsight
we can all see things we
would wish had been done
differently, or not at all.”
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, AT THE STATE BANQUET IN DUBLIN CASTLE, MAY 18, 2011

Coat of emerald green

The Queen wears Irish green for a tour of the historic
Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary. Coming at the end
of her visit, this was a more relaxed day, giving her time
to visit the famous Coolmore Stud for racehorses.

271
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O RE

William is the fourth pilot in the Royal

Family, following in the footsteps of
his grandfather, his father, and his
The Pilot Prince
uncle, the Duke of York. Flying is in the royal blood. William earned his pilot’s badge, the RAF wings, during his time in the
military. He went on to become a dedicated Search and Rescue (SAR) pilot. On leaving the armed
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
William owes his passion for flying to his forces, he planned to continue flying helicopters alongside his royal duties.
father. Prince Charles had already earned his

I
private pilot’s license when he flew himself n 2007, the Ministry of Defence end of his stint, William even made helicopter flying at the Defence
to RAF Cranwell in 1971 to start advanced announced that William was to it to the frontline when he flew Helicopter Flying School based
training as a jet pilot. Three years later, he serve a four-month tour of duty (though not at the controls) in a C-17 at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire.
trained as a helicopter pilot with the Royal with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Globemaster military transport plane During this course he completed
Navy at Yeovilton in 1974. He frequently took Lieutenant Wales, as he was known on a 30-hour round trip to Kandahar around 80 hours of training on the
the controls when flying on aircraft belonging in the army, had recently completed a air base in Afghanistan to repatriate Griffin HT1 helicopter, covering
to the Queen’s Flight—a unit that until 1995 training course as a troop commander the body of a fallen soldier. The advanced handling, night flying,
operated aircraft for the transportation of in an armored reconnaissance unit. news broke after his return to RAF emergency handling, and tactical
members of the Royal Family. He had signed up for a three-year Lyneham in Wiltshire; he said he and formation flying.
army commission, but once it became was “deeply honored” to have been In January 2010, Flight Lieutenant
clear he would not be allowed part of the crew that brought the Wales transferred to the Search and
to see frontline action in Afghanistan, body home. Rescue Conversion Course at RAF
it was decided he should spend time William also served a short attachment Valley on the island of Anglesey in
experiencing life in the other two to the Royal Navy. While deployed on North Wales. For the first six weeks
services (the RAF and the Royal Navy). HMS Iron Duke in the Caribbean, he
Time with the RAF would allow him
to realize his lifetime ambition of
learning to fly, and familiarize him
took part in a joint operation with the
United States Coast Guard to seize a
speedboat carrying 1,984 lb (900 kg)
1,765 The number
of incidents
to which William’s Search
4-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM STEPS OUT OF A HELICOPTER with the use of modern air power. of cocaine worth approximately £40 and Rescue unit from RAF
William underwent an intensive million ($60 million). Valley responded in 2012.
FALKLANDS STORIES 12-week course learning to pilot
Andrew, the Duke of York, then second in line to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft at Search and Rescue pilot he continued to train in the Griffin
the throne, served as a Sea King helicopter Cranwell, the RAF’s flying college in In 2009, William extended his helicopter before moving on to the Sea
copilot on board HMS Invincible during Lincolnshire. After eight and a half commission and transferred to the King Operation Conversion Unit, where
the Falklands War. He would have inspired hours’ flying time, he made his first RAF to train to become a helicopter he trained on a mixture of simulators
William with stories of how he lured solo flight. “It was an amazing feeling,” pilot with their Search and Rescue and RAF Sea King helicopters.
Argentinian Exocet missiles away from the he said afterward. On April 11, 2008, (SAR) Force. This branch of the
ships of the British Task Force ❮❮ 216–17. Prince Charles, who had trained at service provides round-the-clock air The busiest SAR unit
Cranwell in the 1970s, presented search-and-rescue cover throughout In September 2010, at the end of
William with his RAF wings. At the the UK, Cyprus, and the Falkland his training, William was assigned to
Islands. It developed out of the air-sea C Flight No. 22 Squadron based at RAF
rescue squadrons formed during World Valley—the busiest SAR unit in the
War II to pick up aircrew downed in country—to fly the Sea King Mark 3
the sea. Although its role remains helicopter. His operational tour was
military, today most of SARF’s expected to last from 30 to 36 months.
operational missions are An SAR duty shift is
undertaken to 24 hours. The crew
rescue civilians must be ready for
from emergencies takeoff within 15
at sea or on minutes of
mountainsides, receiving an
which it carries emergency call (45
out in cooperation minutes at night).
with Her Majesty’s There is a morning
Coastguard. briefing session to
Service with the pass on information
SARF would allow Billy the Fish about weather
William to continue William’s RAF name badge states his name conditions and
flying and have an as Will Wales. He earned the nickname Billy other operational
active role in the the Fish during his training because “Wales” factors, and to report
armed forces without sounds like “whales.” on the state of their
being deployed on aircraft. The crew is
combat operations. Promoted responsible for carrying out preflight
to Flight Lieutenant, he completed checks, but much of the time on base is
a 12-month course in advanced spent in the crew room.
The standard SAR crew includes
SAR graduates two pilots, one of whom is the aircraft
Along with six fellow students, Flight Lieutenant Wales captain. Additionally, there is a radio
(middle back row) displays his graduation certificate operator who operates the winch that
after completing his SAR training course at RAF Valley is used at the rescue scene to lower
in September 2012. the winchman on a rope, and to lift

272
 THE PILOT PRINCE

AFTER

“ I really enjoy my time in the Air Force. In August 2014, it was announced

And I’d love to continue it. But the that William would return to flying
by training to become an air
ambulance pilot.
pressures of my other life are building.” A NEW CAREER IN THE AIR
WILLIAM, BEFORE LEAVING ACTIVE SERVICE IN 2013 After a period of training, William began work
with the East Anglian Air Ambulance
(EAAA), based at Cambridge and Norwich
airports, in March 2015, shortly before the
birth of his second child. He intends to fit his
new role around his royal duties, and will
donate his salary to charity. His
official contract of employment
is with the civilian company Bond Air Services.
The EAAA operates two EC145 T2
helicopters and employs three pilots in
Norwich and three in Cambridge. Each
helicopter carries a pilot, a doctor, and a
paramedic. While working for EAAA, he and
Duchess of Cambridge mostly live at Anmer
Hall, their country house on the Sandringham
estate in Norfolk.

At the controls
Described as “a highly professional and competent
pilot,” William took part in many daring rescue
missions over the stormy waters of the Irish Sea and
the mountains of Snowdonia in North Wales.

the injured person to safety. The

winchman is normally trained to
paramedic standard and supplies
immediate first-aid and recovery
services at the rescue site. William’s
first mission as copilot took place on
October 2, 2010, when he was part
of a team airlifting a casualty from
an offshore gas rig to the hospital.
Over the next three years, the Prince
would take part in a total of 156
Search and Rescue operations with C
Flight, resulting in 149 saved lives. In
2012, he passed the required tests to
become an operational captain, in
charge of the four-man crew.

No greater feeling
William’s pleasure in flying helicopters
is obvious. A BBC TV documentary
in 2013, Helicopter Rescue, showed him
as the aircraft captain on a flight to
rescue a boy from a quarry. In the
documentary, William spoke about
his role: “There’s no greater feeling
than when you’ve actually done some
good and saved someone’s life.”
Before their marriage, William and
Catherine made their first home
together in a rented farmhouse on
Anglesey. Catherine has spoken of
the fears she had for his safety when
he was flying dangerous missions.
When William’s period of active
service in the RAF ended in September
2013, he had completed more than
1,300 flying hours.

273
 2000–PRESENT

The Wedding of
William and Catherine
In a break with tradition, a commoner and a member of the middle class, Catherine Middleton
wed the future king of England. Catherine had won the public’s heart and a million people
turned out to cheer the couple after their wedding in Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

C
omparisons with the wedding the monarchy, seats less than 2,000 with 30,000 flowers, including azaleas
of Prince Charles and Lady Diana people. William had insisted that he and other blossoms from Windsor Great
Spencer, 30 years earlier, were and Catherine should be allowed to Park. Prince William, in the full-dress
inevitable. That, too, had been have a say in who was invited. As a scarlet uniform of the Irish Guards, and
heralded as “a fairy-tale wedding” result, more than half the guests were Prince Harry, his best man, in the bold Eight-tiered cake
and preceded by months of eager family and friends of the couple, and blue of the Blues and Royals, stood out It took cake-maker Fiona Cairns and her team
anticipation. Their wedding had been the number of invitations traditionally against this English floral background. five weeks to create the magnificent eight-tiered
a state occasion held amid the baroque issued to heads of state, politicians, The bride, attended by her sister wedding cake. The groom also requested a chocolate
splendors of St. Paul’s Cathedral. diplomats, and other dignitaries was Pippa as maid of honor, four biscuit cake made to a favorite recipe.
Westminster Abbey, though grand greatly reduced. bridesmaids, and two pageboys, made
enough and with closer connections to It was announced on the morning the three-and-a-half minute journey William and Catherine, together with
of the wedding that the Queen had from the Great West Door of the Abbey their families, appeared on the balcony
created her grandson the Duke of to the choir on her father’s arm. Her of Buckingham Palace to greet the
BE F O RE Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and dress, designed by Sarah Burton at thousands of people gathered below.
Baron Carrickfergus, and that Alexander McQueen, was made of The crowd roared their approval as
Catherine (Kate) would assume ivory and white satin, and both the the couple exchanged the by now
The engagement of Prince William, the title of Her Royal Highness the bodice and skirt incorporated lace traditional royal marriage kiss, and
who is second in line to the throne, to Duchess of Cambridge floral motifs appliquéd then repeated it. Overcome by the
Catherine Middleton was announced
on November 16, 2010.
immediately upon the
marriage. William’s new
titles were drawn from
72 MILLION The

who viewed the royal

by workers from the
number of people Royal School of
Needlework. The skirt
noise, one of the tiny bridesmaids,
William’s three-year-old goddaughter
Grace van Cutsem, covered her ears.
DIANA’S RING England, Scotland, and wedding on YouTube. formed a Victorian-style The traditional Royal Air Force flyby
William gave Catherine the sapphire and Northern Ireland semi-bustle at the back over the palace included Lancaster,
diamond engagement ring belonging to respectively. and finished in a short train measuring Spitfire, and Hurricane planes from
the Princess of Wales ❮❮ 200. William just under 10 ft (3 m) long. The veil World War II.
told reporters that the ring was “very special Floral theme was held in place by a tiara loaned by Just after 3:30 p.m., William drove
to him” and was “my way of making sure The medieval nave of Westminster the Queen. Catherine carried a small his bride in a classic Aston Martin
my mother didn’t miss out on today.” Abbey had been transformed into an bouquet of white spring flowers. convertible to Clarence House, his
avenue of trees, some of them standing The Dean of Westminster, John Hall, official residence. The couple returned
up to 25 ft (7.5 m) high, and decorated led the traditional Church of England to the Palace in the evening for a
service and the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Rowan Williams, married
the couple. Richard Chartres, the
Bishop of London, gave a sermon, and
3 The number of hours the bells
of Westminster Abbey were
rung after the royal wedding.
the bride’s brother, James Middleton,
read the lesson. private dinner given by Prince Charles
The newly married couple left the for close friends and family. It was
abbey to a peal of bells. They returned followed by dancing, with a small
to Buckingham Palace in the 1902 fireworks display in the palace grounds.
State Landau (pp.136–37) drawn by
four Windsor grays. It was followed by Public celebrations
a procession of carriages carrying the The wedding day, a Friday, was declared
Queen and other members of the Royal a national holiday in the UK. Millions
Family back to Buckingham Palace. of people watched the day’s events on
television. It was broadcast live to
Lunchtime reception millions more around the world. More
The Queen hosted a lunchtime than 5,000 permits were issued to hold
reception for about 600 guests, made street parties, including one hosted
up of friends of the couple as well by Prime Minister David Cameron
as representatives from the many in Downing Street. Union Jacks and
organizations they are associated with. bunting decorated the streets of London
and other cities. The cost of the
Wedding portrait event was estimated at £20 million
The bride and groom, surrounded by Catherine’s ($30 million), most of which was paid
young attendants, pose in the Throne Room of for by Prince Charles, although the
Buckingham Palace after the wedding. Middletons also made a contribution.

274
Husband and wife
Catherine has a special smile for Prince William as he
takes her hand as the newly married couple prepare
to lead the procession out of Westminster Abbey
after the wedding.

“When we go
for it, we
really go
for it. ”
DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH
PRIME MINISTER, ON THE ROYAL
WEDDING CELEBRATIONS

Leaving in style
Prince William drives his wife from the reception in a
classic Aston Martin convertible belonging to his father.
It was decorated with balloons, and the license plate
had been altered to read “JUST WED.”

AFTER

Prince William returned to duty as an

RAF Search and Rescue pilot the day
after the wedding. The couple did not
leave for their honeymoon in the
Seychelles until May 9.

WORKING ROYAL
The Duchess’s official duties began soon after
their honeymoon. In May, she and William
attended a private meeting at Buckingham
Palace for US President Barack Obama
and his wife, Michelle. In July the couple made
their first overseas tour together to Canada
and the US 294–95 ❯❯.

CHARITY FUND-RAISER
Catherine’s wedding dress was put on display
in Buckingham Palace throughout the summer,
where it attracted a record number of visitors.
It helped to raise £8 million ($12 million) for
the Duchess of Cambridge’s own charity fund.

275
 2000–PRESENT

Two entwined
“A”s—the
initials of
Prince Albert
and Princess
Alexandra
Double portrait of
King Edward VII
and Queen
Alexandra
Royal Memorabilia
Since the days of Queen Victoria, many people have shared a passion for
collecting royal memorabilia, ranging from fine china commemorating
coronations to mass-produced items such as sweet tins, mugs, and posters.
1 Wedding souvenir A rare silver gilt and enamel medal, blue and gold Coalport loving cup commemorates the
it was given to a Royal Entertainments committee member coronation of George VI and Elizabeth on May 12, 1937.
after the wedding in 1863 of Prince Albert of Wales and 9 Elizabeth II diamond wedding anniversary
Princess Alexandra. 2 Edward VII coronation beaker This presentation tin Complete with a piece of cake inside, this
Royal Doulton porcelain cup was presented to guests cake tin commemorates the 60th wedding anniversary of
invited to the official coronation dinners. 3 Edward VII Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. 10 Prince of Wales
coronation vase Another Royal Doulton creation, this 1902 wedding cake tin This wedding cake tin bears the crests of
vase has painted floral motifs on a gilt and blue ground. the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall along with
4 George V coronation cup The Royal Crown Derby the date of their wedding. 11 , 12 Miniature loving cups
miniature loving (two-handled) cup was created to The births of Princes William and Harry were marked
commemorate George V’s coronation. 5 George V Silver by the release of a miniature loving cup. 13 Elizabeth II
Jubilee medal This commemorative medal was given by Diamond Jubilee teapot The limited edition bone china
J. J. Cash, Coventry, to its employees. 6 George V Silver teapot is from a collection officially approved by the Queen.
2 EDWARD VII Jubilee ribbon pin Attached with a pin at the back, this The proceeds from sales go towards the upkeep of the Royal
1 WEDDING SOUVENIR CORONATION BEAKER embroidered ribbon was designed to be worn on a jacket. Collection of art and antiquities. 14 Royal wedding mug
7 George V coronation souvenir tin Rowntree & Sons This souvenir mug formed part of the official range of fine
released this unusual coronation casket containing bone china commemorating Prince William’s marriage
chocolates in 1911. 8 George VI coronation cup The to Catherine Middleton.

22-carat
gilding

Edward VII’s royal

cypher, ERVII,
standing for
Edward Rex (king)

6 GEORGE V
SILVER JUBILEE
RIBBON PIN

5 GEORGE V SILVER
JUBILEE MEDAL

3 EDWARD VII CORONATION VASE

Scenes from the King’s

vast empire, which
includes India, and parts
of Africa and Australasia

4 GEORGE V CORONATION CUP 7 GEORGE V CORONATION SOUVENIR TIN

276
 R O YA L M E M O R A B I L I A

9 ELIZABETH II DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATION TIN 10 PRINCE OF WALES WEDDING CAKE TIN

8 GEORGE VI CORONATION CUP

11 MINIATURE LOVING 12 MINIATURE LOVING

CUP—WILLIAM CUP—HENRY

Royal coat
of arms

13 ELIZABETH II
DIAMOND JUBILEE TEAPOT

Embellishments in
burnished gold
and platinum

The initials of “C” and

“W” for Catherine and
William appear below
Prince William’s coronet

14 ROYAL WEDDING MUG

277
 2000–PRESENT

Born 1982

The Duchess
of Cambridge
“ I really hope I can make
a difference, even in
the smallest way.”
CATHERINE MIDDLETON, POST-ENGAGEMENT INTERVIEW, NOVEMBER 16, 2010

C
atherine Elizabeth Middleton Tall and shy, Catherine excelled at Attending the Jubilee
was born in Reading, Berkshire, sports, and was among the spectators Catherine, seen here during
on January 9, 1982, the first when Prince William, then age 9, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
child of Carole and Michael, who met visited her school to play hockey. After celebrations, had become a fashion
while working with British Airways leaving St. Andrew’s in 1995 she went icon, her every move, outfit,
(BA). In 1984 the family moved to briefly to Downe House school, an elite and even slightest
Jordan, where Michael continued to girls’ school, where it seems she was fluctuation in
work for BA, and Catherine attended badly bullied for being skinny, weight scrutinized.
an English nursery school. The unpolished, and middle class. Her
Middletons returned to England in parents withdrew her, and her mother
time for Catherine to start at St. helped rebuild her self-confidence,
Andrew’s prep school in Pangbourne. partly through learning how to groom
Carole started one of the UK’s first and present herself. She then went to
internet mail-order companies, Party Marlborough College, where she was
Pieces, selling childrens’ party supplies. not yet perceived as a beauty: the
It became a huge success. school’s older boys publicly ranked new
girls on a scale of 1 to 10; she received
only ones and twos. Catherine did well
at school, getting two As and a B at A
level, and she was offered a place at
Edinburgh University to study, but
decided to take a gap year in Italy, and
applied instead to study History of Art
at the University of St. Andrews for the
following year. Her decision may have
been influenced by the announcement
that her peer, Prince William, was
going to take a gap year and then
study the same course at St. Andrews.

