Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900-2002), former consort of George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and mother of Queen Elizabeth II. Born Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, the daughter of Lord Glamis, later the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, she was educated at the family homes in Hertfordshire and Glamis Castle in Scotland. A childhood friend of the family of George V, Elizabeth married the young Duke of York, second son of George V (and the future George VI) in 1923. Their two children, Princess Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret Rose, were born in 1926 and 1930 respectively.

On her husband’s accession in 1937, Elizabeth became the reigning queen. The royal couple were an important focus for national morale throughout World War II, visiting civilians and service personnel, and facing the same risks as the rest of the population: as a result, they won considerable public affection. Elizabeth and her husband were in Buckingham Palace when it was bombed in September 1940. They celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in 1948, but ill health was already undermining George VI’s official activities, and in February 1952 he died at Sandringham House.

On her husband’s death, Elizabeth saw her daughter succeed to the throne as Elizabeth II. In her new official capacity as Queen Mother, Elizabeth continued her public duties, becoming renowned for her undiminished vigour even in old age. Her 90th birthday in 1990 was made a state occasion. Patron or president of some 350 organizations, the Queen Mother was Chancellor of the University of London for 25 years until 1981, and was made Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle in 1978. On August 4, 2000, she became the first member of the British royal family to reach the age of 100, an occasion marked by services of thanksgiving and other events, including a parade through London. Her health began to fail visibly; one of her final duties was attending the funeral of her younger daughter, Margaret, in February 2002. She died on March 30.