A QUEEN IS BORN
She was never destined to rule, but when her uncle abdicated the throne, Elizabeth was thrust into the limelight and the trajectory of her life changed forever
THERE’S always frenzied excitement when the arrival of a royal baby is imminent and 21 April 1926 was no different.
Even though it was the early hours of the morning and pouring with rain, a small crowd stood on the pavement outside 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London, desperately waiting for news.
Finally, at 2.40 am, the new royal was delivered by Caesarean section – and a short while later the imposing front door swung open and the long-awaited announcement was made, causing the crowd to roar with delight.
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, had been born to the Duke and Duchess of York.
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch was born in a relatively ordinary house belonging to her maternal grandfather, Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore.
This was because, as the child of King George V’s second son, Prince Albert, and his wife, Elizabeth, the baby was never expected to ascend the throne.
Princess Elizabeth was officially third in line to the throne, but she seemed destined to be pushed down the succession order by any sons born to her uncle, the future King Edward VIII, or boys born to her parents.
Still, as Edward didn’t seem to be in any rush to marry, much less produce offspring, it meant her birth was celebrated with zeal throughout the British Empire.
For her christening, which was staged in a private chapel at Buckingham Palace, water from the River Jordan was reportedly specially brought in for the ceremony.
The blonde, blue-eyed princess was nicknamed “Baby Betty” by the British press, and royal fans loved catching a glimpse of the curly-haired tot in her pram or peeping from a window in Buckingham Palace.
Her family doted on her, and her grandmother, Queen Mary of Teck, called the little princess “a joy”. Although shy, Elizabeth had a cheerful, playful side and she was the only member of the family who wasn’t terrified of her rather volatile grandfather.
She referred to the king as “Grandpa England” and soon had him wrapped around her finger.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was once astonished when he arrived for an audience with the king to find George down on all fours pretending to be a horse, with Elizabeth taking the role of groom and leading him around by his beard.
Even though she was a princess, Elizabeth never put on any airs and graces. After the king’s death and her uncle
Britain’s longestreigning monarch was born in a relatively ordinary house belonging to her maternal grandfather
Edward’s ascension to the throne, she and her parents continued to live in a “cosy, normal house” near Hyde Park, and her companions were the daughters of doctors and businessmen rather than other royals – at least until her sister, Princess Margaret, was born.
DESPITE a four-year age gap, the girls were close. They were raised almost as twins, sharing the same nursery and often swopping clothes when they grew older.
It was Margaret who called Elizabeth Lilibet when she was a toddler. She battled to say her sister’s full name and the nickname would last throughout her life.
While Margaret had a mischievous streak, Elizabeth was the sensible one. Before one formal occasion she was overheard telling her younger sibling, “If you see someone with a silly hat, Margaret, you mustn’t point at it and laugh.”
At the age of 10, Elizabeth’s carefree existence came to an abrupt end when Edward scandalised the world by announcing he was abdicating the throne so he could marry the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson.
Apparently Elizabeth and Margaret heard the news from a footman that their father was to be crowned King George VI.
As they stood trying to take it in, Margaret turned to Elizabeth and asked, “Does that mean you’ll have to be the next queen?”
“Yes, some day,” Elizabeth replied.
“Poor you,” her sister remarked. The family had to give up their muchloved home to move into Buckingham Palace, but the king and queen were determined to do everything in their power to give their daughters as normal a life as possible.
On one occasion a troop of Girl Guides was invited to host a meeting at the palace so Elizabeth and Margaret would have friends to play with.
The princesses had a blast tearing around the 16 hectares of gardens, making campfires and learning outdoor skills.
Until this point, the approach to Elizabeth’s education had been fairly relaxed. She’d been home-schooled by a nanny and, as it was expected that she was destined for a good marriage and little more, lessons were limited to reading, writing, piano and French.
Elizabeth attended these private classes only from 9.30 to 11 each morning, and the rest of the day was dedicated to outdoor games, dancing and singing lessons.
But after 1936, following her father’s reluctant ascension to the throne, she was suddenly expected to learn all kinds of new things to equip her, now that she was first in line to the throne.
Henry Marten, vice-provost of the posh boys’ school Eton College, was enlisted to give her lessons about history and government.
And he did an excellent job – during the queen’s long reign, her prime min
‘Does that mean you’ll have to be the next queen?’ Margaret asked. ‘ Yes, some day,’ Elizabeth said. ‘Poor you,’ her sister remarked
isters were often surprised at the detailed knowledge she had of the British constitution and workings of parliament.
ALTHOUGH Elizabeth never expressed any regrets about her upbringing, many commentators interpreted her decision to send her children to school as opposed to arranging private tutors as a sign that she would have appreciated a more formal education herself.
But during most of her early childhood her parents’ main preoccupations were teaching her the importance of duty and the necessity of maintaining a stiff upper lip and not showing signs of emotion or weakness in public. They’re lessons she took to heart and displayed well over her 70-year reign.
Her grandmother, Queen Mary, took the young princess under her wing, instructing her to walk with perfect posture and sit up straight so she wouldn’t embarrass her family when in public.
In July 1939, 13-year-old Elizabeth’s admirable deportment was on display when she accompanied her parents on a tour of the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth.
It turned out to be a life-changing excursion for the young princess. The cadet chosen to escort the royal party was 18-year-old Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, who Elizabeth found rather debonair and handsome.
Yet it would be years before the relationship developed beyond a correspondence of letters. World War 2 was brewing and life as everyone around the globe knew it was about to end.
For Elizabeth, it pretty much marked the end of her childhood.