University life
Both William and Catherine went to
St. Andrews in the fall of 2001 and
were placed in the same residence hall.
Despite close monitoring of the Prince
by the ever-voracious press, it was
not until the following spring that
Catherine first attracted attention.
She had agreed to model at a student
fashion show, and it was discovered
Graduation day that William had paid £200 ($300) for
Catherine Middleton received her degree in 2005, a front row seat. Catherine appeared
graduating with an upper-second class Bachelor of several times on the catwalk, her
Arts. There she had already impressed fellow student costumes ranging from a vibrant,
Prince William, who was to become her husband. voluminous sweater to a transparent

278
 THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE

Wedding portrait
TIMELINE
The official family photograph shows Prince
William and Catherine with Queen Elizabeth ■ January 9, 1982 Born Catherine Elizabeth, the
II and Prince Philip; the Duke and Duchess eldest child of Michael and Carole Middleton,
of Cornwall; Prince Harry; Carole, Michael, at Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.
James, and Pippa Middleton. ■ May 1984 The Middletons move to Amman,
Jordan, where Michael Middleton works as a
black shift dress. The Prince, flight dispatcher for British Airways. Catherine
so the story goes, was most attends an English-language nursery school.
intrigued. A discreet romance ■ September 1987 The Middletons return
began, and the next year they to England and Catherine is enrolled at
moved into a row house in the St. Andrew’s School, Berkshire.
center of St. Andrews with two ■ 1987 Carole and Michael Middleton found
other students. Party Pieces, a mail-order company selling
party supplies.
Leaving university ■ September 1995 Catherine briefly attends
In 2006, after graduating,
Downe House school.
Catherine began to work part-
■ April 1996 Begins attending Marlborough
time for the fashion company
College, a coeducational boarding school.
Jigsaw. Press speculation about
the future of her relationship ■ 2000 Studies at the British Institute in Florence
with William was fevered. during her gap year.
Jigsaw founder Belle Robinson
remembers that there were
days when the road outside
the office was clogged with TV crews. Their carefully guarded private Anglesey, along with Catherine’s
“We’d say: ‘Listen, do you want to go life provided much-needed respite mother and the Queen’s former
out the back way?’ And she’d say: ‘To from the constant attention of the housekeeper. The following October
be honest, they’re going to hound us press. Catherine had become a they moved into Kensington Palace. In
until they’ve got the picture. So why fashion icon, although bucked royal 2015, William took on a new position as
don’t I just go, get the picture done, tradition in selecting her own an air ambulance pilot in Norfolk, and
and then they’ll leave us alone.’ I clothes—from UK chain stores they relocated to Anmer Hall, on the
thought she was very mature for
a 26-year-old.” In April 2007,
William and Catherine caused “The best dressing up outfit
a press furore by calling a
pause in their relationship.
Clarence House refused
I ever had was a pair of clown COMBINED COAT OF ARMS OF THE DUKE AND
DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE

to comment, and press

speculation was rife. But the dungarees my Granny made.” ■ September 2001 Enrolls at St. Andrews
University, Scotland, to study History of Art.
couple soon began to be seen ■ 2003 Begins dating Prince William. They try
in public together again and DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE, IN AN INTERVIEW
to keep the romance discreet in an attempt
there were reports that their to avoid press coverage.
relationship had rekindled. as well as from exclusive designers. It Sandringham estate. On May 2, 2015,
■ February 2006 Catherine is given 24-hour
was enough for Catherine to appear Catherine and William’s second child,
security by the Royalty and Diplomatic
Royal wedding in a dress for it to sell out. Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was Protection Department.
The couple eventually born at St. Mary’s Hospital, London.
■ December 15, 2006 Attends Prince William’s
became engaged in New generation Fourth in line to the throne, she was
Passing Out Parade at Sandhurst as an official
October 2010, while In December 2012, Catherine was the first girl to be born so high in the
royal guest.
on vacation in Kenya admitted to the hospital. Buckingham line of succession since Princess Anne
to celebrate Prince Palace announced that she was was born 65 years ago. ■ April 2007 The couple split up for a short time.
William passing his RAF pregnant and suffering ■ October 2010 William and Catherine become
helicopter Search and from an extreme form engaged during a 10-day trip to Kenya.
Rescue course. Prince of morning sickness. ■ April 29, 2011 Marries the Duke of Cambridge
William gave Catherine After the birth of at Westminster Abbey and is created the
the engagement ring Prince George on July Duchess of Cambridge.
that had belonged to his 22, 2013, William and ■ December 6, 2012 St. James’s Palace
mother, Diana, Princess Catherine spent announces that the Duchess is pregnant after
of Wales. They married several weeks living she is admitted to King Edward VII Hospital
in Westminster Abbey with the Middleton with severe morning sickness.
on April 29, 2011, and family in Berkshire ■ July 22, 2013 Gives birth to first child, George
moved to a remote before moving back to Alexander Louis.
farmhouse on the island of
■ September 2014 Cancels two-day visit to
Anglesey, where William worked as a The new princess
Malta, where she was due to represent the
Search and Rescue pilot. They had no Princess Charlotte made
Queen on the 50th anniversary of Malta’s
domestic staff, and friends reported her first public appearance
independence, because of early pregnancy.
that they wanted to live as normal a 10 hours after she was born.
■ May 2, 2015 Catherine’s second child, Princess
life as possible, with Catherine cooking The following evening London
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, is born.
dinner, buying groceries in the local landmarks such as Tower Bridge
store, and having a bath run for and the London Eye were
William by the time he came home. illuminated in pink.

279
Aerial salute
A Hurricane fighter plane of the Royal Air Force
(RAF) Battle of Britain Memorial Flight passes over
Buckingham Palace during the flypast to mark the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O RE

The only other monarch in British

history to have had a Diamond Jubilee
was Queen Victoria, who celebrated
The Diamond Jubilee
her 60 years as Queen in 1897. In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. The event came less than a year
after the excitement of the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the nation
and the Commonwealth were in a mood to celebrate 60 years of her reign.

T
he Diamond Jubilee provided the the first weekend in June. Monday, barges and a flotilla of river craft against
occasion for her subjects to reflect June 4, and Tuesday, June 5, were the backdrop of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
upon the Queen’s lifetime of designated as public holidays, giving More than 1,000 boats, old and new,
service to her country through 60 years people throughout the country the from all over the country and further
of change. Prime Minister David chance to hold street parties or picnics afield, assembled on the river. They
Cameron echoed these sentiments or to join in one of the hundreds of included vessels that had taken part in
BANDANNA COMMEMORATING THE when, addressing the public events the Dunkirk evacuation during World
GOLDEN JUBILEE OF QUEEN VICTORIA

VICTORIA’S JUBILEES
While Queen Victoria’s Diamond
House of Commons
on March 7, he said,
“While the sands
400,000 The number organized in
of Diamond
Jubilee medals awarded in the
every region.
The Queen began
War II in 1940, an early 19th-century
Maori war canoe, and a wooden gig
(rowboat) believed to have ferried
Jubilee celebration was grander than that of culture shift and UK to the armed forces, prison her Diamond Jubilee Queen Victoria on a visit to Cornwall.
of her Golden Jubilee, the Queen kept in the tides of politics police, and emergency services. celebrations by Gloriana, a rowing barge specially
poor health ❮❮ 67. Crippled with arthritis, ebb and flow, Her attending the Epsom commissioned for this event, was
she was unable to climb the steps of St. Paul’s Majesty has been a permanent Derby horse races on Saturday, June 2. powered by an 18-man team of rowers,
Cathedral for the service of thanksgiving, and anchor… grounding us in certainty.” In London, the celebrations were including Olympic oarsmen Sir Steve
so it was decided to hold it outside. Dressed marked on Sunday, June 3 with a Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent.
as usual in black, she remained seated in her Weekend of celebrations spectacular pageant on the Thames, The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh,
carriage throughout. The government announced in January an event inspired by a painting by the and other members of the Royal Family,
that the focal point of the Queen’s 18th-century artist Canaletto, The Thames were on board the royal barge—MV The
Diamond Jubilee celebrations would be on Lord Mayor’s Day, depicting gilded Spirit of Chartwell—lavishly got up with

Pageant on the Thames

As scores of tiny rowing boats stream under
Westminster Bridge, the high-rise buildings behind
are testament to how much the London skyline has
changed during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
 THE DIAMOND JUBILEE

AFTER

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee was

marked in many different ways to
provide a lasting legacy of her
60 years on the throne.

JUBILEE TRIBUTES
Among the permanent tributes to the Queen
were the 60 Jubilee woodlands planted
by the Woodland Trust. The clock tower
of Westminster Palace that houses Big Ben was
renamed the Elizabeth Tower, the main gate to
Kew Gardens became the Elizabeth Gate and in
December 2012, the British Foreign Office
announced that a portion of the British
Antarctic Territory would be known
as Queen Elizabeth Land. The Queen
bestowed city status on Chelmsford in England,
Perth in Scotland, and St. Asaph in Wales, while
Armagh in Northern Ireland was granted a Lord
Mayor. The borough of Richmond in southwest
London became a Royal Borough.

DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL

Diamond Jubilee china Memorial. A total of 10,000 free tickets stretching around the world from Tonga Three versions of the Queen Elizabeth II
The official range of commemorative china for the had been made available to the public and New Zealand to Sydney, New Delhi, Diamond Jubilee medal were issued, one
Diamond Jubilee was modeled on the Rockingham and distributed by ballot. An afternoon Hong Kong, and Canada, and from John each by the UK, Canada, and the Caribbean
Service, first used at the coronation banquet of picnic, with a menu designed by top chef O’Groats to the Channel Islands. Commonwealth realms. It was awarded for
Queen Victoria in 1838. Heston Blumenthal was laid on for On the final day of the celebrations, honorable service in the armed forces, police,
ticket-holders in the palace gardens the Queen and other members of the prison, and emergency services, or for
gold and velvet awnings. In cold, chilly beforehand. The concert included Royal Family attended a national outstanding achievement or public service.
rain they watched the early part of the headline performances by Elton John, service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s
7.5-mile (12-km) long flotilla of boats Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney. Cathedral. Also present were the
pass by before the royal barge joined Prince Philip, who had been admitted to governors general and prime ministers
the procession to the pageant’s finale hospital earlier that day with a bladder of the Commonwealth, together with
at Tower Bridge.

Concert at the palace “In this special year… I dedicate

The next day a concert organized by
singer and songwriter Gary Barlow took
place in front of Buckingham Palace on a
myself anew to your service.”
stage built around the Queen Victoria THE QUEEN, ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER ACCESSION, FEBRUARY 2, 2012

Barge fit for a Queen infection, could not attend the concert. representatives of many branches of
The rowing barge Gloriana, which was privately built At 10:30 p.m., the Queen placed a national life. After a lunch with 700
as a tribute to the Queen, was modelled on the Lord crystal glass diamond into a special pod guests in Westminster Hall, the Queen
Mayor’s guilded barge pictured in Canaletto’s to activate a laser that lit the last in a returned in an open-top carriage to
painting of the River Thames. chain of more than 4,000 beacons Buckingham Palace. The celebrations
ended with the customary appearance
of the Royal Family on the balcony of
Buckingham Palace for a flyby by
the Red Arrows, the RAF aerobatic
display team, and other aircraft.

Overseas tours
Ten years before, for the Golden
Jubilee, the Queen and Prince Philip Lighting the National Beacon
had visited every country of the The Queen manipulates the crystal glass diamond into
Commonwealth, but now the 86-year- position to light the National Beacon. Seconds later,
old monarch called upon the support the brilliant white flare rose high into the sky in front
of other members of the Royal Family. of Buckingham Palace.
Overseas tours undertaken on behalf
of the Queen included visits by the Other events held in the Diamond
Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Jubilee year included an overseas
Cornwall to Australia, Canada, New sovereigns’ lunch hosted by the Queen
Zealand, and Papua New Guinea; the at Windsor Castle on May 18. In all, 22
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to reigning and former monarchs attended,
Malaysia, Singapore, the Solomon including the Emperor of Japan, two
Islands, and Tuvalu; and Prince Harry queens, nine kings, three princes,
to Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. one grand duke, and one sultan.

283
DECISIVE MOMENT July 28, 2012 12:17 a.m.

Opening the Olympics

Early in the morning of July, 28 Queen Elizabeth II stepped up
to the microphone to declare the 2012 London Olympic Games
officially open. Her brief words came in the midst of a lavish
opening ceremony—created by Oscar-winning director Danny
Boyle—that had begun five hours before.

For many, the highlight of the show came at around 10:30 p.m. when
the huge audience packed into the stadium, and the millions viewing
at home, were treated to a short film showing Daniel Craig as James
Bond arriving at Buckingham Palace. Followed by the Queen’s corgis
Monty, Willow, and Holly, he is shown into the royal study where
the Queen, with her back to the camera, is writing at her desk. Is it
really her? All doubts are put aside when she turns and greets the
famous spy: “Good evening, Mr. Bond.”
The monarch and spy are then seen leaving the Palace and
apparently climbing aboard a helicopter, which flies across London
to the Olympic Stadium, where they leap out. At that moment, in
real time, two skydivers, one dressed as the Queen, appeared above
the stadium. And minutes later, the Queen, wearing the same outfit
as in the film, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh arrived to take
her seat. The Queen’s starring role was one of the best-kept secrets of
the night. According to Lord Coe, chairman of the Games’ organizing
committee, Princes William and Harry were as stunned as anyone to
see the Queen in her first movie role. As the skydiver started to
descend, the Princes were heard to shout, “Go, Granny!”
The Queen’s surprise cameo, which had taken three hours to film
under Danny Boyle’s direction, gave the royal seal of approval to a
hugely successful summer Olympic Games, in which Great Britain
finished third in the medal rankings. It crowned a triumphant regal
summer, following on from the enormous success of the Queen's
Diamond Jubilee in June (see pp.282–83).

“ I declare open the Games of

London, celebrating the 30th
Olympiad of the modern era.”
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, OPENING THE OLYMPIC GAMES, JULY 28, 2012

Crown of light
Her Majesty the Queen, in a peach-colored cocktail
dress and a headpiece with handmade porcelain flowers,
formally opens the London Olympic Games. Seconds
later an explosion of fireworks appeared to enfold the
stadium in a scintillating crown of light.

285
Riding for Britain
Zara Phillips took part in the showjumping
final at the London Olympics in 2012. Her
mother Princess Anne had competed in the
Olympics 36 years earlier, in Montreal.
 2000–PRESENT

Born 1984

Prince Harry
“ There are three parts
of me—one wearing a
uniform, one being
Prince Harry, and the
other… private.”
PRINCE HARRY, ON RETURN FROM AFGHANISTAN, JANUARY 2012

P
rince Harry is the younger son with striking red hair and an impish
of Charles, Prince of Wales and grin, Harry seems to have a developed
Diana, Princess of Wales, and is a cheeky, happy-go-lucky attitude
currently fifth in line of succession to life from an early age, in contrast to
to the throne—after Prince Charles, his shyer, more serious older brother.
Prince William, and William’s two
children. Harry was born on Death of Diana
September 15, 1984, at St. Mary’s Harry was 12 at the time of his
Hospital, in Paddington, central mother’s tragic death. A diminutive
London, and named Henry Charles figure in an unfamiliar black suit, he
Albert David. A good-looking toddler walked bravely behind his mother’s
coffin with his grandfather, father,
brother, and maternal uncle, Earl
Spencer, as it made its way to
Westminster Abbey. As an adult, Harry
has spoken openly about the pain of
losing his mother—“To us, she was
quite simply the best mother in the
world”—and it cannot be doubted it
is this experience that allows him to
empathize with children in his charity
work and official engagements. A
trip that Harry made to Botswana and
South Africa with Prince Charles in the
winter after Diana’s death gave him his The people’s prince
first taste of Africa, a continent he has People have tended to identify more with
visited many times since. Prince Harry than any other royal. His very
public transformation from a cheeky young
Eton and after boy to a vociferous advocate for
In September 1998, Harry joined various charities
Prince William at Eton College—an has endeared him
independent secondary school in to the public.
Berkshire, near Windsor. Although
he did not shine academically, he
excelled at sports, particularly polo
and rugby union, and joined the
school Combined Cadet Force
(CCF), reaching the rank of
Cadet Officer. He did not
Cute boy escape getting into teenage
Prince Harry peers out of the back door of Highgrove, scrapes—when the
Prince Charles’s country home. Harry and William press published reports
divided school vacations between Highgrove and that he had taken part in
Diana’s Kensington Palace apartment. underage drinking and

288
 PRINCE HARRY

smoking pot, his father arranged for

TIMELINE
him to visit a South London drug
rehabilitation center. ■ September 15, 1984 Born at 4:20 p.m. at
After graduation in 2003, and St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.
before embarking on a military career, ■ December 21, 1984 Christened Henry Charles
Harry took a gap year to travel in Albert David by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Australia, Argentina, and Africa. in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.
In Africa, he made a documentary ■ September 1992 Follows William to Ludgrove
about the plight of orphans School, a boys’ boarding school in Berkshire.
in Lesotho. He also spent part
■ August 1997 Death of his mother Diana in
of the year training as a coach
a car accident.
with the Rugby Football Union,
■ 1998–2003 Attends Eton College, where he
visiting schools and teams
earns two A-Levels in Art and Geography.
around the country to
promote the sport. ■ 2004 Spends a gap year in Australia, Argentina,
Prince Harry entered the and Lesotho, Africa.
Royal Military Academy ■ September 2005 On turning 21, takes
at Sandhurst, Berkshire, on royal duties as a Counsellor of State.
in May 2005 and after frontline, he said “I haven’t really had For love of Africa ■ 2006 Helps set up Sentebale, a charity to
completing his training a shower for four days, I haven’t On a 2014 trip to Lesotho, Prince Harry shows a help orphans in Lesotho.
course was commissioned washed my clothes for a week.” group of boys the photo he has just taken of them on ■ April 2006 Is commissioned into the
as a second lieutenant into his camera. The boys go to a night school built by Household Cavalry.
the Blues and Royals, part A talent for caring Sentebale, Prince Harry’s African charity.
■ July 1, 2007 With his brother, organizes
of the Household Cavalry. As with William, Diana, Princess of
the “Concert for Diana” at Wembley
He was deployed twice to Wales’s influence shows in many raise money for the charity Walking
Stadium, London.
Afghanistan and is a qualified of the charities and causes Harry With the Wounded. He also
Apache helicopter commander supports. In 2006 he founded championed the hugely successful
(see pp.290–91). In an interview Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Invictus Games for wounded service
to the press about life on the Lesotho. Sentebale, which means personnel in October 2014
(see pp.300–301).

“ We’re very privileged in Harry has had many brushes with

the paparazzi. He apologized after a
photograph appeared in the press of
the position that we are. him wearing a uniform with a swastika
armband to a costume party. In 2012

But… with privilege comes he was photographed naked in Las

Vegas with an unknown woman,
apparently taking part in a game of
great responsibility.” strip billiards. Incidents such as these
helped to build his image as a fun-
CONCERT FOR DIANA

PRINCE HARRY, INTERVIEWED ON CBS NEWS, MARCH 13, 2012 loving prince, especially in his younger ■ December 2007 Is deployed as a Forward Air
days, and they have not dented his Controller in Afghanistan.
“forget-me-not” in the Sesotho popularity—in 2014 he was voted the ■ January 6, 2009 The Queen grants William
language, helps care for vulnerable nation’s favorite royal. In very large and Harry their own royal household at
children who are the forgotten victims part, this is due to his ability to reach St. James’s Palace.
of poverty and the HIV/AIDS out to ordinary people, a gift he has ■ March 2012 Makes official visit to Belize, the
epidemic. The “Concert for inherited from his mother. Bahamas, and Jamaica as part of the Queen’s
Diana,” organized by William and Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Harry at Wembley Stadium in July The future ■ September 2012 Makes second operational
2007, was held to aid Sentebale, Prince Harry is known to tour in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter
along with Diana’s have had two long- copilot/gunner.
favorite charities. In term relationships.
■ October 2013 Makes his first official visit
2010, Harry and Although he has
to Australia.
William visited expressed the wish
Sentebale during to marry and have ■ December 2013 Takes part in the Walking
with the Wounded South Pole challenge.
their official joint children, for the
tour of South time being he ■ May 18, 2014 Attends the 70th anniversary
Africa, Botswana, remains single. commemorations of the battle of Monte
and Lesotho Although he stated Cassino in Italy.
(see pp.294–95). “I am definitely not ■ September 8–14, 2014 Attends all the events
Harry’s personal Prince Harry’s coat of arms a diplomat,” in a CBS at the Invictus Games in his role as president.
experience of the huge The Queen gave Prince Harry his own coat interview, Harry has ■ September 2014 Appointed honorary
risks and suffering of arms on his 18th birthday. The red escallops taken on a greater president of England Rugby ahead of the
arising from warfare (shells) on the collars of the lions, unicorn, role in performing Rugby World Cup hosted in England in
has led him to take and shield are from the Spencer coat of arms official duties for the August 2015.
an ever more active of his maternal family. Queen and the Duke ■ March 2015 Announces his departure from
role in supporting of Edinburgh. This the army, as from June, to start a new chapter
those injured in the line of duty. He aspect of his royal duties will grow in his life.
trekked part of the way with teams of as he develops new responsibilities
injured servicemen to the North Pole in following his departure from the
2011 and to the South Pole in 2013 to army, announced in March 2015.

289
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O RE

Harry’s love of the army dates back

to his childhood. Growing up in the
Royal Family gave him plenty of
opportunity to observe military life.

LITTLE SOLDIER
When he was 8, Harry accompanied Diana, the
Princess of Wales, on an official visit to the
Light Dragoons’ barracks in Hanover,
Germany, where he was photographed wearing
a set of miniature army fatigues. His favorite
movie was said to be the classic historical war
drama Zulu, starring Michael Caine.

ZULU, 1964 FILM POSTER

SCHOOL CADET
Harry was an enthusiastic member of the
Eton College unit of the Combined Cadet
Force (CCF), which teaches basic military
training and leadership skills in schools.
Awarded the highest rank of Cadet
Officer, he was Parade Commander
at Eton CCF’s annual inspection in 2003.

“ Anyone who
says they
don’t enjoy
the Army is
mad… (it is)
the best job
you could
ever, ever
wish for.”
PRINCE HARRY, IN AN INTERVIEW

Apache warrior
Prince Harry is pictured wearing camouflage fatigues
at the British-controlled Camp Bastion in southern
Afghanistan. Serving as an Apache helicopter copilot
gunner, the Prince completed a four-month tour of
duty on the frontline in 2012.

290
 HARRY IN THE ARMY

Harry in the Army

Prince Harry served 10 years in the army and did two tours of duty
in Afghanistan—the first member of the Royal Family to fight in a
war zone since Prince Andrew served in the Falkands.

H
arry always wanted to be target and could endanger the lives £45 million ($67.5
a soldier. He was not as of the soldiers around him. Although million) each, Apaches
academically inclined as his the Prince accepted the decision, he did are highly sophisticated
older brother, William, and achieved not mask his disappointment. and well-armed military
only two A-levels at school. However, In February the next year, the MoD helicopters. Designed
these were enough to allow him to revealed that Harry had secretly visited to hunt and destroy
undertake the compulsory tests for Afghanistan as a tactical air controller, armored vehicles,
entry to the Royal Military Academy calling up allied air cover to support Apaches can zero in on
Sandhurst—the training establishment ground forces attacking the Taliban. a specific target during
day or night, and in all

“ There’s no way I’m going to

weather conditions. Each of Using sophisticated equipment
these helicopters carries a mix Harry sits in the cockpit of his Apache helicopter with a
of weapons, including rockets, monocle gun sight mounted on his helmet. This device

put myself through Sandhurst 16 Hellfire laser-guided missiles,

and a 30 mm chain gun. An Apache’s
allows gunners to direct missiles by simply pointing
their heads at a target and actuating a switch.
two-man crew consists of a pilot and
and then sit… back home a copilot, or gunner.
In October 2011, Harry transferred AFTER
while my boys are out fighting to the US Naval Air Facility at El
Centro, California, for the final part of
his training to fly Apaches in the war After completing a decade of service,
for their country.” arena, including live fire training. This
would qualify him for frontline action
Harry announced in March 2015 that
he would be leaving the armed forces
PRINCE HARRY, EXPLAINING HIS DECISION TO BE DEPLOYED ON THE FRONTLINE in Afghanistan. A natural pilot, Harry in June the same year.
was at the top of his class at El Centro.
for officers in the British Army. The ministry, forced to make the HELPING THE WOUNDED
Although most entrants these days announcement because foreign Camp Bastion Harry’s association with the military continues,
are graduates, Harry was nonetheless media had breached the official Harry arrived at Camp Bastion, the despite his decision to quit the forces. He has
accepted, and began training as news blackout, immediately cut short British airbase in southern Afghanistan, already successfully organized the Invictus
Officer Cadet Wales in May 2005. his tour of duty. Harry returned home in September 2012 to begin a four- Games 300–301 ❯❯—a competition for
The demanding course covered and commented: “Angry would month combat tour as an Apache copilot former military personnel, wounded in the
military, practical, and be the wrong word gunner with 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment, line of duty. From August 2015, the Prince
academic subjects, alongside to use, but I am slightly AAC. He took part in a variety of will volunteer with the MoD’s Recovery
tough physical training. disappointed. I thought missions over Helmand Province, from Capability Program and the London
On completion, Harry was I could see it through to supporting NATO (North Atlantic Treaty District Personnel Recovery Unit. His
commissioned as a cornet, the end and come back Organization) ground troops to work will involve ensuring that injured or sick
or second lieutenant, with our guys.” accompanying British Chinook and military personnel have appropriate recovery
into the Blues and US Black Hawk medical helicopters on plans and necessary support.
Royals regiment of the Helicopter pilot casualty evacuation missions. In a series
Household Cavalry in Late in 2008, Harry began of interviews and a filmed documentary,
April 2006. He then learning to fly military Harry made it clear how much he valued
took the Troop Leaders’ helicopters on attachment army life as an escape from the pressures
Course to qualify to to the Army Air Corps and tensions of being in the public eye as
command an armored (AAC) based at Middle a Royal: “It’s very easy to forget who I
HARRY
reconnaissance vehicle. Blues and Royals cap badge Wallop, Hampshire. In am when I am in the army. Everyone’s AT THE
The Blues and Royals was formed June 2009, he joined wearing the same uniform and doing the UNVEILING
OF THE
Disappointing in 1969 when two regiments of Prince William at the same kind of thing. I get on well with WORLD WAR I
decision the British Army—the Royal House Defense Helicopter the lads and I enjoy my job. It is as easy MEMORIAL
ARCH IN
In February 2007, the Guards and the Royal Dragoons— Flying School at as that.” He also admitted to having fired FOLKESTONE
Ministry of Defense merged. Each regiment’s origins Royal Air Force (RAF) at Taliban fighters in the course of IN 2014
(MoD) and the Prince of can be traced back to the 1660s. Shawbury, Shropshire. rescuing injured personnel, but said he
Wales’ office made a joint The brothers lived in was only doing his job.
announcement that Harry would be shared accommodation during their When Harry’s attachment to the AAC
deployed with his regiment to Iraq time together on the base. In May ended in 2014, he took up a staff officer
as part of the 1st Mechanised Brigade. 2010, the Prince of Wales awarded appointment in HQ London District—the
Harry had already publicly stated that Harry his flying brevet (wings) in a main headquarters for all British Army
he would leave the army if he were left ceremony at Middle Wallop. units within the M25 corridor of
behind while his regiment went to war. Harry then embarked on the London. His responsibilities included
In May, General Sir Richard Dannatt, long training to fly Apache attack helping organize military events in
head of the British Army, reversed the helicopters, and was promoted to London, such as the annual Trooping
decision—Harry was a high-value captain in 2011. Costing approximately the Color (see pp.226–27).

291
 DECISIVE MOMENT July 22, 2013, 4:24 p.m.

The Birth of George

Prince William was at Catherine’s side when, on the afternoon
of July 22, 2013, their son entered the world weighing
8 lb 6 oz (3.8 kg). The birth took place in the Lindo Wing of
St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, close to Kensington Palace,
where William had been born 31 years before.

In a break with royal tradition, the news of the birth was given
through an email press release and immediately tweeted around
the world, even before the customary bulletin had been posted on
an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace: “Her Royal Highness
The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24 p.m.
today. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”
The next day, gun salutes were sounded in Green Park and the Tower
of London, the bells of Westminster Abbey rang for three hours, and
the fountains in Trafalgar Square were illuminated in blue in honor of a
boy. A large crowd joined the hundreds of journalists who had camped
outside the hospital for several days. They waited patiently for a sight of
the baby prince as first Catherine’s parents, and then the Prince of
Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived to greet their first
grandchild. Just before 8 p.m. the next day, Catherine and William
emerged through the doors of the hospital cradling their son. They
posed for pictures and spoke briefly to the crowd—like any proud
father, William commented that the baby had a good set of lungs, while
Catherine revealed that William had already done a diaper change.
The next day they announced their choice of names—George
Alexander Louis. Meanwhile, the baby at the center of the drama,
now formally known as HRH Prince George of Cambridge, remained
unaware that his great-grandmother was the reigning monarch, and
that one day in the distant future he was destined to be king. Not
since Queen Victoria’s death in 1901 had there been three generations
alive in direct line of succession to the throne: the Queen’s son,
grandson, and great-grandson.

“ He’s got her looks,

thankfully.”
PRINCE WILLIAM, SPEAKING TO THE WAITING PRESS
OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL, JULY 23, 2013

Proud father
William and Catherine show off their son to the
waiting photographers. The couple decided not to
employ a full-time nanny for Prince George during
his first weeks, preferring to care for him themselves
with the help of Catherine’s mother.

292
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O RE

As children, William and Harry

accompanied their parents on
William, Catherine,
and Harry Abroad
several overseas visits.

SEASONED TRAVELERS
In 1983, Diana took 9-month-old William
on a long official visit with Charles to New
Zealand and Australia. Her decision was
questioned because of the risk of having the Like other members of the Royal Family, William and Harry act as ambassadors for Britain. In
first and second in line to the throne aboard recent years, they have both made several successful overseas tours. Catherine travels with
the same plane ❮❮ 2 06. In 1985, William and
Harry joined their parents for a few days at the William when she can, and Prince George has already made his first visit abroad.
end of an official visit to Italy. Both sons

R
accompanied their parents on an official visit oyal overseas tours have several visits, the Princes promote the work
to Canada in 1993. purposes—they boost Britain’s of the charities and organizations
interests by showcasing its that they support.
creativity and innovation and help In June 2010, William and Harry
develop business partnerships. They made a joint goodwill tour of southern
also help establish goodwill between Africa. In Botswana, the brothers saw
Britain and other countries and, in the firsthand the work of the Tusk Trust—a
case of Commonwealth nations, foster wildlife conservation organization that
and develop friendships. William supports. They then traveled
William and Harry represent the on to Lesotho, where Harry showed his
Queen at important events and brother some of the projects
ceremonies on official overseas tours. undertaken by Sentebale—the charity
ROYAL TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND Their relaxed and friendly manner he cofounded with Prince Seeiso of
with crowds wins them admirers Lesotho to help vulnerable children
wherever they go. On more informal and orphans. The tour ended in South
Africa, where William, in his capacity

“ He’s cool, very down to as president of the English Football

Association, and Harry saw England
draw with Algeria in a second-stage
earth... you think it will be match in the World Cup.

difficult but he just wanted Going solo

William made his first solo visit
overseas in July 2005, soon after Bidding goodbye
to laugh.” graduating from university. He
was invited by the British and Irish
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with Prince
George, wave farewell to Australia as they board
USAIN BOLT, ON HIS MEETING WITH PRINCE HARRY IN JAMAICA, 2012 Lions rugby team to join them on a flight in Canberra at the end of their triumphant
their tour of New Zealand. While tour of the country in 2014.
there, the Prince represented the
Queen at official events in Auckland he traveled to Greymouth, the site
and Wellington to mark the of a coal-mining accident that had
60th anniversary of the end of World killed 29 miners a short while before.
War II. He returned to New Zealand The Prince then flew to Australia,
for a two-day visit in January 2010, where he visited flood-damaged areas
when he represented the Queen at the of Queensland and Victoria.
opening of the Supreme Court building
in Wellington. William then paid an Traveling together
unofficial visit to Australia, his first Two months after their wedding,
since visiting the country at the age William and Catherine visited Canada
of 9 months, on a mission to get to on their first overseas tour together.
know the country and its people. During their nine-day visit, the royal
Barely a year later, a powerful couple attended the Canada Day
earthquake struck the city of Parade on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill in
Christchurch on New Zealand’s South searing temperatures of 90°F (32°C).
Island, killing 185 people and causing Catherine’s striking red hat was
widespread damage. William flew decorated with maple leaves—Canada’s
there to attend a national memorial national emblem—and she wore a
service on behalf of the Queen. After diamond maple leaf brooch that had
inspecting the devastated area and been loaned to her by the Queen.
speaking with victims and rescuers, William and Catherine also visited
Prince Edward Island and the
In the running Northwest Territories before watching
Harry takes part in a race with sprint record holder the annual stampede—a 10-day rodeo,
Usain Bolt on the Usain Bolt [running] track in Mona, exhibition, and festival event—in
Jamaica. The Prince took advantage of a false start to Calgary, Alberta. At the end of the trip,
sprint down the track, leaving Bolt behind. they made a short visit to California, to

294
 W I L L I A M , C AT H E R I N E , A N D H A R R Y A B R O A D

AFTER
promote the British film industry at an severe morning sickness at the start of was devastated by an earthquake and
event in Los Angeles. The couple’s next her second pregnancy forced her to tsunami in 2011. The first member of
long overseas tour was to Southeast cancel the trip. William went instead the Royal Family to visit China for Prince George proved so popular in
Asia and the Pacific for the Queen’s as a last minute stand-in. nearly 30 years, William met President Australia that some commentators
Diamond Jubilee in 2012. The tour The couple made a highly successful Xi Jinping in Beijing, launched a festival even credited him with causing
covered four Commonwealth visit to the US in December, when promoting British businesses in a slump in support for the
countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Catherine was five months pregnant. Shanghai, and visited an elephant republican movement.
Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. She stuck to a tight schedule in New sanctuary in Yunnan province.
In April 2014, the Prince and Princess York City, visiting child development GEORGE “THE REPUBLICAN SLAYER”
of Wales embarked on a 19-day tour of projects and a National Basketball Harry’s expeditions The republican movement in Australia
New Zealand and Australia. They were Harry made his first official overseas aims to change the country’s status from
accompanied by 9-month-old Prince
George in a visit that replicated that
of his father with the Prince and
671 The number of gifts
Prince George received
on his visit to New Zealand
tour in 2012 when he visited Belize, the
Bahamas, and Jamaica on behalf of
the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee
a constitutional monarchy to a republic. In
2014, in the wake of William and Catherine’s
tour of Australia with baby Prince George in
Princess of Wales 32 years earlier. The and Australia. year. In addition to carrying out his tow, support for the republic
royal entourage included a full-time public duties, he delighted his hosts by movement dropped to its lowest
nanny, Maria Borrallo, whom Association (NBA) game. Meanwhile, entering completely into the spirit of level in three decades.
Catherine had hired just before the trip William traveled alone to Washington the celebrations—joining in dances An Australian breakfast television show
to look after George. The little Prince’s for a meeting with President Barack at street parties and playing soccer with dubbed George “the Republican Slayer” after
public appearances were carefully Obama and to attend a working lunch to local children. In Jamaica, he took part an opinion poll revealed that support for the
managed—he visited a playgroup discuss and to address a World Bank in a mock race against champion republican movement was at 42 percent –
with his mother in Wellington, and a consortium on the fight against the sprinter Usain Bolt. Prince Harry has its lowest in 35 years. Meanwhile, 51 percent
zoo in Sydney, where he delighted the illegal trade in ivory. also made official visits to Chile, Brazil, were in favor of retaining the monarchy,
assembled photographers by throwing Catherine’s pregnancy also caused her Estonia, and Italy, where he attended a figure that rose to 60 percent among the
a stuffed toy to the ground. to be absent from the state visits William the 70th anniversary of the Battle of 18–24 age group. Women were generally
Catherine was intending to make her made to Japan and China in February Monte Cassino, commemorating the more pro-monarchy than men.
first official solo visit to Malta in 2015. In Japan, the Prince visited the heavy losses incurred by Allied troops
September 2014, when the onset of northeast region of Fukushima, which in Italy during World War II.

Oval Office meeting

William chats with President Barack Obama during
a visit to the White House in Washington, D.C.,
in December 2014. He was in Washington
to speak against illegal wildlife trafficking.
 2000–PRESENT

The Queen’s Grandchildren

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, have eight grandchildren. The eldest, Peter
Phillips, was born in 1977 and the youngest, James, Viscount Severn, in 2007. The Queen enjoys being
in their company and is said to “light up” when they are around.

F
amily life is very important to them more leeway than she gave became an even more important part plain to see. Prince Harry, too, has a
Elizabeth II. Each year her her own children, to whom she of the Princes’ lives, and they both good rapport with the Queen. Like his
children and grandchildren gather is sometimes said to have been look to her for approval and advice. brother William, he undertook a series
for summer vacation at Balmoral, a rather remote mother. “My relationship with the Queen has of overseas Commonwealth tours on
where the younger cousins enjoy For Princes William (b.1982) and gone from strength to strength,”
family picnics, pony trekking, and Harry (b.1984), second and fifth in William has said, explaining that he The Queen and her grandchildren
other outdoor activities. The family line of succession, both grandparents sometimes found it hard to talk to her This family portrait—taken on vacation in the grounds
also gets together for Christmas provided stability, support, and about weighty matters when he was of Balmoral in 1999—shows the Queen and Prince
at Sandringham and for Easter at protection, especially during the younger, but now finds it much easier. Philip with five of their grandchildren, left to right:
Windsor Castle. The Queen has difficult years when their parents Elizabeth’s pride at William’s passing Harry, Eugenie, William, Beatrice, and Zara.
taught all her grandchildren to ride. Charles and Diana, divorced, and after out parade at Sandhurst in 2006, and
She loves their jokes and, like so the painful loss of their mother. As her happiness at the wedding of
many grandparents, possibly allows they grew into adulthood, the Queen William and Catherine in 2011 was

BEF O RE

The best-known royal grandmother

in British history was Queen Victoria,
who had a total of 20 grandsons and
22 granddaughters, the eldest born
in 1859 and the youngest in 1891.

THE GRANDMOTHER OF EUROPE

Victoria’s children married into many of
Europe’s royal houses ❮❮ 51. Her
grandchildren included King George V of
Great Britain, the German Emperor Wilhelm II,
the wife of Czar Nicholas II, the last ruler
of Russia, and the consorts of the kings of
Romania, Greece, Norway, and Spain.
Queen Victoria was a carrier of
hemophilia, a genetic disorder that
prevents blood clotting. It is passed on
by women but mostly occurs in men.
Through three of Victoria’s carrier daughters,
hemophilia spread into many of the royal
families of Europe.

VICTORIA WITH PRINCE ARTHUR AND PRINCESS

MARGARET OF CONNAUGHT

296
 THE QUEEN’S GRANDCHILDREN

AFTER
Proud grandparents rebellious streak (as a 17-year-old she
The Queen and Prince Philip sported a tongue piercing at Prince
look on as their eldest Charles’s 50th birthday), she was The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh
grandson Peter Phillips leaves frequently in the gossip magazines. first became great-grandparents in
St George’s Chapel, Windsor, In 2011 she married the former 2010. At the present time, they are
with his bride Autumn Kelly international rugby player and England great-grandparents five times over.
after their wedding on captain Mike Tindall at Canongate Kirk
17 May 2008. in Edinburgh. They have one daughter. THE NEXT GENERATION
Elizabeth II’s eldest great-grandchild Savannah
met at the Canadian The young Yorks Anne Kathleen, the daughter of Peter and
Grand Prix in Princess Beatrice (b.1988) and Princess Autumn Phillips, was born on September 29,
Montreal. She was Eugenie (b.1990), the daughters of 2010. The Queen attended her baptism at Holy
a Roman Catholic Andrew and Sarah, the Duke and Cross Church, Avening, in Gloucestershire. A
but became a member Duchess of York, are currently seventh second daughter, Isla Elizabeth, was born
of the Church of and eighth in line to the throne. They to the couple on March 29, 2012. The Queen’s
England so that Peter are both styled Her Royal Highness first great-grandson, Prince George
would not have to as the granddaughters of the monarch of Cambridge, son of the Duke and Duchess
give up his place in through the male line. The Duke and of Cambridge, was born on July 22, 2013
the line of succession. Duchess agreed to joint custody of ❮❮ 292. His third cousin, Mia Grace Tindall,
At that time a their daughters after their divorce daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall, was born on
clause of the 1701 and shared responsibility for January 17, 2014. George’s younger sister,
Act of Settlement their upbringing. Charlotte, was born on
that made it illegal for Princess Beatrice, who is dyslexic, 2 May 2015.
anyone married to a attended St. George’s School, Ascot,
Roman Catholic to an independent girls’ day school,
succeed to the throne before going on to study history at
was still in force; the Goldsmiths College, University of
bar has since been London, graduating in 2011. She was
her behalf during the Diamond Jubilee removed by the Succession to the the first member of the Royal Family
year in 2012, and has spoken warmly Crown Act, 2013. Peter and Autumn to complete the London Marathon and
of her sympathy and concern. have two daughters. is patron of a number of charities
PRINCE
Like her parents, Zara is an and organizations, particularly those GEORGE
Princess Anne’s children accomplished equestrian. She was working to improve the lives of young
The Queen’s eldest grandchildren are Eventing World Champion in 2006 and people. She is famous for the unusual
Peter Phillips (b.1977) and Zara Phillips part of the British eventing team that hat she wore to the wedding of Prince
(b.1981), the son and daughter of won the team silver medal at the 2012 William and Catherine Middleton;
she later offered it for auction on

“ When the Queen says well eBay, where it raised £81,000

($120,000) for charity. In 2014–15
she interned at the London offices of
done, it means so much.” Sony Pictures Television.
Princess Eugenie was a boarder with the fundraising appeal for the
PRINCE WILLIAM, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT HARDMAN, 2011 at Marlborough College in Wiltshire. Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
She graduated from Newcastle Eugenie is currently working in New
Princess Anne and her first husband, Olympics in London. She is nearest in University in 2012 with a degree in York for an online auction house.
Captain Mark Phillips. They are age to William and Harry among the English literature and history of art.
currently 13th and 16th in the line of royal cousins, and is godmother to She had corrective orthopedic surgery The Earl of Wessex’s children
succession to the throne, but do not William and Catherine’s son, Prince as a girl because of a congenital spinal The Queen’s youngest grandchildren
have a royal title because they are the George. As a young royal with a condition, and is now closely involved are Lady Louise Windsor (b.2003) and
grandchildren of the monarch through James, Viscount Severn (b.2007). The
the female line. Both their parents were children of the Earl and Countess of
Olympic equestrians—Mark Phillips Wessex, they are currently 10th and
competed at Munich, Germany, in 1972, 11th in line of succession, but do not
and Princess Anne at Montreal, Canada, have a royal title—a decision made on
in 1976 (see pp.186–87)—so it is not their parents’ marriage, when Prince
surprising that Peter and Zara both Edward chose to become an earl rather
developed a strong interest in sport from than a royal duke (see p.251).
an early age. They were kept out of the Louise was born prematurely at
limelight as children, and are the only Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey after
grandchildren of the Duke of Edinburgh Plane spotting her mother was rushed there as a
to attend his old school, Gordonstoun, The Queen’s youngest medical emergency. Louise was
in Scotland so far (see pp.124–25). grandchild James, son a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince
Peter graduated with a degree in of Earl and Countess of William and Catherine Middleton. She
sports science from the University of Wessex (back), peers is frequently seen at royal occasions
Exeter before pursuing a career in through cupped hands such as Trooping the Color and
sports sponsorship management, at the RAF flypast after attended the Diamond Jubilee river
working for a time for the Williams the Trooping the Colour pageant with her brother. James was
Formula 1 racing team. He now works ceremony in 2013. born by Caesarean section at the same
in event management. In 2008 he His sister Louise is hospital. The Queen is said to be very
married Canadian-born business beside him on the fond of both children, and goes riding
consultant Autumn Kelly, whom he Palace balcony. with them in Windsor Great Park.

297
2000-PRESENT

Born 1926

Elizabeth II,
the Later Years
“You can do a lot
if you are properly
trained.”
QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Q
ueen Elizabeth II is said to to the Queen’s longevity—she
have been taken aback by is now 89 years old, yet still carries
the degree of affection shown out a punishing daily work schedule,
to her by the public during her long after the age most people have
Golden Jubilee year in 2002. The opted for retirement. However,
previous two decades had been it can be attributed even more
difficult for the Royal Family, for to the Queen’s own willingness to
the institution of monarchy, and adapt to change.
for the Queen personally. She
had seen three of her children’s
marriages fail under the glare of
publicity, while she herself was
subjected to an unprecedented
storm of criticism after the death
of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
At the height of these troubles, the
Royal Family was held up to ridicule
in the satirical puppet show Spitting
Image, one of the most popular
television comedies of the 1980s
and 1990s. It even featured
caricatures of the Queen as well At dinner with the Queen
as the Queen Mother, and Prince Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip welcome
Philip, something that would US President Barack Obama and his wife,
have been unthinkable in the Michelle, to a state banquet at Buckingham
early years of her reign. Palace on May 24, 2011.
The Queen successfully
weathered all these storms, She has reformed the monarchy
and public respect continues substantially. In 1992, she offered
to grow from year to year to start paying income tax and capital
for the way she carries gains tax on her private wealth.
out her role as monarch, She opened her official residences,
for her devotion to duty, including Buckingham Palace, to the
and for her personal
qualities of steadfast
strength, good humor,
and courtesy. In part,
393 The number of the
Queen’s official
engagements in 2014.
of course, this is due
public in an effort to finance their
Octogenarian monarch upkeep. She supported measures to
At 89, the Queen is an active end the law of male primogeniture,
monarch with a busy schedule. An which means that the eldest child of
avid horsewoman, she is seen here the sovereign can succeed to the
arriving for Ladies Day at the Royal throne, regardless of gender, as well as
Ascot race meeting in June 2014. lifting the bar that prevents anyone
 E L I Z A B E T H I I , T H E L AT E R Y E A R S

Act of remembrance
TIMELINE
The Queen pays tribute to all those who died
serving their country at the national Service ■ 1980 Makes a state visit to the Vatican.
of Remembrance held at the Cenotaph in ■ April 17, 1982 Signs the Canadian
Whitehall in November every year. Constitution Act in Ottawa, surrendering
the right of the British Parliament to make
Her passion for horses is well known. laws affecting Canada.
She still rides, though she now prefers ■ July 9, 1982 An intruder, Michael Fagan,
to be mounted on sturdy fell ponies enters the Queen’s bedroom in Buckingham
from the north of England—known Palace, raising questions about security.
for their steady temperament and
■ 1985 The Queen and members of the Royal
sure-footedness (she is patron Family are caricatured on the TV satirical
of the Fell Pony Society). It is public puppet show Spitting Image.
knowledge that the Queen never
wears a hard riding hat, preferring a
silk headscarf. Her daughter Princess
Anne, her grooms, and ROSPA (the
Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents) have all remonstrated with
her about it, but she takes no notice.
The Queen loves horse racing, and
has a deep knowledge of breeding and
bloodlines. She owns 25–30 racehorses
who is married to a Roman Catholic Family, that she did sometimes and tries to see them run as often as
THE QUEEN’S
from standing in the line of succession begrudge some of the hours she has she can. She is at her most relaxed at 60TH BIRTHDAY
to the throne. to do when she could be outdoors a race meeting and has won all the COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS
instead. It was a refreshingly honest major Classic races, except for the
Personal style ■ October 1986 Visits China, becoming
The Queen has developed a personal
style of dress that has served her “The true measure of all our the first British monarch to do so.
■ May 16, 1991 Becomes the first British
well over the years. A two-piece monarch to address a joint meeting of
suit, or dress and coat, for daytime
engagements, usually in a single color
actions is how long the good the United States Congress.
■ November 20, 1992 Windsor Castle
and ending just below the knees. A
large hat with swept-back brim to in them last… everything is damaged by fire at the end of the
Queen’s annus horribilis.
show her face, low-heeled shoes, and
a handbag (no one knows what she
keeps in it). She almost invariably
we do, we do for the young.” ■ 1993 Pays income tax for the first time.
■ December 20, 1995 Advises Charles
and Diana that a divorce is desirable.
wears a pearl necklace and has a QUEEN ELIZABETH II, 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY, JUNE 2014
brooch pinned to her lapel. On formal ■ September 1997 Is criticized for her apparent
occasions, such as state banquets, she admission—the Queen is at heart a Epsom Derby, as an owner. In 2011, lack of feeling on Diana’s death by media.
sparkles in beaded gowns, with a countrywoman, and likes nothing her horse Carlton House was favorite ■ December 1997 Attends the
Garter Sash worn from the left better than going for long country to win the Derby, but was beaten into decommissioning ceremony of
shoulder, and diamond jewelry. walks with her dogs at Balmoral. She third place. The Queen’s excitement, the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Queen Elizabeth took to wearing loves being surrounded by her and disappointment at the outcome, ■ February 6, 2002 The 50th anniversary of
eyeglasses in public in 1982, when grandchildren (see p.296). was plain to see. the Queen’s accession marks the start of her
she put them on to read a speech, Golden Jubilee year.
remarking at the time, “It’s ■ November 20, 2007 The Queen and Prince
extraordinary, my mother doesn’t Philip celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
need glasses at all and here I am—52, ■ November 8, 2010 Joins Facebook with
56, well whatever age I am [she was the launch of a British Monarchy page.
56]—and I can’t see a thing.” She has
■ December 29, 2010 Birth of the Queen’s first
sometimes been accused of looking
great-grandchild, Savannah Phillips, daughter
grumpy in public—she has said of
of Peter and Autumn Phillips.
herself that she has the kind of face
■ May 2011 Visits the Republic of Ireland,
that, when not smiling, tends to look
a historic turning point in the troubled
cross. In recent years, however, she
relations between Ireland and the UK.
has been seen laughing and smiling
more than she did formerly. She has ■ October 2011 Carries out what is probably
sat for over 240 official portraits in the her last visit to Australia, the 16th of her reign.
course of her reign. ■ June 2, 2012 Starts off the Diamond Jubilee
celebrations by attending the Epsom Derby.
Countrywoman ■ July 28, 2012 Opens the Summer Olympic
In 1986 the Queen told BBC producer Games in London.
Eddie Mirzoeff, who was making ■ June 2014 Makes a state visit to France on
a documentary about the Royal the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the
D-Day landings.
First past the post
■ April 21, 2015 Celebrates her 89th birthday.
The Queen possesses a formidable knowledge of horse
racing. She is seen here congratulating her filly Estimate,
winner of the Gold Cup at Ascot in June 2013.

299
 DECISIVE MOMENT September 10, 2014

The Invictus Games

Prince Harry was the driving force behind the Invictus Games,
a Paralympic-style championship for wounded servicemen and
women. After attending the Warrior Games in the US in May
2013, where he witnessed the courage and determination of
those taking part, he decided to bring a similar event to Britain.

Modeled on the Warrior Games—an annual sports event for injured

service members and veterans in the US—the Invictus Games were
organized in only 10 months. Funding came equally from the Royal
Foundation—established by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and
Prince Harry—and from the Treasury.
At the official launch in March 2014, Harry said, “I have witnessed
firsthand how the power of sport can actively impact the lives of
wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women in their journey
of recovery.” Six months later, Prince Charles, the Duchess of
Cornwall, Prince William, and Prime Minister David Cameron were
there to see Harry, as founder of the Games, welcome more than
400 competitors from 13 countries to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park in east London. The countries taking part included eight
from Europe, one from Asia, two from North America, and two
from Oceania. All had fought alongside Britain in recent military
campaigns. Iraq was invited to send a team, but declined to do so.
Invictus is Latin for “undefeated.” At the opening ceremony, actor
Idris Elba read the short poem Invictus by the Victorian poet William
Ernest Henley, with its inspiring lines: “My head is bloody, but
unbowed… I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
Over the next four days, events were held at five different venues
used during the 2012 London Olympics. Serving personnel as well
as veterans injured in the line of duty competed in nine different
adaptive sports: archery, indoor rowing, power lifting, road cycling,
sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair
rugby. Prince Harry attended every event. Planning is underway
for a follow-up Invictus Games in 2016.

“ I have no doubt that lives will

be changed this weekend.”
PRINCE HARRY, IN HIS OPENING SPEECH AT THE INVICTUS GAMES,
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Star-studded event
Harry and his cousin Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess
Anne, compete in an exhibition game of wheelchair
rugby. Other sports stars who took part in the Invictus
Games included Zara’s husband, Mike Tindall, and British
Olympic legends Dame Kelly Holmes and Denise Lewis.

300
 2000–PRESENT

The Queen as Patron

Outside the pomp of a royal ceremony or state visit, the public is most familiar
with the Queen in her role as patron, visiting a hospital, school, or organization,
or hosting a reception in aid of one of her many charities.

Q
Garden party event ueen Elizabeth II is patron of profile and promote its work. The of 2,415 organizations in the UK, and
The Queen greets Andy Reid, an injured Afghanistan more than 600 organizations officers of the organization may be almost 3,000 worldwide. Individual
veteran, at a garden party held at Buckingham and charities. These range from invited from time to time to a meeting members of the Royal Family support
Palace for the “Not Forgotten” Association— large medical charities such as Cancer with the Queen or one of her private those charities that they consider to be
a charity that helps ex-service personnel. Research and the British Red Cross secretaries to report on its affairs, or rewarding or important, and which fall
to smaller organizations such as the she will send a representative to its within their own areas of interest and
Friends of the Elderly and the Fire annual general meeting—or even concern. Their endorsement of a
Fighters Charity. Many scientific and attend herself, if there is an important charity helps to raise public awareness
professional institutions—such occasion such as a centenary to be of its work. The Duke of Edinburgh
as the Royal Society, the Royal observed. She visits national and alone is patron of more than 700
Institute of British Architects, regional headquarters, meeting staff organizations, including more than 250
and the Royal Society for the and volunteers. involved with sports and recreation
Protection of Birds—have The Queen also allows individual initiatives, and 100 with the armed
royal charters that ensure charities to hold a lunchtime or evening services. The Prince of Wales has an
that the reigning monarch is reception at Buckingham Palace, interest in environmental causes and
always their patron, but the Windsor Castle, or Holyrood Palace the built environment, while the
Queen also supports scores when she is in Scotland. It gives Duchess of Cornwall is concerned with
of small charities such as the wealthy supporters of a charity the programs to encourage literacy and
Reedham Trust, a Surrey- chance to meet their patron, and reading, such as Booktrust and First
based charity that cares for helps to attract donors and publicity. Story. She is President of the National
children who have suffered Sometimes the help the Queen gives a Osteoporosis Society, which researches
parental bereavement, the charity is of a strictly practical nature— the brittle bone disease that affected
Manchester Geographical for instance, the gift of a Land Rover to both her mother and grandmother.
Society, which encourages aid the work of the Leonard Cheshire
geographical research in the Trust, which is involved with people
northwest of England, and with disabilities, in Zimbabwe. She
the Society for Promoting invites representatives from the many
Christian Knowledge, organizations she supports to the
the Church of England’s garden parties she hosts each summer
earliest missionary society, at Buckingham Palace as a way of
established in 1698 to showing her appreciation for the work
support Christian education. they do. She also gives generously as a
Her Majesty is patron private individual to various charities.
of the National Federation of
Women’s Institutes, founded Raising awareness
BE F O RE in 1915 to revitalize rural communities The Queen’s presence at an event
and encourage women to play a part or organization attracts national
in food production. She attends the attention. For example, she carried out
The annual distribution of Maundy New Year meeting of her local branch a joint engagement with the Duchess
money by the Queen is a form of at West Newton, of Cornwall to
royal charity that has its origins
in the Middle Ages.
Norfolk, while staying
at Sandringham for
her winter break. The
£1.4 BILLION ($2.1 billion) open the new
The amount Queen headquarters
Elizabeth II has raised for the of Barnardo’s in
ROYAL MAUNDY SERVICE Queen also supports a charities she supports. 2013. The Queen
Every Maundy Thursday (the day in large number of animal has been patron
the church calendar before Good Friday) the welfare charities—from the Dog of the society, which supports 200,000
Queen visits a cathedral to present local Trust and the Royal Society for the vulnerable children in the UK each
elderly people with two purses, one containing Prevention of Cruelty to Animals year, since 1983 and the Duchess of
modern coinage, and the other, specially (RSPCA) to the Fell Pony Society Cornwall is its president. Because their
minted coins (Maundy money). The ceremony and the Labrador Retriever Club. visit took place just before Christmas,
is based on Jesus Christ’s command (Mandatum) they were invited to take part in the
to love one another when he washed his Kinds of support society’s annual Giving Tree campaign
disciples’ feet at the Last Supper and dates back The support the Queen gives to each by donating Christmas tree ornaments.
to the 13th century when the sovereign would of her charities varies according to its The event received newspaper
give money, food, type, setup, and the kind of and television coverage, creating
clothing, and wash work it does. As patron, favorable publicity for the charity.
the recipient’s feet. she allows her name to be
placed at the head of the Sharing the work
MAUNDY MONEY organization’s official Some 17 members of the Royal Family
OF GEORGE VI
communications, thereby share the work of royal patronage
helping to raise its public with the Queen, supporting a total

302
 T H E Q U E E N A S P AT R O N

AFTER
Golden Jubilee Tour
As patron of the Royal National The number of charities supported
Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) the Queen by the Queen and the other members
names a new all-weather lifeboat, of the Royal Family is increasing
RNLB Richard Cox Scott, in Falmouth every year.
Harbour during her Golden Jubilee
visit to Cornwall in May 2002. REQUESTS FOR PATRONAGE
Charities are aware that having a royal
patron helps to attract much-needed
publicity and funds, and gives it
recognition and status. Buckingham Palace
receives hundreds of requests for
patronage each year. Individual members
of the Royal Family can only take on a limited
number of new requests, but the younger
royals in particular are championing
lesser-known causes, rather than the
mainstream charities.

One of the hardest working members Prince William and Prince Harry support those causes concerned with cofounded in Lesotho (see pp.288–89).
of the Royal Family is Princess Anne, have both inherited Diana, Princess children. The Duchess of Cambridge’s This number is likely to grow as
who is currently patron of more than of Wales’s compassionate concern. growing portfolio of charities includes Prince Harry finds more time for
300 organizations. As President of Prince William has taken over some Place2Be, which works in schools to involvement now that he has left
Save the Children since 1970, she his mother’s favorite charities, provide early-intervention mental his life in the army.
has helped to raise awareness of the including Centrepoint, which works health support, and the Art Room, an
charity and its work, both at home and with homeless young people, and Oxford-based charity that offers art as Traditional charity
overseas. She makes at least two field the Royal Marsden Hospital. He and therapy for children with behavioral The Queen distributed Maundy money at Blackburn
trips a year to Africa to witness the Catherine chose to support charitable difficulties. Prince Harry is patron of a Cathedral in 2014. The number of recipients is
work performed by the charity, often causes as part of their wedding smaller number of organizations, determined by her age – as she was 88 that year,
venturing into remote terrain. celebrations as well. They particularly including Sentebale, the charity he she gave Maundy money to 88 men and 88 women.

303
The centenary of World War I
Queen Elizabeth II visits the Blood Swept Lands
and Seas of Red display of 888,246 ceramic poppies
at the Tower of London in 2014. Each poppy
represented a British fallen soldier from World War I.
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O RE

The working life of the sovereign has

changed over the centuries. Many
duties the Queen performs today
The Royal Working Life
have evolved in the last 100 years. The Queen attends more than 300 official engagements a year, including the
lengthy, often exhausting ceremonial duties she performs as head of state. Even
ROYAL MEDDLER
Queen Victoria ❮❮ 50–55 interfered in in her 90th year, she still has a heavy and varied program of work.
government in a way that would be impossible

O
now, peppering her ministers with letters of n a normal day, the Queen approved and signed. She may hold or New Year’s Honors List with their
advice and admonition, especially over foreign devotes the first part of her audiences (meetings) with overseas awards (around 2,600 are given out
affairs and public appointments. She did not morning to her correspondence. diplomats, British ambassadors, senior a year). Sometimes Prince Charles,
like appearing in public and after the death She receives some 200–300 letters a members of the armed forces, bishops, Prince William, or Princess Anne will
of Prince Albert in 1861, hardly ever did so, day. The Queen glances through this judges, and leading figures from the hold an investiture on her behalf.
attending only seven State Openings of mailbag, selecting some to read, and fields of science or literature. She sees
Parliament ❮❮ 134–35 after that. tells her correspondence secretary or each visitor alone, and the meeting Public engagements
ladies in waiting how she wishes them usually lasts 20 minutes. The Queen usually attends public
DUTIFUL MONARCH to be answered. Virtually every letter Around 25 times a year, and lately engagements such as visits to schools,
Although Edward VII ❮❮ 72–73 played a receives a reply. decreasing in number, the Queen holds hospitals, community centers, and
more public role, opening hospitals and other The Queen then meets with her two an investiture at 11 a.m. in the places of work in the afternoon, though
institutions, the modern concept of the private secretaries and goes through ballroom at Buckingham Palace at sometimes she spends a whole day, in
working monarch really developed in the reign the official papers that are sent each which she invests a number of people which case the Duke of Edinburgh is
of George V ❮❮ 78–79. No great intellect, day in a government red box bearing who have been named in the Birthday likely to accompany her. The Queen
he emphasized the idea of duty, believing the royal cypher. They include policy chooses which places to visit from the
that the primary role of the monarchy was to
maintain traditional values and customs.
papers, Cabinet documents, and letters
from government ministers and
Commonwealth officials. They all have
50,000 The number of
people who visit
Buckingham Palace each year as
many invitations she is sent each year,
often by the Lord-Lieutenants—the
Queen’s personal representatives in
to be read and, where necessary, guests of the Queen. each county of the United Kingdom.

Royal pageantry on show

The carriage procession for the state visit of Prathiba
Patil, India’s first female president, climbs the steep
incline to Windsor Castle. Mrs. Patil was the guest of
the Queen in October 2009.
 T H E R O YA L W O R K I N G L I F E

AFTER

The Queen has recently begun to

hand over some of her public duties,
particularly overseas travel, to other
members of the royal family.

SCALING DOWN
That the Queen undertook no overseas visits
in her Diamond Jubilee year ❮❮ 280–83
was a sign that she is reducing long-distance
travel due to her age. Most significant was her
decision not to attend the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting held in
Sri Lanka in 2013, the first time in 40 years she
had not attended. Prince Charles went in
her place, amid calls to boycott the event due
to human rights violations in the host country.
The Queen’s overseas trips are now restricted
to Europe: she visited Italy in 2014 and France,
also in 2014, for the 70th anniversary of
When she is in London, the Queen’s is prepared in the Queen’s press office, Elizabeth II Visits The Highlanders D-Day ❮❮ 239, and plans to make a state
weekly meeting with the Prime Minister and she always approves it before it is The Queen joins the Argyll and Sutherland visit to Germany in June 2015.
takes place on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. sent to the newspapers. Highlanders at their barracks in Canterbury, Kent.
When Parliament is sitting she receives She was there as head of the army to witness the
a report of the day’s proceedings written State visits battalion’s final parade.
by one of the government’s whips, Foreign heads of state are invited by the
which she reads the same evening.
Later in the evening the Queen may, on
Queen to make a formal visit to Britain
on the advice of the Foreign and “ I… give my heart and devotion
rare instances, attend a film première, Commonwealth Office, with the aim of
concert, or reception on behalf of one of
the many organizations of which she is
strengthening ties and building
economic links. There are usually two
to these islands.”
patron. She also hosts official receptions such visits a year. The visit normally QUEEN ELIZABETH II, CHRISTMAS BROADCAST, 1957
at the Palace, such as those held begins with a ceremonial welcome by
annually for the diplomatic corps and the Queen or other senior royal. If in and air force establishments to meet organized by the Royal Horticultural
those for winners of the Queen’s Award London, the visitor inspects a guard of servicemen and servicewomen of all Society, it has become a regular fixture
for Enterprise (formerly Industry), honor on Horse Guards Parade, then ranks, and holds audiences with the in the royal calendar. Every summer
which promotes business excellence. travels in a carriage Chief of Defence Staff and other senior the Queen hosts at least three garden
procession to military figures. She and members of parties at Buckingham Palace and one
Buckingham her family hold appointments and at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.
Palace. In the honorary ranks in the armed forces, About 8,000 people attend each one,
evening the and she attends the Remembrance Day to enjoy tea and cakes and possibly to
Queen hosts a service in Whitehall in November. meet the Queen. They are drawn from
state banquet in There are many other duties, such as all walks of life and have usually
honor of the the State Opening of Parliament (see contributed in some way to their
visitor. During the pp.308–09), that the Queen carries community or profession.
one-to-three-day out as head of state. Many are full of In these, and countless other ways,
visit, he or she symbolism, such as the annual service the Queen fulfills her role as the head
will meet the for the Order of the Garter, which of the nation. And of course she is
Prime Minister, takes place at Windsor Castle in June. ready to perform occasional tasks such
and perhaps visit a The Garter is Britain’s senior order of as opening the Olympic Games. She
Duke of Normandy school, museum, or business that has chivalry, founded by Edward III in has a truly formidable workload for
The Queen is known as the Duke of Normandy in the links with their country. Recent visiting 1348, and the service is preceded by a anyone, let alone an octogenarian.
Channel Islands—self-governing territories with their heads of state have included the procession of all the
own legislative assemblies that have belonged to the President of Ireland in 2014, and in Knights of the Garter in
English crown since 1106. Here her head appears 2015, the President of Mexico. their blue velvet mantles
on a Jersey pound note. and plumed hats.
Head of the armed forces One event the Queen
The Court Circular As sovereign the Queen is head of the always enjoys is the
A list of the Queen’s engagements, and armed forces, a duty she takes very Chelsea Flower Show.
those of other members of her family, seriously. Under the royal prerogative, Held in the grounds of
is published the next day in the Court only the monarch, acting on the advice the Royal Hospital,
Circular. This appears in The Times, the of the Government, can declare war or Chelsea, since 1913, and
Daily Telegraph, and The Scotsman peace. The Queen has never done so as
newspapers, and has been in existence there has been no formal declaration The Order Of The Garter
since 1803 when George III appointed of war since 1939, though British Four royal knights (Andrew, Edward,
a “court newsman.” His job was to troops have engaged in numerous William, and Charles) attend the
provide the newspapers with accurate armed conflicts during her reign. Order of the Garter service, Windsor
information about the court in order to The Queen takes a keen interest Castle. The Queen is Sovereign of the
counter the many false rumors in the in the armed forces of the UK and the Order, which has only 24 knights,
press at that time. The Court Circular Commonwealth. She visits army, navy, plus the royal knights and ladies.

307
State Opening of Parliament
In her formal role as head of state, Queen
Elizabeth II reads the Speech from the Throne
at the State Opening of Parliament, a duty she
usually performs once a year.
 2000–PRESENT

BE F O R E

When Queen Elizabeth II acceded to

the throne in 1952, Britain was a very
different place.
Elizabeth’s Long Reign
At the age of 89, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-living monarch in British history.
WARTIME RATIONS On September 9, 2015, she passed Queen Victoria’s record of 63 years and 216 days on the
Food rationing, introduced during World
War II was still in place. It ended with the throne to become Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
withdrawal of the meat ration in May 1954.

I
n many respects the Queen’s life
SPEEDIER PHONE CALLS seems to have changed little over the
Long-distance calls in the UK had to be placed years. She follows the same annual
by a human switchboard operator. In 1958 the routine of events—from the State
Queen publicized the new automatic Opening of Parliament to the Christmas
telephone dialling system (STD) broadcast—as she did in 1953. Her
by calling the Lord Provost of Edinburgh summer vacations are usually spent
direct from Bristol. at Balmoral, Easter at Windsor, and
Christmas at Sandringham.
DECIMAL CURRENCY The Queen represents stability and
Pounds were divided into 20 shillings and 240 continuity in a country that has
pence. On February 15, 1971, the UK switched undergone tremendous change in the
to a decimal currency. New coins were 62 years since her coronation. In 1953
introduced and the 50p coin replaced the Britain was a predominately white,
10 shilling note. Christian society; today it is multi-faith
and multicultural. It was also a much
more deferential society, when the
press scarcely voiced any criticism
of the monarchy. It was a time when Sir Winston Churchill, was born in The Beatles at the palace
debutantes—girls of “good family” 1874 in the age of Queen Victoria; the In 1965, the Queen invested each member of The
and “marriageable age”—were current, David Cameron, was born in Beatles with an MBE (Member of the Order of the
presented at court, a ceremony 1966. The Queen has undertaken British Empire). Many people were outraged that
the Queen abolished in 1958. more than 260 official overseas visits, the mop-haired pop stars were given the award.
including 82 state visits, to 116
A unique record countries. She was the first British a changing world. She has faced cuts in
OLD TEN SHILLING NOTE Statistics issued by Buckingham Palace monarch to visit China and Russia. the Civil List, allowed her income to be
during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee taxed, opened Buckingham Palace to
year bear witness to her unique A changing world the public, given up the Royal Yacht,
record of service. At that time she According to insiders, the Queen and even reduced the size of her
had conferred more than 404,500 is naturally more conservative than household and travel costs. Some
45,000 The approximate
number of
Christmas cards the Queen
honors and awards and had personally
held more than 610 investitures.
Prince Philip, who is thought to have
been a modernizing influence within
observers are of the opinion that she
is more open now to new ideas than
had sent by 2012. Her experience of politics is the royal household, especially in the she was 20 or 30 years ago. Not many
unsurpassed. She has given the Royal early years of the reign. Nevertheless, 89-year-olds have their own Twitter
175,000 The number
of telegrams
the Queen had despatched to
Assent to more than 3,500 Acts of
Parliament and attended every State
the Queen has embraced the need
for the monarchy to adapt itself to
account, or allow their home to be
used for pop concerts.
Opening of Parliament except those
centenarians in the UK and the
in 1959 and 1963, when she was
Commonwealth by 2012.
pregnant with Prince Andrew and
Prince Edward respectively. Up until
May 2015, she had been served by

“ She’ll want to
12 British prime ministers. The first,

hand over Wreath of laurel worn in

hair, rather than a crown

knowing
she’s done
everything
she possibly The Queen’s changing portrait
Five portraits of the Queen have appeared on British
coins since the start of her reign. The earliest is on the
could.” left, and the latest, unveiled in March 2015, on the far
right. The Latin on most of the Queen’s coinage reads Dei
PRINCE WILLIAM, SPEAKING ABOUT gratia regina fidei defensor, which translates as “By the PORTRAIT BY MARY GILLICK, 1952 PORTRAIT BY ARNOLD
THE QUEEN, 2011 grace of God, Queen, and defender of the faith.” MACHIN, 1968

310
 ELIZABETH’S LONG REIGN

FIRST GREAT SEAL OF ELIZABETH II, c.1953 GREAT SEAL OF ELIZABETH II, 2001

The Great Seal of the Realm and 1970s, there are now 53, but
In 2001 the design for Queen Elizabeth II’s Great Seal today only 15 of these recognize the
was changed as the silver matrix (engraved plates) Queen as head of state. In 1982,
used to cast the seal in wax had worn out. Canada passed an act to “patriate”
its written constitution, meaning
In the 1990s, with the public divorces that the British parliament was no
of three of the Queen’s children and longer required to amend Canadian
the controversy following Diana, constitutional law. In 1999 Australia Generation to generation AFTER
Princess of Wales’s death (see pp.242– narrowly voted against becoming a Prince William views a portrait of his grandmother,
43), increasing numbers of people republic. While the Queen no doubt which was part of an exhibition that he opened in
started to regard the monarchy as an welcomed the result, she made it clear Shanghai, China, to celebrate British creativity. In the British monarchy, there is
outdated irrelevance. A poll taken in that the issue was one to be decided by never a moment when there is not
1998 found that two-thirds of those the Australian people alone. to do so. It seems beyond doubt that a sovereign on the throne. The new
surveyed felt that the Royal Family was the monarchy will change further monarch succeeds immediately on
out of touch with ordinary people, and The future of the monarchy under Charles. He has already spoken the death of the sovereign.
only 52 percent (compared with 70 It is thought to be highly unlikely that of being “defender of faith” rather than
percent in 1994) thought that Britain the Queen will abdicate. She will not “Defender of the Faith,” and of his THE SUCCESSION
was better off as a monarchy. In 2012, easily renounce the vow she made on determination to slim the monarchy On the Queen’s death, an Accession
80 percent of British adults declared her 21st birthday to devote her whole down. There will probably be fewer Council consisting of privy councillors and
themselves to be in favor of a life to the service of her people (see working royals under his rule, and he others will be held at St. James’s Palace to
monarchy, with only 13 percent p.130). Press speculation that the might decide to give up Buckingham declare Prince Charles formally as
actively favoring a republic. This succession could bypass the Prince of Palace as a royal residence, keeping it monarch. He may choose to announce a
upwelling of support owed as much Wales and go straight to Prince William as an administrative center. new regnal name should he wish to do so—
to admiration for the Queen in her is also far of the mark. The monarchy is The British monarchy has survived for he does not necessarily become King Charles
Diamond Jubilee year as it did to the hereditary, and by nature, traditional. well over 1,000 years by constantly III. Although an Act passed in 2015 means
popularity of Prince William and Prince Charles is the heir apparent, and adapting to change. With two that a firstborn royal daughter may
Catherine a year after their marriage. has been since the age of three. generations of successors beyond succeed to the throne, the next in line
The Commonwealth has also changed When the time comes for him to Charles already in the wings, there is of succession after Prince Charles (Princes
during the Queen’s reign. In 1953 succeed, Charles will have been heir every reason to suppose it will continue William and George) are both male.
there were only eight independent for well over 60 years. It is unclear to do so, though the relationship
countries within the Commonwealth. whether or not Camilla will become between the Crown and the people
Following decolonization in the 1960s Queen, though she is said not to wish may come to be defined in new ways.

Royal Diamond
Diadem crown,
which the Queen
wore for her
coronation

PORTRAIT BY RAPHAEL MAKLOUF, 1985

PORTRAIT BY IAN RANK-BROADLEY, 1998 PORTRAIT BY JODY CLARK, 2015

311
Commemoration service
A line of clergy greets Catherine, Harry, and
William as they enter St. Paul’s Cathedral, London,
for a service—held on March 13, 2015—to honor
those who served in Afghanistan.
 INDEX

Index
A
Ascot Landau 136, 137 Bowes-Lyon, Cecilia 111 Caribbean 194, 195
Asquith, HH 73 Bowes-Lyon, Claude 111 Carlton House (horse) 299
Athelstan, King 12, 256 Bowes-Lyon, Fergus 111, 222 Caroline of Ansbach, Queen 212
Abdication crisis (1936) 91, 92–3 Attenborough, David 173 Bowes-Lyon, Michael 111 Caron, Antoine 30
Aberdeen, Lord 246 Augustine, St 10, 12 Bowes-Lyon, Rose 110 carriages 136–37
Aberfan disaster 160 Augustus, Ernest 55 Boyne, Battle of the (1690) 41 Carrington, Lord 111
Act of Settlement (1701) 48, 297 Augustus Frederick, Prince 214 Brabourne, Lady 114, 192, 193 Cartier 44
Act of Union (1707) 35, 39 Austria 175 Brabourne, Lord 114, 115, 192, 193 Cartland, Barbara 206
Adelaide, Queen 49 Australia 65, 91, 92, 152–53, 161, 162, 163, Bradlaugh, Charles 61 Catherine of Aragon 28–29
Afghanistan 254, 255, 290, 289, 291, 312–13 198, 199, 255, 268, 269, 289, 294, 295, Branson, Richard 183 Catherine of Valois 25
Africa 299, 311 Brazil 295 Cator, Betty 111
1947 tour 112–13 Australian State Coach 137 Bretwalda 12 Cavendish, Mary 140, 141
decolonization 194–95 Bridgeman, Charles 212 Cavendish-Bentinck, Cecilia 111

B
Agincourt, Battle of (1415) 10, 25 Britain, Battle of (1940) 77 Cecil, William 29, 33
Airlie, Countess of 96, 97 Britannia, HMY 130, 153, 199, 223, 238, 299 Cenotaph 76, 79, 81
Aitken, Max 92 British Empire Exhibition 76, 79, 89, 91 Centrepoint 269
Al Fayed, Dodi 242, 243, 154 Bacon, Nicholas 29 British Union of Fascists 77, 91, 92 Chadwick, James 77
Al Fayed, Mohamed 242, 243 Badminton Horse Trials 187 Broadlands 120, 201, 267 Chalfont, Lord 153
Albert, Prince (Queen Victoria’s husband) Bagehot, Walter 51 Brocklebank, John 169 Châlus, Siege of 20
11, 49, 51, 52–53, 55, 57, 58, 60, 68, Bagshot Park 251 Brontë, Charlotte 58 Chamberlain, Neville 77, 95, 111
72, 73, 84, 96, 148, 246, 248, 306 Bahamas 91, 92, 93, 289 Brooke, Peter 234 Channel Tunnel 199
Albert, Prince (Queen Victoria’s son) see Bailey, Christopher 189 Brown, Gordon 239 Chatto, Sarah 189, 201, 258
Edward VII Baldwin, Stanley 91, 92 Brown, John 60–61 Charles I 11, 37, 38–39, 40–41, 46, 134
Albert, Prince (George V’s son) see George VI Ball, Ian 175 Brow, Louise 161 Charles II 11, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42–43, 46, 68,
Albert Victor, Prince 72, 73, 78, 79 Ball, John 23 Bruce, Augusta 246 134
Albert Memorial 61 Balmoral Castle 51, 60, 108–09, 115, 175, Bruce, Marjorie 35 Charles VI (King of France) 25
Alexander II 34–5 242, 246–49 Bruce, William 37 Charles, Prince of Wales 35, 118, 119, 160,
Alexander III 35 Bank of England 11 Brunei 153 255, 258, 259, 268, 288, 307, 311
Alexandra, Princess 208 Bannister, Roger 119 Brunel, Isambard Kingdom 58, 246 Annus horribilis 235
Alexandra, Queen 61, 72, 73, 78, 79, 86 97, Bannockburn, Battle of (1314) 10 Bruni, Carla 254 assassination of Lord Mountbatten 193
114, 147, 208, 276 Barnet, Battle of (1471) 24, 26–27 Buckingham Palace 54, 77, 80, 84–87, 97, birth of 126–27
Alexandra Rose Day Appeal 208 Barons’ War (1264–68) 21 102–03, 106, 119, 123, 141, 155, 157, charity work 209, 302
Alexandra, Tsaritsa 76 Barry, Charles 58 162, 163, 175, 183, 199, 212, 219, 223, childhood 131, 162–63
Alexandrina Victoria, Princess 214 Bashir, Martin 199, 207 225, 236–37, 242–43, 245, 250, 251, Clarence House 123
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Bayeux Tapestry 14–15 255, 259, 261, 268, 269, 274, 275, 307 death of Diana, Princess of Wales 242, 243
(Queen Victoria’s son) 55, 123 Beatles, The 160, 310 Budgie (Duchess of York's book character) divorce from Diana, Princess of Wales 199,
Alfred the Great 10, 12, 13 Beaton, Cecil 127, 162 219 230–31, 299
Alfred’s jewel 10, 12 Beatrice, Princess (Queen Victoria’s Bunyan, John 157 Duchy of Cornwall 256–57
Alice, Princess (daughter of Queen Victoria) daughter) 55, 61, 218 Burmese (horse) 225 and Duke of Cambridge 269, 272, 274, 297
55 Beatrice, Princess (Queen Elizabeth II’s Burrell, Paul 254 Kensington Palace 214
Alice of Battenburg, Princess 114, 124 granddaughter) 198, 219, 223, 296, 297 Burton, Sarah 274 life of 166–67
Andrew, Prince 108, 127, 131, 135, 160, Becket, Thomas 10, 20, 25 Bush, George W 265 made Prince of Wales 160, 170–71
162, 163, 198, 199, 216–17, 218–19, Belize 289, 295 Butler, RA 131, 135 marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles 205,
222–3, 234, 250, 272 Bell, Alexander Graham 57 254, 264–65

C
Andrew of Greece, Prince 114, 124 Benedict XVI, Pope 151 marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales 198,
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 12 Benenden School 163, 175 200–01, 204, 206–07
Anne, Princess Royal 108, 118, 131, 153, Berkeley Castle 21 marriage of Prince Andrew and Duchess
173, 174–75, 183, 198, 199, 209, 223, Berlin 164–65 Cable Street, Battle of (1936) 77 of York 223
234, 250, 259, 297, 299, 303 Bill of Rights (1689) 11, 39 Caernarfon Castle 170–71 and Prince George 292
birth of 127 Blachford, Isabella 57 Cairns, Fiona 274 and Prince Harry 288, 297, 300
childhood 162, 163 Black Death 10, 21 Calais 29 Prince’s Trust 161, 180–81, 209
equestrian career 161, 186–87 Black Rod 134, 135 Cambridge, Duchess of see Middleton, Royal Family 173
Anne, Queen 29, 38, 48, 212 Blair, Tony 135, 199, 242 Catherine royal memorabilia 276, 277
Annigoni, Pietro 119 Blore, Edward 46, 84 Cambridge, Duke of see William, Prince Sandringham 148
Annus Horribilis 86, 199, 234–35, 299 Blumenfeld, RD 70 Cambridge, Mary 111 state visits 153
Anselm of Canterbury 17 Blunt, Alfred 92 Cambridge, May 111 Windsor Castle 46
Arbeid, Murray 228 Blunt, Anthony 131, 161 Cambridge University 60, 97, 163, 170, 171, Charlotte of Mecklenburg 49
Ardent Productions 251, 269 Boer War, Second (1899–1902) 250, 251 Charlotte, Princess (Queen Elizabeth II’s
Armills of Queen Elizabeth II 68 Boleyn, Anne 29, 32, 33 Cameron, David 255, 274, 275, 300 great-granddaughter) 255, 269, 279, 297
Armstrong-Jones, Antony 160, 161, 170–71, Bolingbroke, Henry 24 Camp Bastian 920, 291 Charteris, Lord 189, 223
188, 189, 214, 228, 258 Bolt, Usain 294, 295 Campbell-Bannerman, Henry 248 Chartres, Richard 274
Armstrong-Jones, David 189, 258, 259 Bonaparte, Napoleon 14, 49 Canada 65, 91, 92, 111, 119, 141, 152, 160, Chaucer, Geoffrey 17
Armstrong-Jones, Sarah 189, 201, 258 Bonnie Prince Charlie 11, 37, 41, 48 161, 162, 176, 198, 220–21, 275, Cheam School 162
Arthur, Prince (Henry VIII’s son of) 28 Borrallo, Maria 295 294–95, 299, 311 Chesterfield, Lord 61
Arthur, Prince (Queen Victoria’s son) 55, 61, Bosworth, Battle of (1485) 10, 25 Cap of Maintenance 134 Chichester, Francis 160
251 Botswana 195, 288, 294 Cape Matapan, Battle of (1941) 125 Chile 295
 INDEX

China 198, 295, 299 Deira 12 Edward the Black Prince 21 Windsor Castle 46
Christmas messages 119, 130–31, 147, 153, Dench, Judi 267 Edward the Confessor 10, 13, 16, 25 working life 306–07
156–57, 235 Dettingen, Battle of (1742) 49 Edward the Elder 12 World War II 103
Chronicles (Froissart) 21, 22–23 Devon Loch 119 Edward the Martyr 13 Elizabeth, Queen Mother 76, 94, 95, 97,
Church of England 29, 33, 40, 150–51, 199, Diamond Jubilee (horse) 147 Edward, Prince (Elizabeth II’s son) 127, 131, 98, 100–01, 106, 110–11, 118, 123,
264 Diamond Jubilee State Coach 137 135, 160, 162, 162, 198, 199, 223, 250– 132, 133, 176, 199, 206, 222, 239,
Churchill, John 39 Diamond Jubilees 51, 269, 307 254, 258
Churchill, Winston 77, 91, 97, 98, 103, 118, (1897) 67, 70, 204 Edward, Prince (George III’s son) 214 African tour 112–13
119, 120, 131, 133, 135, 141, 153, 160, (2012) 205, 214, 255, 280–83, 295, 299, Eisenhower, Dwight D 119 death 254, 259
192 307 El Alamein, Battle of (1943) 103 during World War II 102–05, 111
Cierrach, Lindka 223 Diamond wedding anniversary (2007) 266–67 Elba, Idris 181, 300 Elizabeth of York 25
Cipriani, Giovanni 136 Diana, Her True Story (Morton) 199, 207, Eleanor of Aquitaine 10, 18–19, 20 Elphinstone, Elizabeth 111
Civil List 235, 255 230, 234, 235 Elizabeth I 11, 25, 29, 32–33, 38, 46, Emma of Normandy 13
Civil Wars (1639–51) 37, 38, 39, 40–1 Diana, Princess of Wales 125, 206–07, 214, 151 Essex 12, 23
Clarence House 118, 120, 122–23, 155, 175, 268–69, 274, 279, 288 Elizabeth II 29, 76, 77, 94, 118–19, 128–29, Estimate (horse) 299
181, 201, 223, 259, 274 charity work 208–11 160–61, 169, 198–99, 254–55, 298–99, Estonia 295
Claridge’s Hotel 223 death and funeral 199, 242–45, 154 310–11 Ethelfleda, Queen 12
Clifden, Nellie 73 divorce from Prince Charles 199, African tour 112–13 Ethelred the Unready 10, 12
Cnut, King (c.985–1035) 10, 13, 16 230–31,299 Annus horribilis 86, 199, 234–35, 299 Eton College 268–69, 288, 289, 290
coaches 136–37 dresses 228–29 Balmoral 246 Eugenie, Princess (Elizabeth II’s
Colonial Conferences 65 marriage to Prince Charles 198, 200–01, birth of children 126, 127 granddaughter) 198, 219, 223, 296,
commemorative stamps 204–05 204, 206–07 Buckingham Palace 86, 236 297
Common Sense (Paine) 48 Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund 209 childhood 98–101, 106–07 European Union (EU) 199
Commonwealth 64–65, 92, 118, 119, 130, Diana Memorial Fountain 243, 254 children of 162 Everest, Mount 119, 140
131, 141, 152–53, 160, 161, 194–95, Dimbleby, Jonathan 230, 231 Christmas messages 156–57

F
199, 307, 311 Disraeli, Benjamin 51, 57, 61, 62 Clarence House 123
“Concert for Diana” 254, 289 Dix, JC 70 coaches 137
Conroy, John 54, 214 Domesday Book 10 coronation 138–45, 204
Constantine II 268 Dookie (corgi) 98 death of Diana, Princess of Wales 242 Fagan, Michael 299
Corfu 124, 125 Doublet (horse) 186–87 death of George VI 132–33 Fairfax, Thomas 41
corgis 98, 108, 120 Douglas-Home, Alec 135, 160 decolonization 64, 65 Falconer, Lord 264
Cornwall, Duchess of see Parker Bowles, Downe House School 278, 279 Diamond Jubilee 205, 255, 280–83, 295, Falkland Islands 216–17, 218–19, 272
Camilla Drake, Francis 33 299, 307 Ferguson, Sarah 198, 199, 219, 222–23,
Coronation Chicken 141 Dublin Castle 271 Diamond wedding anniversary 266–67 234, 250
coronation of Elizabeth II 138–45, 204 Duchy of Cornwall 256–57 divorce of Prince Charles and Diana, Festoon Tiara 174
Coronation Spoon and Ampulla 68 Duchy Originals 257 Princess of Wales 231 Fields, Gracie 157
Court Circulars 307 Dudley, Amy 33 early relationship with Prince Philip Fildes, Luke 72
Coventry 176 Dudley, John 29 114–15, 124 Fisher, Geoffrey 143, 155
Cranmer, Thomas 29 Dudley, Robert 33 early years of reign 130–31 Fitzalan-Howard, Bernard 94
Crathie Church 175 Dudley Ward, Freda 91 and George V 79 Flame of Liberty (Paris) 243, 245
Crawford, Marion 106, 114, 115, 118, 127, Duke of Edinburgh Awards 119, 125, 251 and George VI 97 Flodden, Battle of (1513) 11, 35
130, 188 Dunbar, Battle of (1650) 41 Golden Jubilee 68, 254, 260–1, 299 Flores Historiarum (Flowers of History) 16
Crécy, Battle of (1346) 21 Duncan I 34 grandchildren 296–97 Ford, Edward 234
Crimean War (1853–56) 60 Dunnottar Castle 34 great-grandchildren 296–97 Forster, EM 65
Croke Park 271 Dunstan, St 12 head of Church 150–51 Fountains Abbey 29
Cromwell, Oliver 37, 39, 40, 46 Holyroodhouse 37 Franco, Francisco 94

E
Cromwell, Richard 42 investiture of Prince of Wales 170, 171 Frecklington, WJ 137
Cromwell, Thomas 29 marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Frederick II, Kaiser 70
Crookham Horse Trials 187 Parker Bowles 264, 265 Frederick William, Prince 60
Crown Jewels 68–69 Eadred, King 12 marriage to Prince Philip 120–21, 125 French, John 80
Cubitt, Thomas 57 East Anglia 12 marriage of Prince William and Catherine Freud, Lucian 254
Cubitt, William 58 East Anglian Air Ambulance 273 Middleton 274 Frimley Park Hospital 297
Culloden, Battle of (1746) 41, 48 Ede, James Chuter 127 as patron 302–03 Froissart, Jean 21, 23
Cunningham, Allan 236 Ede & Ravenscroft 144 pets 108–09 From a Clear Blue Sky (Knatchbull) 193
Curthose, Robert 17 Edelstein, Victor 228 and Prince Andrew 217 Fulk the Red 20
Eden, Anthony 119, 131, 135 and Princess Margaret 155, 189, 259 Furness, Lady 91

D
Edgar, King 10, 12, 13 and Queen Elizabeth II 169

G
Edgehill, Battle of (1642) 41 and Queen Mother 111, 258
Edinburgh, Duke of see Philip, Prince Royal Family 173
D-Day landings (1944) 77, 103, 199, 238, Edmund, King 12 royal memorabilia 276–77
255, 299, 307 Edward I 10, 20, 21, 35, 170 Sandringham 147, 148 Gallipoli 76
Daily Mirror 254 Edward II 10, 20, 35, 170 Silver Jubilee 131, 161, 182–85, 204 Gambia 153, 195
Dál Riata, Kingdom of 34 Edward III 10, 20, 21, 24, 35, 44, 170, 256 60th birthday celebrations 224–25 Gandhi, Mahatma 113, 118, 120
Danelaw 12 Edward IV 10, 21, 24, 25, 27, 170, 256 State Opening of Parliament 134–35, Garrards 200
Dannatt, Richard 291 Edward V 25 308–09 Geelong Grammar School 60
Dartmouth Naval College 91, 97, 114, 124, Edward VI 11, 29, 33 state visits 152–53, 164–65, 202–03, General Strike (1926) 76, 79, 98
125, 218 Edward VII 11, 51, 55, 57, 60, 61, 62, 64, 220–21, 270–71 Geoffrey, Count of Anjou 17, 20, 21
David I 34, 37 70, 72–73, 78, 79, 86, 97, 114, 137, teenage years 106–07 George I 11, 48
David II 35 147, 148, 276, 306 Trooping the Colour 226–27 George II 48–49, 212
de Montfort, Simon 10, 21 Edward VIII 77, 78, 79, 81, 90–93, 94, 95, 96, walkabouts 176–77 George III 11, 46, 49, 50, 51, 54, 60, 84,
Dean, John 114 97, 106–07, 110–11, 120, 131, 161, 189 wartime anniversaries 238–39, 304–05 212, 307
 INDEX

L
George IV 45, 46, 49, 54, 84, 123, Harold II 10, 14–15, 16 Irish Republican Army (IRA) 76, 131,
137, 236 Harold Hadrada 16 192–93, 198, 224, 271
George V 76, 78–79, 80–81, 82–83, 86, Harold Harefoot 13, 16 Irish State Coach 120
88–89, 90, 91, 96, 97, 110, 131, 137, Harris, Albert 64 Isabella of Angouleme 18–19 Lakefield College House 218
147, 148, 153, 157, 189, 204, 256, 276, Harry, Prince (Elizabeth II’s grandson) 153, Isabella of Mar 35 Lambeth Palace 151
296, 306 198, 201, 206, 207, 209, 214, 231, 242, Italy 294, 295 Landseer, Charles 246
George VI 65, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 86, 93, 243, 254, 255, 264, 269, 274, 276, 277, It's a Royal Knockout, see The Grand Landseer, Edwin 246
96–97, 98, 106, 107, 108, 110, 111, 118, 288–89, 290–91, 294, 296–97, 300–01, Knockout Tournament 198, 223, Lang, Cosmo 92, 111
120, 121, 130, 131, 144, 147, 152, 176, 303, 312–13 250, 251 Lascelles, Alan 127
189, 204, 206, 276, 277 Harrying of the North 16–17 Laud, Archbishop 11, 40

J
African tour 112–13 Hartnell, Norman 120, 140, 144 Laurence, Timothy 175, 199
becomes king 94–95 Hastings, Battle of (1066) 10, 14–15, 16 Lawrence, Thomas 49
death 132–33 Hawksmoor, Nicholas 212 Lehzen, Louise 54, 55
during World War II 102–05 Heath, Ted 161 Jacobite rebellion 39 Leo X, Pope 29
George IV State Diadem 134, 141 Heatherdown Preparatory School 1 Jagger, Mick 188 Leopold, Prince (Queen Victoria’s son) 55
George, Prince (Elizabeth II’s great- 63, 218 Jamaica 160, 195, 289, 294, 295 Leopold II (King of Belgium) 54-55
grandson) 153, 255, 269, 279, 292–93, Helena, Princess (Queen Victoria’s daughter) James I (King of Scotland) 35 Leslie, Charles Robert 54
294, 295, 297 55 James I/VI 11, 28, 35, 37, 38, 46 Lesotho 195, 289, 294
George, Prince (son of George V) 103 Helicopter Rescue 273 James II (King of Scotland) 35 Lindsay, Hugh 198
George Cross 103 Henry I 10, 17, 20 James II 11, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42 Lister, Joseph 61
Germany 255 Henry II 10, 20, 21, 44 James III (King of Scotland) 35 Little Princesses, The (Crawford) 118, 127, 130
Ghana 119, 153, 194, 195 Henry III 21 James IV 11, 28 Livingstone, David 51
Gibbons, Grinling 212 Henry IV 10, 21, 24 James IV (King of Scotland) 35, 37 Llewellyn, Roddy 188–89
Gilbey, James 230 Henry V 10, 24–25, 27, 44, 46 James V 35, 37 Lloyd George, David 73, 81
Giles, James 248 Henry VI 10, 24, 25, 27 James, Viscount Severn 251, 254, 297 Lloyd Webber, Andrew 251
Gilliatt, William 127 Henry VII 10, 21, 25, 28–29 Jane Mynors’ nursery school 268, Logue, Christopher 225
Gladstone, William 51, 57 Henry VIII 11, 25, 28, 32, 33, 151 269 Logue, Lionel 102, 111
Glamis Castle 110, 189 Henry, Prince (George V’s son) 78, 79 Japan 295 Lollards 24, 25
Glass Coach 136, 137, 201, 223 Henry of Battenberg, Prince 61 Jarrow March 77 Londesborouh, Lad 61
Glorious Revolution (1688) 38, 39 Heptarchy, The 12 Jigsaw 279 Longford, Elizabeth 70
God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols) 183 Heseltine, William 173, 176 Jinping, Xi 295 Loos, Battle of (1915) 222
Godfrey-Faussett, Lady 140 Hewitt, James 201, 230 Joan of Arc 25 Louis XIV 39
Gold Cup (Ascot) 299 Hicks, India 201 John XXIII, Pope 203 Louis Philippe (King of France) 60
Gold State Coach 82–83, 136–37, 141, 183, Highgrove House 206, 231, 257 John, Duke of Bedford 25 Louise, Princess (Queen Victoria’s daughter)
261 Hillary, Edmund 119, 140 John, Elton 209, 243, 269 55, 212
Golden Jubilees Hill House 162 John, King 10, 20, 21, 34, 44, 68 Ludgrove School 269
(1887) 61, 67–68 Himmler, Heinrich 14 John, Prince (George V’s son) 78 Lusitania sinking 76
(2002) 254, 260–61, 299 Hitler, Adolf 77, 91, 94, 95, 111 John Balliol 35 Lytton, Lord 62
Goldsmiths College 297 Hodge, Margaret 257 John of Gaunt 23

M
Goon Show, The 171 Hoey, Brian 108 John Paul II, Pope 202–03, 264
Gordonstoun 114, 124, 125, 160, 162, 163, Holbein the Younger, Hans 28 Jones, Alwyn 171
218, 219, 250, 251, 297 Holly (corgi) 108 Jones, Inigo 46
Gower, George 32 Holyroodhouse, Palace of 36–37, 151, 307 Jones, Tom 125 Macbeth, King 34
Grace of Monaco, Princess 207 Hong Kong 199 Jubilee Gardens 183 Macdonald, James 132, 133
Grand National 119 Honors of Scotland 34 Juliana, Queen 118 Macdonald, Ramsay 79
Grand Remonstrance 41 Horstead, James 150 Junor, Penny 167 Macmillan, Harold 119, 131, 135, 160, 195
Great Depression 77 Hough, Richard Jutland, Battle of (1916) 81 Magna Carta 10, 21, 44
Great Exhibition 51, 58–59, 60 Hume, Rosemary 141 Major, John 198, 230–31, 234–35

K
Grey, Jane 29 Hundred Years’ War 10, 21, 23, 27, 35 Malaysia 152, 295
Gulf Wars Huntingdon, Earl of 24 Malcolm II 10, 34
(1991) 198 Hwicce 12 Malcolm III 34
(2003) 254 Hyde, Anne 39 Karim, Hafiz Mohammed Abdul Malta 103, 118, 125, 128–29, 162, 267, 295
Gunpowder Plot (1605) 38, 39, 134 Hyde, Edward 42 (‘the Munshi’) 61, 70 Mandela, Nelson 113
Guthrum 12 Kelly, Autumn 175, 297 Margaret of Anjou 27

I
Kennedy, John F 160 Margaret, Maid of Norway 10

H
Kenneth mac Alpin, King 34 Margaret, Princess 94, 103, 108, 111, 1
Kensington Palace 54, 55, 206, 212–15, 231, 12–13, 118, 119, 121, 124, 126, 130,
Illustrated London News 94 242, 244–45 133, 141, 144, 160, 163, 169, 188–89,
Haakon, King 35 Imperial Federation League 65 Kent 12, 23 214
Hahn, Kurt 124, 125 Imperial Mantle robe 143 Kent, William 212, 215 childhood 98–101, 106–07
Haig, Douglas 80 Imperial State Crown 134–35, 141, 143 Kenya 132–33, 195, 262, 279 death 254, 258–59
Hair (musical) 160 India 62–63, 64, 79, 91, 97, 118, 192, 230 Kett’s Rebellion 40 and Peter Townsend 152, 154–55, 188
Hales, Robert 23 Ingelger, Count of Anjou 20 King’s Evil 48 teenage years 106–07
Hall, Edward 27 Ingrid of Sweden, Princess 188 Kipling, Rudyard 89 Margaret, Queen of Scots 28, 34, 35, 38
Hall, John 274 Institut Alpin Videmanette 206, 207 Knatchbull, Amanda 167 Marlborough College 278, 279, 297
Halo Tiara 144 investitures 306 Knatchbull, Nicholas 192, 193 Marlborough House 79
Hamilton, Katherine 111 Invictus Games 255, 289, 291, 300–01 Knatchbull, Patricia 192 Marlowe, Christopher 33
Hanover, Elector of 54, 55 Iran 111 Knatchbull, Timothy 192, 193 Marston Moor, Battle of (1644) 40, 41
Hardinge, Diamond 111 Iraq 254, 291 Kohl, Helmut 239 Marten, Henry 106
Hardman, Robert 297 Ireland 41, 60, 73, 76, 79, 97, 153, 192, Korean War (1950–53) 118 Mary I 11, 28, 32, 33
Harold I 13, 16 199, 255, 270–71, 299 Krushchev, Nikita 108, 119 Mary II 11, 29, 38, 39, 48, 212
 INDEX

Mary, Princess (George V’s daughter) 78, 79, Nigeria 195 Diamond wedding anniversary 266–67 Rhodesia 152, 160
81, 94, 97, 111 Nixon, Richard 161 early relationship with Queen Elizabeth II Rhys-Jones, Sophie 199, 251
Mary, Queen (George V’s wife) 76, 78, 79, Nkomo, Joshua 195 114–15, 118 Richard I 10, 20, 21
82–83, 86, 96, 97, 119, 147 Nkrumah, Kwame 194 later years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign Richard II 10, 17, 21, 23, 24
Mary Queen of Scots 11, 29, 37 Nonsuch Palace 33 298, 299, 310 Richard III 10, 21, 25
Matilda, Queen 10, 17, 20, 28 Norman conquest 13, 14–15, 16 in Malta 103, 118, 125, 128–29, 162, 267, Richard of Gloucester 25
Maundy Thursday 302, 303 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 295 Richard of York 21
Mauritius 195 103 marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Riddlesworth Hall 206, 207
Maxwell, Paul 192–93 Northern Ireland 76, 79, 152, 160, 199, 271 Parker Bowles 264 Riders for Health 174
May, Brian 261 Northumbria 12 marriage to Queen Elizabeth II 120–21, Rising of the North 33, 40
May, Hugh 46 125, 119 Rizzio, David 37

O
Mayer, Catherine 181 pets 108 RJH Public Relations 251
McAleese, Mary 271 Royal Family 173 Robe of Estate 140
McLaren, Malcolm 183 Sandringham 148 Robert I (the Bruce) 10, 35
McMahon, Thomas 192 Obama, Barack 95, 275, 298 Silver Jubilee 182 Robert II 35
McNicoll, Alan 152 Obama, Michelle 275, 298 state visits 152, 153, 203 Robert III 35
McQueen, Alexander 274 Odo of Bayeux, Bishop 14, 17 Philip II (King of Spain) 29, 33 Robert of Mortain 256
Melbourne, Lord 49 Offa, King 12 Philip Movement 124 Roberts, James 248
Mercia 12 O’Grady, Patrick 192 Phillips, Mark 161, 175, 198, 199, 234, 297 Robinson, Belle 279
Messines, Battle of (1917) 80 Oldfield, Bruce 228 Phillips, Peter 161, 175, 223, 297 Roche, Frances 206
Meyer, Christopher 254 Oliver, Alison 187 Phillips, Savannah 297, 299 Rockall 119
Middle English 13, 17 Olympics Phillips, Zara 175, 187, 223, 254, 255, Roger of Salisbury 17
Middleton, Carole 279 (1976) 187 287–87, 296, 297, 300–01 Rolle, Lord 55
Middleton, Catherine 222, 262–63, 278–79, (2012) 255, 284–87, 299, 300 Picts 34 Roman Britain 10, 12
303 Omdurman, Battle of (1898) 70 Pilgrimage of Grace 40 Roosevelt, Franklin 77, 95, 106
and future of monarchy 312–13 Osborne House 51, 56–57, 60, 70, 91, 97 Pilgrim’s Progress (Bunyan) 157 Royal Ballet 188, 189
Kensington Palace 214 O’Sullivan, Donal 192 Poitiers, Battle of (1356) 21 Royal College of Music 73
marriage to Prince William 205, 254, 255, Outlawries Bill 135 Popes Royal College of Needlework 140, 274
268, 274–75, 276, 277 Outward Bound Trust 219 Benedict XVI 151 Royal Family 160, 163, 172–73, 175
and Prince George 269, 279, 292–93, 294, Oxford, Edward 51, 60 John XXIII 203 Royal Lodge 219
295, 297 Oxford University 91 John Paul II 202–03, 264 royal memorabilia 276–77
Sandringham 147, 148 Leo X 29 Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 269,

P
Middleton, James 274 Poundbury 257 289, 291
Middleton, Michael 279 Powell, Enoch 160 Royal Ocean (horse) 187
Milburn, Martina 181 Pratt, George 180 royal walkabouts 131, 176–77
Millennium Dome 254 Paine, Tom 48 Prayer Book Rebellion 40–41 Rozavel Golden Eagle (corgi) 108
Mirzoeff, Eddie 299 Pakistan 97, 118 Prince’s Foundation for Building Runcie, Robert 201, 223
Mitrokhin, Vasili 171 Panorama 231 Community 167 Rupert, Prince 41
Mitterrand, President 199 Parker, Mike 133 Prince’s Trust 161, 180–81, 209 Russell, Lord 58
Monck, Richard 42 Parker Bowles, Andrew 230 Princess Royal see Anne, Princess Royal Russia 51, 76, 79, 81, 153
Monty (corgi) 108 Parker Bowles, Camilla 201, 205, 230, 231, Princess Royal’s Trust for Carers 174

S
More, Thomas 30–31 234, 254, 255, 264–65, 276, 277, 292, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground 243
Morrah, Dermot 95, 151 300, 311 Privy Council 55
Morris, Charles 148 Parker Bowles, Laura 265 Profumo, John 160
Mortimer, Edmund 25 Parker Bowles, Tom 264, 265 “Prom in the Palace” 261 Sadler’s Wells Foundation 188
Mortimer, Roger 21 Parkinson, Norman 174, 175 Provisions of Oxford 21 St. Andrews University 254, 262–63, 269,
Morton, Andrew 199, 207, 230, 234, 235 Parliament 21, 41, 42, 48, 134–35, 175, 306, 278, 279

Q
Mosley, Oswald 77, 91 308–09 St. Edward’s Crown 68–69, 141, 143, 144, 145
Motion, Andrew 267 Parr, Catherine 32, 33 St. George’s School 297
Mountbatten, Lord 95, 97, 108, 120, 124, “Party at the Palace” 254, 261 St. James’s Palace 55, 242, 245, 259
125, 167 Patil, Prathiba 306 Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) 160, 168–69 St. James’s Park 162
assassination of 131, 161, 192–93, 271 Paul, Henri 242, 243 Queen Mary 2 254 St. Paul’s Cathedral 161, 183, 200, 207, 238,
Mountbatten, Pamela 133 Paxton, Joseph 58 Queen Victoria’s small diamond crown 68, 239, 261
Mountbatten, Patricia 115 Peasant’s Revolt (1381) 10, 21, 22–23 69 St. Paul’s Waldenbury 110
Mugabe, Robert 195 Peel, Robert 57 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 261 Salisbury, Lord 65, 248
Munich Agreement (1938) 77 Pellew, Mark 203 Queen’s Work for Women Fund 76 Salote Tupou III, Queen 141
Muzorewa, Abel 195 Pepys, Samuel 46 Sandringham 78, 79, 89, 96, 97, 118, 132,

R
Percy dynasty 24 146–49, 200, 206, 230

N
Persimmon (horse) 147 Sarkozy, Nicolas 239, 254
Petition of Right 11 Save the Children Fund 174, 175, 209, 303
pets 108–09 Rainborough, Thomas 41 Scepter with the Cross 68, 69, 143
Naseby, Battle of (1645) 41 Pets by Royal Appointment (Hoey) 108 rationing 120 Scepter with the Dove 143
Nash, John 84, 123, 236 Philip, Prince 77, 124–25, 130, 131, 134, Reagan, Ronald 198, 238 Scotii 34
National Gallery 167, 198 160, 161, 195, 199, 209, 217, 258 Really Useful Group, The 251 Scotland
National Relief Fund 77 accession of Queen Elizabeth II 132, 133 Reform Bill (1832) 11 Act of Union 35
Neville, Richard 24, 27 Annus horribilis 234, 235 Regency Act (1830) 51 Alexander II 34–35
New Model Army 41 children of 126, 127, 162, 167 Reid, Andy 302 Alexander III 35
New Zealand 65, 91, 119, 131, 152, 153, Clarence House 123 Reith, John 89 Battle of Bannockburn 10, 35
176–77, 198, 255, 268, 269, 294 at coronation of Queen Elizabeth II 141, Representation of the People Act (1918) 76 Battle of Flodden 11, 35
Newcastle University 297 144 Restoration, The (1660) 42–43 Bonnie Prince Charlie 11, 41, 48
Nicholas II, Tsar 51, 76, 79, 81, 248, 296 death of Diana, Princess of Wales 242, 243 Rhodes, Cecil 65 and Civil Wars 39, 40–41
 INDEX

V
David I 34, 37 Stalin, Joseph 94 Kensington Palace 214
David II 35 Stamford Bridge, Battle of (1066) 16 marriage to Catherine Middleton 205,
Duncan I 34 Stark, Koo 219 254, 255, 268, 274–75, 276, 277
early history of 34 State Landau 136–37, 274 van Cutsem, Grace 274 marriage of Prince Andrew and Sarah
Elizabeth II 151 state visits 130, 152–53, 202–03, 220–21, van Cutsem, Hugh 148 Ferguson 223
George IV 49 270–71, 294–95 van der Post, Laurens 268 marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla
Holyroodhouse 36–37, 151 Statute of Laborers (1351) 23 Vanburgh, John 212 Parker Bowles 264
Jacobite rebellion 39 Statute of Westminster (1931) 77 Vatican City 198, 202–03 at St Andrews’s University 262, 269, 278,
James I 35 Stephen, King 10, 17, 28 VE Day 77, 97, 103, 189, 239 279
James II 35 Stephenson, Pamela 223 Verwoerd, Dr. 195 Sandringham 147, 148
James III 35 Stephenson, Robert 58 Victoria, Princess (Queen Victoria’s state visits 153, 294–95, 312–13
James IV 11, 35, 37 Stewart, Walter 35 daughter) 51, 55, 60, 188 William, Prince (Henry I’s son) 17
James VI 11, 28, 37, 38 Stirling Castle 259 Victoria, Queen 11, 29, 46, 49, 50–51, 52–53, William of Malmesbury 16
James V 35, 37 Stoke, Battle of (1487) 27 57, 58, 64, 68, 72, 73, 84, 86, 96, 114, Williams, Rowan 264, 267, 274
James VI 35 Stone of Scone 118 137, 214, 215, 246, 248, 276, 296, 306 Willow (corgi) 108
John Balliol 35 Stuart, Charles Edward 11, 37, 41, 48 after death of Albert 60–61 Wilson, Harold 160, 161, 192
Kenneth mac Alpin 34 Succession to the Crown Act (2012) 297 death of 70–71, 97 Windlesham Moor 120
Macbeth 34 Sudbury, Simon 23 Diamond Jubilee 67, 70, 204 Windsor, Louise 251, 254, 297
Malcolm II 10, 34 Suez crisis (1956) 119, 131, 135 early reign 54–55 Windsor Castle 44–47, 60, 70, 106–07, 133,
Malcolm III 34 Sullivan, Arthur 61 Empress of India 62 175, 199, 219, 225, 232–33, 234–35,
Margaret, Maid of Norway 10 Sun, The 199, 235 Golden Jubilee 67–68 251, 258, 264, 299
Mary, Queen of Scots 11, 29, 35, 37 Sunninghill Park 219, 223 Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Princess 50 Winterhalter, Franz Xaver 50
Queen Victoria 51 Susan (corgi) 108, 120 Victoria and Albert Museum 58 Wolsey, Cardinal 28
Robert I (the Bruce) 10, 35 Sussex 12 Victoria Terminus (Mumbai) 62–63 Women’s Land Army 76, 81
Robert II 35 Swaziland 195 Vision of Britain, A (Prince Charles) 257 Woods, Robin 151
Robert III 35 Sword of State 134 Vogue 174 Woodville, Elizabeth 25
Wars of Independence 10, 35 Worcester, Battle of (1651) 41

T W
William I 34 World War I 55, 76, 79, 80–81, 90, 91, 97,
Sea Bird II (horse) 130 110, 255, 304–05
Sebutinde, Arnold 181 World War II 77, 97, 102–05, 106–07, 111,
Secombe, Harry 171 Taj Mahal 230 Wace, Master 14 114–15, 123, 192, 198, 238–39
Seeiso, Prince 289 Tanna 124 Wade, Virginia 183 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) 125,
Sentebale 289 Tanzania 195 Wagner, Anthony 171 209
Seven Years’ War ((1756–63) 49 Taylor, George 171 Walker, Catherine 228, 229 Wren, Christopher 212
Sex Pistols 183 Te Kanawa, Kiri 201 Walking With the Wounded 289 Wright, Clara 130
Seymour, Jane 29 Tenzing Norgay 119, 140 Wallace, William 35 Wyatt’s Rebellion 33, 40
Seymour, Thomas 32, 33 Teresa, Mother 209 Walpole, Robert 49
Shadow V (boat) 192–93 Tewkesbury, Battle of (1471) 27 Walsingham, Francis 29

XYZ
Shakespeare, William 33 Thatcher, Margaret 50, 111, 113, 161, 195, War of Austrian Succession (1740–48) 49
Shand, Bruce 265 198, 255 Warbeck, Perkin 28
Sheridan, Lisa 108 Thornhill, James 212 Wars of the Roses 10, 21, 25, 26–27
Sierra Leone 153, 195 Thynn, Mary 111 Wells, H. G. 70 York 12
Sigismund, Emperor 44, 46 Timbertop 163 Wentworth, Thomas 38, 41 York, Duchess of see Ferguson, Sarah
Silver Jubilee Walkway 183 Tinchebrai, Battle of (1106) 17 Wessex 12 York, Duke of see Andrew, Prince
Silver Jubilees Tindall, Mia 255, 297 West Germany 164–65 Zimbabwe 195
(1935) 77, 79, 204 Tindall, Mike 175, 255 West Heath Girls’ School 206, 207
(1977) 131, 161, 182–85, 204 Tobruk, Battle of (1942) 77 Westminster Abbey 32, 33, 55, 68, 73, 76,
Simnel, Lambert 28 Toms, Carl 214 79, 94, 97, 111, 118, 119, 120, 140–41,
Simpson, Ernest 91 Tower of London 17, 23, 25, 68 175, 182, 207, 219, 222–23, 254, 255,
Simpson, Wallis 91, 92–93, 95, 110–11, 120, Townsend, Peter 118, 119, 130, 152, 267, 274, 279
198 154–55, 188, 189, 258 Wetherby School 268
Singapore 161, 295 Transaid 174 White Lodge 91
Smith, William 246 Travolta, John 207, 228 Wilhelm I, Kaiser 147
Snowdon, Lord 160, 161, 170–71, 188, 189, Trinidad and Tobago 195 Wilhelm II, Kaiser 51, 60, 70, 79, 80, 81, 296
214, 228, 258 Trooping the Colour 226–27 William I (the Conqueror) 10, 14, 16–17, 44
Solomon Islands 295 Tusk Trust 269 William I (King of Scotland) 34
Somalia 195 Tuvalu 295 William II 11, 17
Somme, Battle of the (1916) 76 Tweedsmuir, Lord 176 William III 38, 39, 48, 212
Sony Pictures Television 297 Twelfth Night (Shakespeare) 33 William IV 11, 49, 51, 54, 84, 123
South Africa 65, 112–13, 115, 152, 153, Tyler, Wat 23 William, Prince (Elizabeth II’s grandson)
160, 161, 195, 199, 288, 294 198, 201, 205, 223, 251, 267, 278–79,

U
South Korea 153 296, 297, 307
Sovereign’s Orb 68, 69, 143 birth of Prince George 292–93
Spanish Armada 11, 29, 33, 183 charity work 209, 303
Spencer, Charles 207, 242, 243 Uganda 195 childhood 206, 207, 288
Spencer, John 201, 206, 207 Uhtred, Earl of Northumbria 34 death of Diana, Princess of Wales 242, 243
Spencer, Raine 206 United Nations (UN) 103 Duchy of Cornwall 256, 257
Spencer, Sarah 200, 206 United States of America 49, 64, 91, 95, education 206, 207
Spenser, Edmund 33 119, 275, 294–95, 299 flying career 272–73, 291
Spitting Image 298, 299 University College of Wales, Aberystwyth future of monarchy 310, 311
Spry, Constance 141 170, 171 Invictus Games 300
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgments
Dorling Kindersley would like to thank: Corbis: The Gallery Collection (t). Photo Images: Davide Cioffi (c). The Royal Stanley Gibbons Group plc: (cr).
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f-far; l-left; r-right; t-top) Giuseppe Masci (bc); Rolf Richardson (crb). Keystone (bc). Press Association Images: Mirrorpix: (cl); NCJ – Kemsley (bl). 119
Corbis: Andrew Milligan / PA Wire / epa Topfoto / Topham Picturepoint (crb). 78 Alamy Images: Vintage Image (cla). Corbis:
1 Royal Mint Museum. (br). 38 Corbis: Gianni Dagli Orti. Alamy Images: (l). Corbis Hulton-Deutsch Bettmann (bl). Getty Images: Topical Press
2–3 Corbis: Reuters / Luke Macgregor. 39 Alamy Images: Mary Evans Picture Collection (cr). 79 Corbis: Hulton-Deutsch Agency (cl). Press Association Images: AP
4 Corbis: Hoberman Collection (cra). Library (bc). Corbis: The Gallery Collection Collection (br). Getty Images: Hulton (cr). 120 123RF.com: tommroch (cl).
5 Corbis: Bettmann (br); Hulton-Deutsch (cl). Getty Images: DEA / G. Nimatallah Archive (bl). The Royal Collection Trust Mirrorpix: NCJ – Kemsley (bl). Rex
Collection (tr). Dorling Kindersley: (tr). 40 Corbis: (cra). 40–41 Bridgeman © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015: Features: Associated Newspapers / Daily
Reeman Dansie Auctioneers (cla, bl). Getty Images: Cheltenham Art Gallery & (tc). 80 Getty Images: The Print Collector Mail (cr). 121 123RF.com: © Stamp Design
Images: Hulton Archive (tl). The Royal Museums, Gloucestershire, UK (b). (cla); Central Press / Hulton Archive (tr). Royal Mail Group Ltd (br). Rex Features:
Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen 41 Alamy Images: The Art Archive (tl). 80–81 Getty Images: Popperfoto (b). Daily Mail. 122–123 Alamy Images: Arcaid
Elizabeth II 2015: (cra). 6 Alamy Images: 42–43 The Royal Collection Trust 81 Alamy Images: Universal Art Archive Images. 123 Alamy Images: Arcaid Images
Holmes Garden Photos (ca). Corbis: Ralf- © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015. (bc). Mary Evans Picture Library: (tr). (bl); Prixpics (bc); worldthroughthelens-UK
Finn Hestoft (br). Getty Images: Hulton 44–45 Corbis: Jason Hawkes (t). Royal Artillery Historical Trust: (c). (br). 124–125 Getty Images: Central Press.
Archive (bl); Central Press (tl); Chris Jackson 44 Rex Features: Jonathan Hordle (bl). 82–83 Corbis: Hulton-Deutsch Collection. 124 Christopher Hogue Thompson: (bl).
(tr). Royal Mint Museum: (cra). 7 Corbis: 45 Corbis: Philip Craven / Robert Harding 84 Getty Images: Tim Graham (b). 125 Getty Images: Central Press (crb).
Chris Ison / epa (br); Pool Photograph (tl). World Imagery (bc). Dreamstime.com: 84–85 The Royal Collection Trust © Her Leo Reynolds: (c). Victor Kusin: (tc).
Getty Images: WPA Pool (tr). The Royal Aagje De Jong (br). 46 Alamy Images: Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015. 126 Dorling Kindersley: Reeman Dansie
Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Steve Vidler (b). Getty Images: Tim Graham 86 Press Association Images: Fiona Auctioneers (bl).126–127 Dorling
Elizabeth II 2015: (cla) 8–9 Corbis: (tr, cra). 47 Rex Features. 48 Alamy Hanson (b). The Royal Collection Trust Kindersley: Reeman Dansie Auctioneers.
Hoberman Collection. 10 Bridgeman Images: GL Archive (b). Getty Images: © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015: 127 Dorling Kindersley: Reeman Dansie
Images: National Archives, UK (ca); Alecto Apic (tr). 49 Corbis: The Gallery Collection (tr, cra). 87 The Royal Collection Trust © Auctioneers (br). 128–129 Press
Historical Editions, London, UK (bc); The (r).50 Corbis: The Gallery Collection (bl); Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015. Association Images: AP Photo / Max
Trustees of the Weston Park Foundation, UK Hulton-Deutsch Collection (r). 51 Dorling 88–89 Getty Images: Hulton Archive. 90 Desfor. 130 Corbis: Henri Bureau / Sygma
(cr). By permission of The British Kindersley: Royal Green Jackets Museum, Bridgeman Images: Look and Learn / Elgar (br). Getty Images: Lisa Sheridan / Studio
Library: (cla). Dorling Kindersley: Winchester (crb); Thackray Medical Museum Collection (r). The Art Archive: Private Lisa (tr). 131 The College of Arms: The
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (cl) 11 Corbis: (cl). The Royal Collection Trust © Her Collection MD (bl). 91 Alamy Images: royal arms (the arms of Queen Elizabeth II).
The Gallery Collection (clb); Leemage (bc). Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015: (bc); Hilary Morgan (bc); Ivan Vdovin (crb). Getty Reproduced by permission of the Kings,
Dorling Kindersley: Reeman Dansie (t). 52–53 akg-images:Archie Miles. ley: Images: Keystone (tc). 92 Corbis: Hulton- Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms (cr). The
Auctioneers (cr). The Art Archive Reeman Dansie Auctioneers (cra). 54–55 The Deutsch Collection (br). Dorling Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty
Ashmolean Museum (cla). 12 Dorling Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Kindersley: Reeman Dansie Auctioneers Queen Elizabeth II 2015. 132 Dorling
Kindersley: National Maritime Museum, Queen Elizabeth II 2015. 55 The Royal (tr). The Art Archive: Mondadori Portfolio Kindersley: Reeman Dansie Auctioneers
London (b); Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (tr). Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen (bl). 93 Alamy Images: Keystone Pictures (br). Mirrorpix: NCJ – Topix (t). 133
13 By permission of The British Library: Elizabeth II 2015: (br); (tl). 56–57 USA. Getty Images: Hulton Archive (crb). Dorling Kindersley: Reeman Dansie
(cr). The Art Archive: Musée de la Bridgeman Images: De Agostini Picture 94 Dorling Kindersley: Reeman Dansie Auctioneers (tl). Getty Images: E Round /
Tapisserie Bayeux / Gianni Dagli Orti (c). Library / W. Buss. 57 Alamy Images: Auctioneers (tl, tc). Getty Images: Fox Fox Photos (br). 134 Getty Images: Central
14–15 The Art Archive: Musée de la Graham Prentice (cb). Bridgeman Images: Photos (cra). 95 Getty Images: Topical Press Press (bl). 134–135 The Royal Collection
Tapisserie Bayeux / Gianni Dagli Orti. 16 Historic England (br) Corbis: Corrie: Nigel / Agency (tc); Keystone. 96 Corbis: (r). Getty Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Bridgeman Images: Chetham's Library, Arcaid (bc). 58–59 Corbis: Historical Picture Images: The Print Collector (bl). 97 Dorling 2015. 135 Corbis: Pool Photograph (br).
Manchester, UK. 17 Bridgeman Images: Archive. 60 Corbis: (r). Getty Images: Kindersley: Reeman Dansie Auctioneers Press Association Images: Barratts / S&G
Alecto Historical Editions, London, UK (crb). Universal History Archive (bl). 61 Getty (tl). Royal Mint Museum: (bc). The Barratts / EMPICS Archive (tr). 136 The
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Prince’s Trust: (tc). 182 Getty Images: Images: National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Rex Features: Vickie Flores / LNP (bl).
Queen Elizabeth II 2015: (tl, cra, tr). Graham Wiltshire (t). Royal Mint Museum: Ontario, Canada / Phillips, Fine Art The Royal Collection Trust © Her
136–137 The Royal Collection Trust © (br). 183 Getty Images: Serge Lemoine (bl); Auctioneers, New York, USA (cl). Press Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015: (t).
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015. Central Press (tr); Fox Photos / Hulton Association Images: Anthony Devlin / PA 284–285 Getty Images: WPA Pool / Pool.
137 The Royal Collection Trust © Her Archive (c). 184–185 Corbis: Hulton- Wire (ca). 235 Alamy Images: Terry Fincher 286–287 Getty Images: Alex Livesey. 288
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015: (t, c). Deutsch Collection. 186–187 Rex Features: (b). Rex Features: Simon & Schuster US Getty Images: Tim Graham (bl). 288–289
138–139 Corbis: David Boyer / National Reginald Davis. 188 Corbis: Norman (tl). 236–237 The Royal Collection Trust Getty Images: Chris Jackson (c). 289 The
Geographic Creative. 140 Dorling Parkinson / Sygma (br). Getty Images: © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015. College of Arms: The arms of HRH Prince
Kindersley: Reeman Dansie Auctioneers Jacques Gustave (tr); Popperfoto (bl). 189 238–239 Rex Features: Steve Back / Henry of Wales. Reproduced by permission of
(clb, bl). Getty Images: Topical Press Alamy Images: Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix. Associated Newspapers. 238 123RF.com: © the Kings, Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms
Agency. 141 Corbis: Bettmann (ca). Dorling Getty Images: Hulton Archive (b). 190 Stamp Design Royal Mail Group Ltd (bl). (bc). Getty Images: AFP (cr); Chris Jackson
Kindersley: Paul Self. 142–143 Alamy Getty Images: Guildhall Library & Art Rex Features: Jeremy Selwyn / Associated (tc). 290 Alamy Images: AF archive (cla).
Images: V&A Images. 144 The Royal Gallery / Heritage Images (bl). Press Newspapers (tr). 239 Rex Features: (tl, cr). Corbis: John Stillwell / PA Wire / epa (r).
Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Association Images: John Stillwell / PA 240–241 Corbis: Courtesy of Ronald Reagan 291 Getty Images: Max Mumby / Indigo
Elizabeth II 2015: All Rights Reserved (cla, Archive (br). 190–191 Corbis: Stapleton Library. 242 Getty Images: Anwar Hussein (br). Press Association Images: John
bl, r). 145 The Royal Collection Trust © Collection. 192 Alamy Images: Robert Estall (cra). Mirrorpix: (bl). Rex Features: SIPA Stillwell / PA Archive (tr). Roland Smithies
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015: All photo agency (bc); Keystone Pictures USA Press (cl). 243 Corbis: Jason Hawkes (br). / luped.com: (clb). 292–293 Rex Features:
Rights Reserved (tl, tr, r). 146 Alamy (cra). Corbis: Hulton-Deutsch Collection (bl). Getty Images: AFP (t). 244–245 Corbis: Zuma. 294 Getty Images: Chris Jackson
Images: Justin Kase (bl). Getty Images: 193 The Random House Group Ltd: (cr). Ralf-Finn Hestoft. 246 Alamy Images: (cr). Rex Features: Tim Rooke (bl); (cl).
Max Mumby / Indigo (bc); Picture Post (clb). Rex Features: Mike Hollist / Associated Dennis Hardley (bc). Getty Images: Cowper 295 Rex Features: (b). 296 Alamy
146–147 Alamy Images: The Print Collector Newspapers (b) 194 Rex Features: / Central Press (cla); Lichfield (bl). 247 Images: Globe Photos / ZUMA Press, Inc.
(bc). Rex Features: Peter Richardson / Associated Newspapers (tr). TopFoto.co.uk: Corbis: Roger Antrobus. 248 Mary Evans (br). Getty Images: Hulton Archive (bl).
Robert Harding (tl). 147 Alamy Images: Topham / AP (br). 195 Corbis: Stephen Picture Library: (b). The Royal 297 Getty Images: Shaun Curry (tl); Max
Krys Bailey (bc); The Foto Factory (cb). 148 Morrison / epa (br). 196–197 Royal Mint Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Mumby / Indigo (bc). Rex Features: TRH
Bridgeman Images: English Photographer, Museum. 198 123RF.com: © Stamp Design Elizabeth II 2015: (cl, c). 249 Bridgeman Duke & Duchess of Cambridge (cr).
(20th century) / Museum purchase with Royal Mail Group Ltd (bl). Alamy Images: Images: English Photographer, (19th 298 Getty Images: Anwar Hussein (cr);
funds donated by Michael D Wolfe (br). The Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix (c). Corbis: century) / Private Collection. 250 Getty Samir Hussein (l). 299 Dorling Kindersley:
Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Bettmann (cr); Quadrillion (cl).199 Getty Images: Tim Graham (l, cr). 251 © Stamp Design Royal Mail Group Ltd (tr).
Queen Elizabeth II 2015: (bl). The Art Images: Tim Graham (clb). Rex Features: Photoshot: (br). Rex Features: Glenn Getty Images: Chris Jackson (tl). Rex
Archive: Victoria and Albert Museum (cb). The Royal Collection Trust © Her Harvey (tl); Tim Rooke (bc). 252–253 The Features: Tim Rooke (bc).
London / V&A Images (cl).149 Bridgeman Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015: (ca). Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty 300–301 Mirrorpix: Phil Harris / Daily
Images: English Photographer, (20th 200 Corbis: Atlan-Bureau-Dejean-Graham- Queen Elizabeth II 2015. 254 Corbis: Pool Mirror. 302 Dorling Kindersley: Reeman
century) / © Country Life. 150 Getty Guichard-Karel-Melloul-Nogues-Pavlovsky- Photograph (clb, crb). Dorling Kindersley: Dansie Auctioneers (bc). Getty Images:
Images: Cornell Capa / The LIFE Picture Rancinan. Getty Images: Tim Graham (cl). Paul Self (tl). Getty Images: Stephen Hird / WPA Pool / Pool (tl). 302–303 Getty
Collection. 151 Dreamstime.com: 201 123RF.com: Andy Lidstone / © Stamp AFP (cra).255 Getty Images: Alex Livesey Images: WPA Pool / Pool (br). 303 Getty
Creativehearts (c). Getty Images: Dan Design Royal Mail Group Ltd (tr). Corbis: (bl). Mirrorpix: Phil Harris / Daily Mirror Images: Tim Graham (tl). 304–305 Getty
Kitwood (br). The Art Archive: Ashmolean Douglas Kirkland (br). 202–203 Getty (br). Rex Features: Hugo Burnand / Images: Chris Jackson. 306 Getty
Museum (clb). 152 Alamy Images: Vintage Images: Anwar Hussein. 204 123RF.com: © Clarence House (cl). The Royal Collection Images:WPA Pool / Pool (b). 307 Dorling
Image (cl). 152–153 Getty Images: Central Stamp Design Royal Mail Group Ltd (8). Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Kindersley: Bank of Jersey (clb). Getty
Press (c). 153 Corbis: Bettmann (tc); Dorling Kindersley: © Stamp Design Royal 2015: (c). 256 Alamy Images: Skyscan Images: WPA Pool / Pool (tl, br). 308–309
Gideon Mendel (br). 154 Rex Features. Mail Group Ltd (t). The Stanley Gibbons Photolibrary (cl). Corbis: Michael Crabtree / Corbis: Pool Photograph. 310 Corbis:
155 Corbis: Bettmann (bl, tr). Getty Group plc: (14, 15); (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, Reuters (br). 257 Corbis: Demotix / Amer Hulton-Deutsch Collection (cra). Royal Mint
Images: Popperfoto (cl). 156–157 Press 10, 11, 12, 13). 205 Dorling Kindersley: © Ghazzal (tc). Getty Images: Matt Cardy (br). Museum: (br, bc). 311 Getty Images: WPA
Association Images: AP. 158–159 Royal Stamp Design Royal Mail Group Ltd (1, 2, 3, Rex Features: (tl). 258 Corbis: Norman Pool / Pool (tr). Rex Features: Royal Mint
Mint Museum. 160 Alamy Images: V&A 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15). Dreamstime. Parkinson / Sygma (t). Dorling Kindersley: (br). Royal Mint Museum (tc, bl, tl, bc).
Images (ca). Bridgeman Images: com: © Stamp Design Royal Mail Group Ltd Reeman Dansie Auctioneers (br). 259 Corbis: 312–313 Getty Images: WPA Pool
Armstrong-Jones, Antony (b.1930) / Private (10, 11, 14). 206 Getty Images: Central Jeff J Mitchell / Reuters (bl); Reuters (tr).
Collection / Photo © Christie's Images (cr). Press (bl). Rex Features: (tr). 207 Getty Dorling Kindersley: Paul Self (cla). 260 All other images © Dorling Kindersley
Press Association Images: PA / PA Archive Images: Sion Touhig (bl). Press Rex Features: Tony Kyriacou. 261 Corbis:
(bc). 161 123RF.com: © Stamp Design Royal Association Images: PA Archive (br). Rex Pool Photograph (ca). Rex Features: (br).
Mail Group Ltd (c).Corbis: Norman Features: David Levenson. 208 Alamy 262–263 Getty Images: Carl De Souza. 264 For further information see:
Parkinson / Sygma (bl). Rex Features: Images: Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix (c). Corbis: Reuters (bl). Photoshot: UPPA (cl). www.dkimages.com
Mike Hollist / Associated Newspapers (crb). Rushden Research: (cla). 209 Mirrorpix: 265 Corbis: Dave Evans / Demotix (br); Pool
Royal Mint Museum: (cra). 162 Alamy Gavin Kent (tr). Press Association Images: Photograph. 266–267 Getty Images: AFP.
Images: V&A Images (cl). Corbis: Teresa Bebeto Mattews / AP (bl). 210–211 Getty 268 Getty Images: Tim Graham (bl).
Dapp / dpa (tr). TopFoto.co.uk: (bc). 163 Images: Tim Graham. 212 Getty Images: 268–269 Corbis: Reuters (c). 269 Press
Corbis: Norman Parkinson / Sygma (tr). Rex Jason Hawkes (br); DEA / W. BUSS (bl). 213 Association Images: David Jones / PA
Features: Joan Williams (bl). 164–165 SuperStock: Steve Vidler / Steve Vidler. Archive (tc). 270–271 Corbis: POOL /
Getty Images: Jim Gray. 166 Getty 214 Alamy Images: Prisma Bildagentur AG Reuters. 272 Corbis: Phil Noble / Reuters
Images: Mark Cuthbert (l); Tim Graham (cr). (tl). Press Association Images: David (crb). Getty Images: Tim Graham (cl).
167 The College of Arms: the arms of Jensen / EMPICS Entertainment (tc). Rex Features: SAC Faye Storer (bl).
HRH the Prince of Wales. Reproduced by 215 Getty Images: Samir Hussein / 273 Corbis: POOL / Reuters. 274 Corbis:
permission of the Kings, Heralds and WireImage. 216–217 Getty Images: David John Stillwell / PA / POOL / epa (tr). Rex
Pursuivants of Arms (cr). Getty Images: Levenson. 218 Rex Features:Glenn Harvey. Features: Hugo Burnand / Clarence House
Mark Cuthbert (bl); WPA Pool / Pool (c). 219 Corbis: Denis Balibouse / Reuters (crb); (bl). 275 Corbis: Chris Ison / epa (cr). Press
Rex Features: Reginald Davis (tl). 168–169 Michel Setboun (t); Hulton-Deutsch Association Images: Dave Thompson / PA
Press Association Images: PA / PA Collection (bc). 220–221 Corbis: Quadrillion. Archive (l). 276 Dorling Kindersley:
Archive. 170 Corbis: Adam Woolfitt (cb). 222 Alamy Images: Trinity Mirror / Reeman Dansie Auctioneers (tl, cla, cl, bl, bc,
Rex Features: Joan Williams (cla). 171 Mirrorpix. 223 Getty Images: Tim Graham fbr, br). 276–277 The Royal Collection
Bridgeman Images: Armstrong-Jones, (tr). Rex Features: Glenn Harvey (bl). 224 Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Antony (b.1930) / Private Collection / Photo Rex Features: Associated Newspapers (cla); 2015. 277 Dorling Kindersley: Reeman
© Christie's Images (bl). Corbis: Bettmann Illustrated London News (b). 225 Getty Dansie Auctioneers (tl, tc, tr, ca, cra, br). 278
(crb). TopFoto.co.uk: PA (tl). 172–173 Images: Chris Jackson (tl). Rex Features: Getty Images: Tim Graham (bl). 278–279
Getty Images: Hulton Archive. Mauro Carraro (bc); (cr). 226–227 Corbis: Getty Images: Max Mumby / Indigo (c).
174 Corbis: Norman Parkinson / Sygma (t) Quadrillion. 228 Rex Features: Nils 279 The College of Arms: The conjugal
Getty Images: Central Press (bl). Press Jorgensen (l, c, r). 229 Rex Features: Tim arms of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Association Images: Khan Tariq Mikkel / Stewart News (tr, r). 230 Rex Features: Reproduced by permission of the Kings,
Polfoto (cr). 175 Corbis: Norman Parkinson / (clb). 230–231 Press Association Images: Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms (cr). Rex
Sygma (c). 176–177 Rex features: Reginald Tony Harris / PA Archive. 231 Rex Features: Features: Ray Tang (bc). 280–281 Rex
Davis. 178–179 Getty Images: Lichfield. (tc, cr). 232–233 Getty Images: Tim Features: Senior Aircraftsman Daniel Herri.
180 Getty Images: Central Press (cla); WPA Graham. 234 Alamy Images: Heritage 282 Corbis: (tl); Kerim Okten / epa (b).
Pool / Pool (b). 181 Rex Features: (br). The Image Partnership Ltd (bl). Bridgeman 283 Corbis: Rune Hellestad (crb).